Chapter Twenty-Nine: Don't Deny Me

Katsuki was pulling at his shirt collar in irritation. Already, he wanted nothing more than to go back to his room and bury himself under a mountain of blankets. Maybe then, no one would be able to find him. Maybe he'd even sink into another dimension where he was the number one hero and people like Deku didn't exist. Then, he wouldn't be forced to stand in this glittery room full of people he didn't know and didn't want to be around.

"This is bullshit," he grumbled as he followed Kirishima to the overly decorated Christmas tree near the back corner of the gym. More than once, he was hit in the head with colorful tinsel that stuck in his hair, and twice he almost tripped over Christmas ornaments some genius had decided to scatter all over the dancefloor.

"Don't be like that, man!" Kirishima slapped his shoulder. "Just relax and enjoy the scenery. Lots of cute girls in dresses around here."

Katsuki scoffed. "I don't give a shit about any of these girls."

There's only one girl I care about, and she doesn't even have the decency to show up!

His eyes scanned the room, looking for blonde hair and crystal eyes. He'd expected Aisla to be here by the time Kirishima dragged his ass out of the dorm and into the gym. She'd been excited about the Christmas party, cackling about it with the rest of the hyena pack of Class 1-A girls. Not that he cared that much if she came. The less time he had to spend here, the better. And if she turned out to be a no-show, then he wouldn't feel guilty for leaving early.

When they reached the pine tree, they stopped and stood in front of it, wordlessly. Hours ticked by, he swore, his irritation growing with each passing minute. Why were they just waiting around like a couple of lost puppies?! This was so stupid. He could be in his room right now, reading his manga or practicing with his nun chucks. Even homework would be better than this.

"Ugh, how long are we gonna stand here?" Katsuki snarled. They were the center of attention by the Christmas tree. If they were going to stand around looking stupid, he wished they'd have done it in a corner somewhere.

"You can leave whenever you want, dude," Kirishima told him with a shrug. "I told Kanzashi I'd wait here for her."

Kanzashi. It's always something about that rainbow-hair Rapunzel chick. He hoped he didn't sound as totally whipped when he talked about Aisla.

"This is bullshit," he repeated in irritation. He was looking around at all of his classmates who were dancing, chatting on the sidelines, and stuffing their faces. "They could have at least had an all-out Christmas brawl!" That would have been more interesting than all this holly jolly bullshit.

"Why is it always violence with you?" his friend asked with a shake of his head.

Because violence is more entertaining than standing around staring at all these cringy couples.

"I hate this," he grumbled aloud. "I'm going to bed." If he had to wait around for one more minute, he was sure to combust.

He had just started walking back when he saw her—standing near the entrance with Pink Cheeks and some of the other girls. She was clothed in white, like an angel, and her golden hair fell around her waist and swayed as she walked. Katsuki couldn't help but stare. What was it about her tonight that had him so…mesmerized? For a second, he wasn't even sure if she was real. He thought for sure that the tree-topper had dropped down, and someone had used a quirk to make it come to life—because Aisla looked too captivating to be real.

When she caught sight of him her whole face lit up like she was seeing him for the first time. She made her way over to him in slow motion, gliding across the floor as if her feet weren't even touching it. Then she stood before him, blue eyes pale but reflecting the sparkling lights of the Christmas tree behind him and gleaming with mischief.

"Katsuki~" she sang. "You look so handsome!"

Handsome… Me? I wouldn't use that word to describe someone like me. Brash, cruel, rough… But not handsome. But you… You are an angel.

He cleared his throat and turned away from her before any more idiotic thoughts could run through his mind.

"Do…you want to dance with me?" Her voice was timid with a hint of anxiety that he chose to ignore. She knew the answer before she'd even uttered the question and was already waiting to be disappointed.

I can't dance! What if I step on her toes? What if I accidentally make her trip and fall? What if I make a complete fool out of myself and she ends up hating me because of it?

"HELL NO." He started for the food tables, deciding that was the perfect excuse to get away from this situation before he did something stupid. "I'm getting food," he added.

"I'll dance with you, Aisla~" Kirishima offered.

Katsuki spun around so fast he almost lost his balance. "THE HELL YOU WILL!" Before he'd even fully decided to do it, his fingers were wrapped around her slim wrist and he was dragging her away. "DANCE WITH YOUR OWN GIRLFRIEND, DAMMIT!"

Why did he care if Kirishima danced with Aisla? Why did he feel this red-hot rage inside of him at the idea of seeing her in the arms of another guy? Why?

I don't, he told himself as he tightened his hold on her hand and tugged her toward the food tables. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care! But he didn't believe those words for a second.

