Work Text:
Hanta picks you up from work, your business attire a stark contrast against his wide, lazy fit and the shadow of a beard he keeps trying to grow.
“I look overdressed,” you pout, leaning into him. “Now I wanna go change.”
“You look hot,” Hanta disagrees, pulling you in. “And we absolutely can, I just thought since it’s around the corner-”
“No, it’s fine,” you sigh. “If we go home now, we won’t step foot outside again. I know myself.”
Hanta grins cheekily. “Don’t tempt me with a good time.”
“Stop it,” you laugh, slapping him playfully. “Come on, you wanted me to meet your friends, now do it.”
“Yes Ma’am,” he salutes playfully, dragging you down the street toward the busier parts of town.
You talk about work as you go, the cool recipe you saw online today and want to try this weekend, and the ugly shoes your coworker wore to work today.
Much too soon, the smell of fried food hits your nose, and your stomach rumbles.
“In here,” Hanta gestures at a tiny restaurant at the end of a narrow alley. “Kirishima once saved their cat from a tree or something. They make the best dumplings.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” you claim, slipping in after him.
The place is small, but homey, the walls adorned with a mishmash of knick-knacks and old photographs. An older woman is eating by the window, and two men in business suits are discussing the menu on a table by the door. In the back, however, a table is groaning under the weight of a dozen dishes, the group laughing and waving you over.
“We ordered without you!” One of the guys hollers, grinning from one ear to the other. “Cause you’re such a lame-ass!”
“I told you I’m picking up my girl!” Hanta shoots back, pulling you in. “You better have picked the best thing on the menu!”
Hanta turns to you, grinning foolishly. “That’s Kaminari,” he explains. Nothing more needs to be added. You’ve read their chats - accidentally and not so accidentally - and listened in on phone calls. Nothing is going to surprise you about him anymore.
“That’s my girl!” Hanta exclaims proudly, gesturing at you like you’re a statue, and he’s the tour guide. “Look at her!”
“Hi,” you wave, feeling a little awkward until one of the girls manages to free herself from her boyfriend and slips away from the table toward you. You expect her to greet you, but not the force she uses to propel herself in your direction, slinging her arms around you.
“YOU’RE SO CUTE!” She hollers, giggling. “I’m Mina, by the way. Come, sit with us!”
“She’s sitting with me,” Hanta tries to intervene, hand on your elbow. “Babe, please sit with me!”
They squabble, aided by Kaminari and the redhead, who seems to be Mina’s boyfriend, until a blond turns and snarls at them to be quiet, glaring at you with glowing red eyes.
“Can’t you keep a leash on him?” He asks you, nodding in Hanta’s direction. “Or a muzzle?”
“Hey now,” you slide into the spot next to Mina, unsurprised to find Hanta’s hip digging into yours seconds later. “That would make kissing pretty difficult.”
The guy's features slip for a second as the table erupts in laughter. It feels like a win.
-
Hours later, tired and heavy from the good food and the late hour, Mina drags you outside as the boys pay the bill.
The cool air does wonders for your energy level, and you listen to Jiro and Mina squabble, the stars above you invisible.
“There you are,” Hanta's arms are warm around your midsection, his breath ghosting over the shell of your ear. “Tell Kaminari off for me. He’s being lame.”
“Why?” You laugh, leaning back into him. “What did he say?”
Hanta’s quiet. Later, he’ll tell you about it, maybe, or forget he ever started this conversation.
The air is filled with laughter, murmured conversations, the memories of friendships forged years ago.
Bakugo turns once more as he moves to leave, waving. “You’re coming by Saturday, right?” He asks instead of saying goodbye, and the others guffaw in his sudden absence.
“What?” You ask. “What’s Saturday?”
“Barbecue at his place!” Kaminari explains as Hanta mumbles into your ear: “No one gets invited just like that. He likes you.”
“I’m dating you!” You remind him, and Mina joins the conversation like she’s never done anything else. “Exactly! Bakugo is very protective of his friends.”
Her smile is warm and inviting, her arm soon joined with yours as you find yourself on the way back home, Hanta curled halfway around your other side.
“You’re part of the family now,” Mina decides, beaming. “Can I braid your hair?”