Valerie took a deep breath as she and Katsuki stood at the front door of his home. Though she had met his mother briefly in passing, this was the first time she'd be spending an entire weekend with the Bakugous. Katsuki, ever confident and intense, seemed surprisingly anxious, tapping his foot and muttering under his breath about how "she's crazy."

When the door swung open, Mitsuki Bakugou greeted them with her trademark energy. "Well, look who finally made it!" she exclaimed, her eyes immediately locking onto Valerie with a mischievous glint. "So, this is the girl who finally managed to tie down my little firecracker, huh?"

Katsuki's eye twitched. "Mom, don't start."

Mitsuki ignored him and turned to Valerie, looking her up and down with an approving grin. "You're even prettier than I imagined! How much is he paying you to be his girlfriend? Must be a fortune."

Valerie, never one to back down from banter, grinned and played along. "Oh, I had to raise my rates just for this visit. Katsuki's a lot to handle."

Katsuki practically blew his cap, his face flushing. "Oi! Stop messing around!" he barked, his fists clenching at his sides.

Valerie laughed at his reaction, stepping closer and planting a soft kiss on his cheek. "Calm down, tough guy. I'm just playing."

Mitsuki cackled, clearly loving every second of watching her son squirm. "Oh, I like her. She's got guts!"

From behind Mitsuki, Katsuki's father, Masaru, appeared, smiling warmly. "Dinner's ready. Come on in, you two."

The dining table was set, and soon enough, the four of them were seated. As they ate, Masaru broke the comfortable silence with a curious question. "So, how did you two meet? I've heard some... fiery stories."

Katsuki tensed, but Valerie answered first with a playful grin. "Oh, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. More like a fight at first sight."

Mitsuki's eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned forward. "Do tell!"

"We were paired up for a training exercise," Valerie explained, her eyes meeting Katsuki's. "It was... intense. Katsuki came at me like a hurricane, and well... I kicked his butt."

"Oi!" Katsuki shot her a look but didn't deny it. "I wasn't at my best that day."

"Oh, of course," Valerie teased, "you're never at your best when you're getting beat."

Mitsuki nearly snorted from laughter, and even Masaru chuckled, shaking his head. "I like her," he said quietly, making Katsuki groan.

After dinner, they gathered in the living room, where board games were stacked up in the corner. Valerie eyed them with excitement, and soon they all decided on Monopoly. It didn't take long for the competitive nature of the Bakugou household to shine.

Valerie and Katsuki were locked in a fierce battle for property domination. Every turn was met with strategic moves and heated banter, both refusing to back down. But in the end, it wasn't them who won—it was Masaru, who played the long game and snuck in under their noses to claim victory.

"I guess we've got another champion in the family," Valerie teased, pointing to Masaru as Katsuki fumed, glaring at the board like he was plotting its destruction.

"Damn Monopoly!" Katsuki muttered, clearly irritated by the loss, but Valerie just patted him on the back with a grin.

As the night wound down, Valerie stretched and yawned, asking, "So, where will I be sleeping?"

Mitsuki grinned and led her to the guest room. "You'll be in here. Katsuki's room is next door if you need anything. The guest bathroom's under construction, so if you need to shower, just use his."

Katsuki carried Valerie's bags into the room, setting them down with a sigh. "There. You good?"

"Yeah, thanks," Valerie said, smiling at him as she unzipped one of her bags. "I'm just going to shower and get ready for bed."

Katsuki nodded and headed to his room while Valerie grabbed her things. She wandered over to his room to use his attached bathroom and started her shower. When she was finished, wrapped in a towel, she stepped out, only to stop dead in her tracks.

Katsuki was standing there, pulling on a shirt, but not quite fast enough. She caught a full view of his athletic, chiseled body, and for a moment, she just stared.

Katsuki smirked, catching her look. "Take a picture, it'll last longer."

Valerie, her face burning with embarrassment, smirked back at him. "Oh, really?" She raised her phone and clicked a picture.

Katsuki's eyes widened, and he squealed like a startled animal. "I was joking, you weirdo!"

Valerie burst into laughter at his reaction, clutching her stomach as he frantically pulled his shirt down. "Too late! Now I've got evidence."

He glared at her, but the flush on his cheeks betrayed him. "Delete it."

