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Kirishima had been trying to drag Katsuki to movie night for the past twenty minutes.
Literally.
At one point, he'd grabbed him by the arm and attempted to pull him out of his dorm room, only to nearly lose a limb in the process.
"Come on, man!" Kirishima pleaded, blocking the doorway before Katsuki could slam it shut. "You've never come to a movie night before. This one could be the last one ever!"
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Katsuki snapped. "We ain't dying tomorrow, dumbass."
"We could!"
"We won't."
"But what if we do?" Kirishima argued. "Then you'll spend your last night alive sitting in your room doing absolutely nothing!"
"I'd rather die."
Kirishima gasped dramatically.
Before he could launch into another speech about friendship and memories, movement down the hallway caught his attention.
His eyes lit up instantly.
"Midoriya!"
Izuku looked up from where he was walking.
"Hm?"
"Convince Bakugo to come to movie night!"
Izuku blinked before looking toward Katsuki, who was already glaring at Kirishima for dragging him into this.
"Kacchan?" Izuku tilted his head. "You're not coming?"
"No."
"You should!"
"No."
"It'll be fun."
"It won't."
Izuku smiled.
That smile.
The one that somehow managed to make Katsuki forget how to function.
"Come on," Izuku said. "Everyone's gonna be there. It'll be nice."
Katsuki stared at him, then sighed, a long and dramatic.
"Fucking fine."
Kirishima immediately cheered.
"But," Katsuki added, pointing a finger at him, "I'm not staying the whole time."
"That's good enough!" Kirishima yelled.
Before either of them could say anything else, Katsuki slammed the door shut. The sound echoed down the hallway. Kirishima slowly turned toward Izuku.
"...How do you do that?"
Izuku blinked.
"Do what?"
"That."
Kirishima gestured wildly toward Katsuki's door.
"You've got Bakubro on a leash."
Izuku immediately burst out laughing.
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
"Trust me," Izuku said, still smiling. "Knowing Kacchan for basically my entire life comes with a few advantages."
Kirishima crossed his arms.
"I'm listening."
Izuku pretended to think about it.
"It's kind of like a secret guidebook."
"A guidebook?"
"Mm-hm. Katsuki 101."
Kirishima gasped.
"There's a guidebook?"
"Oh, definitely."
"Can I have it?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Izuku grinned.
"Trade secret."
Kirishima narrowed his eyes.
"Is it because you're dating him?"
"...Maybe that gives me a few bonus points."
"Unbelievable."
Still laughing, Izuku waved goodbye and continued down the hallway toward wherever he'd originally been heading. Kirishima watched him go before glancing back at Katsuki's closed door.
"...Yeah, they're disgustingly in love."
From inside the room came an immediate explosion.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!"
…….
Katsuki eventually made his way downstairs to the common room where movie night was being held, already questioning why he'd agreed to this in the first place.
The room was packed. Blankets had been stolen from dorm rooms and thrown across couches, bowls of snacks covered every available surface, and half the class was arguing over what movie they should watch. It was loud.
Far too loud.
With a click of his tongue, Katsuki dropped onto the couch beside Kirishima and Kaminari, immediately earning himself two grins that made him want to leave.
"If you don't back up," Katsuki growled as Kaminari leaned into his personal space, "I'm gonna blow you up to smithereens."
"That doesn't sound very heroic," Kirishima replied with a smirk, nudging Kaminari with his elbow.
"Yeah, c'mon, Bakugo," Kaminari said, throwing an arm over the back of the couch. "You're always angry. Loosen up a little, dude."
The vein in Katsuki's forehead twitched.
He was about two seconds away from proving exactly how heroic an explosion to the face could be when movement near the entrance caught his attention.
Izuku had just walked in. His irritation immediately stalled.
The nerd was dressed in a pair of black pajama shorts and an oversized black t-shirt with a faded skull printed across the front. Katsuki recognized the shirt instantly. It was his.
Of course it was.
Months ago, Izuku had complained about being cold, stolen it from Katsuki's room, and somehow it had never made its way back. Not that Katsuki had asked for it.
The shirt hung loosely on him, the sleeves falling almost to his elbows. Izuku wasnt skinny, infact he had quite glorious biceps that katsuki wont admit hes been staring at, he hadnt just reached bakugos height yet.
Katsuki hated how much he liked seeing him wear it.
As if sensing his stare, Izuku glanced across the room. The moment their eyes met, his face brightened. He lifted a hand and waved.
Without thinking, Katsuki lifted his own in return, not a proper wave just more of a acknowledging wave.
Izuku smiled before making his way further into the room.
Katsuki watched him find a spot on one of the couches, squeezing in between Uraraka and Todoroki. A frown immediately settled onto his face.
Why was he sitting over there? Apparently, Kirishima noticed.
"trouble in paradise, aye?" Kirishima began.
"aww is bakugo jealous his precious izuku isnt sitting with him?" Kaminari added.
