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“Izuku.”
Izuku slowly opens his eyes and hums softly in a small acknowledgement. Then, because he’s had enough of being awake, he closes his eyes again and buries his face back into the warm thing he’s hugging.
He feels Eijirou’s laugh rock in his chest and he cuddles closer, arms tightening around Eijirou’s solid waist. Eijirou kisses his hair and murmurs, “Hey.”
“Hmph.” Izuku mumbles and buries his face into Eijirou’s chest, hiding from the world.
Eijirou laughs softly and Izuku hears Shouto shift in his sleep against his back, both arms tight around Izuku’s waist. Shouto’s face is pressed between his shoulder blades and he keeps making these soft humming kitten snores and, had he been more awake, he would have cooed all over Shouto until he told him to stop. And then maybe done it some more just to provoke a reaction out of him. That was always fun.
But Izuku isn’t awake so he doesn’t do that. He just hugs Eijirou tighter and mutters, “What.”
“Wanted to ask you something.” Eijirou says quietly, playing with Izuku’s hair in a way that makes Izuku hum softly as a warm shiver rolls down his spine in reaction. He hears Eijirou laugh again (he does that a lot and it is unfairly cute) and he huffs in protest, lifting his head to look up at him.
“What did you wanna ask me?” Izuku’s words are slurred and thick with sleep. It isn’t quite gravelly, that was Eijirou and Shouto’s thing, but it is a little messy and mumbly.
Luckily, Eijirou can decipher what he’s saying and replies, “Wanted to ask you something about Shou.”
“Ask him yourself.” Izuku hums and closes his eyes, with a soft hrmph noise as Eijirou pushes one of his hands back into Izuku’s hair.
“It’s not pressing, I just wanted to compare notes, so to speak.” Eijirou says, a clarification that does nothing to help Izuku understand. “About him.”
“And… what did you want to know?” Izuku blinks sleepily at him.
“Do you know what his favourite dessert is?”
Izuku, for an entire ten seconds, has no idea what the fuck Eijirou is talking about. Favourite dessert? What? Does he mean cake or cookies or… does he want something more specific? Does Eijirou expect Izuku to know this more than he does? Shouto liked sweet things, he liked a lot of sweet things (especially lollipops and strawberry sponge cake), and it had never been clear what was his favourite…
“Hrmph.” Izuku says intelligently as he faceplants back into Eijirou’s chest. “Sweet things.
“How very helpful, thank you Izuku.” Eijirou’s smile translates into his voice and it’s so infectious that Izuku feels himself begin to smile just a little bit because of it. He feels Eijirou’s lips press into his hair again and his lips brush his scalp as he speaks, “I’ll ask when you’re more awake, alright?”
“Mkay.” Izuku slurs, nuzzling into Eijirou’s chest and pressing a lazy kiss to the skin over his heart.
Why Eijirou always insisted on sleeping shirtless was beyond Izuku but he really wasn’t opposed. Neither was Shouto, if how his eyes always scanned their boyfriend’s chest as they crawled into bed every night.
They always slept together. Always. Without fail since they first got together, because the three of them just seemed to be such a perfect mix of warm and cozy and cool when needed. It was so comforting, being able to have both of the people he loved by his side every night and, had he been more awake, Izuku might have teared up at the thought. They’re perfect together. Cute. Of course, at the beginning, teachers had attempted to separate them but, after a few months, they stopped caring and turned a blind eye.
The three of them had sort of converted one of their dorms into their sort of sleeping room, a nest of sorts, and the other two were for hanging out in. More specifically, they use one more for movie nights and such, while the other is for more… inappropriate things, so to speak.
Such as cuddling and making out and the occasional romp but mostly the first two.
Izuku would go back to sleep right away but… now, thanks to Eijirou, he’s too caught up on wondering what Shouto’s favourite dessert. What is his favourite? Sure, Izuku knows what Shouto likes but he doesn’t know what his favourite is and… gods, Izuku’s never going to be able to sleep now, is he?
