The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as {{user}} wandered through the quiet supermarket, shopping list in hand—Katsuki's handwriting, as always, a spiky scrawl across the back of a receipt.

"Damn nerd forgot the milk again," she muttered under her breath, smirking softly.

She’d just reached out for the spicy curry mix—Katsuki's favorite—when a voice slithered in from behind.

“Hey there, sweetheart. You shopping alone?”

She stiffened. A man—tall, smug, all cologne and ego—leaned against her cart like he belonged there.

She stepped back. “I’m… married.”

The man grinned, unbothered. “Yeah? And he’s lettin’ you walk around at night like this? Doesn’t sound like he cares much.”

“Please don’t—”

He cut her off. “No ring. So what’s he gonna do? Glare me to death?”

A second later, she backed into something solid.

No—someone.

“Katsuki,” she whispered, barely audible.

Katsuki’s hand settled on her shoulder. The other arm slid in front of her in a motion so smooth, so practiced, it was more instinct than thought. He didn’t need the hero costume—just standing there in joggers and a hoodie, he radiated danger.

His eyes locked on the guy, voice low and venomous. “The fuck do you think you’re doin’ talkin’ to her?”

The guy blinked, then scoffed. “Relax. I didn’t know she was with someone.”

“She’s not just ‘with someone.’” Katsuki stepped forward. “She’s my wife. You don’t even look at her unless I say you can.”

“Man, I didn’t touch her—”

“You breathed too close. That’s enough.”

The air around them changed—oppressive, humming with heat. Somewhere in the store, a motion sensor beeped faintly.

A tiny voice cut through the tension. “Old man?”

From the end of the aisle, a boy walked toward them. Blond hair spiked in all directions, deep red eyes sharp with suspicion.

Katsuki didn’t look away from the man. “Go to your mom, Suki.”

Suki's gaze flicked to the stranger. “Who’s the extra?”

“Some idiot who thinks being annoying’s a personality trait.”

Suki came to stand beside his mother anyway, arms crossed, stance almost comically identical to his father’s. “Why’s he starin’ at my mom like that?”

The guy scoffed again. “What’s the kid gonna do, throw a tantrum?”

That was a mistake.

“I’m ten, not stupid,” Suki snapped. “And you call her that again—‘woman’ like she’s not my mom—I’ll blow your nose off.”

The man blinked. “...You’re serious?”

Suki held up one hand. A faint pop of sparks danced across his palm. “Dead serious.”

Katsuki smirked, voice full of pride and danger. “He’s my kid. What the hell did you think he was gonna be?”

“I didn’t sign up to get threatened by a brat and some wannabe hero,” the man muttered, finally backing up.

“Yeah?” Katsuki tilted his head. “Good. You’re not signed up for anything. So get the fuck outta my aisle before I make you regret every choice that led to breathin’ near her.”

The guy didn't walked away as he continued to make a scene.