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How Katsuki got roped into babysitting two people on Halloween weekend is beyond him. He had been absolutely speechless when Aizawa told him he was going to babysit Eri and take her to a Halloween candy hunt. Why him!? Wasn’t Deku more familiar with the child? Although, he’s pretty sure Deku is already back home. He was one of the only ones in the dorm who decided to stay.
Him and Shouto Todoroki.
Which then lead Aizawa on to his next sentence, how Shouto was also going to help babysit Eri. Katsuki had then kicked up a fuss, asking why their teacher couldn’t mind her himself and was only shut down when Aizawa had told him crime seems to spike on Halloween weekend and thus he needs to be on patrol.
He had eventually accepted his fate in the fact he was going to have to babysit the girl with a half and half bastard. It however didn’t occur to him that Shouto had no idea how to babysit and he also had barely any knowledge of Halloween.
Katsuki had a hard time explaining the concept of dressing up and trick or treating as he was helping the boy with his vampire makeup - Eri had insisted they both dressed up too since she was a witch.
Now, what Katsuki hadn’t anticipated was just how brightly Shouto’s eyes would shine when they get to the hunt event. Eri is holding on tightly to both of their hands and her mouth hangs open as she looks around, her eyes just as sparkly as Icyhot’s.
“It’s pretty.” Eri says quietly as she looks at all the hanging lights in the trees. Katsuki could admit they did a good job at decorating it all. Bat lights hanging off the trees, pumpkins dotted around everywhere, white sheets hanging around to look like ghosts. Everyone around them dressed up too.
He looks over at Shouto and watches as his eyes scan over everything, his face showing the same expression as Eri. They’re both in awe and it occurs to Katsuki then that the pair never experienced anything like this before.
“Welcome everyone!” The woman shouts over the speakers, he feels Eri jump slightly and he bends down to pick her up instead, holding her close and making sure she was okay. He feels Shouto step closer to him to close the gap where Eri had been stood.
“Our annual Candy Hunt is just about to begin. The team with the most candy once time is up will be the winner! I will remind you of the rules… you must play fair. No stealing from other team’s! No quirks to be used, this is all fun! Now, everyone… come collect your candy bucket and we will begin shortly.”
“Do you think we will win?” Eri asks quietly and Katsuki chuckles.
“Obviously. You have me on the team. I always win.”
“Have you done this before?” Halfie asks him
“A few times. Not for a while though, mostly when I was around Eri’s age.” Shouto hums and tells them he’d go collect the bucket.
“Hey, do you want a fun task?” Katsuki asks Eri and she looks at him and smiles before nodding eagerly. “You’re going to be our team leader, okay? You can lead us and we’ll follow you. You’re in charge buddy, which means it’s your job to make sure Icyhot has fun too, you think you can do that?”
“Yes! We will all have fun!” She smiles wide and wiggles in his arms so he puts her back down and she immediately takes his hand as they wait for Shouto to return.
☾ ☾ ☾
“Look, look! I found another!” Eri yells out to them as she picks up another piece of candy.
“Good job, pumpkin! Put it in the bucket.” Katsuki tells her and she runs over placing it into the bucket that Shouto holds onto before she’s scurrying off.
“You know you can go look too.” Katsuki says, he sees Halfie glance at him before his eyes go back to watching Eri.
“Why would I?”
“Because you want to.”
“Who said I wanted to?” Icyhot deadpans
“Me. You’re allowed to go have fun, Shou.” He says quietly, it’s silent between them now. Only the voices of those nearby could be heard and he wonders if he crossed a line before Shouto speaks again.
“Isn’t it… like for kids?”
“You are a kid, dumbass.”
“I meant like for… younger kids.”
“It’s for anyone. Adults even participate, you saw them didn’t you? Besides who cares if it was made for kids? It’s still fun.” Shouto looks unsure of himself, like allowing himself to have fun would end badly. “Hey Eri!” Katsuki calls out to her. She stops in her tracks and looks towards him. “I think Icyhot could do with some help finding candy.” Katsuki smirks at him and Eri squeals before she’s running over to them both and taking Shouto’s hand.
“C’mon! I can show you, it’s easy to find them sometimes!” She says and she’s pulling him along. Katsuki smiles as he watches Eri drag him around and how she beams when she finds a piece of candy and puts it into the bucket.
They walk around with Katsuki lagging a little behind as he just watches the pair experience this for the first time. Halfie even lets loose a little and he’s smiling every time he finds some candy.
