Izuku locked himself in the bathroom so he could do his own makeup. Some concealer to mask his freckles and black eyeliner to bring out his eyes. Then he zipped up his thigh-high black boots and fastened his neon green garters into place. He wore a billowy white dress shirt under a deep-green velvet dress vest with gold buttons. Since it was a little hot out, he opted to wear dress shorts instead of slacks.

The finishing touch was a neon green bow to match the garters. I hope Katsuki likes it, he thought as Inko adjusted the bow.

"Please be careful, okay?" she warned with a worried expression.

"Don't worry, mom," he assured. "Katsuki will be with me the whole time."

Inko shot her son a look, conveying doubt. "That's...sort of what I'm worried about, Zuzu."

Izuku scowled. "He'd never let anything happen to me."

She didn't answer. It was her classic mom-silence. The mom-silence meant she disagreed but knew there was no point in arguing. "Just a drink or two with dinner. Right?" she asked.

Izuku flushed when he remembered the guys' plan to take him barhopping. "I'm pretty sure they want to do karaoke too," he answered evasively.

Izuku's heart pounded when he heard the slamming of a car door. All other thoughts immediately flew out the window, where he bolted to look down into the street below. He gasped.

Katsuki wore a crimson red dress shirt that brought out his eyes. The sleeves were rolled up, so Izuku could see his tattoos. He left the shirt untucked over dark gray slacks and had a black tie tucked underneath an ebony dress vest.

Izuku swallowed so he wouldn't drool. "He's here," he whispered, his heart soaring. And he looks hot.

At that moment he changed his mind. He didn't want to go out for drinks. He wanted Katsuki to rail him over the hood of his car. It's my birthday. I should get whatever I want, he thought irrationally, his hormones running rampant.

Then there was a knock at his door.

~.~

Bakugo stood nervously on the other side of the door. He hid his hands in his pants pockets so Izuku wouldn't see how bad they were sweating. I wish we weren't doing this, he thought. All I want is to take my bunny home and keep him all to myself. And maybe ask him why the fuck he bought a -

His train of thought promptly crashed and exploded into flame when Izuku opened the door. He wore a tailored vest that cinched his waist. His tall black boots looked fucking fantastic on his already delicious legs. He quickly moved his gaze up when he caught sight of the garters. He didn't want to fantasize about ripping them off with his teeth in front of his mother.

Bakugo was disappointed to see that Izuku had somehow hidden the freckles on his face. He looked cute either way but it felt wrong. The flowy white shirt he wore exposed his shoulders. Bakugo bit his lip when he thought about kissing them.

"Katsuki," Izuku greeted softly, blushing pink.

Bunny. "Happy Birthday."

Izuku chewed his lip, lazily drinking him in. "Do I get to unwrap my present now or do I have to wait until later?" he purred.

Katsuki hardened at his words. Fuck please don't do this in front of your mom. "Later," he snapped.

Izuku pouted but stepped out and took Katsuki's hand, leaning into his chest.

The blonde relaxed, nuzzling his hair. "You covered your freckles," he complained.

"Oh. You don't like it?"

"No," Bakugo answered honestly.

"I can wash my face if - "

" - It's fine, we're already gonna be late."

"Katsuki."

Bakugo pulled away and gave a small bow to Inko. "Mrs. Midoriya."

"You clean up nicely," she said, sounding surprised.

"Thank you, ma'am," he answered quietly. "I'll make sure Izuku doesn't get carried away tonight."

"Thank you for looking out for him," she replied, even though she didn't sound convinced. "I don't suppose it would be too much to ask to have him home by one?"

Izuku glared at her. "Actually, I might stay over at his place tonight."

Bakugo stiffened, staring at Inko with panicked eyes. What? "Izuku - "

" - I don't think it's an unreasonable request," she scolded. "You do work tomorrow, after all."

"Katsuki would make sure I'd get to work on time. Our schedule is the same," Izuku argued.

Bakugo ground his teeth. "I have no problem with that. He'll be here at one."

"There. At least your friend has some sense of propriety," Inko grumbled. "Have fun, you two."

Katsuki didn't say a word until they were both in the car, buckled in. "Izuku, she already hates me, can you not antagonize her please?!"

"She doesn't hate you," Izuku countered, but he averted his gaze.

"Of course she does. Why wouldn't she? I used to be the head of an illegal fight club. I'm covered in tattoos and piercings - "

" - Your ear cuffs are technically clip-ons," Izuku retorted. "And I've got all that stuff too."

Bakugo growled. "Why do you insist on provoking her?"

Izuku tightened his jaw. "Because she's treating me like a teenager when I'm a grown man, that's why. When I'm the one paying for shit and working my ass off I don't think she has the right to give me a fucking curfew."

Katsuki froze. He swears a lot when he's angry. "She just cares. I don't think it's so bad."

"It's easy to say that when you don't live with your parents," Izuku pointed out. "If you did you'd probably be just as angry as me."

