Plastic people in silks and rich colors paraded around the ballroom, some dancing, some mingling and conversing. Momo hated it. She'd been brought up in this environment since she was very little and she still couldn't stand it. Always had she felt she just didn't fit in with this sort of crowd; with these sort of people.

She'd always fit in more with her classmates at UA, she felt. Sure, Momo always knew that she was the "rich kid" of the bunch. She, Todoroki, and Iida were sort of outlandish and not entirely relatable to the rest of their classmates. But she found a harmony with her friends and their shared ambitions in being great heroes.

These people however… they were ambitious, alright. Most of them were cutthroat and cruel, ready to betray anyone or do anything if it meant getting an advantage in a business deal or improving their company's standing in any way, shape, or form.

After several months, it was finally time for her parents' gala they'd exuberantly invited the two to attend during their first meeting with Katsuki.

It was at this event, this gala, that her parents felt it appropriate to test her relationship with Katsuki. Her mother's sixth sense must have let her in on the two of them not being quite as legit as Momo promised her, despite their monthly tea sessions to check up on the two of them. Thus, she began introducing her to possible suitors - though not as such - who had ties with powerful companies and agencies.

Momo knew what her mother was doing; she was setting it up so that they would still have a fall back plan for if - when - she and Katsuki "broke up". She was appalled with her mother's insinuations and wanted nothing more than to find Katsuki and go home.

Unfortunately, she found herself stood in front of just another snobby heir her age, tittering about how well his company's profits were doing that year and the successes they were sure to look forward to following. Never once asking about her. Only every speaking of himself. Not even bothering to ask her favorite color or favorite food. Not once asking if she believed in aliens.

She felt him before she saw him.

Katsuki's rage was rather… explosive, after all. She felt the heat of his anger as he stormed over to the two of them, expression fierce and determined.

The rather pitiful fellow Momo had found herself in the company of nearly soiled himself as her sparking fake suitor approached, hands literally lighting up in his haste to join them. Katsuki wrapped an arm around Momo's shoulders, oddly possessive, as he stared the heir down.

"The fuck do you think you're doing, standing here chatting up my girl?"

"Y-your girl?"

"Yeah. That's what I just said. Your ears just as clogged as your brain?"

The timid looking man gave Katsuki a rather disapproving glance. "I have to disagree… Lady Yaoyorozu heavily implied a possible marriage contract between myself and her daughter. She wouldn't do such a thing should Miss Momo had been in an established relationship, Mr…?"

"Mr. None of your goddamn business! You think Momo and I aren't dating? Huh?" This was bad. Momo could tell that Katsuki - despite their relationship indeed being fake - felt himself being challenged. And that was never a good thing. "I'll show you dating! You asshole!"

And like that, Momo felt herself dipped in Katsuki's arms, a firm pressure on her lips, as Katsuki kissed her in front of everyone at her mother's party. All was quiet for several pauses before she heard gasps of shock and she felt her face heat with both embarrassment and rage.

He pulled back from her, a stunned expression on his face. She couldn't see the other suitor - not that she wanted to - and could only see Katsuki. She felt something stir in her that only Katsuki could invoke from her. Blind rage.

A resounding "CLAP" could be heard as her hand streaked across Katsuki's left cheek, forcing him to release her. She stalked away from him, absolutely fuming.

He caught up to her in the yard, as she was already arranging a cab to pick her up to take her back to campus, mind swirling and spinning at what had just happened.

"Bakugou Katsuki!" Momo raged. "You're… despicable! Just, aagh-!" she cut herself off, her own frustration taking over. "How could you do that-"

"Because you're my woman, alright!?"

She startled at his sudden enraged cry. She was what now?

"I'm sorry?"

Katsuki's eyes were narrowed, a signature glare strongly present on his sharp features. His spiked hair almost sparked with anger. It was a very familiar sight… save for the bright red blush beginning to blotch around his cheeks and the tips of his ears.

"You…" he rand a hand through his hair, frustrated. Kirishima give me strength! "Damn it, Momo." Her heart caught at the raw emotion in his sudden use of her name. "I… I'm not good with any of this 'romance' or 'subtlety' shit, alright? You and I… have something good going on. At least I think so. I want this. I want you."

Momo found herself nodding, despite feeling as stunned as she was. She and Katsuki weren't… together. They had begun settling into a comfortable friendship… but that wasn't quite right either. It had morphed since they began their "fake dating" plot and became something newer. Something stronger. A realization dawned on her. That strange feeling that had begun haunting her was the feeling of lingering between companionship and… something just a little bit more.

Just a tiny taste of love.

"... Katsuki," she murmured, stepping towards him. "You're an ass."

He brought her into his arms. Her heart fluttered at the tiny trace of an amused smile. "I know."

"I'm not going to forgive you," she whispered, breath mingling with his.

"I know," he closed the gap, bringing their lips together. Deep and saccharine, they kissed chastely yet lovingly. As though to convey what they'd each been hiding for some time. To make up for time lost to appearances and hiding.

They parted, heated breath visible in the chill of the night. Katsuki pulled her back in, just as quickly, not wanting to relinquish this sudden feeling of being whole.

"Katsuki," she whispered, nestling into the crook of his neck. "What do we do now?"

His arms, stronger than she remembered, wrapped around her waist and settled against the small of her back. "I'll protect you." She swatted his shoulder. "Not that you need it," he corrected. "But I'll be there for you. I don't give a shit if your old man or your mom approve of me. You're mine. I'm yours. That's it. You, me, and Itsuki. That's all I need."

"I'm sure your mother and father will want to be a part of our lives, too."

"Yeah, that old hag would kill me if I didn't invite her to the wedding."

Momo's heart jolted.

"W-wedding?"

"Yeah," he didn't stutter, didn't falter. His expression was dead serious. "I'm going to marry you. Your mom isn't going to force some random jackass on you if the two of us are 'courting' or whatever the hell you call it. You're the girl I'm going to marry. That's that. Fuck this fake relationship we've been fooling around with; I want to do it for real this time."

She melted, tears pooling in her eyes. "You're deplorable, Bakugou Katsuki."

"I'm a fucking delight."

Her parents were both concerned yet agreeable with their request to depart early that evening, certainly no longer in the mood to be in attendance to such a pompous affair. Besides, they both felt a sudden need to be home with their son. It had been nearly a year since they brought him under their care, and they couldn't see him as anything but.

The little tyke was already sound asleep in Momo's room by the time they arrived home, Mina and Jirou having been watching over him in their absence.

They offered him a kiss on the forehead that he didn't awake to and they bid each other farewell for the evening with featherlight goodnight kisses that they needed to force themselves to stop. A promise for more later… Each separated and went back to their own beds for the evening, fighting the giddiness that this new development brought them.