Chapter Text
“Is that Katsuki? Wait, who's he with?”
“That's the nerd who hangs out with Shoto, right? What's he even doing here?”
“You don’t think he snuck in? Oh, maybe Katsuki’s kicking him out!”
“Not with the way he’s holding the nerd’s hand…”
No matter where they went in the house, Izuku could hear the whispered comments. Though most of the people came outside to watch the tournament, some had stayed in the decorated home. They hadn’t seen Katsuki picking him as a teammate, lifting him up in victory, or asking him to leave together. So the curiosity and judgement over the strange combination made sense.. On most days, Izuku would have agreed with them.
Tonight he focused on Kacchan's warm hand holding his. He picked up on the rougher calluses on the top of Katsuki’s index finger, knowing it was from throwing the football so much. The rest was softer than he expected, Izuku wondering if Katsuki took extra care to avoid rough skin. His heart fluttered at the warmth between their palms, yet something about it felt… right. He’d held his friends' hands before. Couldn’t remember how often he did the same thing with his family. But this simple hold leading him through the house felt different. A buzz of electricity danced through his fingers, making him tighten them against Katsuki’s.
The quarterback hadn't told him where they were going. It was almost embarrassing how quickly Izuku agreed, despite not having all the facts. But Izuku didn’t feel like he needed to ask. The normal fear or anxiety he had as they weaved through people and up the stairs was missing. It felt like this was something just for them, his smile wobbling with a rush of excitement. Maybe it was the hero costume that made him feel a bit of confidence as the party noise faded.
“Ponytail's house is huge. Makes my head hurt,” Katsuki muttered as they slipped into a room marked 'Do Not Enter'. “But there's one part that's pretty cool.”
Izuku expected a fancy electronic or some special room. Momo’s house was filled with priceless art, state-of-the-art appliances, and things Izuku hadn’t known could be in a house. He wasn’t sure what would be cooler than all of that. But from how Katsuki’s lips curled into a grin that stole Izuku’s heart (for the tenth time that night), it had to be something incredible.
So when Katsuki yanked a ladder down from the ceiling, he blinked.
“Come on.” Katsuki moved behind him, and Izuku tried not to jump when hands dropped onto his waist.
“Ka-Kacchan—” He heard the hint of a squeak in his tone, though he knew nothing else would come out when a warm breath brushed his neck.
“The best part is on the roof.” After a gentle squeeze, Katsuki guided him to climb up the ladder. Izuku took his time, slowly opening the latched door at the top. It creaked out a protest as he pressed up, though it only took a bit of small pressure to pop the seal. When he pushed it hard enough for the window to swing open, a bite of the fall air nipped at his bare skin.
The sight that greeted Izuku left him speechless. “Woah...”
Seeing the town from the top of the house was amazing. The lights of the homes looked like fireflies from so far up, the night sky playing tricks on his eyes. Kids were wrapping up their trick-or-treating, families going home to settle their tired children into bed. But from where he was, everyone looked so small. A little nudge under his thigh made Izuku crawl through the window, knees dropping onto the roof slates to let Kacchan come up.
The latch shut behind them, Katsuki snorting at Izuku's panic. “Relax. It opens both ways.”
“Ah, right.” Izuku hiked his legs to his chest when he sat on the cold roof, shivering. The costume wasn't built for the later fall weather, thinking he would be playing games with his friends in an insulated home. So caught up in Katsuki’s offer and the rush of the game, the chill hadn’t bothered him until now. Silently, he cursed himself for not thinking to bring a jacket.
“You good?” Katsuki asked, and Izuku nodded while offering a weak smile. He hoped his teeth wouldn’t chatter, but a gust of wind made him flinch and cross his arms. “Shit, you’re half—hold on.”
“No, I'm okay!” But Katsuki didn’t listen, already on the move.
As if to prove the earlier point, Katsuki opened the window latch and disappeared. For a heartbeat, Izuku let his thoughts run wild. He wondered if the entire night was a joke, and Katsuki would leave him alone on the roof. What if this was Mio's real plan? Did she pay Katsuki to play along with his nerdy crush? He normally never let himself go along with the moment, scared of the fall if it didn’t work. But Katsuki had been so sweet, made Izuku feel special. For him to be left on the roof, shivering and heartbroken while Katsuki and the others laughed at his blind optimism…
It was terrifying.
“Stop that.” He shook his head, refusing to let anxiety take over. “Kacchan has been nothing but kind. Yes, he's a jock. And yes, I’m still a nerd under this costume. But he's never been cruel to me. Kacchan asked me to come despite knowing it could ruin his reputation. He shut Mio down all night. So I’m… I’m gonna trust him.”
