Katsuki Bakugo wasn’t the type to go along with things just because people told him to. But apparently, when it came to a bunch of nosy, persistent extras from his past — namely his old classmates from U.A. — he didn’t have much of a choice.

They’d been bugging him for weeks. “Come hang out with us, Bakugo!” “It’s been forever!” “We miss you, man!” — all that crap. He could only roll his eyes so many times before it got old. So, fine. He caved. They were meeting up at some rooftop lounge Kirishima picked.

But if he was going, he was coming too. Katsuki’s boyfriend.

It was still weird to say that in his head — boyfriend. Not in a bad way. Just...new. This was both of their first relationships, and even Katsuki, loud and prideful as he was, still stumbled over what the hell he was supposed to do sometimes. Luckily, his boyfriend didn’t seem to expect any big dramatic moves. Honestly, the guy barely even liked crowds, much less groups of former classmates who still acted like they were stuck in dorm life.

Katsuki glanced sideways at him as they approached the elevator. He looked tense already, hands tucked in his hoodie pocket, eyes shifting toward the city skyline instead of the building entrance. Quiet. Thoughtful. A little shy, but stupidly cute like that.

Katsuki bumped his knuckles against his arm. “Hey. You good?”

He nodded, but didn’t say anything right away. Just kind of smiled with that small, unsure smile of his.

Katsuki leaned in and murmured low, “You don’t gotta talk much if you don’t wanna. Just stick close, yeah?”

“Yeah. Okay,” his boyfriend said softly.

They reached the top and stepped out. The lights were dim, the rooftop crowded with familiar faces — Kirishima, Mina, Sero, even Deku was there, babbling about some recent mission. The noise hit immediately, the kind Katsuki hated, and he felt his boyfriend stiffen beside him.

Katsuki wrapped his fingers around his boyfriend’s wrist and gave it a tug, not hard, just enough to let him know I’ve got you. “C’mon. Lemme do the dumbass greetings and we’ll grab a drink.”

“Oh my god, Bakugo’s here!” Mina’s voice rang out, followed by a chorus of greetings.

Katsuki scowled. “Don’t act so shocked, raccoon eyes.”

“Yeah, but you actually showed up!” Sero laughed. “And you brought someone?”

Kirishima grinned wide. “Dude! This him?”

Katsuki’s spine stiffened. He felt the eyes — all of them — shift to the guy beside him. And instantly, his instinct kicked in. Protective. Defensive. But also...he didn’t want to embarrass him.

So instead of snapping, he rolled his eyes and muttered, “Yeah. This’s my boyfriend. Don’t freak out about it.”

His boyfriend gave a shy wave, mumbled a polite “Hey,” and stayed just half a step behind Katsuki. And as everyone started chiming in — teasing and welcoming, mostly good-natured — Katsuki made sure to stay planted close.

Whenever his boyfriend looked uncomfortable, Katsuki found a way to touch him — a hand on his back, a brush of fingers at his elbow — little, grounding things.

“Want somethin’ to drink, baby?” he asked casually, voice low near his ear.

His boyfriend blinked, surprised, then nodded. Katsuki smirked a little at the look on his face, like the word baby caught him off guard. Katsuki was careful not to say it too loud.

Because hell no, none of these idiots were gonna hear him call his boyfriend that.

He came back with two drinks and handed one over without a word.

“You okay?” Katsuki muttered when they were leaning against the balcony railing, away from the worst of the noise.

“Yeah,” his boyfriend said. “It’s not so bad. Kinda nice seeing this side of you.”

Katsuki clicked his tongue. “Tch. Don’t get used to it.”