As he listens to Eijirou’s breathing, humming softly as it eventually evens out and falls slow and soft, warm, Izuku wracks his brain for any hints or anything at all that could possibly indicate what Shouto’s favourite dessert is. He doesn’t think he can possibly ask straight to Shouto’s face because what if Shouto is offended that he hadn’t figured it out? Maybe he could drop hints and figure it out? He’ll figure something out. And then, because he’s a stress baker, he’ll make it for Shouto rather soon and pretty often because school is stressful.
Hmmm… what should he do…
Well, first, he’s going to go back to sleep because Shouto just did another snuffle snore and Izuku is a weak man.
————————————
The next morning, as Izuku is brushing his teeth, Shouto loops his arms around his waist, scaring him so badly that he almost swallows his toothbrush.
As he’s coughing and attempting to recover, Shouto kisses his cheek as if nothing has happened and starts brushing his hair. He’d started growing it out in first year near the end, and now Izuku and Eijirou alike couldn’t keep their hands off of it. Shouto’s hair was far softer than it had any right to be and Shouto always just melted into the touches, especially when you buffered your nails just right against the back of his head. Izuku especially liked messing up the perfect part down the middle of Shouto’s head, pushing his gnarled fingers through it and watching as Shouto’s nose crinkled cutely.
But right now he’s barely recovering from a choking fit and shooting half baked glares at his unfairly gorgeous boyfriend who really has no right to look that innocent after nearly scaring him shitless. Shouto was just unfair. In general.
“What was that for?” Izuku asks once his mouth is free of toothpaste and foam.
Shouto doesn’t answer the question, only darts his eyes to look at Izuku in the mirror before looking back at his hair and saying, “You’ve got toothpaste on your chin.”
Izuku huffs and sticks his entire face in the sink to wash it off.
At some point, Eijirou comes in and brushes his lips to Shouto’s shoulder in a soft kiss before turning to find Izuku with his face in the sink. Izuku groans when he hears Eijirou unsuccessfully muffle a surprised snort and stands up straight again, reaching over and snatching the hand towel to dry his face off. Eijirou kisses his jaw as he’s drying his face and Izuku can hear the rustle of fabric as Eijirou finally puts on a goddamn shirt.
When he’s finished drying off his face, Izuku tosses the towel at Shouto, who gets hit in the head with a soft grunt. His hair is a little messed up when he tugs the towel off his head and he shoots a dry glare at Izuku before hanging the towel up. Izuku just smiles brightly at him and turns back to the mirror.
Well. That particular hickey is bruising spectacularly, isn't’ it.
Izuku leans forward to examine the burgundy bruise at the base of his neck, only visible because of the slightly loosened collar of his shirt. He pokes at it, tugging on his shirt a little more to reveal the whole thing. It’s about the size of a really small mandarin orange and it’s as bright as any hickey he’s ever had before. Based on the few teeth marks, it was Eijirou’s fault.
“Morning, losers.”
“Morning, Kacchan.”
Katsuki wrinkles his nose at Izuku and mutters, “Shut the fuck up, nerd.”
“Bakubro!” Eijirou hugs him with no consideration to his own wellbeing, ignoring how Katsuki’s eye twitches violently at the action. But, despite seeming endlessly annoyed, Katsuki doesn’t protest and doesn’t squirm. He’s given up on escaping the affection, as have most of their classmates, and he’s even grown to enjoy it to some degree. Eijirou gives some of the best hugs ever and, well, nobody really wants to turn down one of the best hugs ever.
When Eijirou finally lets him go, Katsuki situates himself at a sink and starts doing whatever it is he does every morning. The two pins on his hoodie flash slightly in the fluorescent light and Izuku smiles to himself before looking back at the mirror. He and Katsuki had come to a sort of truce forever and, well, Izuku was really glad he’d done some self exploration and found something that gave him comfort. Izuku himself had never really been one for labels but if they gave Katsuki comfort and a sense of security, then he’s glad that Katsuki has those now.