Because Katsuki picked Izuku every chance he could. Whether it was science, cornhole, or as his plus one, Katsuki didn’t look at Izuku like a nerd. Or, he did, but not the way others had. Katsuki seemed to like Izuku’s quirks. He teased Izuku to make him blush from shy embarrassment, not shame.
So, if Katsuki asked him to wait, Izuku was going to trust him.
As soon as he settled on the thought, the window popped open again. His head snapped over, breath catching when Katsuki pushed through the latch.
Kacchan, he thought, letting out a relieved breath. He didn't let me down.
Instead, he exceeded Izuku's expectations, holding out a balled-up item. “Here, wear this.”
“Wear what—”
But then Izuku stopped, eyes growing wide in realization. Katsuki had offered Izuku his jacket. Except it wasn’t the one from his costume. The fabric in Katsuki’s hand was much more familiar, as Izuku saw the football player wear it weekly. He’d seen everyone drool over it, not because of its bright orange color. Pride covered Katsuki’s face each time he wore it,showing off all of his hard work on the field. There was an implication that the entire school knew: anyone that Katsuki let borrow it was special. And as far as Izuku knew, nobody had gained that honor.
It was his captain's varsity jacket. One Izuku knew Katsuki valued as a treasured possession. “No, I-I can't—”
“Why not?” Katsuki’s frown didn't hide his irritation. If anything, he looked a little... hurt?
Izuku rushed to fix it. “Kacchan, I'd love to wear it. But I know how much it means to you, and what if I get it dirty? Or sweaty! And I'm such a klutz—”
“You know, you're pretty cute when you ramble.”
Katsuki’s casual comment made Izuku's mind blue-screen, kicking back on when the heaviness of the jacket dropped onto his shoulder. It seemed Katsuki was tired of watching Izuku deny the jacket while he shivered in the fall night. Spellbound, Izuku looked up at Katsuki, who had to practically lean over him to get it around the other shoulder. The strong chest brushed his arm, Izuku’s mind racing with images that flushed his cheeks. Katsuki was extremely warm. It would be so easy to fall asleep cuddled up on the firm surface. Izuku knew most of the school felt the same way, yet none of them were on the roof with them.
“There, Freckles.” Once it was secured, Katsuki sat down next to him, laying back on the shingles. He tossed his hands behind his head, relaxed while staring up at the sky. “Now you ain’t gonna turn into a nerdsicle up here.”
Izuku swallowed, sliding his arms into the sleeves before slowly following Katsuki's lead. His bunny tail squished into his back, his headband nearly falling off when he looked up.
But the stars hanging above them were worth it. “This is... wow. Do you and your friends come up here?”
“Sometimes.” Katsuki shrugged, the costume’s jacket scratching against the shingles. “Or I’ll sneak away alone when I want to strangle Dunce Face and Bowl Cut.”
“Oh my God.” Despite the mean titles, Izuku laughed, hand covering his mouth to quiet the loud noise. “Kacchan, they can’t like those nicknames.”
“I call ‘em as I see ‘em. Plus, they answer.”
“Because you’d probably scream it louder if they didn’t.” When Katsuki scoffed, but didn’t answer, Izuku knew he was right. “You really have a nickname for everyone, huh?”
“Easier than learning their names. Most of our classmates I just call ‘extra’.”
“Really?” After Katsuki nodded, Izuku tugged on the cuffs of the oversized jacket, wrapping them around his gloved hands. “What earns someone a specific name?”
“When they piss me off,” Katsuki answered, Izuku’s heart dropping before the quarterback huffed a white ball of smoke into the sky. “Or if I know I’m gonna keep them around.”
“Oh.” Swallowing at the information, Izuku quietly asked. “How would someone know the difference?”
“I think I make it pretty obvious.” A knowing look flickered his way, and the fuzzy feeling that kept popping up throughout the night returned with a vengeance.
“Maybe.” Izuku pulled the collar to his face, hiding his obvious smile as he changed the subject. “Thank you for helping me out earlier. I... sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with all the attention and stuff.”
“That why you don't join any clubs?” Once composing himself, Izuku turned his head, taking in Katsuki's profile.
Even now, without the flattering lights or filters people used, Katsuki was beautiful. If he didn’t have a guaranteed college ride from his athletic abilities or heightened intelligence, Katsuki could be a model. His bone structure and sharp features still left Izuku breathless despite seeing them for years. It felt almost criminal to be so close to such a handsome person. He had been front row to everything that night, and Izuku still didn't know how he ended up sitting on a roof with the star quarterback. The only thing that reminded him it wasn’t a dream was the softness of the varsity jacket wrapped around him.
Realizing Katsuki was waiting for an answer, Izuku rolled through the previous question. “Oh, um, that's part of it, I guess.”