"Hmm... I'll think about it," she teased, sticking her tongue out at him.

Katsuki grumbled under his breath, but as Valerie walked past him to her room, she winked. "Don't worry, I'll keep it as blackmail material."

"Damn it, Valerie," Katsuki muttered, but a small, amused smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched her go.

---

After Valerie finished getting dressed, still giggling about the teasing photo incident, she made her way back to Katsuki's room. She found him sitting on his bed, scrolling through Netflix as they tried to agree on something to watch.

"Can we just watch something already? You're so indecisive," Katsuki grumbled, his frustration building as they scrolled endlessly through the options.

Valerie rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine. Let's just shuffle something."

He gave her a side-eye but didn't argue, hitting the random shuffle option on Netflix. Moments later, All Dogs Go to Heaven began to play. Katsuki blinked at the screen, his brow furrowed.

"This? Seriously?"

Valerie shrugged with a smirk. "Too late to back out now."

Despite Katsuki's initial complaints, they watched the movie in relative silence, the two of them snuggled together on his bed. Valerie noticed how his arm gradually relaxed around her, and though he tried to play it off like he wasn't into the movie, his body language said otherwise.

By the end of the movie, as the bittersweet scenes unfolded, Valerie glanced at Katsuki, expecting some gruff remark. Instead, what she saw left her wide-eyed. His eyes were red and slightly puffy, his jaw clenched as if trying to hold back the emotions bubbling up inside him.

She couldn't help herself. "Oh my God... Katsuki!" Valerie stifled a laugh but quickly softened, leaning in to hug him. "You're such a softie."

"Shut up," he muttered, but there was no real venom in his words. He let her pull him into a warm embrace, resting his chin on her shoulder as he tried to shake off the lingering emotions from the film.

Valerie tilted her head slightly to look at him, and in the soft glow of the room, Katsuki's gaze softened. He studied her face—her bright eyes, the way her lips curved into a knowing smile, and the freckles scattered across her cheeks. His heart pounded a little faster, and he had the sudden, overwhelming urge to kiss her again.

Neither of them spoke, but the silence was filled with something intimate and unspoken. After a moment, Katsuki leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a slow, sweet kiss that lingered longer than either expected. When they finally pulled away, both of them breathed deeply, lost in the moment.

"Goodnight," Valerie whispered, her lips barely grazing his as she stood up from the bed.

Katsuki, still recovering from the kiss, nodded. "Yeah... goodnight."

As she made her way to the door, Valerie stopped and turned back with a teasing grin. She held up her phone, wagging it playfully. "By the way, Mina texted me earlier. She says she wants to know your gym plan. You know, for how you got so... snatched."

Katsuki's face turned crimson in an instant. "What?!"

Before he could react, Valerie gave him a wink, laughing as she dodged a pillow he launched in her direction.

"You're dead, Valerie!" he shouted, but his voice was laced with embarrassment rather than actual anger.

She giggled and sprinted out of the room before he could chase after her, slipping into the guest room where she could still hear him muttering curses through the walls. With a smirk, she tucked herself into bed, closing her eyes peacefully as sleep quickly overtook her, a sense of warmth and contentment filling her heart.

---

Saturday morning dawned bright and cheerful, the sun streaming through the window of Katsuki's room. Valerie stretched and yawned, her excitement for the day bubbling over. She hopped out of bed and padded downstairs to the kitchen, where Katsuki was already up, his messy hair sticking up in all directions like a spiky hedgehog.

"What's on the menu, Chef Bakugou?" Valerie teased as she entered the kitchen.

Katsuki glanced over his shoulder, a smirk creeping onto his face. "You're looking at the best breakfast maker around. We're making omelettes."

"Sounds good, but I'm adding my secret spice mix," Valerie declared, reaching for a jar of vibrant spices that she had brought along.

"Secret spice mix?" Katsuki raised an eyebrow. "You think you can beat my classic?"

"Challenge accepted!" Valerie grinned, grabbing a pan as she tossed the spices into the mix. Katsuki quickly followed suit, pulling out his own array of spices, determined not to be outdone.

As they cooked side by side, the kitchen filled with the sizzling of eggs and the aroma of coffee brewing. Valerie couldn't help but steal glances at Katsuki as he focused on his cooking.

