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Izuku shivered from his spot underneath his comforter.
He’d woken up about fifteen minutes ago when his foot had slipped out from the protective cocoon of his blanket and had been met with the unforgiving chill of brisk morning air. Startled, he’d tried to tuck his foot back into the warmth, but it was too late. His chilled foot had made contact with his bare thigh and he was unfortunately wide awake now. He grumbled a bit, lazily lifting his head to check the time and take a brief look outside.
It was way too early to be awake while he was on vacation.
“Izuku! Breakfast!” His mothers cheerful voice called from the kitchen. Faint smile on his face, Izuku stood and braved the cold until he reached his closet to pull on a pair of sweatpants and an old hoodie. He dug around in his dresser until he found a nice pair of sock that would keep his feet warm, he’d need to question his mother about their heater.
“Morning! I’ll be right there,” he called from his now open door, taking a second to return to his bedside table to retrieve his cellphone. Numerous notifications were already up from midnight last night. Everyone from class had been sending each other very late messages into the night.
It was Christmas Eve, so everyone was excited.
“Are you excited for Christmas tomorrow, Izuku?” his mother questioned, setting the food down on the table for the two of them to eat.
“Yeah! I’m really excited to give you your present,” Izuku chuckled, taking a long sip of the piping hot tea.
“Oh, Izuku you didn’t have to get me anything,” the soft giggle from his mother had already made the gift worth it though. Her work bag had broken a few weeks ago and she hadn’t had time to replace it, so Izuku had found the perfect bag for his mother while he had been out shopping with Iida and Uraraka.
“What are you saying? Of course I did!” Izuku defended. The two Midoriya’s laughed and ate breakfast in the calm and peaceful morning.
“I have a few last-minute errands to run, do you need anything while I’m out? Do you have any plans for today?” Inko asked, Izuku had to take a moment to swallow the large amount of food he had shoveled into his mouth.
“No, I’m fine. Want me to go with you? I hadn’t planned on anything,” Izuku smiled at his mother.
“I won’t be gone long, you just relax, my little hero,” Inko cooed at him and Izuku couldn’t help but blush a bit. His mother could be a bit embarrassing sometimes.
“Mom,” Izuku chuckled, but continued to smile never the less. Breakfast finished up without a hitch, with Izuku collecting the dishes to put into the dishwasher so his mother could finish getting ready.
“Don’t forget to lock the door if you go somewhere, and let me know!” Inko called from the hallway while she was putting on her shoes.
“I will, just be careful. Don’t slip on the snow or ice,” Izuku responded from his seat on the couch, perfectly content with a mug of hot chocolate. After their final farewell’s, and his mother reassuring him that she would be back before dinner and she would be fine, Izuku was left alone on Christmas Eve. He turned on the television flicking through channels until a special popped up for the holiday. Leaving the festive program on, Izuku pulled out his cellphone to finally respond to a few of the messages. Everyone, for the most part, had sent wishes of Christmas Eve and excitement for tomorrow. They were getting older, so the child like wonder of the holidays wouldn’t last for he and his classmates much longer. This would be their last Christmas being high school students.
If Izuku was being honest, he still found this time of year to be magical. Tossing the phone to the table and curling into the couch, Izuku relaxed. He puffed a few breaths of air against his drink before taking a sip. Izuku almost spilled his cocoa when his phone suddenly began vibrating in rapid succession on the coffee table. Someone had texted him.
Slowly putting down his mug, Izuku grabbed the phone again to see which friend had responded. He was a bit surprised at the name, but even more so by the messages.
Kacchan: How cheesy is this shit? Snowing like this on Christmas Eve.
Kacchan: You busy?
Kacchan: I don’t feel like being stuck in the house all day. Come into town with me, nerd.
Kacchan: If you want. Figured if you were bored you’d want to tag along too.
Izuku smiled, his eyelids slipping into a fond gaze as he read the texts. He really was slowly but surely getting into a better place with Katsuki. Their team up missions, conversations, and understanding of each other were doing wonders for their friendship.
Not so much Izuku’s crush, but that wasn’t important now.
Me: What time? I have a free day.
Kacchan: Later. After sunset. The lights will be lit.
Izuku felt his cheeks flare up at the idea of walking around their hometown, snow falling, and decorations lit for Christmas Eve with Katsuki. That . . . was honestly the perfect sort of Christmas Eve date, wasn’t it? Izuku groaned, rolling his eyes at himself. This would not be a date. There was no way that Katsuki felt the same way Izuku did, and it was proven time and again by Izuku’s overactive hopeless romanticism.
