Chapter Sixty-Five: Falling for You

Katsuki stood by the pool talking to Kirishima and Kaminari, eating a plate of tiny finger sandwiches and an assortment of vegetables that Aisla had plopped onto his plate without asking if he wanted them. He grudgingly ate a carrot stick while Kirishima prattled on about his annoying girlfriend. He always got this dumb look in his eyes whenever he talked about her, and Katsuki secretly hoped he didn't look that stupid when he said anything about Aisla.

The girl in question stood across the pool with her posse of girls. It was already dark and he could barely even make out her shape from this distance, but he still noticed every time her eyes drifted toward him and the way she'd smile at him like they were sharing a secret.

"Bakugo." Kirishima waved a hand in front of his face. "Earth to Bakugo. You're getting that look again."

"Yeah," Kaminari agreed with a snicker, ignoring the withering glare he was getting in return. "You're getting that lovelorn look whenever you see Aisla."

Katsuki gripped him by the shirt collar. "Do you wanna die, Kaminari?"

The other boy's eyes went wide. "Uh, I just meant it's cute that you two are so in love!"

Katsuki gripped his collar tighter. "I'LL KILL YOU."

"No thanks!" He pulled his shirt free and ran off.

Kirishima gave him a hard smack on the back. "Aw, don't be like that, Katsuki. You and me, we know what it's like to be real men. We've got our hot babes, and everyone else is just jealous."

"SHUT UP! AND DON'T CALL ME THAT IN PUBLIC, DAMMIT!"

"Hey, Aisla's looking at you~" Kirishima teased.

Katsuki's gaze shifted of its own accord and found his aforementioned girlfriend staring right at him with a frown. Kaminari stood next to her, lips at her ear like he was telling her a secret. Katsuki growled audibly and almost dropped his plate of food.

What the hell are you doing with my girl?

"You aren't jealous…are you, Katsuki?" Kirishima asked innocently. "Kaminari probably isn't hitting on your girl, but if you're worried about it, you could go over there and defend her honor."

"WHO SAYS I'M WORRIED?!" he shouted, but he couldn't take his eyes off the scene. He wanted to know what Kaminari was whispering into his girl's ear. He also wanted to know why he cared so much. He knew Aisla hung out with Todoroki and Deku and he never cared about those two, but for some reason, it made him angry to see her talking to Kaminari. "I'm not jealous!" he exclaimed.

Kirishima laughed. "Okay, but if I saw Kaminari talking to Hana, I'm pretty sure I'd kick his ass."

I'm going to kick your ass if you don't shut up.

Just as he thought that, Deku and Sero came racing around the corner and nearly knocked Katsuki and Kirishima right into the pool. Katsuki swore at them, but they didn't hear him as they flew by.

"They're really going at it," Kirishima commented.

"Those two idiots are going to fall in the pool and look so fucking stupid," Katsuki added and secretly hoped to see Deku trip into the water and ruin his stupid green suit. He watched the action unfold and waited for chaos to rain down.

"This isn't gonna end well." Kirishima shook his head, but even he couldn't tear his eyes away or keep the eager smile off his face.

Deku and Sero were running at full speed around the pool and everyone was watching with varying expressions. Most looked amused, but others, like some of the girls across the pool, looked more concerned. Katsuki didn't fit either of those categories. He was just excited for Deku's failure.

He could see it coming, too. That green-haired idiot was skirting the edge of the pool to try and keep enough room between himself and their other classmates. His foot was slipping, Katsuki could see it. Deku in slow motion, running along the edge of the pool, always wary of others around him, head turning slightly as if seeing something, then the anticipated slip. His shoe turned sideways and his face registered surprise as the rest of his body tumbled into the water with a large splash.

Katsuki threw his head back in laughter, pointing at Deku as tears ran down his cheeks.

"You fucking idiot!" Katsuki exclaimed.

Deku had already emerged from the water, expression embarrassed but still amused as the others clapped him on the shoulders. Sero stood on the far side of the pool with arms raised victoriously. He caught Katsuki's gaze and gave him a thumbs-up. Katsuki showed him another finger in return.

