Author's Note: The fully updated/edited version of this work is on AO3. The problem with FFN, editing chapters is not easy, so the best version of this story is on AO3.

Song Inspiration: Setting the World on Fire by Kenny Chesney ft. Pink

EIGHTEEN | SETTING THE WORLD ON FIRE

Bakugo turned onto a side road and brought his motorcycle to a stop near the water. They'd left earlier than Ochaco cared to. She preferred to rise with the sun, not before it. Regardless, they survived and had made it, or at least she figured they were close given they'd been driving for a little over six hours. She looked around when Bakugo cut the engine and pulled off his helmet.

Bakugo looked over his shoulder at her. "Get off for a second."

"Are we here? Is something wrong?" Ochaco dismounted and took a step back.

Bakugo got off the bike and placed his helmet on a nearby bench. A couple of joggers ran by along the sidewalk while a cyclist zoomed past them. Seagulls cried in the air, soaring with the ocean winds. Waves crashed against the seawall behind them. Bakugo came to Uraraka's side and held the keys out to her.

"What?" she asked, her smile growing wider. "Are you serious?"

"The place we're meeting my parents is another ten minutes from here. I figured you could manage it." He jingled the keys in front of her. "You still want to learn, don't you?"

Ochaco glanced around the area one more time. Hardly anyone was around, so she figured it would be safe. The area appeared mostly residential with a couple of storefronts along the way. No other traffic seemed to be around, just an open two-way street and the ocean. Biting her lip, Ochaco turned to face Bakugo and nodded, taking the keys from him. She swung her leg over the motorcycle and stuck the key in the ignition while Bakugo stood beside her.

On the one hand, it was scary. On the other hand, she wanted to fly down the highway with her hair whipping around. The driver's seat was more intense, there wasn't much before her short of the speedometer and tachometer. A couple of buttons on the handlebars, and metal levers. In a way it was like a super powered bicycle. This is going to be freaking awesome!

"You nervous?" he asked.

"No way, I'm so excited!" She gave him a thumbs up and placed her hands on the handles. The weight was greater than she expected. "Wow, it's pretty heavy."

"It'll be easier once we're moving, but we aren't gonna do anything yet," Bakugo said as he climbed on the bike behind her. His chest pressed against her back and muscled arms reached around hers. "So here on your left, this is the clutch." He pulled the silver lever in front of the handle.

"Okay, so this is the clutch." Ochaco squeezed the lever as well, the excitement of driving bubbling within her.

Bakugo then rested his hand on the right handle and grabbed the lever in front of it, squeezing twice. "This is your front brake, which will be most of the stopping power."

Ochaco nodded and mimicked what he did. "Brake, got it."

"The right is also the throttle." Bakugo made a slight rolling motion with his hand. "It doesn't take much, so just a little push and it'll go. The engine is powerful."

"What about the clutch?"

"You'll let off the clutch slowly. Don't just release it or you'll stall." Bakugo showed her how to do it, slowly opening his hand while his right hand rested on the throttle. "When you put the bike in first gear, it'll pull forward, but don't freak out. If you do get scared, just pull the clutch in. Left lever. Got it?"

Ochaco nodded. "Yeah, I think I got this."

"Do you know how to ride a bicycle?"

Ochaco raised an eyebrow and glanced back at him. "Isn't that like a child's rite of passage?"

Bakugo chuckled. "Sure, but still gotta ask. This is just like riding a bicycle. It's just got a big ass engine attached to it."

Ocha's feet were placed on either side, her thighs keeping the bike balanced. The handles resembled a bicycle, and even turning was like a normal bike. Ochaco let out a breath and looked back at Bakugo. "Okay, so how do I shift gears?"

"Whenever you're going to shift gears, you need to have the clutch pulled in," Bakugo explained as he pulled the clutch in. Ochaco did the same, her hand pressed closely to his. She'd never noticed the scars on his hands before, definitely from many hard fought battles with villains and possibly hours worth of training.

"Clutch in when shifting gears, got it." Ochaco held the clutch in and Bakugo let go, pointing down to a metal peg sticking out in front of her leg. "Gear shift?"

"Yes," Bakugo replied with a nod. "Just to be clear, we're not going past second gear. No need for you to go that fast yet."

"Meaning, you'll let me go faster next time?" Ochaco asked with a laugh.

"Let's see if we survive lesson one," Bakugo said, smiling. "So first gear is one down. If you go half a click up that'll be neutral, and one full click up is going to be second gear. We're gonna stick with first for now until you get the feel for this."

