[Katsuki's POV]

Katsuki was tired.

It was one thing to spend his time training and working on improving his Quirk—at least that had its payoffs, and was enjoyable, to some extent—but unpacking all these boxes was boring, repetitive, and took way too damn long. At least he was almost done. He couldn't wait to tuck in for bed early.

Well, this was the worst part, after all. Frankly, he was a little surprised that his family had been okay with him moving into the dorms, what with his recent capture by the League. He supposed it showed that they had faith in the teachers and pro heroes working at U.A. What was even more surprising was that your parents had approved it, too.

Katsuki kicked a stray cardboard box to the side, letting out a lofty sigh. He remembered his first and last meeting with your father. It was rather convenient that the two of you would be living in the dorms together, since it meant that he wouldn't have to interact with your parents for some while. At least he'd bought himself some time to prove that shitty dad of yours wrong.

There were a lot of things on his mind, really, that he hadn't stopped to think about before arriving here with his suitcase in tow. For starters, you'd essentially be living together. Not in the conventional sense, sure, but he'd be able to see you first thing in the morning, and right up until you headed off to bed. A memory of the sleepover you'd shared drifted to the surface. Katsuki scowled and bit down on his lip in an attempt to fend off his blush.

This was good, though. You'd have so many more opportunities to see one another. It would be better this way. He wouldn't have to worry about your safety so long as he had a general idea as to where you were most of the time. His promise with your father aside, Katsuki was never going to allow a repeat of that capture.

U.A's probably amped up their security measures, too. They won't be able to pull some shit like that again.

He'd pretty much finished unpacking. Maybe you were done, too, and you could hang out in his room together.

"Yo, Bakubro!" The shitty red-head—Kirishima—greeted him with a smile as he made his way into the communal area downstairs. "You all done unpacking?"

"No shit," he dismissed, eyes scanning the room. "Where's [Name]?"

"Hm, I don't know. None of the girls have come down yet. Maybe they're—oh! Here they come!"

A cluster of female classmates had arrived in tandem. Katsuki spotted you laughing as you spoke to the round-faced one. He flushed for seemingly no reason. The amount of times he'd seen you smile was almost innumerable, but it still made his heart lurch in his chest.

How the hell were you so cute?

"Boys!" Ashido beckoned. "If you're all done with your rooms, us girls were discussing having a little fun event right now!"

Probably something stupid, Katsuki thought. He shuffled over towards you, one hand in his pocket. Your eyes lit up as you spotted him.

"Hey, Katsuki-kun. How's your room looking?"

"Amazing," he bragged, "how else?"

"Ha-ha. I should've known better than to ask."

"Let's go to my room and hang out," he said, noting the way Uraraka's bottom lip went taut. Ha. She probably thought she'd get to have you all to herself.

"She can't, Bakugou-kun." As expected, shitty round-face had something to say. She placed her hands on her hips and stared up at him defiantly. "Mina-chan was just about to say, but we're holding a room competition, where everyone shows theirs off and then we vote on who our favorite is."

Katsuki's eyes glazed over. "Huh. That's even dumber than I expected."

"So rude!"

"Anyways," he glared, hooking his arm around your own, "[Name]'s coming with me." His eyes shone expectantly. "You're coming, right?"

He could see that you were a little torn, what with the way the brunette were staring at you hopefully, but you were quick to assume a smile.

"Actually, I was going to opt out of the room viewing competition anyways," you laughed. "My place is still a little messy. I'll let the others see once I've tidied it up a bit more."

"Eh?? No fair, [Name]-chan! I thought we were all gonna do this together!" Uraraka—along some of the other girls—were making a big show of pouting at you, visibly disappointed. Katsuki rolled his eyes. God, these chicks were so annoying. Couldn't you find some friends that grated on his nerves a bit less?

"I'm a bit too tired right now. I'd rather just lounge around in my room, or Katsuki-kun's."

Katsuki couldn't help but sport a victorious grin. Of course you'd chosen him. There was no contest, really. Uraraka looked back at him with brown eyes that sweltered from irritation. He would've probably flipped her off, if not for the fact that you would've reprimanded him with a frown.

"Alright. Let's leave these losers alone, [Name]. Leave them to their stupid 'room trashing' competition, or whatever."

"Room viewing!!" Ashido squeaked.

"Yeah, like I give half a shit. C'mon—we're leaving."

He gently tugged you by the hand, and you faltered in place for a moment, but only to wave your friends off with a smile. They all looked to be quite dejected upon realizing that you wouldn't be taking part with the rest of them. For some reason, that made Katsuki smirk. His girlfriend was desirable—in more ways than one—but no one could have you except him.