Katsuki looked over again, and Izuku twitched when their noses brushed. He hadn’t noticed their bodies had naturally shifted closer during their conversation, but it was hard to miss now. Forgetting how to breathe, he only stared with wide eyes while Katsuki didn’t pull away, taking him in quietly. Somehow, the lack of space didn’t bother him.
“You've never wanted to join a club, Nerd?” Katsuki asked, curious. Like he was actually interested.
“Oh, I don't know.” The volume in his voice ran off, hands nervously lacing on top of his stomach. “I know there's a comic book club, and I do the math competitions for the school. But I… I don't like being on a big stage, and my favorite comics are pretty outdated, so...”
“Like the Vigilante Rabbit?”
“Ah, yes, but that's not my favorite—”
Izuku paused, mouth frozen at the series name. The only people that had known about the golden age comic were Uncle Banjo and Toshi. And yet Katsuki spoke the title so casually, like it was common knowledge.
“What, you think you're the first nerd born?” Katsuki scoffed, reaching out and tugging Izuku's fake rabbit ear. “My pops was just like you in high school. Had his head stuck in books so much, he almost missed out on my hag. She made a man outta him, but he's still a total dweeb.”
“He is?” When Katsuki nodded, Izuku swallowed. “But that doesn't explain how you knew about the Vigilante Rabbit. You acted like you didn't know who I was at first.”
“What, you wanted me to call you Deku?” Hearing the hero name coming from Katsuki shouldn't have been so attractive.
“So you... like comics, too?” Izuku asked hesitantly, trying not to get hopeful.
Katsuki only snorted. “Depends on the series. Some fucking suck. Have you ever read that shitty comic, Grape Juice? What was My Hero thinking?”
It was like a switch flipped in Izuku's brain.
Izuku's love of My Hero Academia Cinema was more than a hobby. Even his friends, who tried to respect his unhealthy obsession with the franchise, didn't get how much it mattered to him. He adored the storylines. The character development. How most turned from nobodies to someone's true hero. Sometimes, he felt alone in his special interest.
But over the next hour, Katsuki blew Izuku's expectations away. From the books, to the movie adaptations, to future rumored projects, Katsuki met Izuku's knowledge and then some. And Izuku felt… seen. In a good way. While watching Katsuki go off about the lack of spotlight on Best Jeanist, Izuku knew the night would stay seared in his brain forever.
Izuku didn't remember when they faced each other, or how the rest of the space between them vanished. Their knees knocked together, but Katsuki didn't complain. Red eyes shone with passion while arguing about how important Edgeshot's role was in the entire timeline. Izuku probably looked like a love-struck puppy, though Katsuki didn’t pull away. In return, Izuku didn't mention the muscular arm that slid around him during their ‘best redemption arc’ debate.
“Look, Bird Man either sweet-talked his way into Flame Face's pants during the war, or fucked his son before it—”
“Stop, that's awful!” Still, Izuku smiled while hitting Katsuki's chest, lacking any strength. “They're traumatized heroes! And one of them is married!”
“Barely.”
It made Izuku burst into more uncontrollable laughter, hating how much he secretly agreed with the horrible statement. Though Izuku hated how high-pitched his giggles were, he couldn't hide his pure joy. He saw the sneaky glimmer in Katsuki's gaze watching him, mouth opening again to spill out another ridiculous theory.
Izuku couldn’t let that happen; he needed a moment to breathe!
So without thinking, he reached up, covering Katsuki's lips with a plea on his own. “Kacchan, please, these are terrible. I'll never be able to look at Hawks the same again.”
It was only after he finished his snickering and evened out his air intake that he realized what he'd done. The soft skin under his palm let out a warm exhale, the moonlight cutting just under Katsuki's intense stare. Izuku's stomach sucked in, feeling like he was on stage in front of the entire school. But he didn't flinch away. Somehow, the anxiety felt like butterflies. Nothing dangerous, but more… he wasn’t sure.
But there was something there, flickering between them.
Without breaking eye contact, Katsuki's fingers slid up the back of his varsity jacket, following the sleeve’s seam until it reached Izuku's wrist. Then, like working with a startled animal, he led Izuku's hand away from his mouth, freeing himself to speak.
“One more theory, Freckles. One about you.”
“About me?” Surprised by the shift, Izuku only blinked. “Okay. What... what about me?”
“I bet you have a crush on Dynamight.”
It was a simple suggestion that had too many layers. Because Izuku had swooned over the hot-headed hero. He thought Dynamight was a fascinating character that people could learn a lot from. But it had only been more recently that the admiration had turned… romantic. Mainly when he realized he was Katsuki's twin. It was like the creator of Dynamight saw Katsuki and decided to give him explosive hands.