“Hey, we’re not gonna win if one of our members is slacking off.” Icyhot calls out to him.
“Slacking off!? I don’t slack off! I’m making sure you don’t miss any!” He barks out.
“Oh c’mon wolfie, what if we need your help?” Icyhot says, poking fun at his costume and Katsuki almost blushes. Almost.
“Piss off.”
“He said a bad word!” Eri shrieks before she’s occupied with looking for more candy.
“You admit you need my help?” Katsuki asks as he walks towards the vampire boy.
“Hmm, just this once.” Shouto says, Katsuki is so close to him now. He can see the slight redness tinting at his cheeks, it fades into his scar and Katsuki thinks he looks lovely.
“Ask again and I just might.” Katsuki says and his eyes dip to look at Shouto’s lips before they’re back up looking into mismatched eyes.
“I…” Shouto cuts himself off with a gulp as he stares back at him.
“C’mon pretty boy, you can do it.” Katsuki takes a chance and places a finger under his chin, pulling him in closer.
“I need your help.” He says ever so quietly.
“See, wasn’t so hard was it?” Katsuki can see Shouto’s eyes flicker down to his lips and he smirks. He leans in closer and Shouto is closing his eyes and-
“Found one!” Eri cuts through the moment like a knife. Halfie jumps back and Katsuki is looking anywhere but at the dual haired boy. Eri comes running over placing it into the bucket Shouto managed to somehow keep a hold of. “What are you doing? We won’t win if you just stand there.” She pouts and Katsuki lets out a breathy laugh, glances at Shouto.
“Alright, I’ll help.” He says and sends a wink to the boy before he’s following Eri to to collect more candy.
It goes smoothly after that, the three of them work hard to find as much as they can. The bucket almost starting to overflow and Katsuki has to admit he’s rather impressed.
When times up they head back to the start and hand in their bucket. They wait around until the winners are announced and Katsuki can tell Eri is getting extremely tired.
“Results are in! The winners of this years Candy Hunt is… ERI’S TEAM!” Eri squeals and jumps up and down as she claps and Katsuki smiles down at her.
“Told you we’d win.” He says. “Go on, go collect the prize.” He ushers her and she scurries over retrieving their bucket back along with a pumpkin filled with more treats. She’s smiling wide as she comes back over, she hands the pumpkin to Shouto declaring she was too tired to carry it with the bucket.
On their way back to the dorms Katsuki carries her as she falls asleep with her head on his shoulder, she’s holding on tightly to her witch hat but Shouto now has the bucket as well as the pumpkin. They’re quiet as they walk back, both also exhausted and not wanting to disturb Eri in any way.
Once arrived, Aizawa is already waiting and Katsuki carefully hands her over without disturbing her. Shouto goes to give him both the bucket and pumpkin before he’s told to keep the bucket for themselves. The pair watch as they leave and Katsuki smiles, he didn’t expect to have such a good time.
Shouto goes to walk in but Katsuki catches his free hand stopping him. The boy turns to look at him confused and Katsuki pulls him closer.
“Did you have fun?” He asks and Shouto nods not being able to find his words. Katsuki smiles and his hand is coming up to rest against Shouto’s cheek. “You look so pretty when you don’t care what people think about you. When you let go and let yourself have fun.”
“Kats…”
“Shh, don’t talk right now.” He whispers before he’s closing the gap between them, his lips pressing against Shouto’s and it takes a couple of seconds for Shouto to respond but when he does his hands come up to fist into Katsuki’s shirt as he kisses back. Katsuki registered the sound of the bucket of candy falling to the ground and almost laughs.
Katsuki pulls back to breathe and Shouto is chasing his lips, he lets out a chuckle before kissing him again. It feels right, kissing Shouto feels so right and he can’t believe he hadn’t done it sooner.
When they both finally pull back, Shouto’s hands are still holding onto his shirt. Katsuki rests his forehead against his.
“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do that for.” Katsuki tells him
“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to do that for.” Shouto counters
“Dumbass, you could have kissed me first if you wanted to so badly.”
“How was I meant to know you wanted me to?” Katsuki pulls back at laughs before placing a quick kiss to his lips again.
“You really are clueless. You’re adorable, princess.” He smirks and Shouto shoves him back gently.
“Shut up.”
“Make me.” He smirks and he doesn’t expect Shouto to actually pull him in by his shirt and kiss him.
They finally decide to go inside and Katsuki finds himself holding Shouto’s hand as they enter. It feels right.
Who knew that babysitting and going on a Candy Hunt would land him a boyfriend?