"Katsuki?" Aisla's voice was hesitant, but her hand held his firmly in return. When had his hand slipped into hers anyway? He couldn't remember giving it permission to do that. "Can I give you something later? In private?"

In private? Why did that make his heart give an extra thump?

"Why would you want to do that?" he snapped. He dropped her hand to grab a plate and started filling it with various food that mostly consisted of Christmas cookies and other inedible sweets he didn't actually want.

"Because I want to give you a gift," she answered softly. "You're… special to me."

He stiffened at the words and momentarily forgot what he'd been doing. A sugar cookie slipped through the tongs and back onto the serving dish. He let it stay.

"You're an idiot," he grumbled defensively, hoping she didn't notice the heat creeping up his neck.

"So…yes?"

"WHATEVER!" he snarled.

I have something for you, too, he silently added, though he wasn't sure if he'd have the courage to give it to her. Maybe he could send it in the mail and hope it never got to her. Or, he could leave it outside her door without a note to tell her who it was from. Then again, she might think it was from someone else and then they'd get all the credit for his awesome gift…

"Hey, Aisla~" Mineta's slimy voice cut into his thoughts. They both turned, Aisla with a look of surprise and Katsuki with a murderous expression that dared the little imp to so much as speak.

He swallowed but pressed on anyway. His lecherous eyes climbed Aisla's body in a way that made Katsuki's blood boil before he lisped out a quick, "I was just wondering…if you'd want to dance with me?" His eyes flicked around nervously and then his expression turned desperate. "Please, Aisla?! That crazy chick is after me! I need someone to dance with me and no one else will!"

"Who's after you, Mineta?" Aisla asked, as patient as a saint.

"Tondi," he replied with a shudder.

Aisla giggled at Mineta's pained expression.

Katsuki clenched his fists. "THE HELL YOU CAN! GO DANCE WITH MONTY!"

"It's Tondi?" Mineta corrected with a scoff. "And I'm sorry, but she's way scarier than you, Bakugo. Have you seen that chick?" He wiggled his fingers in the air as if they were supposed to resemble something. Eyes? Legs?

"I think she's nice!" Aisla said in the girl's defense. Katsuki almost scoffed again. Of course, Aisla would think that. She probably thought everyone at UA was 'nice.' She told Katsuki he was, so clearly, her standards weren't very high.

"No one said she wasn't 'nice,'" Mineta muttered. "She's just—"

"Oh, Mineta~! There you are!" trilled the aforementioned eight-eyed spider-girl.

Mineta froze, eyes going wide, then he was gone in a puff of smoke.

Katsuki sputtered a laugh. "Ha! That little wimp."

Aisla rolled her eyes, but she was smiling, the kind of smile that lit up her whole face, which only served to make her appear more angelic than before.

He turned away from her as he continued loading his plate until it was overflowing with contents, then started for a table near the front of the room that was mostly empty. He dropped the plate onto the table—one of those dumb, tall standing ones—then chewed on a chicken leg.

"Eat some of this, dammit!" he ordered through a mouthful of food. He half expected her to decline and give some dumb excuse like...she'd already brushed her teeth or she didn't want to get food on her dress or she wasn't allowed carbs after six o'clock. But Aisla wasn't like most girls he knew. She was easy-going and tenacious, she was kind, patient, and strong too. And she ate everything.

"Thanks!" She grinned up at him, then took a leg for herself. "Yum!"

"How do you do that?" he asked mid-chew. She raised her eyebrows in question. "You know…how do you act all confident and stuff?"

He wanted to know her secret. Here she was, all dolled up in an angel's dress, hair sparkling with glitter, and teeth white and pristine. And she was stuffing her face as though she could care less what anyone thought. How was she not embarrassed? And besides that, she was always saying dumb stuff to him about her feelings and shit. How was she never afraid of anything?

Her smile slowly fell and she dabbed at her face with a napkin. She took a long time to chew before answering. "I'm not confident at all, Katsuki. In all honesty, I'm a nervous wreck more often than not. Especially when it comes to—"

"Hey, Aisla!" Kaminari strode up now, donned in the same suit he'd worn at I-Island, only this time he'd lost the dress shoes for a pair of sneakers with the laces untied. Katsuki scowled at his ensemble, wishing he'd worn sneakers, too. These shoes were a bitch on his heels.

"What's up, Kaminari?" Aisla asked, ever the polite one. Why did she have to be nice to everyone?

"Well, you see…I put this suit on hoping to impress Jiro but she isn't here yet, so I was hoping maybe you'd, you know, dance with me?" He grinned widely.