"I'm so ready," Ochaco said, nearly bouncing in the seat.

Bakugo patted her thigh, eliciting a tingling sensation to flood through her whole body. "Easy there, the bike ain't even on yet, Pink Cheeks."

"Right, sorry." She took in a breath and focused. Despite being on a relatively empty residential road, falling was still a possibility. She had to keep it together, but damn was it hard. "What else do I need to know?"

Bakugo pointed to the right side at a pedal plate. "That's your rear brake, but most of your braking power will be the handbrake."

Ochaco wanted to turn the bike on and ride. The only thing that had her nervous was somehow damaging Bakugo's bike. She had a feeling even though they were friends, he'd kill her for real if she did something to his bike. Then again, he was trusting her enough to drive it. She had to prove his trust in her was warranted. Be confident!

Bakugo pointed straight down the road. "See that parking lot up there?"

"Yeah," Ochaco nodded. It appeared to be a warehouse parking space, not too big, but empty aside from a couple of box trucks.

"We're going to go in there and turn around. Think you can do it?" Bakugo asked.

"Hell yeah," Ochaco grinned. "Let's do it."

"Okay, remember to slowly release the clutch and don't rev the throttle. This is real life, not a movie."

Ochaco laughed. "Wasn't going too."

Bakugo sputtered. "Don't lie, you're bouncing."

"I have self control."

"Tell that to my ice cream."

"Hey!" Ochaco elbowed him. "That was different."

Bakugo chuckled. "Sure, sure. Okay, let's turn it on."

"Okay, keys are in." Ochaco pointed to the key, which she had put in when she first mounted the bike. The engine never came on though, but she did notice a couple of buttons near the brake handle.

"First, you gotta hit this switch, so the fuel pump will start." Bakugo pointed to a switch beside the brake handle. Ochaco pressed the switch down and a soft mechanical whir came from the bike. Bakugo gave her a thumbs up, then pointed to another button next to the switch. "That's your starter, you're going to push and hold and the engine will come on."

Ochaco pressed on the button and the engine roared to life. The bike rumbled beneath her, almost as if it were alive and breathing. Her heart raced, the anticipation of actually driving swelled in her gut. It was much more real now.

"Still good?" Bakugo asked.

Ochaco nodded, her eyes darting from one handle to the other. She leaned forward and grabbed the handles, pulling in both levers. "Okay, what do I do next?"

"Put the kickstand up," Bakugo told her.

She used her foot to push it in. The weight of the bike fully in her control. She had to keep her balance. Just like riding a bike.

"When you put the bike in gear, it's gonna pull. Don't panic, okay?" Bakugo had his hands on her waist. "The clutch is your best friend, just pull it in if you freak out, it'll cut all the power. Ready to try?"

"Let's do it."

"Alright, one click down on the gear shift, slowly let off the clutch and just let it roll forward."

Ochaco glanced down at the gear shift and pushed it down. The gear made a pop and Ochaco sucked in a breath. Bakugo patted her side, making her relax a little. She licked her lips and let go of the brake, but kept a firm hold on the clutch. "Did I do it right?"

"Yup," Bakugo assured her. "Now remember, slowly release the clutch."

Ochaco grabbed the right handle and stared straight ahead. All she had to do was let the clutch go and roll forward, no turns, nothing tough or dangerous. Except things never go as well as what you would hope. Despite Bakugo telling her not to freak out, Ochaco still did. As she released the clutch, the bike lurched forward faster than she anticipated. Forgetting everything he told her, she accidentally rolled the throttle back and the bike charged forward. She screamed, her legs tapping on the ground and Bakugo was no longer on the bike.

"Oh my god!" she screamed, trying to remember what to do as the bike continued rolling forward, wobbling slightly as she tried to keep her balance. She hoped to not fall over and damage the bike or hurt herself.

"Clutch! Clutch! Clutch!" Bakugo hollered as he ran after her and jumped onto the back of the bike. His arms reached around, his chin resting against her shoulder as he pulled the clutch back and gently pulled the brake lever. "It's okay, I gotcha ya."

"I'm so sorry, I panicked," Ochaco said, her heart rate higher than normal. She let out a breath and realized that Bakugo's hands were wrapped around hers. A heat rose to her cheeks, but that could have been from the sudden adrenaline rush.

Bakugo chuckled. "It's okay, it happens."

She smiled, surprised he didn't yell at her for nearly crashing his bike. "Let's try again."

