Bakugo backed a villain into a dead-end and grinned. "Ready to turn yourself in?" he asked, sparks

crackling in his hands.

The villain whipped their head around for a way out, clutching the purse they'd stolen close to their chest.

Bakugo glared at it. Figures that he'd get stuck with petty crime. He jumped away as the villain struck out with their quirk, spikes protruding from their fingertips. Bakugo gritted his teeth as he dodged.

He could knock the guy out with a well-aimed blast but landing a couple punches sounded like more fun. The stress that had built up in his shoulders over the last few weeks eased away as his hands met skin.

Just as he was getting to enjoying himself, the villain's movements stopped, and familiar dazed look came over his eyes. Bakugo dropped his head with a heavy sigh, the lingering stress coming back ten-fold as he heard footsteps behind him.

"Took you long enough," he huffed.

"Sorry," Izuku replied slightly out of breath. "Eri's recital ran over."

Bakugo turned to him and smoothed out the fit of his suit that had clearly been thrown on in a rush. "How'd it go?"

"It went great," Izuku said with a wide, proud smile. "Eri was amazing. She's been working so hard." He glanced off to the side, smile pulling higher. "But she said you owe her for missing it."

Bakugo stepped away with a groan and glared at the villain. "I already told her I'd make it up to her."

"I think she already has a list going." Izuku moved around him to look at the villain. "Purse thief?" "Yeah," Bakugo said, "I was about to arrest him. Police should be on their way."

Izuku tugged the purse from his hands. "At least you didn't have to deal with anything major today," he mused, voice a little distant.

Bakugo watched Izuku as he searched through the villain's memories. Flickers of emotions passed his face, jerks of movements, the slight glaze to his eyes. He'd gotten good over the years at knowing how far Izuku was going with his quirk. It was when he was still, seemingly collected that there was reason to worry. When Izuku went too far it was like he felt his body, barely any flickers of emotion and no movement. Aizawa had confirmed his suspicions during the last

semester of their senior year when Bakugo asked about how Izuku had acted with All For One.

Aizawa admitted that he hadn't stopped Izuku because he hadn't thought there was reason to worry. He expected Izuku to lash out or show some sign that he was pushing himself too far. A calm before a storm, as Izuku had once put it.

Those times that Izuku went too far were rare. He was so careful and always full of regret afterward, but they still happened and Bakugo had learned the signs.

It'd been over a year since the last 'slip' but sometimes he'd look at Izuku and see him standing on the edge of the roof, broken and lost.

Being the number one Hero wasn't enough. He wanted to be number one for Izuku too. "Anything good?" Bakugo asked as Izuku blinked and stepped away.

"Just short on cash," Izuku said, tossing him the purse. "Nothing interesting."

"Tell me again why we let the interns off today?"

Izuku smiled as Bakugo wrapped his arms around his waist. "Because it's family weekend at UA."

"Right." Bakugo pulled out his phone to check the time. "We should go, or we'll be late for Mina's party." He drew himself in, keeping his mind focused on the party. Still, his heart raced in his chest, hard and fast. Izuku being so close wasn't helping matters. An audible sigh escaped him when he heard sirens.

"Everything ok, Kacchan?"

Bakugo stepped away with a curt nod. "Yeah, it's just assholes like him are a waste of my time." He crossed his arms over his chest and blatantly ignored the worried scowl Izuku gave him. Mentally he groaned. Izuku had definitely noticed his change in attitude but hadn't asked any questions.

He knew he didn't have to worry about Izuku overhearing his thoughts, but he did worry every time they worked together. It led to him putting a lot of energy into controlling his thoughts and emotions around Izuku which he hadn't done for years. A part of him felt bad that he couldn't tell Izuku why, but Bakugo had a feeling Izuku was picking up on that if the suspicious squints were saying anything.

When the police came to collect the petty thief, Bakugo shoved him forward with a mutter of, "Good riddance." He brushed his hands off and started down the street to his agency building.

It wasn't far, thankfully.

"Are you sure we don't need to bring anything?" Izuku asked as Bakugo pushed open the door.

Bakugo waved to their receptionist who sat at a desk just inside. "I swear, Deku. Mina said not to worry about it." He hung a left into the locker rooms and reached for the string attached to the zipper.

"I've got it," Izuku said and pulled the string out from the collar of Bakugo's suit.

Bakugo ground his teeth as Izuku pulled the zipper down painfully slow and slipped a hand in against his ribs. He leaned his head back and prayed to whatever gods may exist for strength.

"Deku," he warned.

Izuku leaned against him fully and pulled one shoulder off. "But we've been so busy," he whined, lips grazing Bakugo's neck.