Bakugo's shoulders tensed when, against his will, memories starting resurfacing. Of yelling. Scolding. Sometimes even -

"You're right. As usual. But relax. I'm only doing this because I thought it would make you happy. But if you're gonna be pissed either way, then I'll just go home."

He hadn't really meant it but at his words, Izuku flung himself at Bakugo and hugged him tightly. "No, please don't. I'm so happy you'll be there with me. I'm sorry."

Bakugo wrapped his arms around Izuku's back and steered with his knees, pulling over. It was then he realized Izuku was sitting in his lap in thigh-high black leather boots and stockings. With garters. And off-the-shoulder -

" - You better go back to your seat or we're never gonna make it to the first bar," Bakugo murmured, but even as he spoke his hands were running down Izuku's sides to grab his hips.

"I don't care," Izuku whispered, grabbing Bakugo by the collar of his shirt and shoving their faces together in a kiss.

Bakugo sighed into it, moving his hands to Izuku's ass. His perfect, firm...round - "Izuku," he whispered like a prayer. Precious and sacred.

"I know what I want my first drink to be," Izuku purred, unbuckling Bakugo's seatbelt and reclining the seat back so it was completely flat.

Fuck...aahh...damn. "We can't, we're on a public - "

Izuku ignored him, tearing at his belt and unbuttoning his pants. "It's my birthday and I want my present now," he growled.

Bakugo hissed and tilted his head back as Izuku took his erection into his mouth. "Aaahhh...Izu….MMM!"

~.~

"Where are they?" Uraraka asked, tapping her painted nails on the bar counter irritably.

Keigo grinned as he drank his corona. "Oh, I wouldn't sit around and wait, if I were you. It's gonna be a while."

"What makes you say that?" Ururaka asked.

Yumi sighed. "He's right. Izuku's been in the same place on the highway for forty-five minutes."

Sero raised an eyebrow. "How the hell do you know that?"

"I've been monitoring his Snapchat location."

Dabi blinked, dumbfounded. "How did you even get - "

"Oh, it was easy. That boy is way too trusting. He leaves his phone around all the time. He doesn't even have a passcode on it. I just had to wait for him to go to the bathroom."

Kaminari shook his head. "But...you haven't even been in the store lately - "

" - I never said that I was the one who turned on his Snapchat location."

Tokoyami sipped his red wine quietly in the corner, feigning ignorance. "That reminds me...you still owe me twenty dollars."

Uraraka scoffed. "That doesn't mean anything. Maybe he's just having car trouble or something."

Keigo snickered almost maniacally.

Yumi shook her head. "I have Bakugo's location too. And...well...they've both been in the same location...on the side of the road...for forty-five minutes."

Keigo leaned lazily back against his bar stool. "I'd just hand over the tickets now."

Dabi scowled. "If those two dupe me out of handcuffing you I'm gonna be annoyed."

Keigo blushed crimson. "What is it with you and - "

" - This is a kink-shaming-free zone," Sero scolded. "Besides…" he leaned in close to Yumi and wiggled his brows suggestively. "I definitely get the appeal of bondage-play."

"IZUKUUUUU!" Mina exclaimed running up to him and giving him a big hug as he walked in. Bakugo bristled slightly but he allowed it, looking noticeably calmer than usual.

Dabi exhaled deeply, resting his back against the bar counter. "Nothing like a car-quickie to take the edge off." He shot his boyfriend a sideways glance and winked. "Right, Keigo?"

Keigo gave his arm a shove but he turned pink. "I could've done without the police."

Yumi's pupils dilated. "That sounds like dirt. Do you have dirt? Did you not share your dirt, Keigo? The fuck?"

"There's your dirt right there," Keigo said, nodding towards the other end of the bar. On a lounge chair Bakugo manspreaded so Izuku could sit in the space between his legs. He wrapped his arms around Bakugo's neck and rested his head on the blonde's shoulder.

Dabi sucked air through his teeth. "I think we just lost…" he said.

Yumi scoffed. "Not necessarily - "

" - He's not gonna let his honey-bunny out of his sight for a second," Sero concurred. "It's fine, Yumi, we can always go to the Golden Noodle next year."

"What?! No! Uraraka, go ask him to dance!" Yumi pushed the pastel-pink-clad girl out of her chair and onto the dance floor.

"Oh. Good idea!" she said, strutting over to the boys.

Dabi swallowed. "Would you consider this within range of the fallout zone?"

Keigo nodded slowly. "It's a shame. This was a nice bar."

~.~

Bakugo rested his chin comfortably on top of Izuku's head as he encircled his waist with his arm.

He couldn't believe this was his life now. For so long he'd only been able to pine for Izuku from a distance. Now here he was, cuddled up in his lap, warm and loving and his. And he'd sure as hell make sure everyone knew it, too.

"I just realized something," Izuku whispered against his ear with a smile.

"What?"