"Okay, remember slow release on the clutch, once we start rolling then give a little go on the throttle." Bakugo lifted his hands from hers and mimicked the motions a few times. "If you panic, just pull the clutch. Ready?"

Ochaco nodded once and did exactly what he said. Slow release on the clutch, the bike rolled forward, gaining a little speed with each second. Then she lifted her feet onto the pegs and pulled on the throttle. "I'm doing it! I'm doing it! Right?"

Bakugo laughed. "You're doing it, Pink Cheeks. You're doing it."

"This is so cool," Ochaco squealed as she drove them down the street at a steady speed. The wind kissed her face, her smile couldn't be wider, and the flutter of excitement had turned into a tempest. "I love this!"

Bakugo let go of her waist and held his arms out to the side. "Good girl," he said, then pointed at the upcoming parking lot. "Turn in there so we can turn around, nice and easy don't yank it, just lean with the bike."

"Here we go." Ochaco rested her fingers on the brake, but never pulled as they turned into the parking lot. It was way easier than she expected, only boosting her confidence further. She cheered as they drove toward the last row in the parking lot.

"Okay, now we're going to stop," Bakugo said, his chin brushing against her shoulder as he spoke. "First, let go of the throttle, pull your clutch back in, and gently pull on the brake."

Ochaco nodded and did exactly as she was told. The bike slowed and as they came to a halt, she put her feet down to keep the bike from falling over. Bakugo pulled back from her and rested his hands on her waist. "Hey I stopped without crashing," she laughed and looked back at Bakugo, who nodded in approval. "This is fun."

"Motorcycles are the best," Bakugo replied. "Now, put the bike back in neutral. Foot under the peg, half a click up."

Ochaco put her foot into position and tugged it up slightly.

Bakugo smiled. "You feel like you can get us to our final destination?"

"Yes sir!" Ochaco saluted. "I'll drive us back home if you want."

"Let's not get carried away," Bakugo said, patting her shoulder. "Baby steps."

"I'm just saying."

"Let's master first and second gear first."

"Practice makes perfect."

"I'll think about it if you can get us to our destination without crashing."

"I like a challenge."

Bakugo laughed. "Okay, first get us back to where we started so I can get my helmet. The condos we're going to is just a little further down the road."

"No problem," Ochaco said as she got back into position to drive again. "I'm gonna be a pro at this."

"Yeah, we'll see."

"I'm serious. Don't back seat drive, I'll make it."

"Please don't damage my bike."

Ochaco laughed. She put her hand on the clutch, rested her other on the throttle, and shifted into first gear. Bakugo's hands held to her waist, which sent shivers down her spine. They were so warm and rough. Without realizing it, she let go of the clutch and the bike rammed forward, causing Bakugo to crash into her back. She yelped and blinked, noticing the engine had gone quiet. "Oh crap! Did I break it?"

Bakugo snorted. "A pro, huh?"

"What happened?"

He chuckled and straightened. "You stalled."

"Whoops," Ochaco said, biting her lip. "My bad."

"It's okay." Bakugo shook his head. "Everyone stalls and if someone tells you they haven't, they're lying."

Ochaco raised an eyebrow and glanced back at him. "Even you?"

"I've stalled a few times," Bakugo replied with a shrug. "It happens. Try again."

"Thank you," Ochaco said, causing Bakugo to tilt his head, brow creasing. "You're an excellent teacher."

"I just don't want you to destroy my bike."

"Ugh," Ochaco snorted with an eye roll.

-xXx-

Bakugo had to admit—to himself, not out loud—that Pink Cheeks had done much better than he expected her too. She took to it like a fish to water. Sure she had a few hiccups, but once they were rolling she was a natural. It was nice being a passenger for a little while, and her confidence and cheerfulness had his heart thumping harder than normal. He pretended that was just worry of her damaging his bike though, not because he got to hold onto her waist or be the reason she was bubbling with excitement.

The condos they were staying at came up on the left side of the road. Bakugo tapped Uraraka's side and pointed to the upcoming condos. She gave him a thumbs up and slowed the bike before making a smooth turn into the parking lot. They rolled toward the end, then she came to a stop in an empty space. She cut the ignition and put down the kickstand before pulling off her helmet.

"Okay, on a scale of one to ten, how did I do? Be honest," she said as he got off and removed his helmet.

"I'm always honest," Bakugo reminded her with a smirk. "A solid seven."

Uraraka chuckled and dismounted the bike, placing the helmet on the seat. "I'll take it. That's a pretty good score for my first time."

"You should definitely be proud," Bakugo said with a nod. "You did good."