"We can't be late," Bakugo said again, mostly a reminder to himself.

Izuku got off with huff. "Fine," he said, but his hands still trailed down Bakugo's exposed sides.

"Are you gonna get dressed or not, Deku?" Bakugo chastised and yanked out his civilian clothes.

"Why are you so grumpy?" Izuku asked with an air of suspicion.

Bakugo turned back to his locker. "I'm not grumpy," he said as he pulled on a clean shirt, "I just want to get this damn party over with."

"It's just our friends, right?" When Bakugo nodded in confirmation he continued, "Then I don't get why you're so on edge. . ."

Bakugo took a deep breath before he turned to Izuku. "Just get dressed so we can go. It's not a big deal." He hurried out of the room hoping that Izuku didn't pick up on his anxiety. He'd never been good at lying to Izuku. Usually, he'd dodge the question, ignore him, or give half-answers, but he didn't want to risk Izuku figuring out the surprise.

It was hard to catch Izuku off guard, but he was determined to do it, at least this once.

Izuku exited the locker room a few minutes later in a hoodie and jeans. His style hadn't changed much since high school. Izuku always had the excuse that it was comfortable so why wear anything else. Plus, with his scars, he didn't like anything too tight.

Bakugo smirked at the black and orange design.

At least it was his merch.

Izuku pushed a hand through his hair looking half asleep as he shot Bakugo a smile. "What?"

"I was just thinking you look good in my merch."

Izuku's smile widened as he stepped closer. "Of course, I do," he said, twisting a lock of Bakugo's hair around his finger, "I designed it."

"Come on, nerd. Let's go."

Mina threw open the door of the apartment as they arrived. "I was sure you guys would be late," she said as she released Izuku and pulled Bakugo forcefully into a hug.

Bakugo took in the new apartment as they followed Mina inside. It was still pretty empty, but Mina had insisted on throwing the party at her place. Kiri was sitting on the couch. The lack of furniture left Kaminari and Shinsou sitting on floor pillows.

"Haven't you been moved in for a week?" he asked her. "There's hardly anything here."

Mina jabbed a finger into his chest. "Look, I've been busy! Moving is a hassle already." She tossed her arms in the air with a pout. "Add an insane work schedule and this is what you're left with."

"I think it looks great," Izuku said.

She smirked at Bakugo. "That's why he's the favorite."

Bakugo rolled his eyes and ignored her. "Are we supposed to sit on the floor?"

"I bought pillows!" She held up one and shoved it towards him.

"Yeah, they're pretty comfy, too," Kaminari said, leaned back on his arms next to Shinsou. "So, how are you guys doing?"

Bakugo raised a brow at him as he sat down. "It's only been three weeks since you last saw us."

Kaminari touched his chest in mock hurt. "I've been traveling! A lot can change in three weeks. Forgive me for wanting to catch up with my bro's."

"We're fine," Izuku cut in, "actually we took on two interns after you left. They've been doing great."

"Speaking of students," Shinsou said with a nod of thanks to Mina as she handed him a drink, "you two are still helping out of the training course this week, right?"

Bakugo flipped to the calendar on his phone to double-check that they weren't scheduled for Hero work. "As long as the city isn't overrun by villains, we'll be there." He caught the smirk on Izuku's face, hidden from view of the others by his drink. "How's Eri? I wasn't able to make it to her recital today."

"Yeah, she said you owe her big time," Shinsou muttered.

Bakugo withheld a groan. He'd already made a few promises to Eri to make up for missing the spring concert, but it seemed she was playing up the stubborn card anyway. He supposed if she acted less upset then everyone would be suspicious. "We already talked," Bakugo bit out, forcing a casual tone.

"She still hates the violin," Shinsou said, swirling his drink. "She's not sure if she wants to continue next year."

Izuku hummed in thought. "Eri's been talking about being a doctor more often lately. Her grades and test scores will need to be really high to get into a good school in the future."

"She's making progress with her quirk training, too," Shinsou said, a hint of pride in his voice. "I think that music on top of her training and studies is getting to be too much."

"With how difficult it is for her to train her quirk safely, I'm not surprised," Izuku said. He shifted his eyes to Bakugo. "We should go visit soon."

Mina plopped down beside Bakugo and brushed her hands clean of whatever she'd been messing with in the kitchen. "How's Hatsume? She's been gone for a while hasn't she?"

"I-island is pretty strict about travel and communication," Izuku said. "But I talked to her the other day. She said the paperwork never ends."

Bakugo frowned down at his empty cup and stood. "I'm going to get a refill." A moment of eye contact with Kirishima had the redhead following him to the kitchen. It wasn't far from the living room, but they wouldn't be overheard either.