"Hey, what kind of dumb-ass excuse is that?" Katsuki grumbled. "Are you trying to steal my—" he cut himself off before the word girlfriend slipped out. He snapped his mouth shut and pouted. It was still hard to say that word…out loud…or at all…

"Well, if he doesn't have any objections, then I guess it would be okay…?" Kaminari looked at her with hopeful eyes.

Aisla glanced between him and Katsuki, and he waited for her decision, wondering who she would choose. Would it be him, or his perverted friend?

"Umm… Hey, look! There's Jiro now!" Aisla gestured toward the middle of the dancefloor where Jiro stood with hands on hips, expression disapproving as if she somehow knew he'd been hitting on another girl.

Katsuki felt only a little smug as he watched his friend scramble after her with a string of apologies spewing from his lips.

What a dumbass.

They went back to eating in silence, though Aisla only picked at her food now. Something was bothering her, but he couldn't quite decipher what it was. Did she not like the food? As far as he knew, she liked everything except for bananas and peanuts. He purposely didn't choose anything from those categories. Maybe she was just tired? Or maybe she was bored because he wasn't saying anything and she felt forced to stay with him anyway.

"Listen," he started.

"Hey," a voice interrupted.

A tall, lanky guy around their age stood before them. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and his dark blue hair concealed half his face from view. Something about him was vaguely familiar as if Katsuki had run into him before. He had a weird thought—maybe a memory?—that he'd seen a ghost in the forest once that looked just like this. Wait, he was sure of it! He and Aisla had run into this freak in the woods once near that old vine-covered shack! It was such a weird encounter that he'd convinced himself he'd been dreaming about yokai and made that part up.

"Who the hell are you?" Katsuki demanded.

"Oh! You're Mina's boyfriend, right?" Aisla recalled. "Um…Roan Fujinari?"

He nodded, knocking more hair into his eyes. "I was instructed to come ask you to dance. You can say no."

"And if I say yes?" Aisla asked mischievously.

Yellow eyes went wide. "Please don't."

Aisla giggled. "You're off the hook, Fujinari! Tell Mina I said, 'nice try,' though!"

Katsuki wondered what she meant by that as they watched the gargoyle walk away. "We ran into that freak before, right?"

"We did? Oh, that's right," Aisla mused. "He's from the business course and he's dating Mina now. It's…a really recent and really weird development. You know…he walks her back to the dorms after classes. Religiously. Every day." She gave him a meaningful look.

He blinked uncomprehendingly. "What?" Why should he care about what ghost-boy did for raccoon-eyes on the daily? When Katsuki got done with classes, he went to train or hit the showers. Was he missing something here?

She sighed in defeat. "Oh, nothing."

They stood there for a long moment, neither one knowing what to say. Katsuki was about to suggest they leave when Todo showed up.

"Oh, come on!" he growled in irritation. How many people were going to bother them tonight?

But Aisla… Her eyes lit up when she saw him, almost like when she saw Katsuki for the first time that night. He didn't think it had anything to do with some infatuation for the idiot—he was pretty confident that she had none of that—but still… Todoroki was important to her, and seeing her smile made guilt rise up inside of him.

"Shoto, don't you look nice?" she greeted politely.

To his satisfaction, she didn't call him handsome.

Todoroki smiled in response, a genuine expression only Aisla Haru could bring out as far as Katsuki knew. He couldn't remember ever seeing the dual-eyed freak smile at anyone else like that. "Shoto, huh? I thought you only called me 'Roki'?"

She winked. "Oh, don't worry. That's still your special name!"

What does he want? Katsuki wondered. Is he going to ask her to dance, too? Can I still say no?

"What are you two doing?" he asked conversationally. His gaze shifted to Katsuki briefly before returning to Aisla. Everyone seemed to want her attention today. Was he still not good enough? Was his company so bad that everyone in the room could see how miserable she was?

"She deserves better than you," he recalled Todoroki saying those words to him less than a month ago. At the time, Katsuki believed them and chose to stay away from her rather than force her into a relationship that led only to misery. But once he'd made up his mind that he wanted to be with her, he'd made an effort to make good on his promise not to hurt her like that again. He knew avoiding her was the worst thing he could do, so he'd done his best to spend time with her and to show her that he…liked her or whatever.

But… was this good enough? She didn't seem like she was enjoying herself. Maybe she'd have more fun with Todoroki than with him. It was Christmas after all. Maybe that was the best gift he could give her.

Aisla glanced at Katsuki as if waiting for him to say something. He didn't. Shame and guilt held his tongue, and he couldn't think of a response.

