Lani POV:

"The game is called Tispy Twister....uh...With A...Twist!" I announced proudly, looking around at our small group of participants.

Me, Shouto, Bakugo, Midoriya, and Mai had moved our own little party to Kai's pool deck, specifically, the soft grassy area in the corner. The gentle surface is gonna be important for our friendly (*cough* cutthroat) competition.

"I've heard of Twister, but not with a twist." Mai pondered, pouting her pretty lips in a posed look of confusion.

Ugh, Mai.

"Yeah, I assume not—considering I just made the name up." I scoffed, quirking a brow of annoyance at the simple sound of her breathing.

She breathes in 'pick-me.'

"Of course. That was obvious from how corny the title was." She beamed 'sweetly,' looking at her manicured nails with more interest. "I'd recognize your writing style anywhere."

See—see? You saw that, right? I told you she's horrible.

Shouto assessed the colorful Twister mat of dots, stroking his chin, "What are the rules?" He asked.

"Well, just like regular twister, you spin this board, and whatever color and body part it lands on? That's the body part you put on the mat, and the color dot you aim for." I explained, causing Midoriya to jump in.

"What's the tispy twist?"

"All edges of the mat are lined with shots." I said proudly, gesturing to the carefully placed shots outlining the twister mat. "After each spin of the board, you move your hand or foot to the designated color spot—and you must reach for a shot and drink it once you're settled. If you reach a point where you're unable to grab a shot and drink it in your current position—or you fall—you lose."

Bakugo let out an overconfident grunt at the rules, nudging me out of the way as he approached the mat.

"Easy. I'm going first." He stated, trudging over to the mat like he had a stick up his ass.

"You mean, you want your team to go first? Sure." I crossed my arms smugly, shuffling my way next to Shouto to lock my partner down. "Bakugo, you and Mai, on the mat. Me and Shouto will go afterwards. Midoriya is the spinner referee."

"Huh?!" Bakugo yelled while Mai uttered a chipper 'yay!'

He sneered like an angry dog as Mai stood on the opposite corner of the mat, pointing at her like she was a plague. "No way! I don't work in teams—and I already have to see enough of this Barbie bitch all day, with her always trying to take my shirt off!"

I shrugged and waved him off, feeling refreshed at getting to predict this hot head and play him like a fiddle. Trying to figure Shouto out all the time is intriguing for my brain, but also exhausting. This is just some indulgent, mindless fun.

"Fine. If you don't work in teams, then you're automatically forfeiting the game, therefore, losing. That makes you a loser." I emphasized, looking at him smugly as I knew I had him by the microscopic balls now.

As expected, he grit his teeth and bulged his red eyes, only taking a second to weigh what was more important to him in this situation.

"Fine. What's the punishment when you lose?" He uttered lowly, balling his fists as he stood on the opposite side of Mai.

"Hopefully nothing that involves violence..." Midoriya sighed under his breath, fidgeting with the spinner board uneasily.

I already had a particularly fun punishment in mind. But, I'd be a fool to tell Bakugo what it is. Part of the fun is trying to make him nervous.

"Ohhhh, nothing of your concern right now—because, as you said, you two won't lose, right?" I grinned deviously, tilting my head to the side as I looked at him.

His red eyes burned into me with hatred before he let out a small 'Hmph' and turned his attention back towards the twister mat, trusting himself way too much. "Right."

An evil little chuckle slipped past my throat as I bumped my shoulder into Shouto's, lazily raising my hand in the air.

"Okay, begin." I announced unceremoniously, watching Midoriya take the first spin on the board.

"Uhh, right foot on green." He said, turning the spinner board around to show the results.

Bakugo slammed his right foot down on the green dot hard enough to crease the mat, letting a puff of smoke exhale through his nostrils like a bull as he glared at Shouto and I. In contrast, Mai danced over to the green dot with her frilly feet, giggling to herself as she successfully found the correct color.

Keeping their feet on their assigned green circles, Mai and Bakugo leaned down and took a shot.

"Easy." Bakugo seethed, tossing his empty shot glass aside on the grass.

"Is it supposed to be hard?" Shouto asked genuinely before the whites of Bakugo's eyes streaked red. "All you did was put your foot down on the dot. That shouldn't be hard for most people, unless you're colorblind. Which you aren't."

I snorted at his clueless chastising, watching Bakugo's teeth curl over his top lip like an animal.

He's even less charming than Shouto. I can't let him beat us out for hero of the season. That would just be embarrassing...