And just like the hero he'd dressed as, Izuku was pretty smitten. Sometimes, he wondered what it would be like to be Deku. The quieter hero was the center of Dynamight's world. And to be loved enough that Dynamight would die to keep him was… something special.
But he felt like Katsuki was implying something else. From the way he didn't blink, staring at Izuku like the answer could change the world, felt important. Mio's previous comments swirled around in Izuku's head. How she exploited Izuku’s feelings as a joke. The way she made sure Katsuki heard how Izuku ‘obsessed’ over him. And since Katsuki wasn’t dumb, Izuku knew he probably remembered all the comments she said earlier.
Izuku had choices. One was how he’d dealt with conflict all his life: dismiss his wants, avoid any attention, and hope they'd figure themselves out without embarrassing himself. The other option he’d only used tonight; go with his gut feeling and live in the moment.
And that one kept working out.
Taking one deep breath and channeling his inner Deku, Izuku faced his fears head-on. “Yeah, guess I do. But it's probably because he's amazing... like Kacchan. Who wouldn't have a crush on him?”
It was the plunge he'd been avoiding all night. Mio once shouted it, mocking him. But there, under the stars, with only Katsuki's ears to hear, Izuku hadn't felt the same anxiety from the phone call. For a second, they simply breathed together. Lying on their sides, eyes taking in the other. Neither moved, but the energy in his chest begged him to lean in.
Finally, Katsuki's lips moved. “He's not really my type.”
“Oh.” Izuku shivered when Katsuki's hand moved to cup his cheek. “What...what is your type?”
“Really?” It lacked Katsuki's teasing tone from before. Izuku’s heart thudded in his chest, a realization cresting through his mind. The 'game' they’d been playing all night was over. “I thought I made it pretty damn obvious, Nerd.”
Izuku's brain fizzled like Pop Rocks at the words paired with Katsuki's head slowly moving forward. Eyes wide with disbelief, he couldn't process the disappearing space between their faces. If Katsuki got any closer to him, if he kept closing his eyes like he actually wanted to—
The bang of the roof's hatch slamming open broke them apart, Izuku pushing to sit up and yank Katsuki's jacket tighter around him.
He blinked when a familiar face popped through the doorway. “Sh-Shoto?”
“Ah.” His friend tilted his head before looking down. “The roof's occupied.”
“The more the merrier!” Izuku could hear Denki's voice as Shoto crawled out onto the shingles, the other appearing right after. “Hey, Momo, who did you tell about our spot? Lemme see—oh.”
“Um.” Izuku gave a little wave as Katsuki sat up behind him. “Hi.”
“Oh, shit,” Denki whispered.
“Hey, what stopped the train?” Somewhere below, Izuku could hear Mina shouting. “We wanna get up there to see the fireworks!”
“Abort,” Denki hissed down at the growing voices of complaints under him. From his paler face and stiff movements, Denki looked as if he had stumbled across the Grim Reaper. “Guys, abort this mission right now.”
“But Izuku and Katsuki are up here,” Shoto said, which suddenly silenced everyone below. Izuku slowly glanced back at Katsuki, who looked less than pleased about the awkward moment. Without permission, Izuku's eyes glanced to the pouting mouth, stomach sparking with something—
Nope!
Flushing, Izuku snapped his head back to Denki, who was desperately trying to drag Shoto through the hatch. He raised his voice, hearing a squeak sneak out mid-sentence. “A-Actually, you can stay! Kacchan and I don't mind.”
“Speak for yourself,” Katsuki muttered, though Shoto nodded before crawling next to Izuku. Denki had gained no color back, white as a ghost. But slowly, after looking between Katsuki and Izuku a dozen times, he followed Shoto's lead to crawl onto the roof. As their friends followed, Izuku scooted closer to Katsuki, trying to give everyone space. But more people poured out, and Izuku wasn’t sure how much more he could squish into the unmoving body—
“Come here.” Suddenly, he was picked up, plopped between Katsuki's legs. Like it was a regular thing, an arm dropped over his waist, tugging him back into the sturdy chest behind him. “Don't fall off, Bunny.”
Izuku tried not to shiver at the brush of lips on his cheek, wondering what they looked like to anyone in the yard below. Izuku was wearing Katsuki's jacket, with the quarterback holding him from behind. Partly for safety, but there was also… affection. Izuku leaned into the warm body when a firework shot into the air from a distance. His head rolled up, the back of it resting on Katsuki’s shoulder while watching the beautiful colors. Each new explosion lit up the sky, stealing everyone’s attention. It was a pretty show, his friends cheering and whistling for more after each set of fireworks.
“Oh, wow.” He laughed when one orange explosion made him lift his head up and peek over his shoulder. “Kacchan, look, it's Dynami—”
Except Katsuki wasn't looking at the sky. Not at the fireworks, their friends, or the party screaming beneath them. Katsuki wasn't looking at anything because his eyes were closed.