"SHUT THE HELL UP" Katuski replied which made teh whole class look at him, even Izuku.
Both idiots immediately looked away.
"Tch."
Still, his eyes drifted back toward Izuku almost immediately.
The nerd was already laughing at something Uraraka had said, completely oblivious to the fact that Katsuki was now wondering how difficult it would be to steal his seat without the entire class making a scene about it.
"So!" Momo clapped her hands together, successfully grabbing everyone's attention. "What movie are we watching?"
"A romance movie!" Mina suggested immediately.
"Nah, those always bore me," Sero replied.
"What about a Disney movie?"
"Ooh, I love Disney movies!" Uraraka said.
"They don't even make good Disney movies anymore," Kaminari complained.
"Ooh, horror movie!"
A chorus of agreement immediately followed.
"Yeah, horror movie!"
"Horror sounds great!"
"Let's do horror!"
Within seconds, the entire class had somehow reached a unanimous decision.
Katsuki thought they were all idiots.
The movie selection process quickly descended into chaos as everyone began throwing out suggestions. Eventually, after far too much arguing, they settled on a movie called The Hollow Pines.
Apparently it was about a group of hikers who got stranded in a forest where people kept disappearing. Something about strange noises coming from the trees at night, shadow figures lurking between the branches, and an abandoned ranger station that held the answers to everything.
Or something.
Katsuki honestly wasn't paying attention.
The whole thing sounded dumb as hell.
If the idiots in the movie simply left the creepy forest, ninety percent of their problems would probably disappear.
While everyone else seemed excited, Katsuki's attention drifted elsewhere.
Specifically, to Izuku.
The nerd was sitting between Uraraka and Todoroki, trying his best to look interested in the movie discussion.
Trying.
Katsuki knew him too well.
Izuku's hands were fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, twisting the fabric between his fingers. Every now and then he'd glance toward the television before quickly looking away again. His shoulders looked a little tense, and despite the room being warm, he'd already pulled a blanket into his lap.
Katsuki resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Of course.
The idiot hated horror movies, not because he thought they were bad. Because they scared the absolute shit out of him.
The worst part was that Izuku would never say anything.
If everyone else wanted to watch a horror movie, he'd sit through the entire thing without a single complaint. He'd spend two hours jumping at every loud noise and then insist afterward that he was completely fine.
Katsuki watched as Izuku laughed nervously at something Kaminari said, his fingers still worrying the edge of the blanket.
Yeah.
The nerd was definitely nervous.
And judging by the way nobody else had noticed, Katsuki was apparently the only one paying enough attention to realize it.
…
About halfway through the movie, right as the tension on screen began reaching its peak, Katsuki noticed Izuku quietly get to his feet.
Most of the class didn't.
They were far too invested in whatever stupid horror cliché was currently unfolding.
Izuku muttered something about getting water before slipping out of the room, blanket abandoned on the couch behind him.
Katsuki watched him leave from the corner of his eye.
On screen, one of the hikers was wandering through the forest alone, which immediately told Katsuki they were about to die.
He stifled a yawn.
The room was warm, the couch was comfortable, and the movie was somehow managing to be both loud and boring at the same time. He'd nearly fallen asleep twice already.
His gaze drifted toward the doorway Izuku had disappeared through.
Then back to the screen. Then back to the doorway.
"Tch."
With a grunt, Katsuki pushed himself off the couch.
"I'll be back," he muttered. "Need water.. or some shit."
Nobody looked away from the television. Not a single person.
"Yeah, yeah, sure man, sounds great," Kirishima replied absent-mindedly, eyes glued to the screen. "Cool stuff."
Katsuki stared at the side of his head. The idiot didn't even know what he'd just agreed to.
Then again, judging by the way Kirishima was sitting on the edge of his seat with his mouth hanging open, something dramatic was probably happening.
Katsuki couldn't bring himself to care.
Leaving the common room behind, he headed toward the kitchen.
The noise of the movie faded slightly the further away he got, replaced by the hum of the refrigerator and the occasional clink of glass.
Sure enough, Izuku was standing by the counter.
He had his back turned, one hand resting against the kitchen island while the other held a glass beneath the tap. The overhead light cast a warm glow across the room, making it feel strangely calm compared to the chaos happening in the living room.
For a moment, Katsuki simply leaned against the doorway and watched him.
Izuku looked more relaxed away from everyone else.
The slight tension he'd been carrying all evening had eased from his shoulders.
Then again, that was probably because he was no longer being forced to watch people get hunted through a haunted forest.
A smirk tugged at the corner of Katsuki's mouth.
"Knew you'd bail eventually."
Izuku nearly dropped his glass.
The water splashed over the rim as he spun around.
"Kacchan!"
Katsuki snorted.
Katsuki rolled his eyes
Katsuki rolled his eyes and pushed himself off the counter, intending to grab a glass and leave.
Instead, he stopped beside Izuku.
