Ah Christmas. The time of the year when manufactured toys are being made by the boatload, employees are overworked, and holiday commercials are forced down your throats.

Who doesn't love Christmas?

That was rhetorical, Bakugou hated Christmas. To him, it was a corporate trap to get you to buy useless shit you didn't need. So he ignored the celebration every year and was grateful when the stupid holiday was over.

This year, however, it was hard to keep it out of his thoughts.

"Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!" Bakugou's obnoxious friends chanted in the lunchroom on Christmas Eve.

The grumpy blonde could feel his blood pressure rising. "Would you all shut the fuck up!?"

The students of UA were currently on holiday break, however, some were allowed to stay behind in their dorms if they chose not to visit their families. The majority of the school had left but a good amount decided to remain, much to Bakugou's annoyance.

"We're celebrating, Bakugou! Why don't you join us?" Kirishima grinned.

Mina flicked a piece of fruit cake at the blonde. "Don't even try, Kiri. Grinchy here is too cold hearted to care about Christmas."

"What!? You don't like Christmas!?" Sero gasped in astonishment.

"Why don't you like Christmas!? You get presents!" Kaminari argued.

Bakugou's scowl deepened. "Is that all you idiots care about?"

They continued to further push his buttons for their own enjoyment so eventually he up and deserted them. He would have been angrier had he not been curious about where the hell you where.

The teen was entering the common room in Class 1-A's building when his vision went wide at the sight before him. The entire room was decorated up and down with holiday banners and streamers. There was even a giant tree at the center of the room adorned with glittering orbs, twinkling lights, and a large golden star at the top.

Bakugou's surprise was interrupted however, when he heard a familiar sound. "Bakugou!"

He followed the voice which stood above him on a ladder. "The fuck are you doin' (l/n)?"

"We're setting up for the party tonight! Wanna help?" You asked as a small cough rose in your throat.

"Party!? What the fuck, who said we're having a party?"

"I did," You glared. "I got permission from the teachers. I also invited people from other classes to join us."

The grump looked around the space and saw Jiro, Shoji, and a few others from 1-A putting up decorations along the walls. Bakugou sighed, irritated, "Why the fuck would you plan a fucking party?"

"Well, it's a good way to repair some bridges with the other classes," You sniffed as you hung another shiny, plastic star, "and it's the holidays. It would be nice to spend a break with friends."

"'Cause that's all Christmas is right? Parties and eating?"

Your expression furrowed just as the angry sourpuss was leaving, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Bakugou!"

"Wha—?" The blonde lazily turned his head towards you when he noticed your foot slip off the ladder. Bakugou felt his body instantly panic as he propelled himself via explosion. With outstretched arms, he was able to catch you mid-fall coming to a hard standing stop.

You had wrapped your arms around his neck just as he had caught you. Bakugou was about to ask if you were okay when his gaze fell upon your smirking face. "I knew you'd catch me."

The teen's temper flared. "YOU FUCKING DUMBASS! ARE YOU TRYING TO DIE!?"

You rolled your eyes. "I know what I'm doing. I was just teasing, Baku-butt. I trust that you'd catch me if I ever fell," You grinned, booping his nose with a finger.

He wasn't amused though. "I will drop you right now."

"You're a real party pooper today, aren't you?"

"Hey, (l/n), we're setting up snack tables right now and we need your input," Todoroki said as he approached you guys. "Is everything alright here?"

"Oh we're fine, Todo. I'll be there in sec," You affirmed, letting your feet hit the ground once again. The normally stoic male looked a little suspicious but he let it go. "Alright, I'll be waiting."

Bakugou on the other hand was steaming. Of course you'd have icy hot helping for this fucking holiday. "Couldn't you have asked other people to help you with this stupid ass party?"

"I told you a couple weeks ago and you laughed in my face!"

"I thought you were joking!"

You shot him a glare before shaking your head. "Whatever. In any case, will you come to the party later?"

"Why would I?" The blonde hissed in disgust. "So I can watch people stuff their faces and open presents they don't even want? I have better things to do with my time."

Your gaze faltered slightly upon hearing his words. "I see... Well, you're always welcome to join us, Bakugou. I think it could be a lot of fun." You offered him a weak smile and wave. "I'd better go. Merry Christmas."

The teen scoffed and made for the exit. If you wanted to waste your time on such a selfish holiday more power to you. As for him, he'd rather focus on training in the school's gym while everyone else wasn't occupying it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Solemnly, you ended up walking over to where you were needed next. You forced yourself to push Bakugou out of your mind and began taking care of the task at hand.