"Oi, Oi, Oi. Are you saying you could do better than me, you icy hot bastard?" He grit out.

I smiled through half lidded eyes, resting the side of my head on Shouto's shoulder, "That's exactly what he's saying. Right, Shouto?" I asked, trying to liven up my competition partner as best I could.

He let me lean on him so effortlessly, melting his body into mine as we watched the disaster play out.

"Right." He followed my lead bluntly, causing me to chuckle as Bakugo's ears blew steam like a train engine.

"L-Left foot on red." Midoriya quickly continued to prevent a fight, watching Mai and Bakugo easily take a step forward with their left foot and place it on the red dot.

Once again, they took their shots easily, with the blaze of 'winner' already flashing in Bakugo's red eyes.

We'll just see how long it lasts.

I hummed softly and enjoyed the closeness of Shouto, stumbling slightly as the tipsy essence of alcohol buzzed in my veins. He looked my way when I shifted, his soft hair tickling my forehead.

"Are you okay?" His lips brushed against my skin with the words, his voice sounding quieter and softer than usual.

He placed a hand around my waist to steady me now, and the butterflies returned in my stomach. I didn't need the aid, I was nowhere near the point of drunk.

But, his touch felt too nice, with my body only melting deeper into it as I looked up at him with a half lidded smile, "Mhm. Just a little buzzed. You don't have to worry, I'm perfectly fine to stand on my own."

I said the words out of courtesy. I didn't want Shouto to feel uncomfortable touching me if he didn't want to. While I usually always touch him, it's rare that he returns the gesture when he doesn't need to.

But, I was surprised when he didn't take his hand off me, mouth opening and closing hesitantly as he tried to find his words.

"Well...um...you're...you're shifting around a lot. I just...I don't want you to fall. You've been drinking, so if you hit your head...that's...dangerous." He explained, dual colored eyes studying my features so intently.

His gaze trailed to my lips and I parted them softly, feeling the urge to close the distance between us so inviting.

"Are you saying you wanna keep holding me?" I raised my brows slightly, unable to stop my own gaze from traveling to his mouth.

His lips were smooth and soft, with a light sheen of lip balm on them. His tongue barely peeked out and brushed over the seam of his bottom lip, making my chest bubble with feelings I didn't want to think about—physical feelings, of course. That's all.

God, he's so attractive. I tell him that all the time. I admit it to myself all the time, too...

But, after realizing tonight that Shouto's actually my type, it feels different to admit his good looks now. It feels more....personal. Too personal.

That's dangerous territory. I need to stop. I need to...

...I needed to hold in a sound as I felt Shouto's hand brush against my waist now, the tips of his fingers tickling my ribcage as his arm curled around me securely.

"Just so you don't fall..." He repeated, the usual neutrality in his voice cracking a bit as he kept me steady.

Indulging too much, I snaked my hand to his chest, feeling the flutter of his heart picking up speed as my touch caressed him.

"How heroic of you." I mused, tearing my eyes away from him before the moment became too much.

Turning back to the white noise of Bakugo yelling, I saw him and Mai had made progress on several more twister spins. Swallowing nervously, Midoriya spun the board again, displaying the results for everyone to see, "Right hand on yellow."

Bakugo and Mai leaned down at the same time, bonking foreheads abruptly.

"Agh! Move, you Barbie Bitch!" The explosion guy yelled at her, forcing his feet to stay bolted on his assigned dots. "That's the spot I was going for!"

Mai let out a whiny Y/N cry as she rubbed the invisible mark on her forehead, slumping her shoulders repeatedly.

"You can't just claim it!" She protested, stomping her feet like a baby. "There's six other circles to choose from!"

"Already falling apart. As expected." I sang lightly, looking up at Shouto from atop his shoulder.

"Shut your mouth!" Bakugo pointed at me, begrudgingly letting Mai have the spot he was going for as he placed his right hand on another yellow dot.

"L-Left hand on yellow." Midoriya announced even more hesitantly, jumping when the explosion guy yelled at him in frustration.

"Huh?! How the hell do you expect me to drink with no hands free?!"

"Give up or figure it out." I chimed in gloatingly.

With sweat dripping down his face and taking a party drinking game like it was a life or death battle, Bakugo growled and aggressively craned his neck to the side, grabbing the rim of the shot glass with his teeth before flipping it upside down into his mouth.