"Good enough to drive it again?" She batted her lashes and clasped her hands together in front of her face.

"I created a monster," Bakugo teased.

Uraraka playfully pushed him then turned to look at the condos. "Does your family own a place here in Isubuki?"

"No, it's a family friend's place. They let us borrow it from time to time. My mom loves it out here, but not enough to move. It's too far from me," Bakugo said with a gag, earning a giggle from Uraraka.

"Are you kidding me, Katsuki?" his mother hollered. "You came here on that damn deathtrap!"

Bakugo and Uraraka turned their attention to a blonde woman wearing a simple beige sleeveless top and striped pants. His mother glared at him, her arms crossed and even though he couldn't see her foot, he assumed she was tapping it on the ground.

Uraraka turned to him. "Is that your mother?"

"Unfortunately," he grumbled, scratching the back of his neck. They hadn't seen one another in person for over a year, he would try to be as civil as possible. The fact remained though, his mother was an impossible woman with a ferocious attitude and her sole purpose in life was to drive him insane. Yes, she was his mother and he knew she loved him, but sometimes she was just too much.

She came barreling down the stairs like the mad woman she was, got into his face, and tugged on his earlobe. "You know how I feel about you driving that thing!"

Uraraka took a step back, eyes wide. Clearly, her family dynamic was nothing like his own.

Bakugo pulled free and glared. "Knock it off, old lady! I'm twenty-five, not twelve."

"You sure do act like a twelve-year-old, you brat. Not calling, not visiting, the most information I get about you is from the damn news!" She crossed her arms, the frustration still burning in her eyes. "You listen to me Katsuki, I am your mother. That means that no matter what happens, you will always be my baby. Do you understand me?" It was going to be a long couple of days. Without a doubt, she would be raging at him, harping on him, and making countless sarcastic remarks.

"I can take care of myself," Bakugo said, looking away from his mom's eyes. Not that it lessened the intensity of her stare down.

"I swear I raised you better," his mom sighed with a shake of her head, then turned her attention to Uraraka. "Hey, I recognize you."

"Hi." Uraraka gave a small bow. "I'm Ochaco Uraraka, nice to meet you officially."

His mom snapped her finger and pointed at Uraraka. "You're the young lady who nearly beat Katsuki during his first UA sports festival."

"That's not what happened!" Bakugo growled.

"Shut-up, Katsuki! She almost had you and you know it." His mother poked him in the chest, then turned back to Uraraka, smiling like she was a completely different person. "This explains a lot."

Uraraka raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"My brat of a son here must like you since you got spunk."

Bakugo groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Well, we have just recently become friends. We weren't exactly close in high school."

His mom laughed. "Course not, he couldn't handle being around someone better than him."

"Shut-up, old lady!" Bakugo clenched his fist, teeth gritted, and eyes narrowed. He had no patience for any of this. They'd been driving since six, it was almost one, he was starving. "I didn't care to be friends with anyone back then."

"Or now for that matter," his mom retorted. "Twenty-five-years old and you haven't had a serious relationship or any real friend outside of Eijiro. Guess we can say you're finally making progress though."

Bakugo rolled his eyes. "I chose all those things!"

"And look how you turned out, brat! Grumpy and always yelling!"

"I learned that from you!"

His mom waved a finger at him. "Oh don't go blaming me, Katsuki."

"It's true, though!"

"You're on your own now and not a kid anymore, learn to be a gentleman."

Bakugo raked his fingers through his hair, nostrils flared. "You are so infuriating!"

"Imagine how I feel about you," his mom snapped back, poking him in the chest. "You've always been told how awesome you are, all because of that amazing quirk of yours and that makes you think you don't have to be a decent person."

Uraraka took a step forward, standing partially in between the two of them. She held her hand up, silencing both of them. Her eyes drifted to Bakugo and then went back to his mom. "He isn't like that at all. A few years ago, he wasn't pleasant to be around, but now," Uraraka looked at him and smiled. "Now he's good. You'd be very proud of who he's become, Mrs. Bakugo."

His mom tilted her head then chuckled. "I see, well he has forty-eight hours to prove it."

Uraraka nodded. "He will, won't you, Bakugo?"

"I have nothing to prove to her." He crossed his arms and kicked at the ground, avoiding both of their eyes. Why did they both have to be so damn embarrassing? Although, he appreciated Uraraka standing up for him.