A shriek caught his attention, pulling his gaze slightly to the left. He knew that sound, he'd heard it a thousand times before. The sound itself made his pulse quicken and his heart start to pound in his chest. His eyes scanned the area where Aisla had been only moments ago, but she was no longer standing there. The girls she'd been talking to were gaping at the water and shouting something he couldn't hear.

"AISLA!" Katsuki yelled, then dropped his plate and dove into the water without even bothering to take off his shoes. Bubbles concealed his view for too long before he finally caught sight of her, floating face down at the bottom of the water. The late hour and the burning chlorine made it hard to see clearly, but he was pretty sure he saw blood floating from around her head.

He swam over to her quickly and put his arms around her back before giving one strong push with his feet. They emerged, and he propelled them back to the edge of the pool. Someone reached down and took her from his arms before he could object. He pulled himself out of the water and found Todoroki leaning over an unconscious Aisla and pumping his hands on her chest.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" he screamed at the other boy and shoved him hard. "AISLA! DAMMIT!" He slammed his fists on her chest repeatedly.

"Bakugo, stop."

He didn't look up at the words. He recognized Todoroki's voice, but he wasn't going to stop, not until Aisla was breathing again. Her lips had turned blue and she was cold, so cold.

"AISLA, GODDAMMIT! BREATHE!"

"Should we forcibly remove him?" Someone asked.

"SHUT UP!" Katsuki wailed. "SHE'S NOT DEAD AND I'M NOT LEAVING HER SIDE! I PROMISED NOT TO LEAVE HER AGAIN! SHE'S MINE! GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER! SHE'S MINE!" He let his fists pound on her chest hard and watched a trickle of water drip from her lips. "Aisla? Aisla, come on, baby." He repeated the motion two more times until she started coughing and sputtering. "Aisla…" He pushed her onto her side and patted her back to help her expel more water.

"Get a doctor!" Todoroki called out.

"NO!" Katsuki cried, pulling Aisla into his arms and holding her there tightly while she coughed. "YOU'RE NOT TAKING HER AWAY FROM ME!"

"Katsuki," Todoroki tried to appeal to him. "She hit her head pretty hard; I saw it happen. She needs medical attention."

Katsuki couldn't hear what he was saying, all he heard was that someone was trying to take his Aisla away from him. He wasn't going to let that happen. He'd promised to be there for her, to take care of her and not leave again. He had to stay true to his word. He couldn't abandon her again.

"Katsuki…" Aisla croaked, but the rest of her sentence was garbled as she coughed up more water.

"I'll take care of her myself," he decided, then stood to his feet and pulled her into his arms before anyone could object. "I'LL TAKE CARE OF HER MYSELF!" he repeated, then took off at a jog, ignoring all the protests that followed after them.

"Just let him go," he heard one of the teachers say. "She'll be alright. Bakugo will take care of things."

The rest of his words trailed off as Katsuki hurried up the stairs, right past the gleaming eyes of their homeroom teacher who just happened to be standing near the entrance like a guard or a bad omen. He didn't try to stop Katsuki as he carried Aisla through the doors into the hotel and past the front desk, ignoring the wide eyes of the woman working there as she took in the sight of the two dripping teens. Down the hall and up the stairs because the elevator took too damn long, all the way to the third floor and straight to room number 325.

"Hold on to my neck," he murmured into her ear. She held tight as he fished out his now damp keycard and prayed it still worked. By some miracle, the light blinked green and allowed them entrance. He pushed inside and let the door close behind them before finally sliding her from his arms so her heeled feet touched the floor. His hands were on either side of her face, eyes wild and frantic. Hers were calm but tired, and he could feel her whole body shuddering violently from the cold.

"You are not okay," he said in answer to her unspoken thoughts. He knew what she was thinking—what she was about to say—but she was wrong. She wasn't okay, not this time. Not the last time when he'd flung her against that tree and she'd nearly died then, too. Whenever he was around, disaster rained down on her. He was the bad omen, not his teacher.

"Katsuki," Aisla whispered, taking his hands in hers. Her fingers were so cold, like she was already gone. "Stop that," she chastised, giving his hands a squeeze. "I'm going to be fine. It was a minor tumble."

"You weren't breathing!" he cried as he pictured her still chest and blue lips. "And your head…" His eyes trailed to the side of her head where he'd seen blood wisping out in the pool. It didn't appear to be bleeding anymore, but that was something he was still going to have to take care of at some point tonight.