"Oh, we were eating and talking," she finally said. "Did you just get here?"

"I was running late because Endeavor decided to show up," he explained with a scowl.

"Did he come to say Merry Christmas?"

He rolled his eyes. "I guess. He's still trying to pull this 'be a better father' redemption act. And to tell me that if I have time to attend school dances, I have time to answer his text messages."

"Oof. That's rough," Aisla commented.

What's happening right now? Katsuki thought as he watched the conversation drag on. Why did he suddenly feel like a third wheel? Did she even care that he was standing right next to her? He was invisible when Icy Hot was around. He was right—Katsuki wasn't good enough. He proved that much time and time again.

"I was hoping you could ease some of my boredom," Todoroki said at last. "Would you do me the honor of a dance?" He bowed low and offered her a hand.

How is he so much better than me? Katsuki thought bitterly. I'm such a coward. She's my girlfriend and I can't even do the simple task of offering her one dance! I don't deserve to be by her side.

"Well…" she looked from Todoroki to Katsuki, eyes full of indecision. He couldn't decide if it was because she wanted to stay with him, or if she was looking for an excuse to get away from her dud of a date. She probably didn't want to hurt Katsuki's feelings by rejecting him. Maybe she'd been trying to find a reason to leave all night.

Her eyes reflected her conflicted feelings, making the guilt build even further inside of his chest. He felt heavy and defeated. He couldn't keep holding her back when she wanted to be somewhere else.

He turned away from them both and started eating random bits of food leftover on the plate, ignoring the impulse to grab her hand again. She could do whatever she wanted. If she'd rather hang out with Todoroki, then who was he to stop her? This wasn't the same as the little pervert, the spark plug extra, or some yokai freak asking to dance with her. This was her loyal Labrador "Roki." Her best friend—and Katsuki wouldn't stand in the way of that.

"Just one song," Todoroki pressed. "Then Bakugo can have you back."

Katsuki scoffed and kept eating.

He heard a sigh but didn't turn around until he heard the sounds of their footsteps retreating. He slowly peered behind him and watched his rival take his girlfriend away from him. He did nothing to stop them. What could he do? Todoroki was a better match for her in every single way, and she obviously wasn't having fun at the party with Katsuki.

Todoroki led her onto the dancefloor and spun her around, making her lips lift into a pleased smile. The song was slow, so he pulled her in close and placed a hand on her waist. Katsuki silently raged but did nothing to stop it. Again, asking himself…what could he do, anyway? She'd made her choice. Clearly, she wanted to be with that half and half bastard more than him. He'd never be good enough for someone like her—for an angel.

"You know, man, whatever you're thinking right now…is wrong."

Katsuki glanced to his right and found Kirishima leaning against the table beside him. He wasn't on his girlfriend's leash for once, and Katsuki hadn't even heard him walk over.

"Aisla is head over heels for you, Katsuki. Can't you see that?"

"I DON'T SEE ANYTHING!" he snapped.

Kirishima sighed. "Then stop focusing on your own insecurities for a moment and really look at that girl." He gestured toward the blonde dancing amongst their peers. "Her face says it all, dude. She sees Todoroki as nothing more than a friend. Her smile is sad, disappointed even. You know why?"

"Because this whole dance is stupid," Katsuki grumbled under his breath.

"No, because she wishes it was you out there dancing with her, not her best friend."

"You don't know anything," Katsuki growled. What the hell did Kirishima know about his situation anyway? He had a girlfriend—they were all happy-go-lucky and shit. He didn't have any problems. But Katsuki? He felt like it was an uphill battle with Aisla. He was constantly hurting her in some way, pushing her away and rejecting her. Maybe he'd been wrong about fighting to stay by her side. Maybe it was time he just let her go be with someone else.

"Take it from someone who had to work extra hard just to get the girl he liked to date him," Kirishima said as if he'd read Katsuki's thoughts. "I'm telling you, Hana didn't make it easy! She actually ran away from me, once. Full-speed, into the forest like a bullet. I had to work for it. And here you are, with this hot girl who totally digs you! She doesn't care that you have the worst attitude of anyone at this school."

"Watch it, Kirishima," Katsuki warned.

"She likes you, Katsuki," he continued, ignoring his comment. "For you. You're not going to find many girls like that."

Katsuki wasn't so sure about that. Why would a girl as beautiful and sweet as Aisla Haru like a guy as brash as Katsuki? Especially when she had Mr. Perfect fawning all over her?

"She accepts all of your flaws and cherishes them," Kirishima went on. "Are you honestly just going to stand here and watch someone else dance with your girl? Or are you going to be a man and show her how much she means to you?"