"There must be some sort of growth, since there haven't been any explosions." Bakugo's dad stood on the second floor, leaning against the railing. Unlike his mom who had to nitpick and yell and complain about everything, his dad was much more reserved and laid back. They were a strange pair, but as far as Bakugo was concerned his dad was basically a doormat to his mom. "Lunch is ready, I bet you two must be tired from your trip. Come on up."

His mom nodded in agreement. "He's right, come on. We have a lot planned for today." She put her arm around Uraraka and led her toward the staircase. "So tell me the truth, you and Katsuki aren't dating?"

"What! No, no," Uraraka laughed nervously. "Just friends."

"It's because he's a rabid dog, isn't it?"

"Mom, stop harassing her. We're just friends," Bakugo huffed as he pulled his bag from the storage compartment of his bike.

"You hush," his mom snapped. "I'm trying to get this pretty girl to be your girlfriend."

Uraraka's face turned the deepest shade of red. "Mrs. Bakugo, really it's not like that."

Bakugo was half tempted to turn around and drive home. He'd grab Uraraka and they'd make a run for it. Surviving his mom for forty-eight hours just wasn't going to happen. He stood at the foot of the stairs, watching Uraraka and his mom talk. Despite wanting to leave, a very tiny miniscule part of him felt happy.

"What're you doing? Get to stepping, brat!" His mom peered over the railing, waving him along.

He looked up at her, but his eyes went for Uraraka. She gave him a warm smile, her eyes glittering, and the blush on her cheeks proved just how embarrassed she was. This is what he feared would happen. He let out a breath and jogged up the stairs. When he reached the top, Uraraka and his dad were greeting one another. At least his dad would be calm and not make them seem like a totally insane family.

"It's so nice to meet you," his dad said with a smile.

"The pleasure is all mine," Uraraka replied with a small bow. "Thank you both for having me."

"No problem, please come in and eat," his mom said, guiding Uraraka inside while his dad remained outside by the door.

"Hey dad." Bakugo walked over and stopped in front of him. While his mom looked the same as the day he moved away, his dad had gotten a little grayer and a little more wrinkled.

"It's good to see you kid." His dad clapped him on the shoulder. "Your mom's missed you."

Bakugo snorted. "Yeah, yeah."

"If you called her more often, she wouldn't yell at you so much."

"Dad, she yelled when I lived with you two."

His dad laughed. "It's her way of showing her love."

"Weird way to show it," Bakugo grumbled as he walked inside. He kept telling himself, he would survive the next forty-eight hours. If he could survive a train crash, then he could survive his mother.

-xXx-

Ochaco saw exactly where Bakugo's fiery attitude came from. He and his mom were so similar it was bizarre. They even shared the same eyes and hair, he was without a doubt his mother's son. Mitsuki loved her son, Ochaco could tell by the way she scolded him a dozen times during their lunch. Bakugo had been nothing short of frustrated and irritated, but overall kept his composure. As for his dad, Masaru, he was definitely the odd one out of the family. He was soft spoken, polite, and incredibly calm, but in Ochaco's humble opinion they needed some calmness among the chaos. She could only imagine how crazy it would have been if Masaru was a stick of dynamite like them.

In order to give Bakugo some breathing space, Masaru had suggested Mitsuki and Ochaco go check out some of the stores near the beach. The little corner of Isubuki they'd wandered to was quiet. A picturesque oceanside town with cute clothing boutiques, cafes, and trinket stores. They'd come to a little courtyard space shared by several little shops.

Four small flowering trees grew in the courtyard, wind chimes and bird feeders hung from the branches. Stone pots dotted the courtyard and bloomed with vibrant flowers, attracting butterflies and bees. The picnic tables were all fun colors like baby blue, sunshine yellow, and flamingo pink. In the center of all the trees a simple water fountain gurgled, adding to the peaceful and charming ambience. Ochaco sat on a stone bench on the outer edge of the courtyard. A gentle breeze brushed by, whipping her hair around her face.

"Brought you a drink," Mitsuki said, holding out a bottle of water as she took a seat beside Ochaco. "So be honest with me, how is Katsuki really?"

"Thank you." Ochaco took the water bottle and placed it beside her. "What do you mean?"

"The accident, his hand."

Ochaco nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It was bad, they had to replace the nerve. Thankfully, everything went fine and he's good as new."

"That brat never tells me anything," Mitsuki said as she took a sip of her drink. "He hates to look weak, so he's always acting tough. I'm his mother though, I know him better than anyone. I raised him."

Ochaco chuckled. "You don't have to worry about him. He's tough."

"I know." Mitsuki looked at the bright blue sky overhead. "That's what mom's do though. Do me a favor and take care of him. I know that's a big ask, but he seems to be fond of you."