"But I'm breathing now," she pointed out. "I'm fine, Katsuki. We get injured all the time in training, right? I'm okay." She gingerly touched the side of her head. "It doesn't even hurt now. I promise.

He buried his face in her neck, ignoring the way their hair clung to their faces and smelled of chlorine. His hands gripped her sides. "You keep trying to leave me…"

Her small arms wrapped around him and her forehead rested against his chest. "Silly boy," she said softly, "I'll never do that."

"Swear it," he commanded, pulling back suddenly. Her eyes registered surprise. "Swear you'll never leave." His eyes burned into hers, waiting for the rejection, the laugh or smirk that said she wouldn't make such a ridiculous promise, not to someone like him, the same person who was constantly leaving her.

He braced himself.

Her hands moved from their spot on his back, sliding up his soaked shirt, around to the back of his neck and into his hair, fingers curling, twisting…face being pulled down, down…hot lips brushing his, shaky breath coating his tongue, and the words "I swear on my life" whispered against his mouth. The sound of defeat as he gave in and pressed his lips against hers, unable or unwilling to hold back. Their kiss was a mutual promise of love and acceptance.

Her shivering body brought him back to reality and reminded him of the problem at hand.

He pulled back. "You're cold," he stated abruptly.

"Yeah," she agreed breathlessly.

"I'll start the shower for you. You can borrow one of my shirts."

He started to turn into the bathroom but was forced to a stop when her hand reached out and gripped the back of his shirt. He turned his head back to look at her, but her eyes were downcast as if in embarrassment.

"I can't…" she started in a meek tone. "My dress…"

"What about it?" he asked, not understanding the problem other than it was soaking wet.

Her eyes were hidden behind a curtain of dripping hair, but he could just make out her clenched teeth from behind the veil. He waited for her to continue.

"My fingers are so cold," she said in almost a whimper. "And I can't reach the zipper. Can you…?"

Heat touched his cheeks as understanding flooded into him. She wanted him to…undress her?! His hands were cold, too, but…she'd been the one to almost drown…

He turned fully toward her, forcing her hand to unclench from his shirt. She didn't look up as he stepped behind her and pushed the wet strands of her hair aside as he found the dress's zipper. His thumb and index finger gripped the metal tightly but he couldn't force himself to pull it down. The command his brain was giving his hand was being blocked by the sudden realization that he'd taken her into his room. His very private hotel room.

"Katsuki?" Her voice was soft and hesitant. "I'm really cold…"

He nodded, even though she couldn't see him, and forced his fingers to give the zipper a tug. It offered no resistance despite the wet material around it. It stopped about mid-back but it revealed plenty. The lacy blue bra she wore underneath, the bare skin of her shoulders, the smooth expanse of her back…

He pushed the thin straps from her shoulders, earning a soft gasp in return. He kept his hands there, drawing circles into the soft skin. He'd seen her in tank tops many times, but somehow this was different. He wasn't sure why, but seeing her naked shoulders made him imagine all sorts of things he was too embarrassed to give voice to.

She leaned into him and pressed her nose into his neck. He closed his eyes and pushed the dress down her arms with his thumbs until it fell the rest of the way to the floor on its own. He did not look to see if her panties matched the bra—he couldn't see her like this, not right now. She'd almost died today, he couldn't use that as an excuse to take advantage of her body.

"Katsuki…" she breathed into his neck, making him swallow hard. "Kiss me again…"

"I…c-can't," he stammered. "Not when you're like…that." His hands betrayed him and caressed the skin of her arms and shoulders, fingers twisting through strands of hair, coming to rest on her thin waist and refusing to go further despite the undeniable desire to do so.

Her lips pressed into his neck, then her tongue darted out to lick his skin, causing an unintentional shiver to run down his whole body. Her hands were on his now, fingers entwining, pulling both sets around to rest against her stomach.

"Will you hold me for a minute, please?" she beseeched him, and he was all too willing to comply. He pulled her closer against him and breathed in the chlorine scent of her hair mixed with her own Aisla-scent. Her lips found his ear. "You're still dripping, lover~"

He tensed, both at the way she said this and the realization that she was right. He could hear the faint drip, drip on the carpet. He'd completely forgotten about his own wet clothes—he'd been too focused on hers. He suddenly felt very very cold and gave a hard shudder.

