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It was only 9 PM, and Katsuki was getting real fuckin’ bored.
Picture this:
The hero commision, like the assholes they are, want to do semi-annual galas, to “promote up and coming heroes” or some shit. Of course, Katsuki would rather die than attend these things twice a year. The only problem is: he’s the current Number 2, going head to head with shitty Deku, making both of them desirable and forced to attend.
He’d never admit it, but he doesn’t mind being second best if it was behind Deku. Well, after a long string of arguments and conversations, tears and punches, the whole shabang, he and Deku had gotten to some... understandings in their final year at UA. Katsuki was an idiot and so was Deku, Katsuki for completely misreading Deku and Deku for, well, not punching it into him sooner. He’d be lying if he said that their relationship was completely repaired in one day, but by the time they’d graduated, he was pleased to say they were friends again. Naturally, his nosey friends found out- that was expected. It ended with their class learning that they were friends (again). It was unspoken that it was to stay under wraps.
Graduation was over 4 years ago, and he and Deku both metaphorically and literally shot up the ranks. Last November’s Hero Billboard Chart revealed that Deku was technically at the top, while he wasn’t far behind. Most of their class stayed within the top 20, fighting for their spots from the idiots from class B.
Anyway, he digresses.
The hero gala: a highly promoted, popular event attended by pro heroes and the press.
Deku and him: the current number 1 and 2 of the hero world.
The gala: super fucking boring.
He was seated at a round table with Pink Cheeks, Copycat, Mindfuck and Glasses. (YES, he knows their names. Fuck off.) The dinner portion was over, and now everyone was either talking or dancing. Katsuki was refusing to do either and chose to watch the other heroes, all dolled up and acting for the press. He sighed and slumped into his seat further, noticing how Deku walked in his direction.
Not just in his direction, in front of him. He had a light sheen of tears in his eyes and a sneer on his face. He spit, “You abandoned me” with venom he rarely heard.
He almost told him to piss off when he saw a mischievous glint in his eye.
Oh.
Ohhhhhh.
Katsuki decides to play on this.
Nonchalantly and mildly offended, he replied, “Yo, what are you talkin’ about?”
Deku made an exasperated noise and looked up before back at him, “Kacchan, all night, you barely even danced with me!”
He laughed bitterly and stood from his seat, meeting Deku’s eyes, “Don’t make me laugh, I’ve been tryin’ all night.” Almost mockingly he glares, “You’ve been shaking your ass for like,” and he gestures to the full ballroom of onlookers, “half the gala.”
Deku huffs and folds his arm, looking at him disapprovingly, “Real nice.”
He could hear the reporters’ cameras clicking furiously as they took in their “argument”. Glasses was taken aback by their behavior while Mindfuck and Pink Cheeks did their best to not choke on their champagne.
Katsuki pointed at himself and got into Deku’s space, “You barely gave me a chance all evening!”
A bitter “What?” follows.
He could deescalate and stop this, or bring it up and continue.
You know which one he chose.
He yelled at Deku this time. “Do I GET another dance?”
(Side note- his parents forced him to take acting lessons. He’s starting to think those will pay off)
The tears returned to Deku’s eyes as he states, “I’m leaving.” He turns to leave but Katsuki grabs his bicep.
“Deku,” he said, much calmer this time.
“I gotta go.” A sniffle, Deku pulls out of his grip and walks to the exit.
“Don’t walk away from us tonight,” he says desperately, following him, press close behind.
They were nearly out the door now, thank God. “I don’t need anything tonight; I can find my way home.”
And just like that, their first hero gala was officially (and dramatically) blown off with some yelling and tears. They both ran out of there, staging it to look like Katsuki was running after Deku. Deku used his Quirk to get out of the parking lot and into the sky, Katsuki doing the same in his own manner.
The pair reached a quiet rooftop, Deku laughing and Katsuki cracking a smile he usually hides. Deku looks at him mischievously, “I say we do that every time we have to go to these things.”
“The same act won’t fly with the press, Deku. Be creative.”
An eyeroll. “Duh, I meant we just stir things up when it gets too boring.”
Katsuki looked at him up and down, “Whatever happened to sweet, unassuming Deku?”
Deku laughed some more, “You happened.”
Unfortunately for them, their moment of fun was a huge PR disaster, and were both sternly advised by their agencies to never do it again.
Well…
Neither were that great at following the rules 100% of the time.