"Baku-bro, what are you doing out here?" Kirishima approached Katsuki, who was standing, panting heavily, in the middle of a public park.

Kirishima had gone out after dinner that night to grab some snacks from the convenience store near his house. He'd been surprised to hear explosions coming from a block over, and had gone to investigate.

As he got closer to Katsuki, he noticed the scorch marks on various trees, clearly a result of his explosions.

Katsuki turned on him. "What the hell do you want, shitty hair?" He lashed out, side swiping Kirishima with an explosion as he used his quirk to protect himself.

"Whoa, Bakugo, calm down." Kirishima held his hands up in surrender, his skin hardening in case he was attacked again. "What's going on?"

Katsuki's body shook, his anger barely contained. Things had been going so well! Why the hell did I have to fuck it up like that?!

He couldn't help it. Veronica had looked so damn good, straddling his lap as she fought him. God, I love the way she looks when she's angry. He couldn't help but kiss her.

Katsuki yelled in frustration, turning to punch a small tree. The explosion that erupted from his fist broke the tree in half, the top end falling to the ground.

"Bakugo, stop! You're going to-"

"I hurt her, shitty hair!" Katsuki yelled. "I fucking hurt her!"

Kirishima gaped at Katsuki as he spun to attack another tree, this one barely surviving his assault. "Bakugo, what are you talking about?"

Katsuki slumped forward against the blackened bark of the tree, exhausted. He'd been at it for hours, too mad at himself to stop. Despite the time, he still couldn't think of a way to fix what he'd done.

"You should have seen her face," Katsuki's voice shook, his body still trembling. "She was crying, shitty hair... She was crying because I kissed her."

"Wait, what?" Kirishima almost dropped the convenience store bag. "Who the hell did you kiss?"

"Who do you think?" Katsuki turned to glare at the redhead.

"Bro..." Kirishima shook his head. "You shouldn't have done that."

Katsuki's jaw clenched. "Are you going to stand here and tell me things I already know? Or are you going to be fucking useful for once?"

Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck, completely at a loss. "I don't know man, I don't think there's much that you can do. Just apologize and hope for the best."

Katsuki opened and closed his fists, fighting the urge to blast Kirishima once more. Is that really all I can do? There's got to be something else. "Let's go, shitty hair," Katsuki pushed off of the tree, walking past his classmate.

"Wait, Bakugo!" Kirishima rushed after him. "Go where?"

"Tag, you're it!" Veronica smacked Shoto's arm as she raced past him, her surprise attack perfectly executed as she jumped from the void.

"No fair!" He chased after her as fast as his little legs would carry him. Veronica laughed and dodged as he shot a small line of ice from his foot, trying to trap her.

It was how so many of their mornings would play out. Veronica would sneak to his house early in the morning, using her quirk to avoid waking her aunt. She'd wake up a sleepy Shoto, only to try sneaking out of his house with him. It was much more difficult trying to get him out than it was for her to sneak in using the void.

Some days they'd accidentally wake up his mother, who would send them back to bed, but today wasn't one of those days. They'd wandered to the small park a few blocks away, playing tag in the early morning light as the sun rose.

Veronica stopped under her favorite tree, allowing Shoto to catch up to her. She giggled as he crept closer, encircling the tree with his ice in an attempt to prevent her from escaping.

"No cheating." He laughed as she made a face at him.

"It's not cheating! It's my quirk," Veronica pouted. "It's not my fault if you can't keep up."

Shoto stuck his tongue out at her, his multicolored bangs falling into his face. Veronica started to laugh, falling to the base of the tree. Shoto smiled as he sat down beside her, reaching his hand out to melt the ice he'd created. He leaned over, resting his head on her shoulder.

"We'll always come and play here, right?" Shoto looked up at her, his bright grey and turquoise eyes filling with worry.

"Always," she smiled down at him.

"Promise?"

"Promise," she giggled.

"Can we do what the big kids did the other day?"