He was too busy cupping Izuku's face and kissing him.
Soft, was all Izuku could think before his brain reminded him to kiss Katsuki back. It was a little awkward, with them meeting over Izuku’s shoulder. His neck was already complaining about the weird angle, begging him to pull away and adjust. Having his eyes closed meant he couldn’t prepare for each new firework, which made him flinch after every loud explosion. It wasn’t the best position for Izuku's first kiss. Or his second, third, fourth—
And yet he didn’t care, letting Katsuki’s lips wash away any discomfort from his mind.
They kissed until the fireworks finished, and the party came to a natural end. Everyone was quick to rush out after the music ended and the lights clicked on, leaving a tornado’s worth of mess behind. Of course, Izuku and Katsuki's friends offered to stay and cleanup. While working with Tsu to collect the empty cups, Izuku caught a glimpse of Mio leaving without lifting a finger to help Momo. On the way out, she sent him a look that didn't reek of friendship while tugging her 'date' out the front door.
“She wasn't very angelic,” Tsu said, making Izuku bite his cheek to keep from laughing.
After the mess was done, the home looking livable again, both groups walked out together.
“Thanks for coming!” Momo shouted from her front porch, waving to Izuku and his friends as they walked down the driveway.
“T-Thank you for the invite,” he called back, returning the friendly gesture while his friends piled into Tenya's car. As he turned away, the sudden shift of the fabric over his costume made him stop. He’d forgotten he was still wearing Katsuki’s varsity jacket. “Oh.”
“Izuku?” Ochaco asked, popping up over the other side of the car. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t have time to explain, knowing Katsuki and his friends were also getting ready to leave. Instead of answering, he rushed across the now empty driveway, shouting.
“Wait!” Katsuki turned from the driver's door at his call, Izuku stopping in front of him while trying to shrug off the coat. “This is your—”
“Keep it,” Katsuki said, stepping closer and fixing the sleeve back over Izuku's shoulder. Once secure, Katsuki caught his eye, shrugging. “Looks better on you, anyway.”
“Oh, um.” Izuku struggled not to grin. “Thanks, I-I'll give it back on Monday.”
Katsuki smirked, stepping closer as he bent down. “We'll see about that.”
The night's last kiss wasn’t a simple peck or a cautious exchange like the rooftop. It was longer, Katsuki cupping his cheek and tilting Izuku’s head to get his fill. Despite his mind melting and body ready to collapse onto the ground, Izuku felt a little less overwhelmed than on the roof. Like he was somehow getting too used to Katsuki’s lips pressed to his. They hadn't spoken about what the rooftop (or night in general) meant for them. Between their friends showing up, and the extensive cleanup, there was no time for a sit-down conversation about their title. But as Izuku closed his eyes and leaned into Katsuki’s chest, he... hoped it didn't need words.
“Night, Nerd.” Katsuki opened the driver's door, ignoring his cooing, teasing friends while he dropped into his seat. Giving Izuku a final glance through the window, his lips pulled into a smile before he drove the loud car off. Izuku watched Katsuki’s vehicle vanish into the night like a phantom, his hand pressed to his overworked heart. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there until Ochaco shouted from Tenya’s car.
“Izuku, we have to go! It's almost curfew.”
“Oh!” Mind snapping into reality again, he scurried back, sinking into his seat as Tenya drove away. And while his friends dove into all of the fun moments of the night, Izuku dropped his head to leather, looking out the window.
He tugged Katsuki's jacket closer, letting it keep him warm the entire way home.
~**~
Like the simp he was, Izuku wore Katsuki's jacket all weekend. It was pathetic, his parents giving him confused (but re-assuring) looks when mentioning his new accessory. Ochaco tried to hide her smirk when stopping by to study, though he could read her thoughts like they were projected on the way. Everyone in his group (and maybe the entire senior party) had seen him and Katsuki kissing. The jacket was a way for Izuku to remind himself it was real. So when Ochaco teased him about getting the jacket ‘surgically attached’ to him, Izuku didn't care.
As pictures of the party popped up everywhere, and comments about it spilled out online, Izuku waited for something with him and Katsuki to appear. But nothing ever showed up. He wasn’t sure how that was possible, since they had spent the last couple of hours at the party together. And when he looked around different accounts, pictures of Katsuki before Izuku's arrival were there. Photos with his friends, some party-goers...
A ton were with Mio, which twisted something in Izuku.
She's not the one he kissed, Izuku thought, touching his bottom lip while lying in bed Sunday night. She wasn't brought up to the roof. And she didn't get his varsity jacket. Kacchan only did that for me.
