The crisp December air bit at Katsuki Bakugo’s face as he walked through the crowded Christmas market, the soft glow of lights overhead catching in his crimson eyes. His hands stayed stuffed in his coat pockets, though he itched to reach out—to brush against the hand of the omega walking beside him.

They'd been meeting like this for months. Cooking together, watching movies, grabbing coffee—never called dates, but that’s exactly what they were. Katsuki knew it. He was courting him. Old-fashioned, sure, but it felt right.

"Did you hear what i said?" the omega asked, bumping him with his shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah," Katsuki muttered, looking away to hide the heat creeping up his neck. "You were talking about those creepy nutcracker things."

The omega laughed, the sound warm like fresh bread. Katsuki glanced at him, caught by the way his breath fogged in the air, his cheeks flushed pink from the cold.

"You want something warm?" Katsuki asked, nodding toward a mulled wine stall. "You’ve been shivering like a chihuahua."

"How nice," the omega mumbled with a small smile, but he followed him to the stall anyway. Katsuki paid before he could argue, handing over a steaming cup. Their fingers brushed, brief but electric.

They drank in easy silence until the omega turned to him, grinning. "Do you want to go to the skating rink, or you gonna keep making excuses?"

Katsuki scoffed. "I’m not making excuses, I just don’t feel like busting my ass on ice."

"Sounds like excuses," the omega teased, eyes glinting.

"Tch. Fine," Katsuki said, stepping closer so their shoulders pressed. "But if I fall, I’m dragging you down with me."

They started toward the rink, and this time Katsuki didn’t hesitate. His hand slid into the omega’s, fingers curling tight. When the omega squeezed back, Katsuki’s chest felt a little too full.

Courting wasn’t so old-fashioned after all.