"Okay, so what's going on?" You inquired. You also noticed that Mina, Sero, Kaminari, and Kirishima had arrived as well.

"Snacks are ready to go! But we don't have enough tables for all of it," Hagakure giggled nervously.

You nodded. "Hmm, well why don't we leave the hot chocolate stuff in the kitchen and that'll give you guys one more table to work with. Then we'll just keep filling the snack bowls when they empty."

"Sato," You addressed him. "Why don't we keep your cakes in the fridge and take them out later in the night?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Thank you for making them by the way. You're a huge help."

Todoroki watched as you took leadership over the situation. You directed everyone in firm manner but you never lost the enthusiasm in your eyes and smile. Perhaps that's why everyone enjoyed working with you.

Yet behind all the energy, the male could see the melancholic curtain hiding your true feelings. He too was accustomed to using it when others were expecting certain emotions from him.

You sent the others to place snack tables around the room as you did the same. "Can you give me a hand with this, Todoroki?" You asked, grabbing an end.

"Sure."

After finding a spot, you two both began filling huge bowls with all sorts of chips and candy. "I don't think I got to tell you this, but thanks for helping us on such a short notice," You said. "I honestly didn't think you'd stay at UA for the holidays."

He almost wanted to laugh. "I have no reason to go back home, nor do I want to."

"Won't your dad be furious with you?" You asked with a chuckle.

"Let him be. I could care less what he thinks."

"What about you?" Todoroki changed the topic. "Why did you decide to stay?"

This made you frown slightly. "Well, I guess...I don't really know. I love my mom and I hope she's doing well, but I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy my time away. She'd probably be busy most of the time and I'd be sitting at home alone. Plus..."

"I'd miss this place," You admitted.

"I understand. This school is very...inviting."

You coughed and dusted your hands once you were done. "Alright, looks like we're finished here. There's just one more thing I wanted to do. Do you think you can help me serve everyone who helped out hot chocolate? I think it'd be a nice way to end it before the actual party starts."

Todoroki smiled softly. "Sure, let's go."

You both entered the desolate kitchen and began preparing a couple of mugs on some trays. Not long after, you had a few neat rows of freshly warmed coco. You were dropping in mini marshmallows when something outside the patio window caught your eye.

"What's that?" You questioned, nearing the glass. Outside on the bushes were what looked like paper hearts. They appeared to be stuck on and only littered about the front of the window.

Todoroki was just as perplexed. He walked up next to you. "I don't know. I haven't seen anyone out there. Did you tell someone to decorate outside?"

"No," You shook your head, "But if I had, I wouldn't have gone with hearts. That's Valentine's Day thing."

You were still pondering who would have put that out there when something fell between you and Todoroki. You glanced down at the thing that had alarmed you and saw it was a circular red dot. You both then looked up to where it had come from. Above you was a small bushel of green leaves, nestled in its branches were a few ruby red berries exactly like the one on the ground.

Oh god, is this mistletoe? You realized. Your cheeks felt warmer than before as your eyes went back up to meet Todoroki's. He looked a little more timid than before as well.

"I-I'm so sorry about this," You said in hushed tone. You had no idea why your volume had changed nor why you were apologizing because this clearly wasn't your doing. "I-I don't know what to say—"

Just as your mind was reeling for some kind of way to make up the situation, Todoroki moved closer. His hand slid down your arm and grasped your fingers with his. The distance between you disappeared as he pressed his cheek to yours. You could feel his cold, wintery breath along your skin as his mouth turned to yours.

Your heart felt like a drum the way it beat against your chest. His lips briefly brushed yours when your strength finally returned to you.

"Todo," You whispered, pushing your forehead against his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

His body lost its tension as he let out a soft hum and embraced you in his arms. "It's alright. You didn't have to." You nodded but for some reason guilt still coursed through you.

"Is it him?"

"Hm?"

You glanced up at him puzzled by his words, but the teen shrugged it off with a shake of his head. "Nevermind."

"You should get going. You look a little tired," Todoroki said as he reluctantly pulled away. "I'll get the hot chocolate out to everybody."

"Are you sure?" You asked shyly.

"I'm sure. Go on ahead."

"Okay...I'll see you later then. Thank you, Todoroki." Your expression was still flustered from the encounter, but you gave him one last small smile before leaving for the dorms.

Todoroki let out a sigh once you were gone. Maybe it wasn't today...but he wouldn't let Bakugou win this time around.