Aisla's lips pressed against his neck again. "And you're cold, too," she observed.

He nodded, unsure what he should do with that statement. It wasn't like he could strip down to his underwear. She'd get the wrong idea! Hell, he'd get the wrong idea. He could remember every moment with her when kissing had progressed and he'd think, "this could happen," and he wanted it to with every fiber of his being. In the clearing after he'd accidentally hit her with his quirk; up in her room when the sun had almost set and she'd woken him with a kiss; when he'd snuck into her room to kiss her goodnight and he couldn't stop himself from pushing her against the wall and making her moan…

He recalled the night they kissed in the rain when her clothes and hair had been wet like they were now. That was the first time he'd seen her like that, sodden and imperfect. He liked that, the way her hair clung to her face and lay flat against her shoulders and neck.

"I'll wait in here," he finally said. "You can get dressed in there." He pointed a shaky finger at the bathroom door.

She shook her head before he'd even finished speaking. "I…do… Do I have to?" Her voice was shaky and uncertain, but her eyes held meaning, as if there was an answer to this question that he was supposed to know—a right answer.

He blinked at her uncomprehendingly for a long moment. "Oh! Do you…want to get dressed out here? I can go in the other room or…"

Again, she shook her head. Her eyes tried to meet his but they couldn't quite stay there. Her gaze kept darting to the side as if embarrassed about something. Was he making her uncomfortable?

"I mean…I'm not ready to get dressed yet," she finally said, tone soft with the slightest tremor. Still, he had no idea what the problem was. After a long moment of silence, her eyes finally met his, read the confusion there, and she let out the faintest sigh. "I want…to help you…too."

He frowned. "Help me do what?"

This time, her sigh was more of a huff. "I want to help you undress…"

Saliva caught in his throat and he choked on a gasp. He knew what she meant and was powerless to object. When her hands came up to touch his chest, he breathed in long and deep, reveling in her touch.

Despite her bravado, however, there was an unmistakable tremor in her hands as she touched him. This was reflected in the slight aversion of her gaze, and the way her next words came out softer than the last.

"May I?" she asked as her fingers curled around his shirt bottom. It had come untucked sometime during the night and Aisla now tugged at the bottom button with questioning eyes.

He turned away from her abruptly, embarrassed. This wasn't happening. Aisla wasn't half-naked in his hotel room. Aisla wasn't trying to undress him. Aisla wasn't here at all. He was alone in his room like he'd been every night for the last two weeks.

Except for that one night…

No, he couldn't think about that night. He couldn't imagine her lying in his bed with that needy gaze that begged him to take her. She wasn't some cheap fling, she was the real deal. Aisla was the girl he loved. He'd already lost her once because of his poor actions, he couldn't risk that happening again tonight. He still wanted to prove himself to her, to show her that he'd changed and he loved her with everything he had. He needed her to know that wholeheartedly.

"Katsuki?" she asked, interrupting his thoughts as she placed a tentative hand on his back.

"This…" he cleared his throat, "isn't some fling."

"I know, Katsuki," she murmured, hand now drawing circles into his back through the wet shirt.

"What I mean is…I didn't bring you back here for…you know, that. I just wanted to be with you. B-but not like that!"

"Oh," she said, the disappointment in her tone evident. "So, you don't want to be with me like that."

"That's not what I meant either!" he groaned. "I just wanted to take care of you because I was scared when you fell into that pool. I didn't think you were going to make it, Aisla. I needed to make sure you were safe."

Her arms wrapped around him from behind. "But I am safe. Let me help you, Katsuki, please?"

"No, Aisla." His tone was final. He needed her to understand that he didn't have ulterior motives by bringing her here. She shouldn't feel obligated to give him…whatever she was thinking about giving him right now.

"Okay," she agreed softly, then took a step back to give him space. He could still feel the heat from her touch, though, as he slowly discarded his shirt and let it drop to the floor next to her gown. With a soft sigh, he felt Aisla press herself against his bare skin. Her body heat was like a sunbeam pressed directly against him. Maybe she was feverish, or maybe he just didn't know what it was like to have another person's skin flush with his own.