They walked to class together, but that was only because they had started working out together in the mornings. They sat next to each other at lunch, but that was only because their friend circles had decided to shove tables together to all sit and talk. They hung out in the dorm rooms when they weren’t training, but that was because they had finally rekindled their friendship and were getting along.
Izuku wouldn’t think about how much he wanted to hold Katsuki’s hand while they walked to class every morning. Izuku had to focus on what his friends were saying when Katsuki’s leg rubbed against his under the table if he shifted. The dorm rooms were the worst, because every time one of them had to leave to go back to their own room, Izuku found that he was always fighting with himself when he wanted to ask to stay, or ask Katsuki not to go.
Katsuki had said that he didn’t want to be stuck in the house all day, yet he wanted to wait until after sunset to go out? That . . . that was all day?
Me: If we go that late, doesn’t that mean that you will be stuck inside all day?
Kacchan: DO YOU WANNA GO OR NOT?!
Me: Yes, Kacchan! I’ll go out with you!
Izuku hit send then instantly began to panic.
Me: Into town! I’ll go out with you into town later tonight when you want to go out to town!
Izuku felt like an idiot. Would it kill him to be able to talk to Katsuki like a normal human being? How could Izuku save this?
Me: If you don't want to go out until later, what are you doing the rest of the day?
Kacchan: I'm in charge of cooking this year. The hag won't shut up about it.
Izuku frowned at the text. Wouldn’t that mean that Katsuki would be busy all day? Did Katsuki want to spend today with Izuku?
He couldn’t think about it. He would only end up embarrassing himself later.
Me: Okay Kacchan, good luck with cooking. I’ll see you later tonight.
Izuku let out a frustrated scream into the pillow on the couch to muffle the sound. This was embarrassing. If he thought about it any longer he was sure that he would end up texting Katsuki to cancel out of his own idiocy. He instead focused on just enjoying his alone time. He watched Christmas specials and snuggled on the couch for most of the afternoon. He had texted his mother about the plans to go out later with Katsuki into town, so for the most part all his obligations were completed. When the afternoon rolled around to a later time, Izuku picked himself up off the couch and decided to get ready.
He probably spent about an hour just looking into his closet for something to wear that would be acceptable. It was still snowing, not heavily, but a nice covering for the holiday. Izuku would need to bundle up from the cold though. After a shower and a twenty-minute argument with his wardrobe, Izuku was dressed and ready to go. Had he gotten ready too soon? Was it too much? Izuku could feel the familiar panic beginning to bubble up inside of him. He was making this into too much of a big deal. Katsuki just wanted to kill some time and get out of the house, Izuku just happened to be convenient company. That was all!
The doorbell cut off his internal struggle. Izuku took a deep breath and headed for the front door. His hand trembled as it gripped the handle, twisting it open. Izuku felt his heart skip.
Katsuki stood in the doorway, scarf around his neck, and a nice jacket to ward of the cold. The gloves on his hands looked to be a thinner material, but warm just the same. His cheeks and nose were flushed from the chill in the air.
Izuku could never stop thinking about how handsome he was.
“You ready, Deku?” Katsuki asked casually enough, hands stuffing into the pockets of his tight jeans. Izuku debated if those pants were a blessing or a curse.
“Let me get my coat,” Izuku smiled to him, trying his best to sound normal. Grabbing his own winter coat from the closet, Izuku slipped it on along with gloves, a scarf, and a hat. His mother would kill him if he got sick during break. As ready as he was ever going to be, Izuku pulled the door closed and locked it behind him, both young men heading out towards town.
Izuku had to admit that it was nice, just being with Katsuki. Snow was still lightly falling, the street lamps were coming on, and the last rays of sunlight slipped behind the skyline. It was perfect.
“How did cooking go?” Izuku asked casually.
“Fine, I guess. The old hag was complaining so I figured it was better if I did it. We’ll at least have a decent meal tomorrow,” Katsuki shrugged, but he hadn’t made eye contact with Izuku as he spoke. “You gonna be busy this break, Deku?”
“Not really? Once the holiday is over I don’t have anything planned,” Izuku gave Katsuki an odd look. “Why?”
Katsuki shrugged, a calm and relaxed motion. Izuku frowned a bit seeing Katsuki’s smirk however. He was hiding something.
“Nothing,” Katsuki chuckled lowly. “We should-“ but he was cut off when they turned the corner onto the main street.