Up close, he could see the oversized sleeves swallowing his hands and the way the hoodie hung loosely off his shoulders. It was one of Katsuki's. He recognized the faded fabric instantly.
The damn thing had disappeared from his room months ago.
Not that he'd ever asked for it back.
Izuku had a habit of stealing his clothes whenever the weather got cold, and somehow Katsuki had stopped questioning it somewhere along the way. The hoodie didn't even smell like him anymore. It smelled like Izuku. Laundry detergent, coffee, and something distinctly his.
His gaze lingered for a second too long.
"Kacchan?"
"Hm."
"Why are you staring at me?"
The confusion in his voice made Katsuki look away.
"Nothing."
Izuku hummed, unconvinced.
Izuku was here. For some reason, that thought settled heavily in his chest.
Maybe it was because they'd both been busy all week. Maybe it was because movie night had shoved them into opposite ends of the room. Maybe it was because watching the nerd laugh with everyone else from across the common room had made him realize he hadn't actually talked to him all evening.
Whatever the reason, seeing him now felt strangely relieving. Like finally finding something he'd been looking for without realizing it.
Before he could think better of it, Katsuki stepped forward.
Izuku made a small sound of surprise when two arms wrapped around his waist.
His cup nearly slipped from his grasp.
"Kacchan?"
Katsuki ignored him. Instead, he rested his forehead against Izuku's shoulder and closed his eyes. The familiar warmth immediately settled something restless inside him.
Izuku laughed quietly. The sound vibrated through Katsuki's chest.
"You've seen me all day."
"Yeah, but i havent touched or been around you all day."
Izuku's arms slowly slid around him in return. The bastard was smiling. Katsuki could hear it.
"You missed me."
"I was avoiding the movie."
Izuku laughed again, softer this time. Katsuki felt the sound more than he heard it. Katsuki's fingers curled slightly into the fabric of the hoodie.
His hoodie. Still draped over Izuku's shoulders.
For some ridiculous reason, that made him pull him a little closer.
Eventually, Izuku shifted slightly in his arms.
"Kacchan?"
"Hm."
The sound was more of a grunt than an actual response.
Izuku smiled.
The expression was small, almost shy, as he looked down at the floor for a moment before glancing back up.
"You wanna leave?"
Katsuki raised an eyebrow.
"The movie sucks."
"No, not because of that." A laugh slipped from Izuku. "Well... maybe a little because of that."
The grin tugging at the corners of his mouth made Katsuki's chest feel strangely light.
"I was thinking we could go back to my dorm."
"Why?"
Izuku suddenly seemed fascinated by the glass in his hands.
"There's that new All Might movie."
Immediately, Katsuki knew where this was going.
The nerd had been talking about it for weeks.
"I haven't watched it yet."
"Tch. Thought you'd have seen it opening night."
"I was going to."
The tips of Izuku's ears began turning pink.
Then, quieter, he added, "I kinda wanted to watch it with you."
For a second, Katsuki simply stared at him.
Then he looked away before Izuku could notice the warmth creeping up his own neck.
"Sure, nerd."
The smile that followed was ridiculous.
A few minutes later they were slipping out of the common room unnoticed. The horror movie had apparently reached some dramatic climax because nobody spared them a second glance.
Not that either of them minded.
The dorm hallways were quiet compared to the chaos downstairs.
Izuku spent most of the walk talking about the movie.
About how apparently the final fight scene had cost an absurd amount of money to animate.
Katsuki only half listened.
Listening to Izuku ramble had always been one of his favourite things.
The excitement in his voice, the way his hands moved when he spoke, the fact that he somehow managed to make every topic sound interesting regardless of what it was.
Katsuki found himself watching him more than listening. The realization was embarrassing.
By the time they reached Izuku's dorm room, the movie had already been explained to him three separate times.
The door clicked shut behind them. Izuku kicked off his slippers and hurried toward his desk, already opening his laptop.
Within minutes, the familiar opening theme filled the room. Izuku settled onto the bed beside him.
Katsuki lasted all of thirty seconds before wrapping an arm around him and pulling him closer.
Without looking away from the screen, he shifted closer until their shoulders touched, then rested comfortably against Katsuki's side.
The movie played on, and at some point, Izuku started getting quieter. His comments became less frequent.
The excited explanations disappeared entirely.
When Katsuki glanced down during the credits, he immediately understood why.
Izuku was asleep.
His head had slipped onto Katsuki's shoulder sometime during the movie, his breathing slow and even beneath the oversized hoodie.
Katsuki stared for a moment. A small smile threatened to appear.
Carefully, he reached over and closed the laptop.
Katsuki set the laptop aside before settling back against the headboard. One arm remained around Izuku, holding him securely against his side.
The nerd didn't stir.
"Tch."
The sound held no real irritation. Only fondness. Within minutes, his own eyes began growing heavy.
The last thing he remembered was the steady weight of Izuku against him and the quiet sound of his breathing.
Then sleep pulled him under too.