Ochaco's cheeks heated. Bakugo fond of her? That seemed a little bit of a stretch. He'd been nice to her and a good friend, but fond of her made it seem like there might have been more. She bit the inside of her cheek, mulling over the different possibilities. Mitsuki placed a hand on Ochaco's shoulder, snapping her from her thoughts.

"Is there something going on between the two of you?"

"No! We're just friends. We only started even hanging out once I moved to Kyoto six weeks ago. Besides, I don't even think your son would be interested in a girl like me."

Mitsuki scowled. "Don't say that. You're a pretty girl, seem smart, and I know you're tough. Those are all things worth noticing."

"Thank you."

"I didn't mean to put you on the spot." Mitsuki stood. "If you say there's nothing going on, then I believe you."

"I'll make sure he doesn't do anything reckless."

Mitsuki smiled. "Good, cause he might actually listen to you."

Ochaco laughed. "I don't know about that."

"Well, enough about my troublesome son," Mitsuki said, pointing toward a shop on the other side of the road. "We are going to a resort restaurant down by the water and we need to find you something cute to wear."

"I never say no to shopping," Ochaco replied, gesturing for Mitsuki to lead the way.

-xXx-

Bakugo sat on the couch. His dad sat on the lounge chair to his left, scrolling through his phone. In a way, it felt like the time at the beach house, waiting for the girls to get ready. This time it wasn't a special occasion, so he didn't understand why they had to take so damn long. The condo hadn't changed at all since the last time he'd been there, when he was still at UA. Everything was in a hushed color palette of grays and whites with an occasional pop of bright blue.

He fiddled with a piece of string at the hem of his navy t-shirt. His mother told him to dress nice, and a fitted t-shirt, jeans, and his boots were as good as it was going to get. Plus he didn't want to have to change for when they went hiking up the mountain later that night. It was ten minutes until six and his patience was beginning to wear thin. He grabbed a nearby throw pillow and hugged it to his chest while blankly staring at an art set on the wall.

"Go get the car ready," his mom said as she came out of the master bedroom. She didn't look much different than usual, her hair was still wildly styled, not much for make-up, she did have on some silver statement jewelry pieces. Her blouse was paisley patterned, making her seem a bit more grandma-ish in his opinion. He'd keep that to himself though, lest he want to be thrown through the window.

"Sure thing," his dad said and wandered out of the condo.

"You don't have something other than a t-shirt?" his mom questioned, hands on her hips and eyes locked on him.

Bakugo sighed and threw the pillow aside. "We came here to hike, so no I don't."

"Didn't I always tell you to pack something dressy whenever you travel?"

Bakugo rose to his feet, he really didn't want to get into it with his mom.

His mom shook her head and waved the matter off. "Fine whatever, you can look like a schlup while your girlfriend has all eyes on her."

The vein in his head was going to pop. That was the second time she'd called Uraraka his girlfriend. And yes, Uraraka was a nice and pretty girl, but it was weird to hear those words come from his mom. "Mom, I told you, she isn't my girlfriend, we're just friends."

"Sure, sure," his mother hummed as she grabbed her purse. "I like her, she's a sweet young lady."

Bakugo rolled his eyes. The last thing he wanted from his mother was dating advice or her opinion on any woman in his life. "Just stop calling her my girlfriend. She just got out of a long term relationship a few months ago so it's not like she is looking anyway."

His mom raised an eyebrow. "Wait, does that mean that you're actually—"

"Shut-up!"

"You brought it up," his mom snapped, waving a finger at him. "Don't you sass me, brat!"

"I didn't bring it up!"

"Yes, you did!"

"No! You did, ya old hag!"

"I brought you into this world, Katsuki! Don't think I won't kick your ass out of it."

Uraraka cut in between them. "Mitsuki, Bakugo, let's not fight. We're about to go have dinner, let's just calm down." She placed her hand on Bakugo's forearm and then faced Mitsuki, giving a small smile. "Come on, let's just have a good time. Okay?"

"Of course," his mom said with a smile and gestured to Uraraka's outfit. "You look great by the way."

"Thank you."

Bakugo relaxed and glanced at Uraraka's hand, which remained on his forearm. As if she noticed he was staring at her hand, she pulled it away and took a step back. He then looked at her. She did look great. The days spent on the beach during their vacation had given her the slightest tan. Her dress was yellow with little white polka dots all over and it reached just below her mid thigh. When he realized he was staring, he cleared his throat and straightened his posture. "Are you ready?"