He clung to those truths when Shoto picked him up Monday morning. Even with those facts in his head, Izuku sat frozen in the passenger seat, hands clutching the backpack in his lap. The jacket still sat on his shoulders, his armor for whatever he'd face once he was inside.
“School will start soon,” Shoto said, waiting quietly next to him.
“Ah, sorry.” He moved one hand to the car handle, but still struggled to pull it open. After taking a breath, he turned back to Shoto. “What if he regrets what happened at the Halloween party?”
“Katsuki?” Shoto frowned. “But he looked thrilled kissing you during the fireworks. I believe he would be over the moon to know it was your first.”
“Don’t bring that up!” He blushed, forgetting he had experienced his first kiss in front of all their friends.
“Why would he regret it? Was it bad?” Shoto was far too blunt to approach the topic delicately.
“No, nothing like that!” Izuku shouted, feeling his phone shift in his pocket from his anxious squirming. “I just haven't heard from Kacchan since Saturday.”
“That was after the party.”
Izuku groaned, slumping down and covering his face. “But it was only to ask me to send my part of our physics report. We didn't talk about... that.”
“Did you try to talk about something else?”
“Um, well… no.” He’d been too scared to have Katsuki shut him down to even respond. All he’d done was send the report to their shared drive and thumbs up the message.
“And did he ask for his jacket back?” When he shook his head, Shoto hummed. “That's still a claim, then.”
“A claim—Shoto!” His face practically steamed when he fumbled out of the car, rushing away from his friend's perplexed expression.
In his haste to get away, he didn't realize the change in atmosphere until his ears picked up on the lack of noise in the hallway. Blinking, he glanced around, flinching when he realized how many people were looking at him. For a Monday morning, especially after a holiday, the school was normally booming with chatter. Now, they simply stared at him while he swallowed, slowly tugging on his bag’s strap.
Feeling several eyes watching him while they murmured to their friends, he realized what they were really looking at. It was his jacket. Or, rather, Katsuki's. Everyone in the school knew who owned it: the giant ‘C’ for captain on the sleeve. And while a bunch of seniors had seen them together at the party, most weren’t on the roof. Which meant they missed the jacket exchange and kisses shared between them.
Licking his lips nervously, Izuku held the fabric closer, rushing to his locker. He lowered his head, the normal way he made himself invisible at school. Izuku knew he had distorted the Matrix with his appearance. It was a clash of worlds: the nobody was wearing the most popular kid's jacket. But Katsuki's status outweighed his nerd title, meaning most only watched without trying to ask him questions.
He got to his locker, managing to fumble it open and drop off the books he didn’t need inside. When he closed the locker and turned around, he jerked back into the metal when realizing there was someone behind him. For a second, he hoped it was Katsuki, who would take all the attention off him. But she was far too short and bright to be the quarterback.
“Izuku!” Mina wrapped her arms around Izuku's bicep like they were best friends. Like most things at the school, she didn’t care about the hallway’s new wave of surprise from her open affection toward a 'nerd'. “You're adorable in Bakubabe's jacket. Oh, hey! You should wear it to the game on Friday. You're going, right?”
“To the football game?” She nodded while leading him down the hall, her hip bumping against his from the proximity. “Oh, um, Fridays are game night with my friends.”
He didn't mention that large crowds of loud people made him nervous. And games... they weren’t the friendliest place for his type of people.
“Oh really?” But Mina's little frown did make him feel bad. “Aw, that's too bad. Blasty probably wanted to show off in front of his new boyfriend.”
“Bo-boy-boyf—” Izuku tripped over himself, unable to get the word out.
Mina laughed, but it wasn’t mean-spirited. “Sweetie, he kissed you. Like, a lot.”
“No, I know that, but we never—” Izuku looked around the new hall they stepped into, catching another set of murmurs and strange looks. “Mina, I don't want to assume anything until I talk to Kacchan.”
“Yeah, I get it.” Except, from her follow-up, she really didn’t. “Bakubabe should work for it and ask like a real gentleman. You’re too cute not to make a big deal over.”
“What? Oh, no—”
Before he could protest her claim, they stopped outside an art classroom, Mina releasing his arm and stepping into the doorway. “But if he ends up getting you to come for the game, you're coming by my place and letting me dress you. Deal?”
“Uh, sure,” he said automatically, always a people pleaser.
“Awesome!” Mina sent him a peace sign before winking. “Don't let anyone ruin your day today, okay? And you and your friends should come sit with us at lunch; I need Tsu's hair product list!”
“Okay.” He nodded dumbly as she disappeared into the class, blinking once before he muttered. “What just happened?”
He tried to wrap his head around the interaction as he wandered to his first class before the bell rang. Izuku rushed into his room, ignoring the looks of his classmates (even his teacher did a double-take) when he slid into his regular seat.