Veronica thought for a moment. They'd watched as a teenage couple had carved their names into a tree at one of the other parks. When they asked what they were doing, the older girl had explained that it was what people who are in love do, to show that they'll always be together.

Veronica turned to Shoto, nodding. He beamed back at her, his mouth forming a wide smile. He quickly jumped to his feet as she slowly stood. Shoto turned to the tree's grand trunk, raising his hand as a flame appeared at his fingertip. He started to burn his initials into the tree, taking a step back and smiling proudly once he'd finished.

Veronica stepped forward, scrunching her nose as she tried to think of a way to write her own initials below his.

"Here," Shoto giggled, raising his hand to her, a flame appearing once more. "You can use my finger."

"Okay." They laughed as she used his finger to trace her own initials. "There, all done." She stepped back, admiring their handy work.

"No," Shoto shook his head, raising his hand to the tree once more. Veronica watched as he stood up on tippy toes, shakily drawing out a rough heart shape like the older couple had. "Now it's done." He stepped back to stand beside her, smiling at the scorched markings.

"You promised, right?"

Veronica turned to look at Shoto, confused by the change in his voice. He stood taller now, his jaw sharper, his body covered in lean muscle. His eyes watched her, their color not nearly as bright, his expression somber.

"Sho-sho?"

"Even if someone else were to come along, you wouldn't leave me, right?"

Her heart sank into her stomach. "Shoto, who would-"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Veronica gasped in surprise at the new voice. She spun to see a pair of crimson eyes watching her movements. He leaned against their tree, his spiky ash blond hair shifting in the breeze. His arms were crossed, his biceps on full display in his black tank top.

Veronica swallowed hard, an unfamiliar feeling filling her as he pushed himself off of the tree. She jumped in surprise as he reached his hand out, an explosion erupting from his palm to destroy the markings she'd created with Shoto.

She felt Shoto's arms snake their way around her waist from behind. He leaned forward, resting his chin on top of her shoulder as he looked past her towards Katsuki. "Do you really think that you can steal her from me?"

Katsuki came to a stop a foot in front of them. "I kissed her first, didn't I?" He smirked.

Veronica gasped, bolting upright in bed. Her whole body shook, her breathing labored.

"Veronica?" Shoto reached out towards her in the dark. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she rasped out, desperately pulling air into her lungs. "Yeah, I just need a glass of water."

"Okay," Shoto mumbled, his arm returning to his side as he fell back asleep.

She took a second to compose herself, remembering that she'd already come home that evening with Shoto. He'd agreed to sleep in her bed that night, hoping to keep away any nightmares that could arise from the day's events.

Veronica slowly untangled herself from the covers, slipping out of her bed towards the hall, trying not to wake Shoto. She flicked on the light to the kitchen, grabbing the kettle off of the counter and bringing it to the sink to fill it. Water wasn't going to be enough.

A few minutes later Veronica was leaning against the countertop, a cup of chamomile tea in her hands. She raised the steaming mug to her face, breathing in the calming aromas as she closed her eyes.

What am I going to do? If that dream was any indication, the kiss between her and Katsuki was going to eat away at her until the issue was resolved. Veronica sighed. Why does he even like me anyways? She shook her head, confused. Does it even matter? I'm with Shoto after all.

Would your answer be different if you weren't? She nearly dropped her tea. Of course not! I have no reason to like Katsuki!

Don't you?

"Oh my god," Veronica growled in annoyance, turning to set her mug on the counter. It's Katsuki for fuck sakes! There's nothing likable about him. He's just a big bully.

But he's worried about you... He was concerned with how your aunt was treating you, remember?

Oh, shut up! Veronica yelled at herself. What do you know?

You know how good he felt on top of you... Her brain conjured up the images of her multiple arguments with Katsuki, many of them ending with the two of them in a compromising position. He even kissed you...

Veronica groaned in frustration, running a hand down her face. Yeah, well, Shoto kissed me too! And don't forget how good he looked in the bathroom this morning...

So then, which one do you want more?