Chapter Sixty-Two: Trust
Aisla had just gotten out of the shower when her phone chimed with a message. She padded over to it and pulled it off the nightstand, smiling when she saw Katsuki's name displayed on the screen.
"Wear a dress tonight," was all the message said.
She rolled her eyes at his simple way of speaking and typed out a response.
"What kind of dress?" She didn't have many to choose from, but she had brought a few just in case she needed something nice to wear on this trip. She wasn't sure what Katsuki had in mind, and she was curious what sort of answer he would give.
A moment later, his reply popped up. "Whatever makes you feel pretty."
Her heart thumped in response, though she wasn't sure why. It wasn't like he'd said anything overly romantic and he hadn't exactly called her pretty, but his words still made something flutter inside of her.
"Do I get to know where we're going?" she asked.
"No," he replied, then a moment later, "It's a date."
Aisla grinned stupidly in response. She couldn't remember ever hearing Katsuki utter the word 'date.' It barely counted since it was through a text, but she still felt giddy at the thought of this shy boy offering to take her out.
The image of him capturing her in his arms after her battle suddenly flooded into her mind and made heat rise to her cheeks. She hadn't even known if he'd been watching her, then out of nowhere he drew her into a tight embrace and refused to let go, even as Aisla stood there stiff and confused. Then, the heat of his body and the familiar smell of woodsmoke and cinnamon invaded her senses and she couldn't help but melt into him. She could have stayed there forever, but her need to shower was so consuming she'd finally had to push away from him and force herself to leave.
Hours later, Aisla swore she could still feel his warmth like a wildfire setting her skin ablaze. The pressure of his arms held her, and his soft words still ricocheted inside her brain. "I was worried about you…"
She smiled as she sent him another reply. "I can't wait."
She pulled out a midnight blue A-line style dress with shoulder-length sleeves. The dress's skirt was divided into two layers, with the top forming an apron style fold over the bottom. The fabric underneath was made of a thinner lace than the cotton which made up the rest of the design, and a flower of the same color was embroidered into the left corner of the bottom layer. She paired this with a silver icicle style necklace that hung just over the dress' collar, adding a little flare to the otherwise plain ensemble.
Satisfied with the outfit choice, she decided to give her hair some wavy curls, looser than her normal ones to give her a more natural look while still looking pretty. She wasn't sure what to expect for tonight, but Katsuki had never specifically asked her to wear something nice, so she assumed this was a smart choice. The dress was elegant, but the fabric was sturdy enough to hold up for various activities, and the skirt was long enough that it wouldn't show off her rear if she bent over. She thought she looked classy yet still girly and cute. Maybe even beautiful.
Katsuki said he would be picking her up at 6:30, so she had a little over an hour to wait. She thought about calling her dad—who had been bugging her incessantly the entire trip—but finally decided that drawing would help her relax the best.
She sat down at the desk the room provided with the uncomfortable chair and tiny desk light that barely illuminated a softball sized circle on the mahogany surface. She laid her sketchbook out on the table in front of her and opened to a fresh page. Her pencil hovered just over the paper while she pursed her lips in thought, trying to decide what to work on.
The last thing she'd drawn had been on the bus on the way to the resort, when she'd drawn a dragon and a cat. The dragon had been meant to represent Katsuki—a fierce protector. She'd meant to draw the cat he'd wanted as something adorable and not in the likeness of her favorite hero, but she was so accustomed to drawing Eraser Head fanart that she hadn't even noticed she was doing it until it was too late.
This time, she wanted to draw something else, something she could be proud of. However… At the same time, she still occasionally had mixed feelings about her drawings. She'd been sketching a lot more lately, but sometimes she still got an ache in her chest when she remembered the way Katsuki had crumpled the drawing she'd given him months ago. His angry expression as he held the paper in a fist and threw it across the room like it was garbage still haunted her sometimes when she opened her sketchbook to draw. Sometimes she stared at the blank sheet as the images from that night barraged her brain like a series of gunshots.
Bam! Katsuki crumpling the paper in his fist.
Bam! Katsuki screaming at her that he doesn't love her.
Bam! Katsuki throwing the paper across the room.
Bam! Katsuki being dragged from the house and taking a piece of Aisla's heart with him.