Katsuki sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening slightly.

Show her what she means to me… How am I supposed to do that?

He really wished girls came with an owner's manual or something because everything about them was confusing as hell.

"I don't think I can," he admitted. "Everyone will stare."

"So, what if they do?" Kirishima shrugged. "Let them see you. Let them see how badass Katsuki Bakugo is!"

Katsuki scoffed. "There's nothing badass about asking a girl to dance!"

Kirishima dropped a hand onto his shoulder and waited for him to meet his gaze. "Are you sure about that?" He gave him a meaningful look, and then he was off.

Katsuki watched him skip over to Kanzashi and take her by the hand. He pulled her onto the dancefloor as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

There's nothing badass about asking a girl to dance.

"Are you sure about that?"

No, I'm not. I'm not sure about anything, especially when it comes to this girl.

Before he knew it, his feet were moving without his permission. His eyes were focused on Aisla and the boy who could literally sweep her off her feet. This boy who was undoubtedly a better match for her in every way possible. Yet, Katsuki didn't care about any of that. He kept moving, pushing past his classmates without stopping until her eyes met his and her whole face lit up like the Christmas tree.

"She likes you, Katsuki. For you."

"Katsuki," Aisla murmured.

"Aisla."

She spotted him as soon as he stepped onto the dancefloor, eyes locked on hers in such a way that froze her in place. Todoroki followed her gaze and gave her a knowing smile followed by a wink as if this had been the plan all along.

"We have to make him jealous! You force him to want to dance with you by making all the other boys ask you first…"

That had been the plan, but…had Todoroki been in on it all this time? His expression said he had. Knowing Mina, she must have found him on her way to the dance and asked him to go along with their convoluted plan.

I'm so embarrassed now!

The thought of her best friend being forced to dance with her to make her boyfriend jealous was so shameful! But he didn't seem upset or disappointed. He looked pleased, happy even, which surprised her since a month ago he'd tried to break them apart. He really had moved on from that and was doing his best to make it up to her.

Even so, part of her was a little offended that he hadn't asked her to dance just because he wanted to, though the other part was grateful he'd been so willing to do something nice for her. And she knew without a doubt that if Katsuki hadn't walked up to them at that moment, that he would have gladly spent the rest of the night by her side.

"Katsuki," Aisla said, half expecting him to disappear if she blinked. Was he real? Or was this just a dream?

"Aisla," he whispered. "Dance with me." His cheeks were as red as the shirt he wore under his vest, and his hand shook in the space between them like he was afraid she would say yes. Or perhaps he was afraid she wouldn't.

Her lips lifted. "I'd really like to dance with you," she said with sincerity. "I'd like nothing more."

His eyes found hers, and something like wonder shown in them.

Todoroki bowed and then offered Katsuki the hand he held. He stared at it for a long moment as if still trying to decide whether or not to actually take it. Maybe he wasn't sure what to do with it when he did. Aisla was no pro at dancing, but she'd taken a few lessons as a kid and had a good understanding of how it worked. Katsuki, on the other hand, was insecure and explosive and wouldn't be caught dead doing something as embarrassing as dancing. So, what would he do now? Would he take her hand and dance? Or would he walk away as he'd done so many other times before?

He blushed crimson and looked away from her. Disappointment was just starting to settle back inside of her when his hand suddenly shot out and gripped her wrist tightly. He still wasn't looking her in the eyes, but it was enough to show her that he was trying. He wanted to do something with her, and this fact elated her.

See me, she silently pleaded. Please look at me. Really look at me…

As if he'd read her mind, his gaze shifted down and met hers, red eyes dilating and mouth parting in shock as if he was seeing her for the first time that night. His eyes flicked all over her face, searching for something.

She offered a timid smile and was surprised when one of his own found its way onto his lips. It was soft and genuine, completely unlike the sneers he usually wore around their classmates.

Are you happy? she wondered, and as if by silent answer, he pulled her into his arms and began to dance. It was slow and awkward, and she was pretty sure she stepped on his toes just as much as he stepped on hers…but it was perfect.

The feel of his hands on her waist and her head against his chest. The sound of his heart beating against her cheek—their own secret rhythm. The music that swelled around them and then disappeared altogether so the only sounds left were their own breathing and the soft thumping of their hearts.

She tightened the embrace even though it made it harder to dance. She didn't care about dancing well or at all. That had been her plan, but now that he was here and she was in his arms, she knew that all she'd really needed was to be close to him.

"Thank you, Katsuki…" Aisla murmured into his chest. "This feels so right."