He coughed slightly from the position he had to drink in, spitting out the empty shot glass onto the grass and blazing his gaze at me like a bull.

"Too easy." His voice came out slightly hoarse, body contorted in a funny position on the twister mat.

Mai took a slightly easier approach, bending her neck down towards the grass and taking the whole rim of the shot glass past her lips, lifting her head as best she could before successfully swallowing the liquid.

She grimaced and let the empty glass fall from her mouth, already starting to fade quickly in the game.

"Ohhh, I'm feeling faint." She feigned over dramatically, eyeing my partner a few feet away. "Shouto, please. I need you to help me."

I felt Shouto's body tense up at the attention from Mai, patting his chest and keeping him bolted in place.

"Mm, she's fine. She's just trying to get your attention. She seems to, uh...she seems to have taken an interest in you, apparently." I murmured, unable to hide the dryness in my words.

Shouto's brows furrowed before he looked at me in question.

"Oh. Does that...upset you?" He asked, trying to focus on my tone of voice and decipher my mood.

I spoke clearly, ensuring he would understand, "Honestly, a little. Is it bad that I want you for myself, Shouto?" A small smile curled on my face, one that was only half teasing.

His stoic eyes softened a bit, "I don't think so."

My smile became a little tired as I turned my attention back to the game, still feeling Shouto's eyes on me in my peripheral vision. I can feel how hard he's working, trying to read my emotions, and I know his next words were out of his comfort zone...

"Um...it doesn't need to upset you, just so you know." He surprised me, gaining my attention back on him once more.

His brows furrowed as he looked to the ground, trying to sort through the countless thoughts in his head and find the right words to say. Talks like this are clearly ones he doesn't have very often.

"I don't...well..." He trailed off, trying to find his words. "I don't have any interest in her. My attention...it's only focused on you."

As time continued to progress between Shouto and I, the moments felt more intimate, the conversations more personal. It's reaching a point where one could mistake our words for personal setting instead of the professional setting they're meant to stay in.

Sometimes, I wonder...if the two of us are also mistaking the setting as well.

'I don't have any interest in her. My attention is only focused on you.' It sounds more like what someone would say to their significant other when this person gets jealous. It's not the first time Shouto's done this either. Does he even realize it? Probably not. It's my job to tell him. To remind him...

And, yet...

"I'm glad." I murmured, playing with the button of his shirt.

There were people all around us, but once again, it felt like Shouto and I were in our own personal bubble, only pulled out of the moment as Bakugo continued to shriek like a chimpanzee.

"Kacchan, please. Just—right foot...on blue." Midoriya sighed in exasperation, watching Mai and Bakugo scatter across the mat in conflict.

"Move!" Bakugo yelled again as Mai went for his spot, causing the pink haired girl to drop her jaw in annoyance.

"No you!-"

"Ahhhh!!" Mai yelled as her hand lost its balance, falling down and unintentionally swiping Bakugo's ankle off balance with her.

Bakugo's eyes widened in a mixture of fury and shock as his feet were knocked out from under him, falling ass first onto the back of Mai's head and squashing her face into the twister mat.

"Ah-hah!" I cheered, lacking sportsmanship as I walked out of Shouto's arms and pointed at the two losers on the mat.

What? Look, they can take it.

"You dumb ass! Why'd you put your hand there?!" Bakugo yelled as Mai tried to crawl her way out from under his ass.

"You ruined my curls!" She cried, touching her deflating pink curls with a whiny pout.

I chuckled and lightly flicked the top of her disheveled hair with my shoe, causing her to whimper snootily and shove me away.

"Don't you worry. It's an improvement from what they were before." I commented snidely, watching Mai's jaw drop as she glared at me.

She huffed and walked herself off the mat, picking grass out of her hair, "No one ever said being the beautiful main character was easy. Especially when the enemies are jealous of my petite frame and beauty," She grumbled.

I rolled my eyes and knocked shoulders with her as I walked to the mat now, positioning myself on one side of it, with Shouto taking the spot opposite of me.

He looked at me with uncertainty for the rules of the game, and just for the fun of it, I began stretching my arms back and forth across my chest, giving him a light wink of reassurance.

"Alrighty, Shouto. You and I just have to get more than shots in than those two idiots, and we're golden. Think we can do it?" I asked lightly, resting my hands on my knees.

He stroked his chin in thought and assessed the twister mat and shots, coming to his conclusion a few moments later.

"I do."