"You're mine, [Name]." He said the words while puffing out his chest and squeezing down on your fingers. You looked up at him with crinkled brows and a confused expression.

"Um... well, yes? I mean, I know that already."

Your rosy lips were pursed together as you peered up from underneath your lashes. Katsuki wondered how it was possible for someone to be so fucking adorable. If you were the only ones in the dorms right now, he would've surely pinned you up against the wall right then and there.

"Good," he grinned. "As long as you know."

You still appeared a bit confused, but he didn't bother explaining any further. The layout of his dorm room was almost identical to the way he'd had his room set up back at home. You were already familiar with it, having come over a few times before.

"Yay! Katsuki-kun's bed!" You let out a squeal of delight, springing onto it with your limbs outstretched like a starfish. Katsuki watched your body bounce back on the mattress before you settled in and wrapped yourself in his blankets.

"It's just a bed," he eye-rolled. "What's there to be so excited over? It's not like you sleep in a fucking cot."

"I know," you smiled, "but your mattress is super soft. Way softer than mine. Where'd you buy it from, anyways?"

"Hell if I know. Ask my shitty parents."

Katsuki climbed over-top of you, settling into the space just beside the wall. You hummed contentedly, sinking further back into the mattress. Your frame was almost completely obscured by the mounds of blankets stacked upon you. He laughed.

"You look like a caterpillar, all tucked in like that."

"It's cozy," you smiled. "Come cuddle with me?"

As if he could possibly say no, when you were grinning up at him and looking all kinds of adorable. He chuckled and sprang under the blankets alongside you, immediately attacking your ribs with a flurry of tickles.

"D-Don't do that!" you squealed, trying to kick out your legs in protest. "Katsuki-kun, don't—! H-Hey! You know I'm ticklish!!"

"No shit," he grinned. "That's why I'm doing it."

The giggles and puffy breaths spilling from your lips only egged Katsuki on even further. He prodded at your sides until you became a panting mess, small tears prickling at the corners of your eyes. Katsuki decided he'd had his fill and spared you, instead pressing a kiss against your flushed cheek.

"That was... so mean," you gasped, trying to reclaim your breathing. "You're the worst..."

"You make it too damn easy."

"Ugh..."

Katsuki watched the rise and fall of your chest, eyes ghosting down your frame. You were so beautiful, and his first words to you had been so cruel. How'd you even end up falling for someone like him? He was strong, good in a fight, and had the ambition required to be a hero, but he certainly wasn't boyfriend material. That much was just plain obvious. He wasn't a fucking idiot, either.

"What do you like about me, [Name]?"

He regretted the words as soon as they came out. It made him sound whiny; as if he was self-conscious and seeking your reassurance. Normally, he wouldn't have stopped to think about it, but staring back at you like this—realizing just how perfect you were...

It made him feel lesser by comparison.

Katsuki blew out a sigh. You weren't answering, merely staring back at him with knotted brows. He shouldn't have asked, after all. You likely didn't appreciate being put on the spot, either.

"...everything, probably."

"What?"

Did she just say what I—

"I mean, it has to be everything, right?" You pushed up on your elbows, smiling. "If some of your qualities took a drastic turn, you wouldn't be you anymore. People can change, but their defining qualities are just that—defining of who they are. Sure, you're quick to get angry, and most people aren't the biggest fan of that... but if you suddenly lost that nerve, became polite, and soft-spoken... it just wouldn't be the same."

Katsuki stiffened. Your fingers lovingly ran along his cheekbone.

"I wouldn't try to change anything about you, if that's what you were getting at. I respect how determined you are, and the way you never back down from a challenge. There are definitely bound to be some qualities I can appreciate more than others, but I'm not trying to pretend as if the rest aren't there."

He didn't know what to say to that. You always made him feel lost for words, and by all accounts, he was not a quiet guy.

This was so different from the start, from that time when you'd only ever been looking at him with fearful eyes. You were so kind. So kind and understanding. Actually, a lot of what you'd said that very first day you'd spoken still held true. The two of you were different—nearly polar opposites, in fact. But it just worked. His weaknesses were your strengths, and vice-versa. You kept trying to put the soulmate thing behind you, and just live in the present, but there was a part of him that felt as though this must've been meant to be, after all.

"You make me really happy, [Name]." Katsuki's voice trembled as he spoke. Again, he was coming off as a weakling, but if there was ever a person that he could let his guard down around, it was you.

You smiled, and his heart did that thing where it trembled and ached and felt like it was filling up all at once.

"You make me really happy, too, Katsuki-kun."

His patience was running thin, and he couldn't wait to kiss you anymore. Your bodies collapsed against the mattress, limbs tangled under mounds of blankets and pressed together so tightly it felt as though your hearts were beating in unison.