Work Text:
It’s beach day! A nice, hot summer day where the entirety of class 2A has no training, no class, just a day to relax and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the beach. A cool and soothing wind blows over the sea that stretches out far beyond you, the whole of class 2A either in the water or enjoying the sand, a few sunbathing.
You, in particular, were hesitant to come, as you always were when you didn’t exactly feel “in the mood”. Nonetheless, they managed to drag you along—much to Katsuki's surprise. He thinks you just pretend not to enjoy things sometimes, when you say you're too busy. Maybe to give yourself a reason to keep stressing over nothing.
You’re sitting on the sand near the shore, in your swimsuit and swim-cover under an umbrella, resting your cheek against your fist while looking around the sea shore. Seemingly bored. Your expression has looked like that a lot recently when you’re not bored and have free time.
Katsuki approaches, drawing your attention in as your gaze, tinted a faint orange from the sun, lifts up to his face. You hadn't even heard his footsteps, but then again, sand is pretty soft.
He stares at you for a moment. Maybe a minute and a half passes of silence. And then he strides away, trudging back to his beach spot. His expression is unusually calm—as calm as it can get; his scowl is still on show.
Katsuki glances over in your direction again, a bit frustrated. You’re stayed so quiet recently, like you're just observing everything.
It's been a whole month, you've gone quiet and tense. Maybe it’s the finals coming up, or something deeper. But he can’t read minds.
"Oi."
He walks around so he's directly in front of you, blocking your view of the beach. You'd definitely have to look up at him now to see the ocean. Something sits behind him, his hand sitting on the handle of an object you can’t see.
Then, with no warning, he leans down and moves you, gathering your items to put beside you for your journey.
__
The sounds of waves crashing and your classmates faraway conversations and games fills the atmosphere, the sun casting orange hues along the sand and beach chairs, alarming the due of the afternoon. Salty water bubbles up into white sea foam, residing back into the ocean slowly. Until the soft patter of his feet in the sand raises your attention yet again, and his stature blocks the view and casts shadows along your face.
You look up at him, confusion returning to mind. "Yeah? You need some–"
You’re interrupted by your own yelp as you feel his hands come under your arms and hoist you up, setting you down into something red and kind of spacious. A wagon?
"Kats? Why...am I in a wagon??" you question, yet your tone is calm and soft. Like it doesn't surprise you much.
With no answer to your question, Katsuki grabs you items. He closes the umbrella, picks up your book, beach bag, hand-fan, picnic basket, and beach ball, putting them beside you in the wagon like he's giving a kid their toys while they sit in a shopping cart. Except you’re not four, and you’re not shopping.
Katsuki remains silent as you question him, continuing to walk along the beach, pulling you behind him like a rag doll. He's clearly frustrated, his expression is calm, yet his actions say otherwise.
"Shut up. You're going to relax."
His tone makes it sound more like a demand, something you should obey. No option to reject or deny his demand, because he won't let you.
He starts walking, dragging you along without another word, his hand on the handle pulling it along, looking ahead as you pass by the occasional student from your class.
Everyone seems pretty content with enjoying themselves, some playing in the water with an inflatable beach ball, others laying on their towels, and others just chatting amongst each other.
Looks of curiosity are on you, watching you get pulled along like a puppy on a leash.
As Katsuki continues to drag your beach-cart along the shore, a few of your classmates take notice, raising their eyebrows or stopping to look as you pass by.
It is kind of weird, having a whole-ass beach cart with a 16-year-old inside.
Denki, who has a volleyball in his hand, sees you in the cart, and his mouth takes the shape of a grin as he points at you. Kirishima, following Denki's pointing, sees Katsuki dragging you like a little kid behind him, and jogs over, curiosity getting the better of him. "Bakubro, where are you taking her?"
Katsuki glances over at him without stopping, his pace unchanged. "None of your business, Shitty-hair."
Denki rushes over, spotting you in the wagon. “Kacchan’s giving out free wagon rides?? Can I go next?”
Kirishima snickers at Denki's request, and Katsuki rolls his eyes at Denki's request. "No, absolutely not."
Denki pouts. "Come on, why not!?"
Katsuki looks over at him with an annoyed expression. "Because I said so. And besides, you're heavier than her, fatass."
Denki protests, putting on a mock hurt expression. "Hey! I'm not that heavy!"
Katsuki just snorts. "Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that."
Sero joins the group, a towel slung over his shoulders. "What's going on here?"
A scowl growing on his face, Katsuki suddenly strides away from the three boys, still hauling you along.
