The Ship of Dreams

Chapter 5: "Making It Count"

(A/N: Hope y'all enjoy this chapter! It's a long one so settle in and grab your popcorn! I recommend listening to "I'll Be Seeing You" by Billie Holiday)

Day 3

The two stood at the top of the stairway entrance to the dining hall, behind a large grandfather clock.

"Well damn- Isn't that fancy?" Katsuki said with awe of the (presumably) handcrafted timepiece. Izuku giggled at Katsuki's fascination with the thing. He had become so desensitized to the wonders around him.

If this were a romantic film, Izuku would like to imagine they would be holding hands, perhaps having their arms linked as they made their way through the room. He turned his head to face Katsuki, a dazed smile on his face.

"Are you ready?"

"I had a great coach." Katsuki sighed, "I'll be fine."

Izuku playfully scoffed at that as they made their way down the stairs. He saw his mother's hair from atop and noticed Uraraka was next to her. He turned to face Katsuki once again, lifting his chin, (his posture straightening in the process), and loosely placing an arm in front of his form in an elegant manner. This was a signal for Katsuki to copy him, and the blond easily caught on and repeated Izuku's actions.

"Ur-" He weakly spoke before pausing. "O-Ochako- Mother!"

They turned and met his gaze, completely ignoring the dapper blond next to him.

"I'm sure you remember Mr. Bakugou, Ochako." He paused. "Oh, and-" He turned to face his mother. "I'm sure she has spoken of him."

Katsuki silently noticed how Izuku's language changed to be more proper. And considering that the guy already acted so formal, that was alarming all on its own. Not to mention how he gained an inch or two in standing height from straightening his posture. (Katsuki silently basked in the fact that he was still taller than the other.)

Uraraka looked baffled. "Mr. Bakugou? Really?" She laughed, "Well look at you- You could almost pass for a proper gentleman!" There was no ill-intent in her tone, but her phrasing had undertones of derogatory.

The blond scoffed. "Almost."

"Oh dearest, don't be crass. He polishes up quite nicely in my opinion." Izuku chuckled. "Or y'know, that may just be my keen eye." He patted Katsuki on the shoulder with a dubious smile.

That earned a small gasp and a slightly agape mouth from Izuku's mother.

Katsuki had grown up rough enough to know when he was being judged, and boy, could he feel the heavy stare of the green-haired woman's gaze.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." He faintly bowed his head, now turning to Uraraka. "And it's-" He couldn't honestly say it was a pleasure to see her again. Not just from how she treated him like some peasant the other night, but also because of his new-blooming jealousy towards the woman (that he wasn't ready to admit yet). 

"Yeah." Was what he ended up going with. Which immediately felt wrong coming off of his tongue. "I suppose I'll see you at the table. Thank you again for this invitation; it's an honour." He played it off coolly, using proper language he had picked up. God, he hated the way talking like that sounded. Not like himself. Anger didn't suit Izuku or his face. And politeness certainly didn't fit Katsuki's tone of voice.

"Yes, I suppose we will see you there." Uraraka rebutted. She reached her arm over to Izuku, placing it in front of him. Almost to indicate that he should already be grabbing it, and escorting her to the table.