She sighed and dropped her head onto the paper in lieu of drawing as she struggled against the images threatening to overwhelm her mind. She shouldn't be thinking about that when she was about to go on a date with Katsuki. It wasn't fair to him to start their evening off already feeling uncertain and depressed. She wanted to be present for whatever he had to offer. She'd already forgiven him for that night, her parents had forgiven him, now she needed to put it all behind her and move on.
With that in mind, she took a few deep, steadying breaths, then sat up and stared down at the page once more. She needed to just draw something! The first thing that came to her mind! Drawing always helped her to relax, and she needed to be totally focused for tonight!
She stood from the chair and pulled open the curtains to take in the landscape below. From her window, she could see the pool down below, the warehouse they did their training in, and a lake in the distance. Aisla chewed her lip in thought for a moment, then got an idea.
She set to work sketching out the lake and the small sandy beach on its shore. She added in some crashing waves lapping at the shoreline, and some crabs scurrying away from the tide. Then, she drew a massive sand castle with turrets and towers, and a little flag waving proudly in the breeze. She positioned the sun high in the sky, with a small flock of birds flying just below some puffy white clouds.
Finally, a knock sounded on her door. She felt like she'd been drawing for only seconds, but a quick glance at her phone showed an hour had already gone by. It was now 6:25.
You're early, she silently observed as she made her way toward the door to let him in. She pulled it open with a smile, but the expression slowly dropped as her jaw fell to the floor. She gaped at him as she took in his dark wash jeans and studded black belt, the tucked in black muscle shirt under a leather jacket with one shoulder dipping slightly like it didn't fit properly, or he'd dressed in haste and hadn't pulled it all the way on.
God, why is that so hot? she silently moaned as she continued staring like a freak.
When she was finally able to meet his gaze, she found a familiar expression in his fiery eyes that had her insides melting and her body itching to squirm. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she tried to remember how to speak.
"Aisla," he murmured softly, "you look beautiful."
Beautiful… The word echoed inside her head. Never had Katsuki used that word to describe her in all the time she'd known him. Maybe in the privacy of his own mind, but Aisla couldn't remember a single instance where he'd told her she was beautiful aloud. His expression always told her he thought she was lovely, but hearing something aloud like that was so much more powerful than a simple thought.
His lips turned up in a smile, then he leaned down to her ear, lips brushing her cheek on the way and making a shudder pass through her. "Ravishing," he growled low into her ear.
Aisla let out a heavy breath as Katsuki pulled back and offered her a hand. "Will you come with me, Aisla?"
She nodded slowly and took his hand, letting him interlace their fingers and tug her the rest of the way out the door. Her silver kitten heels clicked against the hardwood floor as they walked, and her matching blue handbag with a silver chain thumped noiselessly against her side with each step.
"Are you alright?" he asked after several moments of silence. His tone was laced with concern.
Aisla nodded, then willed her lips to move and form words. Katsuki was going to think she was upset with him if she didn't say something! She wasn't upset, not anymore. Her only thought right now was he's so damn sexy, and, I wish he would call me beautiful again.
"Aisla?"
She looked up at him and was greeted with a reassuring smile. "Don't be afraid, Aisla. I'll take care of you."
His words made her feel suddenly warm and tingly inside. Her lips lifted in response and she squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Katsuki."
He led her down to the lobby and through a door marked Dining. Aisla knew from the research she'd done before their trip that the hotel had three available restaurants, as well as a food court type of dining room with various types of cuisine available. She had considered dinner as an option for their date, but for some reason it still surprised her that he would be willing to do something so tame. She figured he would have something else in mind—like axe throwing.
He stopped in front of a set of French doors with curved arches and inlaid with glass panes. The soft, golden color of the wood surrounding each pane made the doors look elegant and expensive. Just beyond the doors, Aisla could make out various tables with scarlet red tablecloths embroidered with gold silk flowers.
"Um…Katsuki?" she tried, but he was already tugging her inside and leading her over to a finely dressed hostess in a black uniform. She smiled sweetly at them, but Aisla could detect the same unease that she felt being in a place that looked like it cost more than an entire years' worth of meals at UA.
"Good evening, do you have a reservation?" The hostess asked kindly as she opened the tablet in front of her.