As more and more of their classmates file in (minus Tenya who’d already came and went before anyone else had gotten up), Izuku keeps examining the smattering of hickeys on his lower neck and collarbones and shoulders. They’re fading, faded, or bright and standing out, and if he’s honest, he likes them. They weren’t even anything sexual, just a few claiming marks from his boyfriends. Shouto especially liked giving them to him. They’d talked about it a few months ago and again, if it gave Shouto comfort, then Izuku was up for it. Sure, the hickeys often garnered him strange looks and raised eyebrows (and waggled eyebrows if Ochako saw them) but Izuku genuinely could not care less.
————————————
The only real thing keeping Izuku and Eijirou from knowing what Shouto’s favourite dessert is is that Shouto likes so many desserts and, when asked by a classmate what his favourite was, he always said ‘all of them.’ Really, how were Eijirou and Izuku supposed to have a chance?
After two weeks of trying to figure it out, Izuku was beginning to wonder if maybe Shouto really doesn’t have one true favourite. Maybe he really does just like all of them equally? Izuku did want to get to the bottom of this but… maybe he just shouldn’t worry about it?
The idea almost makes him snort. Him? Midoriya Izuku? Not worry about something? Preposterous. No way.
He’s alerted to someone’s presence when a mug is placed in front of him. He blinks down at it for a moment, noting the simple pattern and the cherry blossoms decorating it and he immediately knows who it is.
Ochako sits down across from him, cradling her own mug (of the same design) and stares at him, examining his face like he’s a particularly interesting blade of grass. Her hair is back in a bun of sorts, it’s too short to count as a ponytail, and her bangs are beginning to be long enough to cover her eyes. He almost snorts when she flicks her head to get them out of her face but he manages to remain silent, grinning to himself instead.
“So.” Is how she starts, scooting forward on her chair. “You seem troubled. What’s up?”
“Uh…” Izuku looks down at his mug of tea and swirls the liquid around for a moment before answering. “I guess you could say I’m troubled but I don’t know why I would look troubled but-”
“Deku.” Ochako cuts him off, “C’mon, just tell me.”
“Alright, alright.” Izuku sighs and looks at the table. “I uh… I don’t know what Shouto’s favourite dessert is.”
Silence.
Then: “That’s it?”
Izuku whips his head to look at her, “Hey! That’s not-”
“Calm down, Deku, that’s nothing big to worry about!” Ochako blurts, “C’mon, is it really that big of a deal?”
“Yes!” Izuku nods insistently, “It is that big of a deal! I’m supposed to be his boyfriend and I don’t even know what his favourite dessert is? Ochako, I-”
“Deku, Deku, slow down!” Ochako is laughing at him and he huffs, crossing his arms and leaning them on the table. “It’s really not that big of a deal, you know. He likes sweets, everybody knows that. Plus he’s one of the nicest guys- well, not ever because he’s a little shit- but he’s really nice and horribly in love with you and Eijirou, he wouldn’t say no to anything you put in front of him. He’d probably blush and stutter a ‘thank you’ or whatever.”
“Hmm true.” Izuku sighs, “He does do that. A lot.”
“I really think it would be hard for him to tell you of all people that he doesn’t like what you’ve given him.” Ochako continues, taking a sip of her tea. “You’re a great baker.”
“Thanks.” Izuku says, not even trying to cover the slight flush in his cheeks at the compliment.
“Aw.” Ochako coos, reaching out and poking one of his freckled cheeks, “You’re still just as cute as you were in first year!”
“`Chako, I’m about three times the size of when I first started first year.” Izuku says dully, puffing out his cheeks.
“And you can benchpress a truck without your quirk. Doesn’t matter, you’re still cute.” Ochako says cheerfully.
Izuku scowls playfully at her and takes a long sip of his tea so he has an excuse to not grace that statement with a reply. He’s been denying that he’s cute for almost two whole decades now, he isn’t about to break that streak just because his best friend in the goddamn universe is being a little shit.
Apparently, he said all that out loud because Ochako snorts gracelessly and sprays him with a bit of the tea she had had in her mouth. He splutters and yelps in surprise as she collapses in a fit of giggles on the table, swallowing her mouthful of tea and trying her best not to choke. Izuku watches, choking back his own sip of tea so it doesn’t dribble out his mouth and down his shirt from his (unsuccessfully) stifled laughter.