He stiffened. "Yeah, well…this is a one-time thing!" he insisted. "Don't expect it to become a regular event."

She snuggled closer. "I'm so happy."

"You're not even listening, are you?" he grumbled.

"This is a one-time thing," she repeated. "But I'm still going to make the most of it while it lasts. I like being close to you, Katsuki."

"I hate when you say stupid shit like that," he muttered.

She laughed softly. "But I love…" she trailed off, embarrassment holding her tongue captive. Oh god. Do not say that, Aisla!

"What?" he murmured into her ear. If she wasn't mistaken, his heart raced even faster.

"I love…dancing with you!" she finished lamely.

He pulled back slightly, cheeks heating and eyes wide as if he knew she wasn't talking about their dance. Her own face felt hot, but neither one said anything about her slip.

"Do…you wanna get out of here?" he asked, voice barely audible over the cacophony of the room.

He wants to leave, she thought with a pang of sadness. Then, he wants to leave…with me.

She nodded slowly, curious what he had in mind for them. "Yeah. Let's go."

His smile was…almost genuine this time, though it was still mixed with his usual snarl. Even so, it made a playful feeling stir inside of her and she felt herself grinning in return as he took her hand and led her out of the room. She interlaced their fingers and he didn't pull away from the contact.

They walked past a smug-faced Todoroki who mouthed good luck and winked.

Aisla ignored him and kept walking, even as her face felt hot as fire. What did she need luck for anyway? They weren't going to do anything weird. Katsuki probably just wanted to get away from their other classmates. Or he wanted to get out of dancing with her… Maybe Todoroki meant to offer her luck because he thought Katsuki was going to ditch her.

He wouldn't do that, she reasoned.

Aisla didn't care much about the party anyway—all she'd wanted was to spend some time with Katsuki tonight. But…what if he didn't share the same sentiment? What if she forced him to come here tonight and now he was miserable? What could she do to make him more comfortable?

Maybe…

She wasn't certain, but she thought she might have a solution that would help the situation. But how to ask him in a way that didn't sound weird…?

"Katsuki…?" she began tentatively.

"Yeah?"

"Do you…want to go back to your room?"

The hand he had wrapped around hers tightened in his shock and she let out a squeak of pain as their knuckles pinched together.

"W-what?" he stammered. Why was his heart suddenly hammering inside his chest? "What gave you that idea?!"

She shrugged. "I don't know…" She was doing that hair-pulling thing again, that weird habit of hers that told him she was anxious about something. "I know you don't want to be here. I thought maybe you'd rather go back to your room to…be alone."

Be alone, he silently repeated. She wants to be alone with me! But why now? Why today of all days? I guess this would be the best time since most of our classmates will be at the party, but…

"I'M NOT READY FOR THAT!" he shouted, feeling ten times hotter than before.

She blinked at him.

"Are you…mad?" he asked. His rejection must have really bothered her this time. She'd been so bold with him and he'd just pushed her away. Maybe he could reconsider…?

She stared at him for a long moment before suddenly bursting into laughter. It was the same uncontrollable laugh she'd had that day at the clearing when he'd kissed her for the first time. He ran away from her that time. Fear and embarrassment had lodged itself deep within him and he couldn't stay there and look at her another moment. He hadn't understood his feelings for her back then. Even now, it was difficult for him to put words to how he felt. Aisla was special, and their relationship was much different than the one he had with Kirishima or Kaminari, or his parents, or anyone else for that matter.

"I'm sorry," she said, still smiling. "I forgot how funny you can be."

An echo of the past, he thought. In the clearing that day she'd said nearly the same thing. He wondered if she was thinking about that day, too. What had he even said back then that had set her off so much? He still didn't know.

He huffed and looked away from her. "I don't know what's so damn funny about it," he muttered.

He heard the click of her shoes as she closed the distance between them and placed a hand on his. He gave her a sideways glance.

"Silly Katsuki," she murmured. "I didn't mean to imply anything scandalous. All I meant was that you could go back to your room on your own. Not with me. Not…" a slight coloring on pale cheeks, "like that," she finished.

Oh.

He was an idiot.

"I KNEW THAT!" he snapped. "DON'T GET THE WRONG IDEA!"

Her lips twitched. "Of course you did. My mistake."

"STOP LAUGHING AT ME!"

"I'm not," she mumbled through stifled laughter, each giggle tugging his lips down further into a pout.

"Aw, come on!" She gave his hand a gentle tug to get his attention, then placed something small and cool into his palm. "Forgive me? Please?" she batted her eyes at him dramatically.