As he was pouring a drink, Kiri leaned over his shoulder and aggressively whispered, "You got the ring, right?"

Bakugo hunched with a sharp breath. "Yeah, I have the fucking ring, rock head," he hissed with a heated glare. "Shut the fuck up, will ya?"

Kiri crossed his arms with an amused grin that grated on Bakugo's already fried nerves. "Nervous?" he asked, the word dripping off his tongue.

Bakugo took a deliberate deep breath. He's never wanted to strangle his friend as much as he had at that moment. "I'm not fucking nervous," he ground out, which was a lie.

He was completely on edge.

Kirishima was the second to find out about his plans after his mom. Of course, Kiri had been thrilled and gushed about the wait. Then Mina found out. It was a miracle Kaminari hadn't found out given that he and Kiri worked at the same agency. He'd told Eri too as a way to make up for missing her concert. Bakugo was sure he'd sustained further ear damage from the squeal she let out at the news. He hated how smug Aizawa had looked at the sight of the ring he'd bought.

Frankly, the circle of people who knew was growing too big. It had to be tonight or the surprise would surely be ruined.

Bakugo took another deep breath and forced himself to relax on the exhale.

Izuku would say yes and then they'd have some drinks. Simple.

God, he hoped it would be that simple.

"I'm fine," he said, snatching his drink off the counter and chugging half of it. He glared at Kiri and his raised brows. "Shut it."

"I wasn't going to say anything," he muttered with an innocent shrug of his shoulders.

"Bull shit," Bakugo said as he walked past him. He wasn't sure how the conversation in the living room had veered off to training camp their last year of high school, but Mina was doubled over in laughter about the hike. "What are you idiots going on about?"

Mina fixed a lopsided grin on him as she tilted her head back to look up at him. "Oh, just about how much you two were flirting during camp."

He suppressed a smirk as Izuku flushed.

Mina hopped to her feet and grabbed Kiri by the hands and spun around. Kiri fumbled after her, barely catching her by the waist as she dipped back.

"What the hell, Mina," Bakugo hissed as she winked.

"Oh yeah," she said, grinning ear to ear, "we saw. You two were so adorable."

"Wait, saw what?" Kaminari rested his elbows on his knees, head in his hands. "Dancing?"

Mina pulled herself back up and pulled Kiri along again. "Yep!" she popped. "Bakugo can be romantic when he wants to be."

Bakugo crossed his arms with a snort. "Deku's a terrible dancer."

"It was the grass!" Izuku scoffed from the floor.

"That's always your excuse."

"Well, it's true," Izuku said, stubbornly crossing his arms. "This happened at camp?" Shinsou asked with a dubious frown. Izuku nodded. "The night of the party Mina threw."

Mina spun out of Kiri's arms and sat down beside Izuku. "Yeah, I was sure Kiri and I would get caught spying when I leaned on the door and it cracked open." She let out a nervous laugh. "But luckily you two were too caught up in yourselves to notice!"

Bakugo took a deep breath and reminded himself he couldn't strangle his friends for something that happened nearly five years ago. But he was happy that some parts of that trip remained between them. Every time he thought he'd seen all of Izuku, gotten to know him in and out, fallen in love as far as he could, Izuku pulled him in deeper.

He still remembered how his heart had skipped when Izuku gasped at the sight of the stars, how the air was stolen from his lungs, and he realized for the first time how painfully in love he was with Izuku.

The ring in his inside jacket pocket felt heavy enough to drag him down.

"I practically had to force Bakugo to go talk to you," Kiri said to Izuku looking rather proud of himself. Bakugo stiffened as Kiri clasped his shoulder. "He was a little nervous."

"I was not," Bakugo said, glaring at Kiri who grinned knowingly. "I wasn't!"

Kiri wrapped an arm around Bakugo's shoulders. "Yeah, not at all. That's why I totally didn't have to give you a pep talk before giving you a shove."

Bakugo kept his glare on Kiri mostly so he didn't have to see the grin on Izuku's face. "When the fuck is dinner?"

"Soon," Mina sighed. "They said they'd deliver by seven."

A few hours later after they'd ate and cracked open a bottle of wine Mina had been saving, Bakugo pulled Izuku out onto the balcony with the excuse that he needed some air. Not a complete lie. As the night dragged on, his anxiety climbed too.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Izuku asked, setting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "They'll understand if we leave early."

Bakugo looked at Izuku and took in his sincere expression. He was worried even if he wasn't asking.

"Do you remember that night I apologized to you at camp?"

"Of course, I do," Izuku said softly and moved closer to him. "What's this about, Kacchan?" Bakugo looked away from him. Musutafu sprawled before them, bright and lively.