To Aisla's surprise, Katsuki nodded firmly. "Yes, it's under Bakugo. I came by this morning."
More shock filled her as the woman nodded and scrolled through the screen for a moment before turning back to them with a beaming grin. "Right this way, then!" The hostess led them over to a booth in the back, situated between two other tables that were currently empty. Aisla slid uneasily into the booth while Katsuki sat across from her and avoided eye contact.
"Your server will be with you in just a moment!" The woman told them before returning to her station at the front of the restaurant.
Aisla placed her bag on the seat next to her, then leaned across the table and pitched her voice low. "Katsuki, this place is really beautiful, but isn't it kind of expensive? We could go somewhere else? I promise I won't mind."
He met her gaze with a serious one of his own. "Aisla, I promise you I can afford this place, and I want to eat here with you."
Aisla twisted a curly strand of hair. "But…I feel bad because this place is so fancy. It's going to cost you so much money just to…h-hang out?" She didn't mean for the words to come out as a stuttering question, but guilt was starting to make her insides curl unpleasantly.
"Aisla, please look at me," Katsuki pleaded softly. When she did, he was looking at her with sincerity and warmth. He reached a hand across the table, palm up, and waited until Aisla placed a tentative hand inside before wrapping his fingers around it. "I need you to understand something, okay? I know that, in the past, I haven't been very…forward with my feelings or intentions. But I need you to know that right now, you and I? We're not hanging out. I didn't bring you here because I want to have a casual get-together with a friend. I want…" He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again so she could see the depth of his words. "I want to be on a date with you, Aisla."
She sucked in a breath just as their waiter appeared out of nowhere and plopped a couple of menus down between them, forcing them to break apart and sit back.
"Good evening!" he intoned. "My name is Ichiya and I'll be your server for this evening. Can I get you started with something to drink?" Ichiya had short dark hair and stubble, and the uniform he wore did nothing to hide the obvious gut poking out around the waistband of black slacks.
Aisla pulled the menu in front of her for a moment and glanced at the beverage selection. "Um…"
"Coffee," Katsuki said automatically. "Black for me, anything vanilla flavored for her, but preferably French vanilla."
The waiter stared at him for a moment, then glanced over to Aisla as if waiting for her okay. She nodded eagerly and the man took off to place their drink order.
"You remembered," she said approvingly as she smiled across the table at him.
He shrugged. "I told you I'd get you coffee." He grimaced. "Not sure how good it will taste with French food, though."
"Coffee tastes good no matter what you pair it with!" Aisla spoke dreamily, making Katsuki let out a soft laugh.
"Order whatever you want, Aisla," he told her. "Please. I want you to have a good time tonight. I can afford it, I promise. And I know you like to eat, so don't even try and order some shitty salad or I'm just going to order for you, got it?" He gave her a warning look.
She couldn't help but smile. "Okay, Katsuki. If it's that important to you."
"You're important to me, Aisla," he said seriously. She faltered with her next words. "Pick something, okay? Whatever looks good, no matter the cost."
Aisla couldn't breathe for a long moment as his fiery eyes locked onto hers and turned her body to ash in an instant. He's really going all out tonight, she thought as she perused the menu. She tried not to look at the prices but… Damn was this place expensive! She was honestly surprised the hostess hadn't demanded to see proof that they could afford to eat here before she seated them.
"Don't worry about the prices, Aisla," he murmured. "Let me do this for you, please. I want to."
She nodded and looked back over the menu. She wasn't as familiar with French cuisine as she was with Japanese or even American, but she recognized some of the dishes at least. She was still apprehensive about allowing Katsuki to pay for such an expensive meal, but he just kept looking at her with that hopeful expression as if it would please him just to have her indulge in something fancy.
She wondered what made him suddenly so adamant about making her feel special. It wasn't that he'd never made her feel that way before, but tonight he was trying to make everything perfect for her, as if he thought that was what she wanted from him.