"Let me just grab my purse," Uraraka said and scurried back to the guest bedroom on the other side of the living room.

"Please lock the door, I'm gonna go wait with your dad." His mom handed him the key and left without another word. Thank goodness for that.

Seconds later, Uraraka came back into the living room with her purse hanging from her shoulder. She left her hair in its natural state, which had a slight wave to it. No make-up, not that she even needed it. Her cheeks were rosy without blush and her lashes framed her eyes beautifully. Bakugo shook his head, why did he even notice those things about her?

"Sorry for jumping in, I just didn't want you guys to fight. Tonight's going to be a good night, so no fighting." Uraraka patted his shoulder and walked toward the door to slip on her shoes. "You look nice by the way. I like the understated fashion look you got going."

Bakugo snorted and glanced down at himself. "This is just standard clothing, Pink Cheeks."

"The boots make it more rugged."

"If you say so," he replied as he joined her by the door. "You look nice too."

Uraraka smiled. "Thank you."

Bakugo stared. Those deep chocolate eyes of her had little flecks of gold that really brightened in the darkness. He reached for the door, breaking eye contact with her. "Let's go eat."

-xXx-

Dinner had gone surprisingly well, Bakugo and his mom didn't kill each other and no explosions went off. All in all, Bakugo took that as a sign of growth in their relationship. It had helped that Uraraka was around to act as a buffer though, his parents had talked mostly to her and left him alone. And he loved that.

The outdoor air breathed life into the restaurant and the grassy knoll that led out to the water's edge provided the perfect backdrop. Night had fallen, the stars and moon taking their proper places in the velvet sky. Just beyond the round table they'd been seated at for the last hour and a half lay a dance floor where about a dozen people were dancing. The music had an upbeat flair and the paper lanterns and the fire pits made it cozy.

Bakugo grabbed his wine glass and took a small sip. Uraraka had taken the seat that faced the dance floor and the whole time she'd been watching. She even swayed in her seat, smiling as she observed the couples and friends that danced together.

The canopy above them was covered in heavy greenery with pink blooms that matched Uraraka's cheeks. He looked away and took another sip of his wine, finishing off the glass. That was his second, and while he wanted a third, he would decline. The couple from the table beside them made their way to the dance floor. Bakugo turned toward the kitchen doors where a waiter waltzed out with a dessert with sparklers. And he of course took it to a middle aged couple, who clapped, whispered something to one another, and then kissed.

Why was everything about the restaurant so fucking romantic? Or maybe all establishments were like this. No! This one was definitely oozing romance. The fire light, the lanterns, the dance floor, the canopy and flowering vines; Bakugo might take that wine.

A hand rested on his arm. He looked to Uraraka, who smiled at him. A charming, beautiful smile with her hair falling over one shoulder. "You seem tense?"

"Is that a question?" Bakugo asked, turning away from Uraraka before more thoughts plagued his mind.

"Go dance," his mom said.

"What?" Uraraka asked with a laugh.

Bakugo couldn't even find the words to say. He wasn't even sure if he heard her right, but he was fairly certain his mom told them to go dance. Out in the middle of the room, where they'd be holding hands and swaying and twirling. That...no, he couldn't do that. Dangerous territory. Bad idea.

"Just for a minute or two," his mom explained. "Think of it as a warm-up for our starry-night hike."

Bakugo glared at his mother. He was going to snap at her, but stopped when Uraraka shook her head and laughed. She glanced back out on the dance floor, then turned back to his mom. "I couldn't, I have no idea how to dance like that. It would be too embarrassing."

His mom laughed. "Who cares? Do it anyway!"

"Mother," Bakugo seethed.

"Oh don't you start, Katsuki," his mom shot back with narrowed eyes. "She's been dancing in her seat this whole time. Be a gentleman and take her dancing!"

Bakugo groaned.

"Now, now," his dad stepped in. "Dancing is about having fun, don't worry about the rest. Go have some fun."

Obviously, his dad was going to be no help at all. Bakugo had only danced one other time and it was because of Kamui Woods, who made a bet with him. He wasn't going to back down or lose to the damn tree-hugger so he spent one whole week learning some basic ballroom dancing. And he won the bet, which made it even better. His parents didn't know anything about it, nor did Uraraka. Kirishima knew, but Bakugo made him swear to never speak of it again. Kamui Woods made no such promise and occasionally made snide twinkle-toes remarks.

"Really, it's fine," Uraraka said and looked to Bakugo. "I can't dance like that and Bakugo can't either, so it's not a big deal."