"Huh!?" Bakugo nagged from the sidelines, doing an angry little jig on the grass. "Bastard! Are you saying you think you can beat me!??"

"Yes." Shouto followed up plainly, causing me to blow a raspberry from my lips at his usual blunt honesty.

Good to know his friendship with Bakugo isn't just one sided verbal abuse. It's clear that Shouto isn't afraid of him—and doesn't take him seriously for that matter.

"That's my boy." I sighed in content, giving him one more smile before Midoriya started our game.

"Left foot on blue." He announced, causing Shouto and I to take an easy step forward.

Still trying to understand the rules of the game, he watched as I bent down and grabbed a shot, tipping it back before tossing the empty glass on the grass.

He mimicked my actions, only instead of tossing his empty glass, he neatly set it back down at the side.

"We don't...have to throw the glass when we're done with it, right?" He asked genuinely, causing me to chuckle.

"Nope. Do whatever your heart desires."

"Right hand on green." Midoriya followed up, causing Bakugo to growl as Shouto and I pressed forward.

"Good thing I wore my parachute pants, huh?" I mused, bending down and giving Bakugo and Mai a clear view of my ass.

Mai looked my frame up and down before shrugging in satisfaction, meanwhile Bakugo seethed and scoffed.

"Disgusting." He spat, scrunching his nose and turning away as the game continued.

"Left hand on red." Midoriya spun the board again.

This time, Shouto and I went for the same spot, causing me to quickly pull my hand back and settle for a different red dot instead.

"Oh—sorry." He uttered as I found another spot, hesitantly settling back into his original space.

Now, we were bent awkwardly and face to face, both of our vodka smelling breaths mixing as we craned our necks for the shots at the corner.

"Heh, it's okay. Great minds think alike, right? I'm just hanging out." I chuckled, close enough to accidentally graze the tips of our noses together.

He inhaled sharply and stumbled from the touch, rearranging his position slightly to catch himself. The ends of his hair fell forward onto my cheekbones before his face squashed into my neck.

Now it was me who was caught off guard, throat stuttering as I felt his hot breath rolling onto my skin. The butterflies returned to my stomach. He smelled even better than he did before, perhaps it was the liquor in my system causing me to think so.

But, somehow, I don't think that's the case.

"Um...sorry." He mumbled again, causing me to hold in a sound as his lips grazed along my pulse point accidentally.

So soft. So hot....

The alcohol and the moment made me feel flushed and a little off balance, leaning into him more for support and feeling his mouth pressed flush against my collarbone now. I could barely feel his teeth peeking out from his top lip as his mouth became smushed, feeling the tip of his incisor tickle along my skin.

"It's...it's okay. Whatever it takes to win, right?" I chuckled a bit hoarse and tipsy, holding in another sound as Shouto cluelessly spoke again.

"Whatever it takes?" He asked muffled against my skin, making me silently wish he'd stop talking right now.

It's distracting. His mouth...he's distracting.

"Right foot on yellow." Midoriya called out again, causing me to let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as Shouto and I were finally allowed to separate.

He had to navigate awkwardly at that one, carefully turning on his foot until his chest faced the dark sky.

*A/N: not my extra ass inserting a picture of Shouto's position lmao. ITS FOR THE PLOT THO*

His muscles strained and his hair spilled back into his eyes, holding the bridge position with ease.

Right foot on blue." Midoriya called out again, causing me to look up for an open blue spot.

The only open spot I'd be able to navigate my foot on while still reaching the shots was the area over Shouto's body, causing me to groan as I swung my right thigh over his hip to straddle him.

The liquor in my veins made me giggle slightly as we were face to face again—only this time, in a much more compromising position.

"We keep meeting like this, huh?" I smirked, watching him blink a few times in question.

"We've...already met many times." He said completely serious, causing me to almost lose my balance as I tried to lift one of my hands for the shot glass.

Shit...

"Ahhh. I...I don't think I can reach it from this position, Shouto." I smiled apologetically, about to throw in the towel before his eyes glazed over in thought.

"Whatever it takes. Right?" He repeated to himself, before the sound of his ice crackling underneath us filled the space.

I lifted a brow of surprise as nimble vines of ice came out from Shouto's hands and traveled towards our two shot glasses at the end of the mat, curling around them before carefully bring the liquor our way.

"Hey, that's cheating!!" Bakugo snapped, starting to stomp up and down like a feral animal.

"Says who? We never specified you couldn't use quirks." I called back. "Shouto's just being creative. Something you were too stupid to do yourself."