He looked down and opened his hand. A simple onyx ring with his initials inscribed in silver across the shiny surface winked back at him. He stared at it for a long time as he tried to decide what feeling to give voice to.

Guilt was at the forefront of his mind at the moment. She'd meant it when she said she had a gift for him. It wasn't that he hadn't believed her, but he hadn't expected her to do something like this. This was sleek and expensive—how'd she even get this thing delivered on campus?

Awe was another emotion clashing for dominance in his mind. Awe and wonder filled him that this girl he'd met only months ago had thought to get him a gift, one that she must have put a lot of thought into if the design choice said anything. It wasn't just black, he realized as he tilted it in the moonlight. There were tiny slivers of silver under the band's surface, barely noticeable. Little etchings of words masked behind a black curtain: Dynamight. #1 Hero.

Embarrassment clawed its way inside next. Those words, #1 Hero, he knew where those came from. She had called him her hero a few times, but he knew where it all began. He remembered the first time she called him a hero and the way those words made his heart skip a beat and his blood boil. Not only was she acknowledging his goal to be number one and showing her faith in his ability to rise to that title, but she was also reminding him that he was already number one in her eyes.

Why this, Aisla Haru? he wondered. What does this mean to you?

He stuffed the ring into his pocket and ignored the disappointment that replaced the joy on her face. He couldn't say anything. He was an idiot. How was he supposed to speak when there were so many feelings having an all-out Christmas brawl in his ribcage? He would probably only snap at her, tell her something that would hurt even worse than his silence. He had to gather his thoughts first. People didn't give him presents like this—no one had ever given him a gift like this.

"If you don't like it…" she began slowly, then cleared her throat, "you don't have to wear it. I can get you something else. Or, you know… never mind…"

She's so disappointed, you moron!

What the hell was he supposed to do about that?

He thought about it for a moment, then fished in his pocket for the gift he'd gotten for her. It was pathetic in comparison and would probably only make her even more upset than she already was, but…

"Here."

He slapped it into her hand, then turned away from her. He didn't want to see her sad smile when she realized she should have spent her money on someone else.

"Katsuki…" she whispered.

"I KNOW, IT'S FUCKING DUMB!" he shouted before she even had a chance to finish speaking. If he said it first, it wouldn't be so bad when she repeated it. She wouldn't care about his dumb gift. How could she?

"I think it's perfect," she told him.

He turned slightly and found her holding his gift up at eye-level, a genuine smile on her face. It was just a cheap trinket he'd picked up at a gift shop in town a few weeks ago. It was a keychain in the shape of a grenade, small and green, and cost him less than a cup of tea, but…

"I would have gotten you a real grenade if you weren't so damn clumsy," he muttered. "Didn't want you to blow yourself up."

She giggled. "I love it! I'll keep it on my bag so I can see it every day!" Her fingers curled around it tightly, as if she was holding something precious in the palm of her hand that she never wanted to lose. Her eyes sparkled with newfound hope, and she quickly spoke again. "Do you…like the ring? Does it fit alright? I had to guess on the measurement."

He pulled it out of his pocket and slid it onto his right index finger. Surprisingly, it fit snugly without being uncomfortable. It wouldn't fall off, at least.

"It fits!" she cheered. "Is it okay?"

It's amazing, he thought.

"Sure, whatever," he offered with a noncommittal shrug.

She beamed a smile, then turned toward the large windows that made up the entire wall in a half-circle. He'd only just noticed it, but the moon was full and bright as a beacon. Aisla too must have been oblivious because her eyes suddenly sparkled with wonder and she stepped closer, taking a seat on the circular bench beneath the window. Her dress fluttered around her knees and her hair shimmered like a halo.

She gazed out at the moon in silence for a long moment before finally speaking again.

"Thank you for coming tonight," Aisla expressed in a soft tone. "For a minute there, I wasn't sure you would."

"For a minute, neither did I," he admitted and sat down as well. There was something mystical about the moon tonight, he thought as he watched its glow light up the surrounding woods, bathing everything in a silver blanket. He wondered if his parents were looking at the moon right now, and if his ripe old grandfather and his evil cat were with them. Were they having Christmas dinner right about now? Were they thinking about him?

"Was it miserable?" Aisla asked quietly without looking at him. "Being with me? I know you must miss your family."

Mind reader… he silently accused. How did she always know what he was thinking? He hoped she didn't really feel that way. He knew he hadn't been acting like he was having the best time at the party, exactly, but… She had to know, right? Had to understand that despite the discomfort he felt when she pushed him outside of his normal boundaries, that misery was the complete opposite of what he felt around her.