When they both finally calm down and stop wheezing, Izuku drops his forehead to the tank with a groan as Ochako calmly sips her tea and watches him wonder whether or not he should just risk death to ask Shouto. It couldn’t be that bad, right? Ochako was probably correct, after all, it wasn’t like Izuku was telling Shouto his plants had died (not that Shouto would ever let anyone near Kida) so it couldn’t possibly be that horrible. It was near impossible to kill Kida, though, so maybe… no. Ochako was right. Izuku shakes himself and sits up, a new look of determination on his face. Ochako blinks at him, over her mug.
“I’m just going to ask him.” Izuku says, taking hold of his own mug to take a sip of his slightly too cold tea.
“And he comes to his senses, ladies and gentlemen.” Ochako smiles, “What a miracle. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Oh shut up, you.” Izuku scowls playfully at her and stands up, putting his mug back down.
“Hey, you need to clean that up.” Ochako calls after him. “Deku, come on!”
Izuku flees the scene of the crime to the sound of her laughter.
————————————
Izuku has him cornered in the stairwell and, to his credit, Shouto doesn’t look terrified by the fact that he’s been cornered by his boyfriend who could easily chuck him across a field if he wanted to. No, Shouto just blinks sleepily at Izuku, blanket wrapped tightly around his shoulders and draping down his body to drag on the floor, and mutters something about being on his way to bed. Izuku gives him an easygoing grin and stalks forward, on a mission.
“Izuku, what are you doing?” Shouto asks, never once breaking eye contact as he backs up a few steps.
“I gotta ask you something.” Izuku plants his hands against the wall, having to reach up a bit to actually get there, and cages Shouto in. His posture is unwavering, smile still sweet on his face, and Shouto looks between his arms, his mouth, and his eyes for a long moment. Contemplating something, probably.
And then there’s a mouth pressing to Izuku’s and he blinks owlishly for a moment, for as long as the kiss lasts. Then Shouto pulls away and leans back against the wall, giving him another oddly cat-like slow blink. Izuku’s face falls into something similar to that time he thought he’d seen a ghost, eyes wide and lips pursed a little.
“Is that… not what you were after?” Shouto asks, a little confused but still monotonous as he usually is.
“Uh.” Izuku says smartly. He clears his throat and says, “No, n-not exactly. But um. I’m never gonna deny kisses from you, so… thanks?”
“You’re welcome.” Shouto says calmly, looking for all the world like he doesn’t mind being caged in anymore.
They’re still in the stairwell, though, and Izuku doesn’t want anyone to find them like this, lest they immediately think that they were about to fuck in the stairwell (because Kaminari is relentless and will tease for months). So, without much more thought than that, Izuku steps forward and scoops Shouto up into his arms like a princess, ignoring the quiet yelp of protest, and heads up the stairs to his floor. Shouto clings to him, arms looping around his neck and shoulders, face pressing into the crook of Izuku’s neck.
“Put me down.” Shouto whispers sternly, “Izuku, I swear to god, put me down.”
“Nope! Not yet.” Izuku says cheerfully.
Shouto groans against his neck, hold tightening.
Despite knowing that Izuku could do any number of things with or without his quirk, Shouto has always hated being picked up. Izuku hasn’t been able to figure out why and, when asked, Shouto can’t really provide an answer outside of saying that gravity hates him and it feels weird and unsafe, despite how much he trusts both Eijirou and Izuku.
When Izuku gets to his door (or one of the dorm rooms the three of them share), he kicks it open and walks inside, nudging the door shut with his foot once he’s in. Then he tosses Shouto onto the bed, nearly sending him right on top of Eijirou, and pounces in him like a cat to a mouse. He grabs Shouto’s wrists and pushes them down against the bed, face a few inches above his, and he stares him down for a long moment while Eijirou splutters and tries to figure out what the hell is going on. Shouto clenches his jaw and stares back at Izuku, wary and curious as to what’ll happen next.
Then Izuku just says it. “What’s your favourite dessert?”
Dead silence.