Shouto's face barely softened at my words, only looking away for a moment before glancing back at me with an order.

"Open your mouth."

Raising my brows a bit suggestively at his comment, I remained straddling his hips and slowly parted my lips, sucking in a harsh breath of surprise as his ice grazed the corner of my mouth.

"Sorry." He said for the countless time tonight, "It's a little hard to focus in this position.

Unable to speak with my mouth open, I simply nodded, feeling my mind from wandering the nature of his comment.

In his mind, I'd love to know why this position is distracting for him. Is it because I'm on top of him with my body pressed to his own? Or is it just because it strains his muscles?

Knowing Shouto, it's probably the latter.

A few seconds later, I felt the vodka splash onto my tongue, trying to catch all of it before half spilled over the rim of my lips.

"Oh shit." I garbled out, causing Bakugo to gloat triumphantly-

"It didn't spill." Shouto quickly ruined his victory laugh, licking his lips a few seconds later. "I drank it."

"You did??" I gawked.

"He did. I saw it." Midoriya laughed, tossing the spinner board back on the mat. "Well, that's game! Shouto and Lani are the winners."

Upon hearing our solidified victory, I only now realized the aching burn of my muscles after holding this position for so long, grimacing and groaning as my body gave out.

Being directly underneath me, Shouto was in the line of fire as I collapsed, instantly tumbling to the ground with me landing on top of his chest. The remaining shot glasses around the mat clattered and spilled from our fall, causing me to laugh and bury my head into his chest.

His head relaxed back onto the mat, instinctively sliding his hands along my back as he looked to the starry sky. Feeling my body racking atop his own, his attention was on me quickly, confused and a bt concerned.

"Are you okay?" He asked, trailing a hand to the top of my head as I continued to laugh.

I lifted my face, not thinking about the nature of my smile for the first time in years as I looked at him brightly.

"Yeah. I'm laughing because I'm having fun. Heh, I'm having fun with you." I clarified clearly, ensuring he wouldn't be confused on anything about my words.

I wanted him to know it was because of him. I don't know why that part mattered to me so much. But, after seeing Shouto's normally stoic eyes light up a bit, something within my soul was fed.

"Really?" He asked, causing me to chuckle warmly and melt down closer to him.

"Mhm. I'm having fun with you." I repeated in a softer tone, our foreheads pressed together.

His hands ran along my back, settling on my waist with the curtains of my hair on both sides masking our faces from the rest of the world.

His dual colored eyes wandered along my features, looking so perfectly handsome as he barely quirked the faintest, purest smile.

"I'm...I'm having fun, too. With you." His voice was soft, suddenly gaining that shyness I wasn't used to.

It's rare for Shouto to express his emotions. Not because he doesn't feel them, but because he has a hard time bringing them to his surface. It's always a special moment when he does, for both of us.

Once again, I was thankful for the other people around. If it was just Shouto and I stuck in a moment like this, I don't want to think about what I might have done. After having the realization at my apartment a little while ago that he's my type, I realize I'm too weak. Too selfish, and much too wanting of his attention...

It doesn't matter. It's just attraction. Attraction means nothing.

Feeling the watching eyes around us, I sucked in a breath and pulled away from Shouto at lightning speed, clearing my throat and quickly climbing off him. I missed his warmth immediately, not dwelling on it as I rose to my feet as laxly as possible.

"Anyways," I patted the grass of my clothes, trying to gain back my usual careless nature as I looked at Bakugo and Mai. "It appears we have a couple of losers here. I guess you two should have considered the punishment after all, hm?"

Shouto remained flat on the ground even after I got up, looking dazed and confused at the lack of my presence now. I smiled humorously at his innocence, holding out a hand for him to grab onto and helping him off the grass as Bakugo sneered.

"I'm not doing shit. Especially not because a cheater told me to." He scoffed, crossing his arms and preparing to walk away.

"Hey, now. We all agreed it was fair play. Even Midoriya." I said, watching his red eyes widen at the credible, traitorous source of his best friend. "You don't have to do the punishment though. Just say you're too scared, and we can move on. Okay?"

As expected, Bakugo's red eyes flashed with anger at the words, causing me to chuckle snidely.

I know how to play him like a fiddle.

"Bring on the punishment." He seethed out, eyes twitching in fury for how his night was turning out.

******

A/N: Bad Habits will be on a break next week and will resume November 4th. You can either read ahead on Patreon or I will see you then!