"You're so warm," she crooned. "Katsuki? Will you…help me do one more thing?"

His heart hammered wildly inside his chest and anticipation made his palms sweat. "What?" The word an unintentional snap.

"Will you wash my hair?"

Katsuki's heart stopped beating. His whole body was frozen like an ice sculpture. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe.

Wash your hair? he thought. No. I can't do that. If I see you naked…there will be no turning back. I won't do that to you. This isn't a fling. This isn't a one-night stand. This is real.

He told his mouth to say the word, no. His lips moved with the word, he felt it on his tongue, but the sound never came out. His voice was trapped somewhere deep within himself and he didn't know how to reach it. How could he tell her all the things he wanted to say if he couldn't even find his own voice?

"It's okay, Katsuki," she whispered into his back. "It doesn't have to be more than that. I just want to spend the night with you. I want to be close to you. I've missed you."

God, I've missed you so much it hurts…

He considered her words, then nodded in response because he still couldn't remember how to speak. He felt her take his hand and looked down into brilliant crystal orbs. Even in dim lighting, they shone like the reflection of a moon on the lake. She gave his hand a tug and he followed her into the bathroom and kicked the door shut. Her heels clicked on the tile—he'd forgotten she was still wearing them.

She glanced down as if just remembering herself, then looked up with crimson cheeks. "Um, sorry about that." She seemed suddenly embarrassed and he thought it had more to do with her naked state than her shoes. In the shocking light from the bathroom ceiling, it seemed almost silly to be standing there together so exposed.

Almost.

Without a word, he kicked off his own shoes then moved past her to start the water. He didn't turn around as he discarded his pants as well but refused to take anything else off. He could take them off later, preferably when she wasn't in the room.

"Do…you want me to leave?" she asked tentatively.

Of course she'd think that… No, I don't want you to leave. In fact, I don't want you to ever leave. Stay the night with me… Spend your life with me.

Of course, he couldn't voice those thoughts aloud. Instead, he muttered, "You can stay," and stepped into the shower, shorts and all. A moment later, he heard her heels join his shoes on the floor and then the soft pattering of feet. The shower door opened and a gust of cold air hit his skin.

"I'm still dressed," she announced as if in reassurance. But whether that be for him or herself he wasn't sure.

"Fine…" he muttered under his breath. He wished she wasn't but feared it just the same. He really needed to keep a clear head here, and seeing Aisla completely exposed for him… Well, he only had so much self-control and she'd already pushed his limits a number of times tonight. Even though she was apocalypse-starting sexy in her bra and panties, he couldn't even imagine her out of them.

Too soon, he thought as the warm water poured over him. I won't take advantage of you, Aisla. I won't be that guy. I want you to trust me again.

Katsuki felt small hands touch his back, hesitantly as if asking for permission.

"Since when do you ask permission…?" He'd meant for the words to be a thought, but her hands suddenly stilled and retracted as if he'd physically pushed her away.

"Oh, I'm sorry…" Her voice was full of hurt and rejection, exactly what he'd been wanting to avoid all night. He was trying to earn back her trust, not resort to old ways that made her feel uneasy around him. "I didn't mean to—I mean, you're right, I should have—well, what I meant to say is…" She stumbled over her words before finally trailing off with a soft hiccuping sound.

Well, fuck, he thought. Now you've done it, Katsuki.

"Aisla, turn around," he suddenly ordered.

"W-what?"

"Turn around!" he repeated, a little sharper than intended. He heard the water splash under her feet and assumed she'd heeded his command. He peeked over his shoulder just to make sure and found her back to him, shoulders slumped and head hung low as if suddenly tired.

Or ashamed, his mind supplied.

He took a deep breath to calm himself, then slipped out of his boxers and pushed them out of the way.

Turn around and I'll incinerate you, he silently warned her. As long as she didn't look at him, he'd be okay. This was fine. Totally fine.

She didn't move.

He took a step closer and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her head lifted in surprise as he gently massaged her stiff muscles. They were tense and knotted, probably from her match earlier that day. He kneaded them under the hot water and felt her relax slightly, then he tilted her head back to coat her hair in the clean water and rinse out the chlorine.

"What are you doing?" she asked, voice hazy and dream-like.