“Wow!” Izuku cheered seeing the large tree in the square lit up. Shops and vendors were still open for business, what with the holiday foot traffic, and everything was lit with shimmering twinkle lights. Izuku felt like he was in a dream. The two kept a steady pace as they moved around the square. Izuku looked at a few of the stalls to see what was for sale for any small last-minute gifts he may want to get, but Katsuki was too distracting.
He really was very handsome.
Izuku paused, however, when his nose caught whiff of a deliciously sweet smell. Turning, Izuku saw the open door of the local pastry shop. Izuku’s mouth began to water just from the smell alone of the freshly baked goods.
“You’re drooling, nerd,” Katsuki chuckled, ruffling Izuku’s hair while he entered the shop. Izuku muttered a bit before following into the warm bakery, regardless of the open door.
“Welcome!” a cheerful voice called from the counter.
“You want to get something?” Katsuki asked, looking at Izuku with a strange expression. Katsuki didn’t look annoyed, or disinterested, but instead his expression was guarded. It was as if he didn’t want Izuku to know what he was feeling.
“We haven’t had dinner yet,” Izuku complained, knowing that getting dessert before dinner wasn’t really the smartest thing to do.
“Who cares?” Katsuki nudged Izuku closer to the glass so he could get a better look. “We’ll split something.”
“What?” Izuku felt like he was going to burn out. Katsuki asking him to go see the lights in town, sharing a pastry, this was slowly turning into everything Izuku pictured for a Christmas Eve date. Izuku couldn’t handle this.
“What do you want to order?” Katsuki frowned at Izuku’s dumbfounded expression.
“Spice cake,” Izuku mumbled, still staring at Katsuki without even looking at the glass display case. Katsuki smirked at him, but Izuku could have sworn he saw Katsuki’s cheeks flush.
“Spice cake it is, go sit,” Katsuki instructed. Izuku just nodded, his body on autopilot as his mind tried to shuffle through the events transpiring before him. Izuku sat at a table for two by the window with a perfect view of the tree. This was really nice. Izuku was startled a bit from his musing when Katsuki placed down the plate with their small spice cake on it, and two mugs with something to drink.
“Thanks, Kacchan. I owe you for the-“
“No . . . it’s nothing,” Katsuki’s voice sounded strained. “Don’t worry about it, shitty Deku.”
There was his Kacchan.
“Thank you anyway, Kacchan,” Izuku smiled, quickly taking a picture of the beautiful cake before they destroyed it. Izuku picked up one of the forks that Katsuki had brought and broke off a piece for him to eat. He almost groaned when the fluffy cake hit his tongue, it was practically melting with spice and sweetness.
“Good?” Katsuki was making fun of him. Izuku could tell from the look on his face.
“Very,” Izuku lightly kicked Katsuki under the table for the jibe, but chuckled when Katsuki kicked him right back.
“Oi, this gonna be how you treat me when I’m nice to you?” Katsuki chuckled, taking his own bite of the cake. Izuku shook his head, bright smile beaming at the other.
“Kacchan, did you just admit to being nice to me?” Izuku teased, glad that he was able to have his own stab at the other.
“Shut up and eat the cake, Deku,” Katsuki grumbled, glare on his face but no real bite behind it. The two laughed and Izuku took a moment to take a sip from his mug. His eyes widened as the sweet chocolate beverage washed over his tongue.
“You’re like a little kid, Deku,” Katsuki chuckled, apparently having been watching him. Izuku sputtered a bit, but placed his mug down and breathed. Their cake was down to the final piece and Izuku was startled to see Katsuki just leaning back and drinking from his own mug, just watching Izuku. Izuku’s eyes flickered from the cake to Katsuki before the other spoke up again.
“I got it for you, dork, just eat it,” Katsuki mumbled, cutting himself off with another drag from his mug. Izuku smiled and finished off the cake and his drink. Katsuki downed the remainder of his own mug and stood. Izuku collected the plates and dashed off back to the counter before Katsuki could stop him. He wanted to do something nice. Izuku left the dishes in the labeled bin then returned to Katsuki by the door.
“Where to now?” Izuku asked, shivering a bit once they were back out on the street. Katsuki shrugged.
“Just looks like the shopping stalls are the only things left open,” Katsuki observed, but his feet were guiding Izuku closer to the tree. They stopped at the base, looking up at the breathtaking decorations.
“This is nice, Kacchan,” Izuku softly spoke, daring to take a chance and leaned on the other as he did. Izuku was surprised when Katsuki’s arm wrapped around him to hold him there. Izuku smiled, but he was unable to look up at Katsuki’s face just yet. “Thank you for asking me to come out with you.”
