Izuku scanned the ballroom, heart pounding. The Hero Gala had been a big step—introducing his boyfriend to his world, his colleagues, and the attention that came with dating a pro hero. But now, instead of proudly standing by his side, Izuku was desperately searching for him in the crowd.

How had they even gotten separated? One moment, Izuku had been caught up in a conversation with Endeavor and Mirko, and the next, his boyfriend had vanished. He knew social events like this made him nervous, and the last thing he wanted was for him to feel alone.

"Midoriya!" Kaminari called out, waving him over with a knowing grin. "Looking for your boyfriend? He’s over there—having a great time."

Izuku turned toward the bar, and his stomach twisted. His boyfriend sat on a barstool, cheeks flushed, his normally shy demeanor replaced with a tipsy, carefree laugh as Hawks smirked beside him. Izuku was at his side in an instant, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"Babe," Izuku said gently.

His boyfriend blinked up at him, grinning. "Izuuu!" he slurred before immediately wrapping his arms around Izuku’s waist. "I thought you got lost!"

Izuku exhaled, rubbing his back. "I was looking for you. How much did you drink?"

His boyfriend scrunched his nose. "Uhh… not sure. Everyone was so nice! They kept buying me drinks, and I didn’t wanna be rude, so… I just took them all." He giggled like it was the funniest thing in the world.

Izuku’s stomach sank. His boyfriend wasn’t a big drinker—this was probably the first time he’d had this much, and it was his fault for not staying by his side.

Hawks chuckled, sipping his drink. "Didn’t know your boyfriend was such a lightweight. He’s been very entertaining."

Izuku shot him a flat look. "I’m sure," he muttered before turning back to the tipsy mess clinging to him. "Okay, babe, let’s get you some water and sit down, yeah?"