__
He continues walking through the sand until you both reach the pier, a long wooden dock that overlooks the ocean. The cool air breezes through, and the sounds of the waves hitting the wood pier are calming. The sky has shifted to a darker orange, but the sun is still visible, though slowly sinking to the horizon. The orange light bathes everything in its warm glow, and the view is quite beautiful. Dragging your eyes from the ocean and evening sun, you look at him, still with no clue on the situation.
“The hell’s with the look? Get out,” he demands, though the tint on his ears betrays him.
“Right, sure.” You stand, hoisting one leg out the wagon, then the other. You watch as Katsuki grabs your items, placing them on the sand before gesturing for you to sit.
__
The sun is setting across the horizon, its orange and pink hues painting the evening sky as you lay on the sand. The trees rumble slightly, leaves swaying gently, their soft sound accompanying the ocean's breeze.
As you watch the waves, the soft sand beneath the tires making a soft crunching sound as Katsuki locks the wheels, Katsuki glances back again, noting how the setting sun casts long shadows of your body.
“You comfortable here?” he speaks, already searching for a farther spot incase you want to move.
"Mhm," you hum, resting your cheeks on your fist again.
You’re still staring out at the ocean waves, crashing in and out of the shore, leaving small trinkets of seashells and or crabs in its wake. The sun is a pretty orange, and quiet fills the air. Half of your classmates have gone inside the beach house, and the other half are too far away to hear other than their occasional laughter and splashing carrying as a whisper.
You turn to look at him, curiosity in your gaze, voice soft and calm. "Why are we here?"
"If you wanted to walk together, you could've just asked. You didn't have to carry me," you say, the sound of waves and faraway seagulls' calls reverberating through the beach, making beautiful echoes.
He leans against the wagon, looking down at you as he talks, his voice low. "I wanted some time alone with you. Got a problem with it? You’ve been too quiet.”
"No, not at all...but yeah, I have been a bit quiet. Just...stressed, about some things. What did you want to be alone for? Not that I mind, just...curious." you rub the back of my neck awkwardly before settling them on your pulled-up knees.
"...Nothing important," he mumbles unconvincingly, avoiding your gaze as if it might burn him. The wagon creaks under his weight.
He grunts, clearing his throat. "Just to spend time alone with you, like I said. It's been a while since we've spent time together, without all the other morons. This beach trip is supposed to be relaxing, y’know. But you’ve been ruining it for me by sulking on the shore; I can’t just ignore it.”
You stare at him for a moment before your gaze lowers, a look of disappointment in your eyes. At yourself.
"I...I'm sorry, Kats’." you start, forcing the words out. "I'm supposed to be your best friend, your girlfriend. But I don't even remember the last time I said 'I love you'. I haven't even spent time with you."
"I've been so focused on grades and work that I'm forgetting that it's not what my life should revolve around. It should be you, and my friends, and then work. But I've been putting you off in search of a solution to my problems, and that's not fair at all." You drag your fingers around in the sand. "And now, you've resorted to strolling me around like a kid in a stroller just to spend some time with me. And that’s not like you at all.”
He's quiet as you speak, taking in your words, your facial expressions, your body language.
He feels like absolute crap listening to you say you haven't even said "I love you" to him in a while, or even spent any time with him, because it's all because of this stupid, stupid obsession you have with grades like whatever letter you get defines your whole being.
"You're right," he admits gruffly, his voice laced with roughness and a touch of concern. "But I don’t want your apology."
He looks down at you, watching your expression intently, a mixture of concern and frustration in his features.
Then he scoots closer, taking your hand in his, turning to face away from you as his ears burn. His hand is warm and slightly calloused from training, his touch firm, a bit too firm, but he’s trying. He’s never been good at crappy stuff like this.
"But I do want you to focus less on your work, and more on...you," he murmurs, "You need a break. We have the whole beach to ourselves. Do you know how hard it was to rent this place out for a day, damn it?"
You open your mouth to respond, but his voice cuts in before you can. “Don’t answer that, dumbass.”
He glances, looking at the setting sun and the cool ocean breeze, the waves gently crashing onto the shore. The silence and gentle echo of waves are the only things that can really be heard now, the chatter and laughter of your classmates barely audible.
The orange glow of the sunset casts long shadows along the sand, and the seagulls continue to screech into the sky, searching and playing. The air is warm but nice, and the atmosphere is almost tranquil.
"...I don’t want your shitty self-deprecating answer. I want you to stop looking like a pouting Golden Retriever; get your mind off that stuff."
His tone is quiet and serious.
“…if you don’t get in the water at least once I swear I’m never bringing you to the beach again, much less carrying you in a stupid cart.”
You snicker despite yourself, a small smile curling on your lips. “Fine, I’ll go for a swim. Maybe later, or tomorrow in the morning.”
“You fuckin’ better tonight, or I’ll pour a damn bucket of water on you in your sleep.”