“Who else would I ask?” Katsuki snapped.
“You have friends, Kacchan,” Izuku chuckled at his antics.
“Why the hell would I want to spend Christmas Eve with those losers?” Katsuki muttered, his arm still firmly wrapped around Izuku.
“Kacchan, don’t say that about your-“ Izuku cut himself off when he finally looked up at Katsuki. He was staring at him, but more specifically his mouth. Katsuki turned, his free hand coming closer to Izuku’s face while he leaned forward. This wasn’t happening!? There was no way Izuku was reading this correctly. Was Katsuki going to kiss-
Katsuki’s thumb brushed against Izuku’s bottom lip and a little bit across his left cheek. Once the smooth glove was removed from Izuku’s skin, Katsuki stood back up to his full height. Izuku felt his heart sink to the pit of his stomach, but Katsuki turned back to him with a small laugh.
“You had icing on your face, Deku. Hah? Why are you crying?” Katsuki was looking at Izuku a bit panicked. Izuku would have found it comical were it not for the fact that he was furiously trying to scrub his tears away. He needed to come up with something to say.
“Nothing, nothing. Sorry, Kacchan! I just got a bit overwhelmed, that’s all. You know me, the crybaby,” Izuku forced out a chuckle. “I’m really happy you asked me to come out with you like this. Really, Kacchan, thank you.” Izuku’s smile felt as bitter as his tears tasted on his tongue. “We should be heading back now though, I still need to help my mom with a few things.”
“Deku I . . .” Katsuki paused, apparently unable to finish his thought before he sighed and looked up at the tree again. “Alright, c’mon I’ll walk you home.”
The two slowly left the town square, Izuku reprimanding his heart for ruining the nice time he was having with Katsuki. The atmosphere around them had changed dramatically. Izuku wanted to curse himself out for being such an idiot. They had walked over half way home in complete silence, but Izuku was unable to think of a way to begin another conversation without being awkward.
“Did you at least have fun?” Katsuki asked when they stood at the beginning of Izuku’s street. Izuku smiled at Katsuki, a bit more sincerely this time.
“I did,” Izuku chuckled, “I can’t think of a better way to spend my Christmas Eve than to spend it with you.” Izuku kept his eyes forward as he spoke, watching the snow flurrying down on the dimly lit street. Only a few more steps and Izuku would be back inside and spending the evening with his mother.
“Deku,” Katsuki’s voice sounded softer than it had a moment ago, and upon looking up, Izuku realized that Katsuki had stopped walking. Turning back to face the other, Izuku took the few steps back to be standing next to him again.
“Kacchan, what is it?” Izuku asked, a bit confused on what was happening. Katsuki’s expression was something Izuku had never seen before, but one that made his heart beat faster. Katsuki took a step forward, gently tugging on Izuku’s coat sleeve to bring him closer.
“Deku . . . I . . .” Katsuki sighed heavily, a puff of cold air visible between them. “Izuku,” Katsuki’s voice was soft and serious and Izuku was reminded of the tree. “Don’t cry this time.”
Izuku was surprised, to say the least.
Katsuki had leaned forward and brought their lips together. It was short, simple, and over before Izuku could even completely comprehend what had just happened. Katsuki was looking at him, eyes searching, but his hand was still cupping Izuku’s face. When had that happened? Izuku heard himself whimper, a flare of embarrassment rushing through him. Katsuki’s eyes widened in panic, but Izuku ignored it in favor of wrapping his arms around Katsuki’s neck, and pulling him back down to him.
Izuku closed his eyes and savored the moment that should have happened by the tree, but this would do. Katsuki tilted his head and Izuku felt dizzy with his mind being filled with the fact that Katsuki tasted like the spice cake and his coffee. Izuku lost himself until he couldn’t breathe, slowly pulling back to fill his lungs with the chilling night air.
“Go out with me,” Katsuki spoke between pants. Izuku wasn’t the only one out of breath. Izuku’s face hurt from his smile.
“You mean it, Kacchan?!” Izuku almost screamed.
“Yes, Deku I mean it. Go out with me,” Katsuki said again, both of them still entangled in the other.
“Okay, Kacchan,” Izuku gave Katsuki another quick kiss.
“Merry Christmas, Deku.” Katsuki smiled, a real, warm, kind smile at him. Izuku couldn’t think of a better present.
“Merry Christmas, Kacchan.”