"We probably shouldn't go to any bars with black lights."

It took Bakugo a moment to understand. Then, to his one surprise, he shook with a laugh. He couldn't remember the last time someone had been able to make him do that. "I think we should," he challenged with a wolfish grin. "Show everyone what we did."

Izuku turned red and crossed his arms. "Katsuki!"

"Don't act all mortified after what you did in the Benz," Bakugo pointed out, nipping Izuku's ear.

"Happy, Birthday, Izuku!"

Bakugo's good mood instantly curdled the second he saw a cute brunette in a pastel pink dress approaching them.

"Uraraka!" Izuku greeted with a wave.

"What do you think?" she asked cutely, giving him a twirl.

"Wow! It looks great on you!" Izuku complimented. "See? You didn't have anything to worry about."

Uraraka blushed. "Oh, Izuku, you're so sweet."

He's being nice to you, Bakugo thought darkly. Don't think it means he's interested.

"Thank you for coming. Are you having fun?"

"I am! But no one wants to dance with me," she pouted. "Everyone's busy at the bar or talking."

Bakugo tightened his grip on Izuku's waist as his heart constricted.

"Would you wanna dance?"

It was a good thing the music was relatively loud. It masked the sound of Bakugo's possessive growling.

Izuku booped Bakugo's nose. "It's just one dance. For a friend. Okay?"

Bakugo shot her a murderous glare. I won the game so get off the court already. He didn't loosen his grip.

"Katsuki," Izuku warned. "Just one." he firmly grabbed Bakugo's jaw and titled his head up to look at him. His gaze was stern but full of love.

Bakugo shot one back filled with fear.

"I'll come back to you," Izuku worded soundlessly.

Bakugo swallowed, loosening his grip. "I get the next one."

"I'd love that," Izuku replied, letting go of Bakugo's face.

He watched, furious, as his lover got up and took Uraraka's hand, heading for the dance floor.

~.~

The song that came on happened to be Rhythm Is A Dancer, which meant "dancing" ended up being Uraraka and Izuku jumping up and down in circles while holding hands.

By the end, they were breathless and laughing.

"That was so fun. Thank you for asking me, Uraraka."

"Thank you for dancing with me," she replied. To his shock, she bent her head down and kissed his cheek. "Happy Birthday."

With lightning speed, an arm wove itself around his waist and tugged him backward. "My turn," Katsuki declared.

Izuku flushed shyly as Bakugo grabbed his hand and got in position to waltz.

"You...you dance?" Izuku asked.

Bakugo pressed his forehead against Izuku's closing his eyes. "For once I'm glad my mother forced me to learn," Bakugo muttered as he led Izuku around.

Kakusei by Superfly started playing. It began with a slow, romantic piano sound and an enchanting woman's voice weaving vocals into the air. But then the song took a turn and sped up. Guitar and drums kicked in, pushing the music forward. Bakugo spun and dipped Izuku around so fast he couldn't even process it. It left him smiling, slightly dizzy, and elated.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch.

The music slowed down, and Bakugo changed it again so they were doing a slow box step.

"I never knew you could dance like that," Izuku whispered, laughing.

"It came in handy when I had fights," he admitted wickedly. "Taught me to be light on my feet."

When the song picked up again Izuku was more prepared this time. He mirrored Bakugo's movements, never taking his eyes away from his partner for a moment.

When the song finally stopped, they were both out of breath. But for entirely different reasons than when Izuku danced with Uraraka.

The entire bar erupted in thunderous applause.

~.~

Dabi was stunned to turn towards Keigo and see him looking at the couple with tears in his eyes and a hand over his mouth.

"Baby?" He asked. "What's wrong?"

"All this time…" he whispered, his voice cracking. "We should've tried harder."

"What are you talking about?"

"They were right across from each other. For years. We didn't do enough to push them together. We should've done this sooner."

Dabi smiled sadly. "Maybe it took a while, but they found each other. There's no reason to be upset."

"I'm not...upset," Keigo admitted, breaking out into a smile. "They're like us."

Dabi immediately understood what he meant.

They weren't just fucking.

They weren't just in love.

They're soulmates.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day," Yumi said, shaking her head. "But Bakugo's finally found his match." Reluctantly, she reached into her purse for the Golden Noodle Reservation tickets she kept safe in her wallet.

Dabi held up his hand. "Congratulations, Yumi," he said. "You won the bet."

Keigo immediately recovered, wiping his face. "What? No, she didn't."

Dabi raised an eyebrow. "You didn't see her kiss his cheek after they got done dancing?"

"A cheek kiss is nothing. That doesn't count."

Sero cleared his throat, suppressing a smile. "If I remember correctly...Yumi never specified that it had to be a kiss on the lips."

Keigo's eyes widened. "Are...are you saying - "

" - I'll get that photo to you as soon as I can, Yumi," Dabi promised, smirking darkly. "I look forward to receiving your Christmas card."