"Katsuki…?" she asked slowly. "You know you don't have to make grand gestures to impress me, right?" She watched his eyes widen at her words. "It doesn't take a fancy dinner with finery and outrageous prices to make me happy. If that's all you're trying to do, then…"
"That's not what I'm doing," he answered softly as a light blush colored his cheeks. "I mean, I do want to make you happy, but that's not the reason I brought you here. I just…" He swallowed hard and let out an embarrassed sigh. "I just wanted to be with you, Aisla. I wanted to do something fun and new, and I wanted it to be just us. I wanted to do something special for you this time. I'm not good at this whole…dating thing, and I don't really know what's appropriate or whatever, or if you even want to go on a date with me at all, or—"
"Katsuki," she cut him off gently, sensing a rant. "I told you yesterday, I'm not trying to hide from you anymore. I don't want to be away from you. I like spending time with you. It makes me so happy."
His face lit up. "You mean that?" She nodded. "I'm…so glad to hear that, Aisla. I…I was so afraid you wouldn't…What I mean to say is that I…"
"It's okay, Katsuki," she allowed, offering him a small smile. "You don't have to—"
"Yes, I do," he protested fiercely. "I can't keep holding everything inside like before. I know that was part of the problem. I buried things, I pushed you away, and I reacted poorly to your feelings. I don't want to do that again. It's just…" He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's so hard for me, Aisla. I'm trying here, I really am, but it's so hard to say the things I wish I could tell you."
"I can tell how hard you're trying," she acknowledged. "I've noticed you trying to change, too. I've seen you bite back hurtful comments, not just with me but with everyone else, too. I've watched you go out of your way to do things for me and with me. And I hear you, Katsuki, I really do. I hear you crying out to me and telling me the things you've been afraid to say for so long now. You're doing an amazing job, Katsuki. Thank you for everything."
Ichiya showed up with their coffee just as Katsuki opened his mouth to respond. "Sorry for the wait!" he said cheerily as he sat down their cups, a pot filled with steaming coffee, and a bowl with french vanilla creamer pods. "Are you ready to order?"
Aisla froze, realizing she'd been too distracted with Katsuki to look for food.
"I know what you'll like," Katsuki offered, looking to her for permission. After a grateful nod, Katsuki gave the waiter the orders and passed over their menus.
"Does that bother you?" she asked quietly when the man left them alone.
He looked surprised. "Ordering food?"
"Ordering for me," she corrected. "Doesn't it make me seem pathetic?"
He snorted. "Of course you're not pathetic! I just know what you like, so why wouldn't I order for you?"
The answer was so simple, Aisla couldn't even find a fault to argue with. She shrugged it off and leaned forward across the table. "This is really nice," she admitted as she poured herself a cup of coffee and dumped in some creamer. "I've never been to a place like this before."
"Aren't your parents loaded or something?" he asked.
She shrugged. "I don't know if I'd go that far, but they're pretty well off, I suppose."
He hummed in response, then took the pot from her and filled his own cup before taking a sip without adding any creamer. "Tastes like money," he remarked.
Aisla choked on a laugh. "What does that mean?"
"That it's as expensive as it is good," he explained with a toothy grin. "Go on, coffee addict. Try it."
She took a sip and nearly moaned right into the cup. "So good!" she approved. "Much better than the stuff Mina brought me earlier."
He chuckled. "You really like coffee, don't you?" He shook his head in amusement. "Aisla," he said, tone turning suddenly serious. "Can I…" he paused, a blush coloring his cheeks once more. "I mean…I want to give you something."
Surprise lit her features. "A gift?" she guessed. Katsuki wasn't usually the type to offer presents for no reason.
He nodded, then dug in his pockets for a moment before producing a small, square box with a blue ribbon tied in a neat bow. He placed it on the table in front of her, then sat back and averted his gaze again. "I…bought this a while ago," he admitted sheepishly. "I wanted you to have it, but I haven't found the right time to give it to you. It's okay if you hate it!" he added quickly.
Aisla pulled the box closer and tugged the ribbon free, letting it fall onto the table. "You didn't have to get me anything, Katsuki."
"I know, but…I thought it would be, you know…nice or something…" He trailed off, unwilling to say more.
Aisla proffered a smile before pulling the lid from the box and peering inside. Her eyes grew wide at the sight. A dazzling silver chain with various charms sat on a velvet black pillow. It glittered like diamonds, and each charm had obviously been hand selected by Katsuki himself. A grenade to represent Katsuki, a mirror for herself, a paint brush because Aisla loved art, and a tiny silver cat head. He'd even included an Eraser Head charm since he was her favorite hero.