"Are you always this intense about breakfast?" she laughed.

"Only when it's important," he shot back, his competitive spirit shining through.

Once everything was plated up, they called Katsuki's parents to the table. Mitsuki's eyes sparkled with delight as she surveyed the feast. "Wow, I'm impressed! You two could open a breakfast joint."

Valerie beamed with pride. "We make a good team!"

As they dug into the food, conversation flowed easily. Mitsuki, always the one to bring excitement, suddenly had a brilliant idea. "How about we all go camping tonight at the mountains? It's only an hour's drive from here."

"Camping? Yes!" Valerie exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "I haven't camped since I was in South Africa!"

Mitsuki's face lit up. "Perfect! You can share some stories around the campfire later. I'd love to hear all of them"

Katsuki rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Great, more embarrassing stories about me."

After breakfast, they packed up their gear and piled into the car to drive to the campsite. As they arrived at the beautiful lakeside campsite, Valerie's breath was taken away by the stunning scenery—the sparkling water surrounded by towering trees and mountains in the distance.

"Wow, Katsuki, this place is amazing!" Valerie gasped, her eyes wide as she took it all in.

Mitsuki smiled warmly. "This was Katsuki's favourite place growing up. We let him practice his quirk here without worrying about the noise."

Valerie chuckled, nudging Katsuki playfully. "You must have blown up a lot of stuff, huh?"

"Shut up," he grumbled, but the corners of his mouth twitched in amusement as he stares at the large boulder with a hole blown right through it.

They unpacked their gear and set up camp, but as they did, a small issue arose. The Bakugou family only had two tents, which meant that Katsuki and Valerie would be sharing one.

"Hey, you two can share a tent," Mitsuki teased, winking at her son. "Just remember to be safe. Use protection! Grandkids are great, but not yet!"

Katsuki's face turned a bright shade of red. "What the hell, Mom? We're not— I was never even planning on that, EVER!!"

The words cut through the air, freezing Valerie in place. Her heart sank, and an uncomfortable silence followed as she processed the implications. The thought that Katsuki would never engage in anything intimate with her stung more than she expected. It felt as though a wall had been erected between them in that moment.

"What do you mean by that?" Katsuki snapped back, trying to regain his composure, but the panic in his voice was evident. "I'd Never-"

"Never what?" Valerie interrupted, unable to contain her emotions. "Never have sex? Never want to? Or Never want to with me? Is that really how you feel?"

His expression shifted from embarrassment to confusion. "Valerie, I didn't mean it like that. It was just—"

"No, it's fine," she retorted, her voice shaking. "If that's how you really feel..."

Katsuki's face blanched as he registered her hurt. "Wait! No, that's not what I meant! I—"

"Honestly, Katsuki! You're making it worse!" Valerie huffed, crossing her arms as she turned away from him.

"Valerie, listen! I've been trying to figure out how to deal with everything between us," he pleaded, but his words tumbled out in frustration. "I just meant I'm not ready to have that conversation with my mom right now!"

"Then why can't you just say that?" she snapped, hurt twisting in her gut. "Do you not want to be intimate with me at all?"

"Of course I do! Absolutley I do, like fuck, yes!" he exclaimed, running a hand through his hair, visibly distressed. "I just... I struggle to keep my hands to myself, okay? trust me, I do want to!"

"Then why did you say it like that?" Valerie shot back, "Like it was the worst thing ever?"

"Because I didn't want my mom thinking about that!" Katsuki finally burst out, his voice filled with exasperation. "I didn't want to embarrass you, either!"

Valerie stood her heart racing with mixed emotions. She felt a rush of anger and confusion, her mind racing with the weight of what this could mean for them. Yes, he was never good with his words, but he could have done better.

Mitsuki and Masaru approached, breaking the tension as they started discussing plans for the evening. Katsuki's gaze flickered from his parents to Valerie, but she avoided his eyes, feeling the emotional gap widen between them.

---

As the evening wore on, Valerie's heart felt heavy, a mix of excitement for camping and unease about their relationship swirling inside her. The sound of laughter and the crackling campfire filled the air, but all she could think about was how to bridge the gap that had unexpectedly opened between her and Katsuki.