Bakugo sucked in a breath. He could dance. At least well enough to not be embarrassed about his skill. He understood Uraraka probably didn't mean to make such an assumption and was trying to get his mom to back off, but now he felt like he was being challenged.

"Yeah," his mom said, placing her empty wine glass down on the table. "Katsuki can't dance. He doesn't know how to charm a woman."

Bakugo huffed and scooted his chair back. If he didn't go out there and dance with Uraraka, his mother would be up his ass all night about it and probably well into tomorrow morning. That was by far much more infuriating than having to go out and dance for a couple of minutes.

"It's not like that at all," Uraraka tried with a nervous laugh.

He rose from his seat and held his hand out to Uraraka. She bit her lip as she stared at his hand, her face flushing. When her eyes met his, he nodded. Her eyes drifted back to the dance floor. Pressing her lips together, Uraraka smiled and put her hand in his. He pulled her along to the dance floor.

"That's it! Go dance!" his mom cheered.

When they reached the edge of the dance floor, Bakugo looked back at her. Uraraka shook her head and laughed. "Bakugo, I don't think I can do this."

Bakugo stepped onto the dance floor. "Just go with it."

Uraraka's face scrunched. "Bakugo, no, no."

He pulled her onto the dance floor and spun her out. She looked back at him, eyes wide as he pulled her back, lifting their hands up and spun under it. Uraraka laughed as she stepped back only to be tugged back into his arms. Her chest pressed against his, her other hand rested on his shoulder while he placed his around her back. Their faces were so close to one another. Uraraka's eyes sparkled as she giggled when Bakugo smiled at her and took the lead. A couple of steps forward and a step back, bodies rocking to the upbeat melody.

They locked eyes and Bakugo twirled her around, Uraraka's hair whipped around, the scent of her strawberry and peach shampoo wafted into his nose. He pulled her back in. She nodded, the tenseness in her body faded away as she rocked her shoulders. Not once did she stop smiling as they swayed on the dance floor. Bakugo laughed as he pushed them apart and pulled them back together.

"So you can dance?" Uraraka asked as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

Bakugo smirked. "Maybe a little."

She laughed and followed him forwards and backwards, her hips sashaying to the tune. He spun them both around at the same time. They came in close again, spinning around the floor. Everyone else had faded away, it was just the two of them and the music. Uraraka closed her eyes and bobbed her head. When she opened her eyes again, Bakugo took in a deep breath. She was stunning. Her laugh, her smile, her eyes, her scent, everything about her just made him breathless.

Bakugo twirled her around, pushing her out and stepped forward. When she came back to him, her back pressed against his chest. Uraraka looked over her shoulder at him. His nose nuzzled against her ear as his hands rested on her hips. They lowered down to the ground, bodies pinned against one another. Bakugo kept her steady as they rose back up. He smiled and turned her around to face him once again.

They spun in a circle, eyes locked on one another. This feeling in his chest; the elation that built and slammed into him like a battering ram. It wasn't like the other times. This was something more than just a physical attraction. Her smile lit up the room and the sound of her laugh made his heart beat faster.

They pulled apart and when Bakugo pulled her back, he dipped her back. Uraraka squealed and laughed as he pulled her up. She shook her head and continued to sway with him. Their foreheads rested against one another as they twirled around.

Bakugo spun Uraraka out. She faced him, beaming a smile and trotted toward him, leaping into him. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders while his hands fell to her hips. They stayed like that for a while, before Bakugo reached for her arms and raised them above her head. Uraraka closed her eyes, but rocked her hips against him. He let go of her hands, swaying with her body. His hands slid down the smooth skin of her arms, then combed through her silky locks. Uraraka opened her eyes, breathless as his hands slid down her sides, stopping at her hips.

She put her hands back on his shoulders and rocked from side to side. Bakugo took hold of her hand and snaked his arm back around her. He nodded and twirled around with her, before dipping her low once again. When she came back up, their breaths mixed, foreheads pressed together, nose brushing against one another.

The desire to kiss her swelled within him.

Uraraka licked her lips and leaned forward, only to pull back. "This was fun."

Bakugo swallowed, forcing all his desires to hold her close and kiss her away. "Yeah, fun."

They stopped dancing, but continued to stare at one another, still holding onto one another. Uraraka closed her eyes and stepped out of his hold. She let out a breath and stroked the side of his face. "Thank you for dancing with me."

When her touch left his face, but the feeling of her fingers remained and the fluttering of his heart turned into a storm, he knew he was falling for her.