"It's not much…" he said carefully. "I made my mom help me pick it out. She said girls like jewelry and stuff that makes them feel pretty, so I thought you'd…you know, like it?" He cleared his throat as she continued to stare in awe. "I picked all the charms out, though. I thought it would be kind of fun to add to it. I mean, if you don't like it, then I can take it back, you don't have to feel obligated or anything. I know it's sort of lame and childish but—"
"I love it," she interrupted. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "Really, it's beautiful, Katsuki. No one has ever given me something so lovely or thoughtful. The idea of adding things to this bracelet with you makes me so happy." She picked it up out of the box and passed it over to him. "Will you help me?"
He nodded, though his eyes couldn't seem to leave hers. Burning embers looked at her with so much emotion, she could almost taste the words on her tongue.
I hear you, Katsuki Bakugo, she thought as she got lost in those eyes.
Finally, he broke their intense gaze and shifted his eyes down to the bracelet dangling from her fingertips. He took it gingerly and clasped it around her wrist. She twisted her hand to make the charms jangle, then gave him an appreciative grin.
"I love this," she repeated sincerely.
He looked pleased by this answer. "It looks beautiful on you."
She blushed but was saved from having to answer when Ichiya appeared with their food. "Good choice tonight, young man!" Ichiya said as he placed a large bowl in front of each of them. "One of our most popular dishes! A wise choice for your young lady here." He gave her a wink. "Enjoy the food!"
Aisla looked at the dish with a frown. The broth had an orangish, brown hue, and the contents smelled fishy but she couldn't pick anything out by name apart from the clams. "What is this stuff?" she asked.
He chuckled at her pinched expression. "It's Bouillabaisse," he explained. "Fish soup. It's a delicacy."
Aisla liked fish, but she wasn't sure about fish soup. Still…Katsuki had ordered this specifically for her, and if it was as great as he claimed, then she wanted to show her appreciation and at least try the stuff. Even if she hated it, maybe she could choke some of it down just so she wouldn't seem ungrateful.
She brought a spoonful of broth to her lips and closed her mouth around it. Instantly, she was assaulted by flavors: saffron, basil, and a variety of richness that melted on her tongue and made her moan in response.
"Mm," she said as she took another sip. "So good!"
Katsuki looked pleased. "It is, isn't it? It's my mom's favorite dish. Whenever we used to go out as a family, she'd always order this stuff. I thought you might like it, too."
She smiled. "I do! Thank you, Katsuki. You always know what I like."
His cheeks took on some color and he shifted his gaze down to his own bowl. He popped open a clam and forked out the inside before stuffing it into his mouth and swallowing it whole like an oyster.
Aisla made a face. "I think the soup is delicious…but I don't think I like to eat slimy sea creatures," she said, poking the clam shell with her spoon.
Katsuki chuckled. "It's not for everyone. You don't have to eat the clams if you don't want to. There's other fish you'll probably like."
"Is it…good?" she asked, still abusing the creature with her silverware.
"I like it," he answered with a shrug. "My dad hates them. And my mom likes to crack them open and put hot sauce on top for some reason." He shuddered at the idea.
Aisla thought about it, then copied Katsuki's actions to open the clam. He nodded encouragingly, then Aisla shrugged and tipped back the shell. It was slimy yet chewy, and tasted like salt water and something oddly pungent.
She coughed, then took a long gulp of coffee while Katsuki burst out laughing. "That is not pleasant," she decided. She refilled her cup, added in a couple of creamers, then took another long swallow of the scalding liquid.
"I'll eat them for you," Katsuki offered, pushing his bowl across the table toward her. "You can have some of mine if you want. What's your favorite kind of fish? It's probably in this soup."
She thought he meant it as a joke by the way his eyes twinkled, but a closer look at the bowl did show a wide variety of fish, including sea bass, halibut, and something that looked suspiciously like eel.
"Um, I like a lot of fish, honestly," she said as she picked out the clams with her spoon and dumped them into Katsuki's bowl. She added the muscles too because she'd never been a fan of those. "I don't know if I have a favorite…"
"Try the conger," he suggested. "You'll like that for sure."