The stars above twinkled brightly, reflecting off the calm surface of the lake as the crackling fire cast warm, flickering shadows around the campsite. The Bakugou family sat together in a semi-circle, wrapped in blankets as the cool night air crept in. The flames danced between them, throwing sparks into the darkening sky.

Mitsuki handed Valerie a mug of hot cocoa, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "Alright, Valerie, you promised us some good stories from South Africa. What's one of your best camping adventures?"

Valerie took a sip from her mug, savoring the warmth as she settled back in her chair. "Well, there is one story that comes to mind. I was about ten years old, and my grandparents took me camping near Kruger National Park. It's one of the largest game reserves in Africa, so we were surrounded by wildlife."

Katsuki glanced at her with interest, the tension from earlier lingering, but curiosity getting the better of him. "So, you were camping where, what? Lions, elephants, and stuff are just walking around?"

Valerie chuckled. "Yeah, exactly. It's a little unnerving at first, but you get used to it. Anyway, one night we had this big bowl of fresh fruit, all ready for breakfast the next day—bananas, oranges, and some amurula fruit."

"Amurula fruit?" Masaru asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is that the one that's like alcohol for animals?"

"Exactly," Valerie replied with a smile. "It ferments naturally, and when animals eat it, they can get a little... tipsy."

Mitsuki gasped, already knowing where the story was going. "No way! Did it happen?"

"Oh, it happened," Valerie said, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "So, that night, while we were asleep in our tents, a herd of elephants wandered into our campsite. They went straight for the fruit, and—get this—they ate all of the amurula fruit first."

"Wait, what?" Katsuki leaned forward, now fully engrossed. "A bunch of elephants got drunk at your campsite?"

Valerie nodded, trying to contain her laughter. "Yup! We woke up to the sound of them stomping around and trumpeting like they were at some kind of elephant party. They knocked over our tents, broke into our cooler, and finished off the rest of the fruit! My grandpa had to get out of the tent and shoo them away, but they were stumbling around like they'd had a little too much to drink."

The Bakugous erupted into laughter, with Mitsuki wiping tears from her eyes. "Oh my god, I can just picture it! Drunk elephants!"

Katsuki tried to keep a straight face, but even he couldn't stop the grin from spreading. "That's insane. They just stumbled around and left?"

"Eventually," Valerie continued, smiling at the memory. "But not before one of them knocked over our table and sent our breakfast flying. It was a mess, but honestly, we couldn't stop laughing. The next morning, we found one of the elephants lying down a few feet away, snoring."

Masaru chuckled softly. "Sounds like your camping trips were more exciting than ours, that's for sure."

"They were definitely memorable," Valerie agreed. "I learned to always keep food well out of reach of animals after that."

As the laughter died down, Valerie glanced at Katsuki, catching the faint trace of a smile still lingering on his face. The tension from earlier was starting to fade, replaced by the warmth of the fire and the joy of the shared stories.

"I'd love to go back someday," Valerie said softly. "There's something magical about being surrounded by nature like that... even if it means risking a run-in with some tipsy elephants."

"Well," Mitsuki said, giving Valerie a wink, "maybe one day you and Katsuki can go on a wild camping adventure of your own. Just make sure he keeps the explosives to a minimum."

Katsuki groaned, but there was no denying the light in his eyes as he glanced over at Valerie. "Tch, I'd be more worried about her shocking the animals with all that lightning she throws around."

Valerie playfully nudged him with her elbow. "As long as you don't blow up the tent, we'll be fine."

The family shared another round of laughter, the fire crackling between them, and the night carried on in comfortable companionship, their worries slowly fading into the starry sky above.

---

The fire had long since died down, and the sounds of the night filled the air—crickets chirping, the occasional crackle from the embers, and the distant rustling of the lake. Valerie felt a comfortable warmth in her heart after the evening, but there was still an undercurrent of tension between her and Katsuki after the awkwardness earlier.

"Alright, goodnight, you two lovebirds," Mitsuki teased as they all stood up from the campfire. She gave Valerie a playful wink, causing Katsuki to groan in embarrassment.

Masaru smiled warmly. "Sleep well, both of you. We'll be up early to start breakfast."