"You asked me to wash your hair," he stated. Amazingly, his voice didn't waver.

"Y-you really want to, Katsuki?" she sounded surprised.

"Well, it smells like chlorine so I guess it needs to be cleaned," he muttered noncommittally, cheeks heating. He pushed her head up once it was wet enough then dropped some of the hotel's shampoo onto her hair. He did his best to lather it in but she just had so much hair that he wasn't even sure if he was doing it right. He put some more in just to be sure he got it all because those pool chemicals were especially bad for blonde hair. He liked Aisla's hair and didn't want to be the reason it got damaged.

"That feels nice," Aisla murmured.

This surprised him. Did she really like him doing this? It wasn't like he was doing anything special, just rubbing soap into her hair, the same as she would do for herself.

"I love being with you," she whispered, so low he wondered if he was even supposed to have heard it.

"Put your head back," he instructed as he guided her head into a reclined position to rinse out the strands. This took a lot longer than it did with his own hair but he didn't mind. Her hair was soft and he liked the way the wet strands felt between his fingers, so different from when they were dry. When that task was done, he lobbed half a bottle of conditioner onto the ends and smoothed that in, too. Then came his dilemma.

"I don't have a washcloth…or puffy sponge thing," he realized aloud.

A beat passed in silence, the only sound was the patter of the water on the shower floor. She seemed to be contemplating his words, realizing what he was implying—what he intended to do. Katsuki hadn't even thought it through. The moment they stepped into the water's spray, he began acting on instinct alone, trying to shut off the part of his brain that was always screaming so loudly at him, and at her.

"You can just…use your hands…if you want…" Her words were so low he had to strain to hear them over the rush of the water. He stayed quiet for a long moment as he tried to decide if he'd really heard her right. Surely she wasn't asking for what he thought she was?

"Do…you want me to?" he mumbled just as quietly.

"Yes." This time her words were a clear and audible moan.

He swallowed hard and flipped her hair over one shoulder, then let his hands glide down to her bra strap. He hesitated there only a moment before unhooking the clasp and letting it fall to the shower floor. His hands drifted down to the top of her pale blue panties, which clung to her body so tight already they were practically invisible.

Exactly, just pretend they're already gone… he coached himself as he slid them down her thighs to rest next to the matching top.

He gathered some soap into his hands and rubbed them together, then froze, unsure if he should really be doing this or not. He was in the shower with a girl. A very naked, very hot girl. And said girl was asking him to rub soap into her naked skin. No, wait, he was the one who implied he wanted to wash her body in the first place. And they wouldn't both be naked if he hadn't taken off his boxers when she wasn't looking. She probably had no idea they were both naked. Wait, was that bad? Was he being a creep? Was this nonconsensual shared nudity?

Was this even legal?

"It's okay," she told him gently. "I can do it if you don't want—"

"I'll do it!" he snapped and dropped his hands onto her shoulders so suddenly she gave a jerk of surprise. With trembling fingers, he lathered the soap into her skin, starting with her shoulders then moving down her arms, across the expanse of her back, which twitched in response. They traveled down low to her naked rear, lower still until the suds covered both legs and feet. He applied more soap before moving his hands around to her stomach. More twitching, followed by a sharp inhale as his hands slid across her breasts, fingers pinching the nipples without permission.

Fuck, what did I just do?! He was a disaster, all impulse and irrationality, head empty but buzzing at the same time. Quickly, he made to pull away from her, but then…

"Katsuki," she gasped, hands flying out to steady herself on the wall in front of her. And the way she said his name…the way she moaned it with such desperation and approval made an ache burn in his gut and pulse between them. Encouraged, he repeated the action and she groaned in response, the sound a reverberation through her whole body.

His own body was reacting as well, hips moving and breath uneven as his thumbs circled her nipples. He liked the way they grew hard under his touch and how her fingers curled against the wall. He didn't let his hands travel farther than her stomach, though her reactions told him she would definitely allow him to keep going, to go all the way, to finish her off and turn her into a writhing mess of moans.

Not here, he thought, not like this.

"The water's getting cold," he said and pulled his hands free from her tempting body.

She spun around so fast she almost slipped. He steadied her with a hand then realized his mistake.