She pulled her bowl closer and used a fork to pick up the small brown rectangular creature she'd thought was an eel. "This one?" she asked, holding it up for Katsuki to see. He dumped another shell into his mouth, then nodded at the eel. She took a tentative bite, watching the amusement spark in his eyes as she chewed. "It's very meaty," she remarked, "and tastes kind of like pork."
"It's good, right?" He popped a whole eel piece into his mouth. "Mmm."
She giggled. "Okay, without the snot shell, this soup is actually delicious."
He beamed proudly. "Yeah, I knew you'd love it."
They continued eating, with the occasional comment about the soup or training. Katsuki spoke briefly about his family, and Aisla threw in a story about the time her father took them all out for ice cream and he somehow managed to choke on vanilla cream. Katsuki laughed at this, and muttered something about Aisla and vanilla that she didn't quite catch.
When the soup was finished, Ichiya returned with dessert menus.
"No, thank you," Aisla declined. "I'm really full."
"Are you sure?" Katsuki asked. "We could get something to-go? You can have it later. You like dessert, right?"
She gave him an appreciative smile. "I do, but I'll decline this time."
The waiter nodded and left them with the check. Aisla tried to peek at the price, but the receipt was hidden inside a black bill holder, and before she could even blink Katsuki had snatched it up from the table. He slid a shiny black credit card into the slot and handed it back to the waiter without even glancing at the price.
Ichiya nodded politely, took the card and the book, and told them he'd be right back.
"Katsuki, are you sure you don't want me to pay for my portion?" She still felt guilty for the expensive meal. She hadn't seen the price for the dish Katsuki had ordered, but nothing on the menu had been what she'd call "affordable."
He smiled. "Of course not. This is a date. It's the guy's job to pay for the meal. Besides, you deserve it."
Her cheeks heated.
Ichiya returned and dropped off their receipt. "Have a wonderful night, young man, young lady." He said kindly. "I hope you enjoyed the meal!"
"We did!" Aisla agreed with a grin.
After he signed the receipt and put his card away, Katsuki slid from the booth, then offered a hand to Aisla to help her out as well. She slung her bag over one shoulder, then accepted the proffered hand and stood up. He didn't let go as he took her out of the fancy restaurant and into the hotel lobby.
"That was really nice," she expressed as they walked toward the elevators. "Thank you for taking me out. And for doing something really special with me. It meant a lot that you wanted to spend time with me."
He gave her hand a squeeze. "I love spending time with you, Aisla. I want to keep spending time with you."
"Like…tonight or in general?"
"Both," he replied with a sheepish grin. "I still have something I want to show you, if you don't mind hanging out with me a little while longer?"
She nodded eagerly. "I'd really like that."
"Then… Would you mind coming up to my room with me?" he asked.
Heat rose to her cheeks at the idea of being alone in his room, but she found herself agreeing anyway. "Okay, that sounds fine."
He led her up to the fifth floor, then paused in front of his door to pull out the electronic key card. He swiped it over the card reader and pushed into the room, holding the door open for her so she could squeeze by him. He let the door click shut and followed her into the room, flicking on the lights as he did.
The room was cleaner than she'd expected, bed made and only his costume case sitting out on the small dresser. The room was identical to her own, except that his had a larger TV and a coffee pot on the desk.
"Why does your room have a coffee pot?" she whined, eyeing the pot enviously.
He chuckled. "I don't know, I didn't ask for it. They'll probably give you one if you let them know."
"Maybe," she mumbled.
"Do you want me to make a pot?" he offered.
"No," she declined. "I had enough at the restaurant."
He nodded, then stood there awkwardly for a long time as though he couldn't decide what to do now that he had her in his room. She wondered what his plan had been when he'd invited her here, but she was too nervous to ask. She was in his hotel room, and he smelled so good and he looked so sexy. She was afraid to so much as breathe right now.
"Aisla?" he asked softly, eyes averted as if suddenly embarrassed. "Can I…is it okay…if I show you something now?"
She smiled, grateful for the distraction. "Of course. What is it?"
Katsuki gave her a soft smile. "It's nothing bad," he assured her. "Wait here, okay?" He disappeared around the corner before returning a moment later with something tucked under his arm and cheeks the color of the scarlet tablecloths at the restaurant.