Valerie smiled and waved at his parents. "Goodnight!" she said softly as they made their way toward their tent. The soft crunch of the ground beneath their feet was the only sound between them as they walked in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.

Once they reached their tent, Valerie unzipped it and crawled inside, Katsuki following close behind. They both settled into their sleeping bags, the fabric rustling softly in the enclosed space. Valerie lay on her side, her back facing him as she felt a knot of nerves tighten in her stomach. Even though they had a good time at the campfire, the earlier conversation still stung a little, and she couldn't help but feel uncertain.

"Goodnight, Katsuki," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.

She didn't expect a response, but then she felt him shift behind her, his hand slowly wrapping around her waist. The heat of his body pressed against her back, and she stilled as Katsuki pulled her closer to him.

"Valerie..." His voice was rough, almost a whisper, but she could hear the tension in it.

He stayed quiet for a moment, and she could feel his hesitation, the way his body stiffened as if he were fighting with himself. Then, he sighed, his forehead gently resting against the back of her head. "I'm... I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Valerie turned slightly, just enough to glance at him from the corner of her eye. "Katsuki..."

"I didn't mean it like that," he mumbled, his voice quiet and full of frustration. "It's just—dammit, I'm bad at this."

She waited, giving him space to continue. Katsuki wasn't the type to open up easily, and when he did, it always felt raw, like he was pulling something deep from within him.

"I'm... I'm crazy about you," he admitted, his voice cracking slightly. He squeezed her waist tighter, his breath warm against her neck. "And that's why... I'm scared. Scared I'll do something that pushes you away. That we'll go too fast or... or that I'll mess this up. I don't wanna screw this up, Valerie."

His words struck her deeply, and her heart swelled with emotion. She stayed quiet, letting him continue.

"You're only the second girlfriend I've ever had. And the first one... well, she left me." Katsuki paused, as if struggling to find the right words. "I didn't think it would mess with me as much as it did, but it did. And now, with you... I just don't wanna screw things up again. You're—you're too important."

Valerie felt her chest tighten with both sadness and affection. She hadn't realized just how much weight he carried with him, how vulnerable he felt. Without thinking, she turned in his arms, facing him completely. Her hand reached up to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing gently over his skin.

"Katsuki..." she whispered softly, her eyes meeting his.

"I don't want to rush anything," he continued, his voice low. "Not because I don't want you. I do. I want you more than anything, but I don't wanna do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Or that makes me feel like I'm... outta control."

Valerie's heart melted at his confession, her fingers sliding up into his hair. "Thank you for telling me this," she said softly. "And... I get it. We don't have to rush anything. I don't want you to feel like you have to prove something to me."

Katsuki's expression softened, his tension slowly easing as he leaned into her touch. "I just... I don't wanna lose you."

"You won't," she promised, her lips curling into a gentle smile. "You won't lose me."

For a long moment, they just stared at each other, the weight of Katsuki's confession settling between them. Then, slowly, Valerie leaned forward, pressing her lips to his in a tender, lingering kiss. It wasn't rushed or heated at first—just soft and intimate, a silent reassurance.

But the kiss deepened, and Valerie felt the heat between them start to rise. Katsuki's hand slid up to the small of her back, pulling her closer as their bodies pressed together. His lips moved with more urgency, more passion, as he responded to her touch. Valerie's heart raced, her breath hitching as she melted into him, their connection stronger than words could express.

After a few moments, they finally broke apart, both of them breathing heavily. Katsuki rested his forehead against hers, his hand still holding her close.

"I'm glad we talked," Valerie whispered softly, her lips brushing against his.

"Me too," Katsuki mumbled, his voice hoarse but content. "You're... you're everything, Valerie."

She smiled, her heart full. "Goodnight, Katsuki."

"Goodnight," he whispered back.

As Valerie turned and settled back into her sleeping bag, she felt his arm drape protectively around her. The tension between them had eased, replaced by a deep sense of trust and closeness. And even though the earlier awkwardness lingered in her mind, it no longer felt so overwhelming.

Just before she drifted off to sleep, she felt Katsuki press a gentle kiss to the back of her head, and she smiled to herself, feeling safer and more loved than ever.

***

Awww cute plus ultra....

Shall there be smut or no smut? That is the question