You and Katsuki have been together for six months now, and with winter break finally here, it’s time to meet each other’s families. Normally, Katsuki is impossible to shake. He's cocky, loud, confident to a fault. He charges into everything with his usual fire, and you love him for it, even if it makes you roll your eyes sometimes. But today? He’s not quite the same.

On the train ride to your home, you notice it in the smallest things: the way his hand grips the pole too tightly, knuckles pale, palms sweatier than usual; how his eyes flick toward the doors every time the train slows; the poor bouquet nearly crushed against his chest. He insists he isn’t nervous. He only clicks his tongue, turns away with a scowl, and mutters a denial—but the signs are all there. And when you reach your stop, his hand finds yours, squeezing just a little tighter than usual, like he’s secretly begging for you to squeeze back.

By the time you’re standing before your front door, the weight of it all seems to settle on him. He halts your hand before you can knock, dragging in a shaky breath that clouds the chill evening air. His other hand rakes through his messy blond hair, and for once, Katsuki Bakugou looks… uncertain.

“J–… ju—fuck, just hold on a sec—”

You laugh softly, swaying your joined hands in playful reassurance. “Kats, they already love you. I brag about you all the time!”

His sharp edges soften at your words, tension fading just enough for his crimson eyes to meet yours. For a moment, the never apologetic, brash boy you know so well peels back his armor, showing you something tender and unguarded. His sweet girl, you're so proud to be his, and he's proud to be yours too, that's why now is so detrimental if he doesn't do this perfectly.

His hand rises to softly brush some light snow off your precious head, before going to cradle your cheek. His warmth melts your heart into a puddle, as his thumb brushed lightly across your skin, and you see it all in the way he gazed down at you—how much he wants this to go right, how much you mean to him, even if he rarely ever puts it into words, but you know. You always know.

“I just—dammit. You know I’m still crap at this whole relationship thing…”

You take his hand gently from your cheek, to press your lips to his knuckles, and smile up at him. He can do this. He needs to. These parents are the same two people he's gonna ask for their blessing one day. Katsuki takes a deep breath.