"No," he answered simply. "It wasn't miserable at all."

"Is it…okay?" she pressed, voice hesitant. "Do you like…being with me?"

"Why do you ask such stupid questions?" he asked tiredly. They'd had this conversation so many times now, in different ways. Wasn't it obvious that he liked her by now? Was he still not getting the point across?

"I just worry sometimes," she explained. "I really like you, Katsuki, but…sometimes I wonder if you actually like me, or if you're just with me because you feel obligated."

Obligation… Does she really feel that insecure about us? I'm such a damn idiot.

He stood to his feet and considered his next words carefully.

"I don't like…people," he mumbled uncomfortably. "I don't talk to people, I don't do things for people. I don't have friends, and I definitely don't have girlfriends."

He had his back to her but he thought he heard her sniffle and shuffle her feet to face him.

"But," he continued, softer now, "for some stupid reason, I can't stop talking to you, and doing things for you and with you. I can't stop…wanting to be…near you…" His words were barely audible by the time he'd forced them out. He wasn't good at talking about his feelings, but he cared about Aisla and didn't want her thinking 'obligation' had anything to do with it. He didn't hold her hand or kiss her lips or walk with her in the halls because he had to, he did those things because something inside of him so desperately wanted to. He wasn't sure why, but he knew that being with her was definitely his own volition.

He heard her stand and cross the few feet of space that separated them.

"Tell me, Katsuki Bakugo, do you like being with me?" Her tone was a gentle command.

He swallowed, turned to face her, and wiped a stray tear from her eye.

That doesn't belong there, he decided, then tried to look away but…something in his brain wasn't connecting with the rest of his body. He was frozen, eyes locked on hers and mouth working as if trying to speak but unable to form words. How did she always do this to him? She'd rendered him speechless yet again.

"Aisla…I think you already know," he murmured once he'd found his voice, then leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, feather-light.

Her breath came out shaky and hot on his lips, tempting him to go back on his earlier refusal to take her to his room.

"Does that answer your question?" he whispered against her lips.

"I don't think I quite heard the answer," she replied just as softly, fingers curling in his shirt, pulling him closer.

He smiled against her mouth, then pressed his down again. This time, he tilted her head back with one hand and deepened the kiss, sighing into her mouth and letting all reservations go for the time being. He let her hands slide up his chest and fist in his hair, pulling his lips down even harder, and when his free hand ventured to the small of her back, he allowed it to pull her closer.

Tongues danced… Hands traveled up, down, up again… Words whispered between heavy breaths… Hearts beat in tandem…

"I'm sorry…" he murmured when they broke apart, eyes drinking her in, and all of the features he liked so much: her silvery-blue eyes, the golden halo of her hair, her brilliant smile. He liked all of it.

"Don't deny me…" she pleaded, hands cupping either side of his face, eyes searching his, looking for confirmation.

"Never," he promised without hesitation, and sealed his words with one more passionate kiss.

A/N: Alright, guys! Here is the finale of the mini Christmas arc thing (whatever you wanna call it)! For those of you who previously read this in my other story In Denial, there are quite a few minor changes, though nothing major. Definitely worth a second read through! Also, we got that title in there for the first time, so that's always fun! I know readers of another series of mine always enjoyed when I did that, so I had to throw that in there!

How do we feel about their gifts? I remember, back when I first thought about this Christmas chapter (when it was still one full scene), I struggled a lot coming up with ideas for that. I had to really think hard on what sort of presents I wanted them to give, without it being ridiculous or over the top. Fun fact, this was back before I even knew Katsuki's hero name. Originally, the inscription under the band said something completely different! That goes to show how long I've been working on this story! The answer: TOO LONG (insert ROFL emoji here).

Anyway! Next week, we're back to brand new, unpublished, never before seen chapters!

Reviews:

MeMyselfAndI82907: Lmaoooo, your comment had me rolling! It's so true, though. That's what's so fun about Katsuki. So accurate!

blasttyrant: I guess it worked out in her favor after all. And all it took was a couple of perverts, a giraffe, and her best friend to do it, LOL! I love the Christmas scenes, too! It was really fun going back and forth with yellowchikadee on these!

Beta: yellowchikadee

—Originally, the Christmas scene was your idea, but we made it a fun challenge that we wrote again and again! And also again. And you know…again. So thank you for the idea, and I really enjoyed coming up with different events with you and making this something really fun to write and share!

If you want to read yellowchikadee's Christmas scenes, which coincide with mine, you can check out her versions in The Ribbon and The Contract! Link to her account is on my profile page.