pumkins and promises - kacchaco

pumpkins and promises

As the sky darkened over their cozy neighborhood, Ochaco and Katsuki's small house glowed like a beacon on the block. Strings of dim orange lights cast shadows over carved pumpkins on their porch, and cobwebs stretched across the windows glistened under the moonlight. Ochaco had insisted on every single decoration, from the old wooden broomstick leaning by the door to the eerily realistic spiders that seemed to crawl down from the roof. Katsuki had grumbled through the whole decorating ordeal, but he couldn't deny there was something comforting in seeing their home transformed into a Halloween haven.

Ochaco emerged from the hallway, wearing a wide-brimmed witch hat that made her look mischievous and magical. Her eyes sparkled as she saw Katsuki adjusting his werewolf claws. He wore the costume begrudgingly, with fake fur sticking out from the edges of his sleeves and a rugged, slightly-too-small vest she'd forced him into. The faint dusting of paint that streaked across his face completed the look, giving him a gruff, almost primal appearance.

"See? You look great, Katsuki!" she said, clapping her hands together with delight. She took a few steps back, her eyes sweeping over him, unable to hide the amused smile tugging at her lips.

Katsuki raised an eyebrow, arms crossed as he looked her up and down. "You just like torturing me, don't ya?"

"Only a little." She grinned, adjusting her witch hat before sidling up beside him and giving him a light jab in the ribs. "Besides, it's our first Halloween together. We had to go all out!"

The doorbell rang, interrupting their exchange, and Katsuki instinctively stepped forward, ready to play his part. He yanked the door open, and a group of tiny trick-or-treaters gasped in awe, their excitement mixing with a hint of fear as Katsuki loomed over them, baring his mock claws and letting out a deep, exaggerated growl.

"Raaawrr! Who dares enter my haunted lair?" he growled, his voice rough and intimidating.

The kids shrieked with laughter, their eyes wide as they looked up at him, clearly thrilled. They were all dressed as miniature heroes and monsters, from a pint-sized vampire with a crooked cape to a little ghost with painted eyes peeking through a sheet.

"Trick-or-treat!" they yelled in unison, holding out their candy bags eagerly.

Ochaco's eyes softened as she watched Katsuki, noticing the slight crinkle at the corners of his eyes as he tossed candy into their bags. For all his gruffness, he clearly got a kick out of seeing the kids' excitement, even if he'd never admit it. She leaned against the doorframe, chuckling as he dramatically handed out candy, trying to act unamused.

"Don't take too much, or the werewolf will get you!" he warned, his tone serious.

The kids giggled, clutching their candy, and scurried away, whispering to each other about how scary Dynamight was in real life. As soon as the door shut, Ochaco nudged him, her eyes shining with playful mischief.

"You're loving this, admit it," she teased, folding her arms with a smirk.

Katsuki rolled his eyes, his arms crossing over his chest. "Tch. They're just a bunch of brats. I'm doin' it for you," he replied gruffly, though a smirk tugged at his lips.

Ochaco chuckled, leaning into his shoulder as they waited for the next wave of trick-or-treaters. "Mm-hmm, sure. You're having way more fun than you let on."

Katsuki was about to protest when the doorbell rang again, and this time, he opened it to find a little boy dressed head-to-toe as... him. The kid wore a homemade Dynamight costume, complete with red gloves and a mask, looking up at Katsuki with wide, awestruck eyes. Katsuki stared down, momentarily stunned, before he let out a small chuckle, one that Ochaco had rarely heard.