"I want you to keep an open mind," he started carefully, still not fully meeting her gaze as he stopped in front of her with his item. "This is one of my most prized possessions…and I thought it was time that I show it to you."
He pulled it out from under his arm and thrust it in her direction without looking at her. With a frown, Aisla accepted the rectangular object and turned it around to peer down at it. She sucked in a sharp breath as her eyes grew wide. She held a white wooden frame in her hands, and inside was one of her drawings. It was slightly crumpled behind the glass, but it was unmistakable.
"K-Katsuki," she stammered. "This is…" The sketch I drew for you for Valentine's Day… "How do you have this?"
"It was sent to me in the mail," he explained with a shrug.
"How long have you had this?" she asked, staring down at the sketch before her in astonishment.
"Since February 27th."
"But…that was so long ago," she protested, fingers clutching the frame tightly as her hands shook with some emotion. She wasn't really sure what she was feeling right now. "Why do you still have this?"
"I kept it folded in my drawer for a while," he admitted reluctantly. "I pulled it out a lot to look at it, which only made the creases that much worse. I finally got a frame for it to keep it from getting ruined even further."
Aisla continued to stare as tears formed in her eyes. "Katsuki," she choked out, "you kept this picture this whole time? Why? I thought you hated it."
He let out a slow breath. "I did say that," he agreed, "but that was just me being afraid of my own feelings." He held up the hand adorned with the onyx ring she'd gifted him for Christmas. "Aisla, I've never taken this ring off, not one time since you gave it to me. Not to sleep, not to shower, not even during training. Do you know why?" She shook her head slowly, unable to form words. "No matter what I said to you, Aisla, and no matter what thoughts went through my stupid head, I never stopped believing that this—" he tapped on the ring with a thumb, "—is real. And this—" he pressed his index finger on the frame in her hands, "—is what I want. I never stopped wanting you, Aisla. And I never stopped hoping that one day you'd come back to me."
Tears spilled from her eyes as she took in his words. A piece of her heart in the form of a crumpled up love letter, and a promise inscribed into the obsidian circle around his finger. These were two things that Aisla had taken as proof that Katsuki couldn't feel the same way about her that she did for him. The picture he'd tossed aside was a constant knife in her stomach each time she opened her sketchbook. She'd had no idea that this entire time he'd held onto it and looked at it so many times that the edges were frayed and the creases began to tear. He'd treasured it so dearly that he'd placed it under glass to preserve it for that much longer, then brought it with him on their school sanctioned trip.
"You said you didn't feel the same way," she whispered, still struggling to see what lay right in front of her. It wasn't real, it couldn't be. She was just imagining things. Katsuki couldn't possibly have done all of this because he…
"I lied, Aisla," he groaned. "I was so afraid of my own feelings that the only way I knew how to handle them was to get angry and lash out at you. I didn't mean anything I said to you that night."
He took the frame from her shaking hands and placed it on the nightstand next to the bed. His hands reached out and cupped her face, forcing her eyes to meet his.
"Aisla, listen to me. I didn't mean it, okay? I know I said a lot of shitty things to you and your family that night, and I'm so sorry I hurt you and embarrassed you. I can't tell you enough times how horrible I feel for everything I've put you through because of that night. I fucked up bad this time, and I don't blame you if you're never able to trust me again. But…you said you wanted more than empty promises this time, and this is the best that I can offer you."
"Katsuki—" Aisla tried, but he shook his head to stop her.
"No, please let me finish." He tenderly caressed her face with his thumbs as his eyes flicked back and forth between her own. "Aisla, that picture you drew for me is perfect. It's the most beautiful thing you've ever drawn. I want you to know how much it means to me that you'd take the time to sketch something like that for me.
"This ring you gave me," he added with a shy smile, "reminds me everyday that there's someone out there who cares about me. Every time I look at this, I remember how much you mean to me and how much I love being with you."
Aisla swallowed hard. "What are you saying?" she breathed, eyes searching his, looking for answers.
He took a deep breath, let it out, and held her gaze with a fierce one of his own. "Aisla…" She waited an immeasurable amount of time for him to continue, so long that she thought maybe he'd forgotten to speak. Maybe he was lost in her eyes, swallowed up by the depths of her oceans.
"I need you to hear what I say, Aisla," he whispered at last. "I need you to believe me when I tell you. It's not me trying to placate you or tell you something I think you want to hear. I want to say it, and I want you to hear it."
