The celebration had been beautiful. White petals, soft string lights, laughter that felt like a knife twisting in your chest. You'd smiled through every toast, clapped when they kissed, and said all the right things. You'd even managed to catch Mina's worried glance at the reception, but you'd waved her off.

He'd disappeared an hour ago. No goodbye. No glance your way. Not that you'd expected one.

You reached your door and stopped.

A figure was slumped against the wall beside it, legs splayed out, head hanging low. Spiky blonde hair caught the dim porch light, messy and wilder than usual. His formal jacket was gone, white dress shirt untucked and wrinkled, sleeves rolled carelessly to his elbows. He was breathing slow and heavy, and a faint, bitter scent curled through the air toward you.

Whiskey.

He stirred at the sound of your footsteps, lifting his head slowly, red eyes finding yours through the dark. Katsuki Bakugo looked like hell. His tie was missing, collar undone. There was a smudge of something on his cheek, maybe cake, maybe ash.