Except Mina’s drop-by wasn't just a one-off.
Once his first class was done, it was Hanta waiting by the door. The lanky guy offered a sloppy salute before he ruffled Izuku's hair and walked with him to his next period. After that, Jirou showed up to ask him how his time at the party was. Kirishima and Denki picked him up for gym class, elbows resting on his shoulders.
He wasn’t sure why they were showing up and walking him around the school. Katsuki's friends treated it as if the routine was normal, uncaring about the growing attention they were bringing to Izuku. It was like they wanted people to look at him wrapped up in Katsuki's varsity jacket. But why would they have planned something like that?
The only one he didn't see all day was Katsuki. That was kind of normal, since it was an orange day. Black days were when they had most of their AP periods. Today, he only had history class before lunch, and physics toward the end of the day. Still, even on the days they didn’t have several classes together, he normally saw Katsuki in passing.
Except for some reason, he was a ghost.
Kacchan's not avoiding me, he thought, refusing to let his anxiety get the best of him. There were just a lot of... questions. Why was his existence at the party scrubbed from every photo? Did Katsuki know his friends were openly checking on him? What did Halloween mean for the quarterback?
Izuku waved goodbye to Momo, who left him outside of his history class. Sighing once she was gone, he turned and walked through the doorway—
“Oh.” Izuku froze in his spot, unsure how to take the scene in front of him.
There, sitting on Katsuki's desk like it was hers, was Mio. She was leaning over him, showing something on her phone. And Katsuki... he wasn't pulling away. He didn't look bothered by her hand resting on his shoulder, talking to her about something on her phone. Delighted at Katsuki’s full focus, Mio looked up from the screen, focusing on Izuku before her lips broke into a grin.
“Zuzu!” she called out, and Katsuki's head lifted from whatever he was looking at to find Izuku. “See, look? He did bring your jacket back.”
Izuku's stomach dropped to his feet. Katsuki was worried he wouldn't bring it to school? He wasn’t some creep who would hoard Katsuki's jacket! Hadn’t Izuku beat that allegation at the party? Despite all of Katsuki’s friends pumping him up all day, complimenting his look and asking him to come to their upcoming events, Izuku felt… cold. Even with the heavy coat on his shoulders, the warmth that lingered since Friday suddenly vanished.
“Ah, sorry.” He fumbled with his backpack, trying to shake it off so he could remove the mentioned item. “I didn't mean to keep it from you.”
“Hold on, Nerd.” Katsuki tried to push up from his seat, but he didn't get far before he glanced at the hand holding his shoulder. “Oi—”
“You don't have to get up!” Izuku finally got the jacket off him. Without thinking, he tossed it, watching it land on Mio's lap before he stepped back. “Thanks for letting me borrow it. You were a lifesaver.”
“Oh, it looks so warm,” Mio said, picking it up. “Let me try it on!”
And that, for some reason, was something he couldn't handle seeing. Not when he felt special all weekend, fighting all the logic and rational thoughts about their dynamic. But Mio was a cheerleader. Pretty. Super popular. She was the type people expected Katsuki to date and kiss—
Izuku’s stomach dropped, feet stumbling backward. “I have to go to the nurse.”
“Freckles, wait!”
Of course, Izuku didn't listen to the command. He scampered from the doorway, trying his best to speedwalk down the hall he just came out from. By now, most of the students were in their classes, as the bell was going to ring any moment. Izuku, normally a panicked mess if he wasn’t in his seat before the teacher, couldn’t think about it now. All his head rewound was Mio’s hand on Katsuki’s shoulder, and the look of victory she held when holding up Katsuki’s varsity jacket.
His pace increased when he heard someone chasing after him, knowing who it was. Not wanting Katsuki to get in trouble, he quickly called over his shoulder. “Really, Kacchan, I'm fine. No need to follow.”
“Stop running away and talk to me,” Katsuki shot back, though Izuku ducked into another hall as the first bell rang for class.
“Not running, just walking! And you're going to be late for history. You should go back.”
“You're my physics partner. I need you for our class project.”
Izuku knew that was true, but he had time to collect himself before the end of the day. “That’s not even the right class—”
“Can you just talk to me?” Katsuki shouted, ignoring the scolding look from the teacher they passed when rushing to the end of the hall.
“Ah, sorry, I'm just not feeling well.”
“Funny, none of my extras said a damn thing about—seriously?! The staircase?”
Izuku ignored the call-out as he rushed into the stairwell, jogging down the stairs to get away. But when he hit the landing between the two staircases, he was captured. Izuku squeaked when they stumbled into the wall, his back hitting into it. Before his head could smash into the concrete, Katsuki’s hand slipped between, protecting him from any damage. Closing one eye, the other peeked up to see Katsuki over him, slowly sliding the hand to rest next to his ear.