Then: “Izuku. You corner me in the stairwell, pin me to a wall, carry me upstairs, toss me onto a bed and then pin me to said bed, just to ask me what my favourite dessert is.”
“Yep!” Izuku chirps with a grin.
“A tad over dramatic, don’t you think?” Shouto cocks his head to the side like a confused puppy.
Izuku snorts. “Yeah, well, I’ve done worse.”
“Like that time where you took all the oranges and-”
“We don’t speak of the Orange Incident, Shouto.”
Shouto rolls his eyes and sighs at him, “You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re adorable.” Izuku grins. “Now answer the question.”
“Wh-” Eijirou coughs, “What the hell is happening?”
“Fairly simple, I’m asking Shouto the question.” Izuku explains, sitting up so he’s more or less perched on Shouto’s stomach, resulting in a soft oomph from Shouto.
“Oh. Alright then.” Eijirou blinks, trying to wrap his head around all this. “And you’re doing it like this why?”
Izuku shrugs, “Decided it was easier than the long game.”
“Strawberry roll cake.”
Izuku and Eijirou both whip their heads to look at Shouto.
Shouto blinks blankly up at them. “Strawberry roll cake. I really don’t know why this is such a big deal, you two-”
“I knew it!” Izuku cheers.
Eijirou shoves him.
“What is going on?” Shouto demands, sitting up.
“We were curious as to what your favourite dessert was.” Eijirou explains as Izuku giggles up a storm. “We knew you liked sweets but, well, neither of us were sure what your favourite was.”
“And this matter why?” Shouto raises an eyebrow.
“Because I stress bake and wanted to make it for you.” Izuku explains, finally quelling his laughter.
“Oh.” Shouto blinks. “And how long have you been wondering?”
“Two weeks?” Eijirou says.
Shouto stares at them both as if they’d grown another head.
Then he sighs and lies back down. “You could have just asked me, you know.”
“We’re dumbasses though.” Eijirou points out. Izuku nods.
“Yes, I know.” Shouto drags his hands down his face and sighs heavily, “But you’re my dumbasses.”
“Aw.” Izuku grins, cheeks pinking slightly as he lowers his hands to Shouto’s waist.
Eijirou laughs, kissing Izuku firmly on the cheek. “Well that was… something.”
“It certainly was.” Shouto parts his fingers so he can peak out at his boyfriends with one eye. “Now let me sleep, I’m tired.”
“Fine, fine, I’ll get off you.” Izuku clambers off his perch on Shouto’s stomach and plops down next to Eijirou.
Shouto has always fallen asleep quickly, it’s just how he’s always been. Awake one moment, asleep the next, and Izuku has always been beyond impressed by it. He’d theorized that maybe it had to do with the ability to regulate your body temperature. Maybe Shouto could just find the perfect temperature to fall asleep and used that ability to fall asleep faster than most.
But what Izuku never expected was for a sleeping Shouto to shift over and press his face into the side of Eijirou’s thigh and hug his waist before smiling goofily in his sleep and falling still.
Izuku and Eijirou stare, dumbstruck.
Then Izuku forces down a ‘squee’ and whispers, “Awwwww oh my gods.”
“That has got to be one of the cutest things Hes ever done.” Eijirou whispers, cheeks going almost as red as his hair.
“You realize you’re trapped now, right?” Izuku asks quietly.
Eijirou shrugs and shoots him a sharp toothed grin. “I gotta say, this is definitely not the worst way to be trapped.”
Izuku’s snort is loud enough to wake Shouto up.
He and Eijirou freeze in place, staring down at Shouto, waiting with bated breath to see if the barnacle will wake up. But, true to his nature, he doesn’t wake up and Izuku can breathe again. With a happy sigh, he leans over and puts his head on Eijirou’s shoulder, cuddling into his side.
“Hopefully we don’t have homework.” Eijirou mutters, putting one arm around Izuku and kissing the top of his head. “Because I’d much rather stay here than do it.”
Izuku laughs and presses his face into the crook of Eijirou’s neck. “We had homework.”
“Shit.”
And Izuku laughs until he falls asleep.