She nodded slowly and he took another deep breath, gaze unwavering.
"Aisla…I love you."
She gasped aloud, eyes going impossibly wide at the proclamation. Even though she'd been expecting these words, she never really believed he'd say them like that, so full of passion and sincerity and love. He meant every word, she could feel it in the fibers of her being, wrapping around her heart and sealing up the holes that had been created from his rejection that day. Her heart soared and her pulse quickened, and suddenly she couldn't stop herself from reaching forward and gripping the black jacket in tight fingers. His eyes widened only a moment before she pulled his face down to hers and met his lips with her own.
He moaned into the kiss like this had been the thing he'd been waiting his whole life for. She felt him shudder violently as one hand reached behind her back and pulled her even closer. His free hand slid into her hair and tangled in the strands there before tilting her head to one side so he could kiss her deeper.
"God, I love you, Aisla," he professed against her lips, then delved deeper, sliding a tongue along her bottom lip, fingers curling around her waist shakily. She parted her lips with a moan and he slipped his tongue inside and tangled with her own. She felt her walls come crumbling down like glass shattering into a million shards, instantly turned to dust beneath the force of his words.
He pulled back suddenly and fixed his gaze on hers once more. "I need to be with you, Aisla Haru," he murmured fiercely. "I can't live without you anymore. I love you. Please take me back." His eyes were pleading and hopeful, with the faintest sliver of unease as though he expected her to deny him.
She offered a gentle smile. "Is that even a question anymore?" she asked, fingers lightly caressing his face now. "I don't want to be without you either. I love you, Katsuki."
"Aisla…" Her name alone sounded like an admission of love now, so full of emotion and sincerity. His forehead rested against hers as they stood there silently for a long time. Katsuki's hands were on her back, holding her close as if afraid she would disappear right before his eyes. Aisla still held his face with tender fingers, thumbs lightly brushing against smooth skin.
"I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner," he expressed. "I can't promise that I'll say it every day, or that I won't still react like an idiot sometimes, but I swear to you, Aisla, I'm going to try with everything I have to make you mine again."
She buried her face in his chest and wept there in response to his words. Katsuki was so vulnerable right now, more so than she'd ever seen him. He was laying everything out on the table, heart and soul. He wanted her to be certain of his feelings, even though expressing them was hard for him. He was showing her that he could be different, that he wanted to be different. The ring, the picture she'd sketched, defending her honor against the rumors, and his unabashed declaration of love all came together as a resounding promise that he was hers and she was his.
He held her closely and let her cry there until the tears stopped falling and her body relaxed in his arms. At last, she pulled back and gazed up at him, taking in the slight shimmer of his own eyes, like he'd been crying, too, and the love he so clearly expressed for her. "You are so beautiful when you cry," he whispered as he brushed away the remaining droplets.
Her lips turned up into a smile. "Thank you for saying those words," she murmured in response. "And for taking me on this date. It was perfect."
He tucked the stray hairs behind her ears. "I don't want it to end just yet. Stay with me, Aisla. Let me hold you while we sleep. I need to be close to you for just a little while longer."
She shivered at his bold words. Katsuki was asking her to spend the night with him. They'd shared a bed so many times back at school, but it had been a while since they'd been together like this. It was a lot to take in all at once, but… Aisla missed him so much it hurt. She'd been so desperate for his touch, his kiss, and his embrace. She couldn't think of a better way to end their already perfect evening.
"Yes," she breathed, already pushing the leather jacket away from his shoulders. It dropped to the floor with a soft thud. "Hold me in your arms, Katsuki. Show me that you love me."
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for being late again! I was really busy yesterday and didn't even get home until after nine, so I didn't have time to post for you. I hope this chapter made up for my lateness! It's one of my favorites! The section where they had dinner together took a lot of effort. I spent a long time (like a ridiculous amount of time) Googling different French meals to get the perfect one. All for them to say three things about it hahaha. I think it turned out pretty good, though!
What did we think about Katsuki's confession? And the picture he's been holding onto for all these months?
Reviews:
Coldicyblueeyes: Did this chapter make it up to you? XD I'm all about those cliffhangers, though. Sorry not sorry!