The other was holding the varsity jacket.
“Kac—” Before he finished, Katsuki leaned forward and kissed him.
It made him gasp, eyes widening at the surprise attack. Except 'attacks' weren't supposed to make his heart skip a beat, or his stomach turn into butterflies. Katsuki had his eyes partly open, keeping watch of Izuku’s reaction. Like he would pull away at the first sign of Izuku's discomfort. Izuku went limp against the wall, closing his eyes and returning the sweet affection despite all the mixed feelings in his body. He wanted to be excited, to feel the same fireworks from Halloween.
Except there was one tendril of fear, shaped as Mio's victorious grin, that kept him on a scared edge.
The second bell rang, but Katsuki didn't seem to mind. Izuku shivered when a warm hand grabbed his hip, finally breaking away to take a gasp of air. He barely peeked up at Katsuki before he flushed, shooting forward from the wall to bury his face into the other's warm collarbone.
“Nerd.” Katsuki's arms wrapped around him like they were made to make Izuku feel safe. Soft lips grazed his temple. “Whatever you're thinking, it ain't what happened. You gonna let me explain?”
“I...” The fact Katsuki was okay holding him so openly in school eased some anxiety. “Okay.”
“Good. First things first.” Katsuki let him go, but before Izuku could miss the secure hold, a familiar fabric dropped over his shoulders again. The varsity jacket was still big, but it felt like coming home. “You throw this at anyone else again, and I'll glue it to you.”
“But Mio made it sound like you were looking for it,” Izuku said, Katsuki scoffing before gathering him up again.
“She's a shit-starter. If Ponytail wasn't so nice, she'd never be invited to any of the parties.”
“Then... why was she on your desk? She's not even in our row.”
“I wanted to make sure her stupid extras deleted the pictures of you from the party.” Izuku hadn't expected to get two of his questions answered at once. “They're always posting dumb stuff that makes her look great, and everyone else bad. And Mio's got a hate boner for you, so—”
“You did it to keep me safe?” Izuku asked, and Katsuki's look proved how dumb he thought the question was.
“Duh. Like I was gonna let any horny meathead drool over your cute bunny ass.” Katsuki brushed their noses together, quieter than before. “They might try to steal you away.”
It was a direct hit to his chest, cheeks flushing with heat as he tugged the jacket nervously. “That's not... Kacchan, nobody looks at me and sees boyfriend material.”
“I do.” Katsuki didn't look hesitant in his claim, even as his ears went red. “You calling me a nobody, Freckles?”
“Of course not!” Izuku protested instantly, shaking his head. “You're amazing; everyone knows that.”
“Then, how about it?” Katsuki tilted his head, offering a grin that was almost cocky enough to hide his rare hint of anxiety. “You gonna be my plus one for the rest of our lives?”
Izuku was unable to breathe for a second. He almost wanted to pinch his arm to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
But when a few seconds passed between them, and nothing changed in the stairwell, Izuku swallowed and gave a slight nod. “If you're sure, I... I want to be your boyfriend.”
“I don't share.” Katsuki's eyes glimmered with greed, like a dragon staring at its treasure. “Got that from my old hag. It’s why I never lead people on; my attention's for someone who I don't plan to let go of.”
“Well.” Izuku wiggled, settling in his hold. “Good thing I like routine.”
Katsuki snorted, leaning in to kiss him before speaking against Izuku's buzzing lips. “Does that mean you ain't coming to my games cause of Dungeons and Dragons?”
“Mm...” Izuku pushed to his toes, pressing his own soft affection against Katsuki's mouth. “Maybe we can figure something out?”
“That's my nerd.”
They missed history, Izuku weakly protesting their absence while Katsuki kept kissing words out of his mouth. But they showed up at lunch, hand in hand, Izuku wearing Katsuki's jacket. Mio shrieked with enough force to overtake the loud cafeteria before storming off, friends following her.
He knew he should have felt bad, but it eluded him.
Instead, Izuku glanced at his lunch table, seeing 'the nerds' already mixed with the 'popular' kids. Kirishima and Tsu were going over his very marked-up test. Tenya seemed to be defending his lunch from Denki and Hanta, both having forks and poking his nuggets. Mina had Shoto’s hand in hers, pointing to his nails while glancing between Jirou and Momo. Ochaco had looked up from taking her photo of the group, waving to Izuku and Katsuki with a knowing smile. Maybe to the school, it was a strange hodgepodge of two groups. But to him, they were just... his friends. No titles were needed.
Because Izuku realized he was always a somebody to the right people. Halloween and school labels didn't change that.
But being 'Katsuki's boyfriend'? That was one title he didn’t mind having.