"I made a promise to myself that night," Bakugo said, pushing off the rail and turning his gaze

back to Izuku. He sucked in a small, sharp breath when Izuku grabbed his hand, heart jumping in his chest.

Izuku placed his other hand on Bakugo's cheek and coaxed him closer. "What's going on, Kacchan? You've been—well, weird lately."

Bakugo clenched his jaw to avoid a wince. "I've just. . .had a lot on my mind lately," he said, eyes downcast.

"Can you tell me about it?" Izuku asked, tipping his chin up so that their eyes met.

"I—" Bakugo cut off as his mouth went dry. He swallowed thickly and tried again. "I promised that I'd be good for you."

Izuku's eyes widened, and he wrapped his arms around Bakugo's neck. "You are, Kacchan." He pressed their foreheads together. "You're amazing."

Bakugo closed his eyes and soaked in Izuku's presence. "You're my everything, Izuku." He opened his eyes when Izuku pulled away, his face twisted up and bewildered.

"You only use my name when you're serious," Izuku said talking a step back. "What's going on?" The little box in his pocket has never felt heavier.

"You've been a pain in my ass since we were kids," Bakugo said and immediately bit his tongue because that was not what he'd rehearsed. "I mean—I can't imagine a life without you."

That was better, he decided as Izuku visibly relaxed.

"I don't want to imagine it either. I want to be by your side. Always." He flicked his eyes up to Izuku's and summoned a swell of courage. "I want," he said, slipping his hand into his pocket as he shifted his weight to get down on one knee, "to be with you forever, Izuku."

He watched with belated breath as Izuku's eyes opened to the widest he'd ever seen them and his jaw dropped.

"Kacchan," Izuku breathed, eyes locked on the open box and ring inside. "You're joking."

Bakugo's heart sunk. "No, I'm not joking—What the fuck is that?" He blinked at the similar box Izuku extended towards him. Izuku dropped down in front of him, tears streaking his face.

"I was—I was going to do this when we got home," he said, voice caught between a laugh and a sob. Izuku's hands trembled as he opened the box. "See?"

Bakugo gaped at the ring completely dumbfounded. He glanced at the glass doors beside them. He couldn't see their friends, but he hoped Kiri could feel his wrath.

"Did you go with Mina?" Bakugo asked, tearing his glare away from the window. "Yeah," Izuku said with a slight frown, "how did you—?"

Bakugo snatched the box from his hand and compared the rings. "I swear if they—" He hung his head as he saw they were the exact same. But it was the glint of light spilling out onto the patio that caught his attention.

He hadn't ordered an engraving, so he hadn't bothered to check. The rings were simple gold bans

considering they wouldn't be able to wear them often due to work. Bakugo tilted the band back till the lighting caught the engraving again. "Those meddling idiots—"

Together? on one and Always. on another.

Bakugo bit down on his lip. He wanted to both strangle Kiri and hug him.

"Does it say something?"

Later. He'd strangle Kiri later.

"Yeah," Bakugo said, clearing his throat. "Our. . .uh. . .saying."

"Kacchan?" Izuku said, getting Bakugo attention. A smile bloomed on his face. "Are you going to put it on me?"

Bakugo swallowed hard and looked back down at the rings resting in his palm. He fumbled to grab the right one as Izuku grabbed his face and kissed his cheek. After the ring slipped from his finger for a fourth time, he pushed back on Izuku. "Will you stop that!"

Izuku just wrapped his arms around Bakugo's neck and pressed a brief kiss to his mouth. "You asked me to marry you," he said with a dopey smile, bottom lip caught between his teeth. "But I'd rather take you home."

That was tempting as Izuku kissed him deep and slow. "We can't," he said, pulling away reluctantly. "Mina's been planning this party for weeks." He reached forward and brushed Izuku's curls back from his face. "Of course, I want to marry you, idiot, why the fuck wouldn't I?"

Izuku smiled wider if it was even possible. "I love all the ways you say, I love you."

Bakugo felt a prickle of doubt creep into his mind. He clasped the ring in his hand. The one that said Always. and stared at it for a few moments. He sometimes forgot how meaningful those words could be.

As he finally managed to slip the ring onto Izuku's finger he said, "I love you, Izuku." Izuku groaned. "Stop calling me that. It sounds so weird."

"Izuku," Bakugo said again, dropping his voice. "You're a pain in my ass, Izuku, and I want you to be a pain in my ass forever."

Izuku took the other ring and pushed it onto his hand, his cheeks a warm pink. "I love you, too, Kacchan." Fresh tears lined his eyes as he laced their hands and said, "Always."