"Don't say a word," he growled. The boldness, or stupidity, he'd had when he took off his underwear evaporated instantly like a puff of steam. Her eyes took him in unabashedly and he had nothing to cover up with—not even a washcloth or puffy sponge thing. He had no choice but to let her violate his body with her eyes.

You're a coward, he chastised himself. You're such a hypocrite. Your eyes haven't stopped roaming her entire body since you first saw her in that little blue dress.

"I gotta wash up," he grumbled and turned his back on her so he wouldn't have to see her stares.

"Can I…do it?" she asked softly.

"NO, DAMMIT!"

He felt her disappointment.

"I'm too damn tall, okay? And the water's almost cold." He offered this as a way of apology, both because his words had hurt her and because of his cowardice. If he was braver, then he wouldn't have his back to his girlfriend right now while she was dripping wet in the shower.

"Okay, Katsuki," she agreed easily. "Can I rinse my conditioner out when you're done?"

"Wash it out now while I use shampoo," he told her and moved out of the way.

This was sexy for about five minutes before I had to go and make it awkward as fuck, he silently complained. Now she'll be disappointed in me for sure. I had my chance and I blew it. I'm such a loser.

"Katsuki?" There was a strange note in her tone he couldn't quite figure out.

"What?"

"Can I stay here tonight? In your room?"

His eyes widened in astonishment. "You…really want to?"

He'd pushed her away and told her 'no' so many times in so many different circumstances, yet every time she came back to him and offered him her undying love and support. Why couldn't he be more like that?

"I do," she answered without hesitation. "I told you, I just want to be close to you tonight. I want to fall asleep in your arms like I used to. I miss sleeping next to you."

"I guess you can," he muttered, though he secretly agreed with her. He'd become so accustomed to her being in his bed that when she stopped coming into his room, he felt strangely empty. He also never really had a good night's sleep during their months of separation, despite the fact that he'd spent fifteen years sleeping alone without any problems.

Once they were both clean, he turned off the shower and the pair stepped out, wrapping themselves in the fluffy bath towels the hotel provided, which were much thicker and softer than the ones back at school. He watched her burrow into the thick fabric, then the slow lifting of lips as she gave him a smile. He couldn't bring himself to return it, though. She was so dainty and cute, yet simultaneously full of power and strength that he was always in awe of. Despite that strength, a swimming pool had almost been her end. He'd nearly lost her tonight and he hadn't even seen it coming. What if tonight was their last one together? What if he never had another opportunity to be like this with her? In two days they would be going back to UA. What would happen then?

"Katsuki?" Aisla frowned up at him. "What's the matter?"

"What are we doing when we get back to school?" he blurted without meeting her gaze.

Her frown deepened. "What do you mean?"

"Forget it," he muttered and turned away from her as he padded into the bedroom.

"Wait, Katsuki!" She followed him out and wrapped her arms around his chest. "Don't be like that, not tonight. Please tell me what you mean."

He breathed a languid sigh.

"Okay," Aisla murmured. She grew quiet for a few moments as if trying to puzzle out his words. "I don't know what's going to happen when we go back to school, Katsuki," she said, "but I know that whatever does happen, I want it to be with you."

I want it to be with you, too… he silently agreed.

"Well I want to go to sleep," he said aloud.

"Are you suuure~?" she purred.

He stopped dead in his tracks. He'd been about to gather some clothes—and hoped to god that he had something clean for Aisla to wear—when that sultry tone paralyzed him to the spot.

"What—" he tried but then his voice was once again stolen from him. What are you saying?

"I…want to spend the night with you," came the breathy response. It lacked a bit of the sultry note it had carried before, replaced instead with nervousness and…desperation.

He turned and found her standing there, still wrapped in that bath towel, eyes hooded with an expression he knew all too well: desire.

He'd done so well. The tug-of-war with himself that had been going on since he closed the door behind them. He'd had moments of mental clarity, and moments of instinct. He'd wanted one thing and then the opposite, he'd given her mixed signals, he'd toed so many lines, but he'd held firm and shown that he didn't have ulterior motives. He'd shown that it was possible to take care of her, to bathe her and tend to her without expecting anything in response. He'd done so well.

But that one look.

One look was all it took to turn the tide away from him again.

"Okay," he whispered, and watched the towel drop to the floor.