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Katsuki can pinpoint the exact moment when he realized his feelings for Izuku. Not the exact moment he fell in love because that would be impossible given their history, but the moment he realized it…yes, that he can remember clearly. People might assume it was Katsuki noticing Deku in the heat of battle, all sinewy and strong, fighting for their lives, saving people with a smile. But no; It was a much, much quieter moment. Sipping tea in the morning before a shared shift, lamenting the early patrol, but blessing the powers of a strong black tea. Izuku grinned as he blew on the tea to let it cool, his cheeks looking impossibly pink, freckles looking impossibly like little stars, eyes looking impossibly bright. And because Katsuki realized it in that moment, he also blurted it out right then and there.
“God, I love you, Deku,” he said, his own face reddening, heart leaping.
“What? What did you say, Kacchan…?”
“You heard me. I said, ‘I love you.’”
“I…wow…I wasn’t expecting…”
“Izuku. I see the way you look at me. Don’t tell me that’s nothing.”
“You…you notice that?! Oh god,” Izuku’s ears flushed.
“Yes, but I just told you I love you! What’s there to be embarrassed about, then?”
“Kacchan. I…I love you too," Izuku replied, beaming.
“So, be with me,” said Katsuki, not caring how forward or eager he sounds.
“Isn’t that…fast?” asked Izuku.
“Fast? Tch. If you ask me, it’s too slow. How long have we been doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Dancing around each other. Around our feelings?”
“Too long…” Izuku admitted.
“So…”
“Let’s go on a date!” Exclaimed Izuku, grasping Katsuki’s hands, his expression so pure and joyful it makes Katsuki’s heart sing.
“Alright. You got it. I’m taking you out tonight. I'll pick you up at seven," Katsuki said, flashing a brilliant grin.
"Kacchan, we're roommates!"
"So, I'll pick you up in the living room at seven!"
*****
Izuku stepped into the living room at 6:55 pm sharply dressed in casual, yet nice clothes Ochako had helped him pick out.
He’d found several decent options in the depths of his closet and they conferred over video chat to pick out the best outfit, deciding on dark jeans and a gray button-down shirt with subtle green and purple stripes. Completing the look was a pair of barely broken in dress shoes; black with a hint of shine.
“I still don’t know if I get it,” she’d said over the phone. “You’re going on your first date with Katsuki-Kun, but aren’t you already together?”
“No! We haven’t gotten together. Not yet!” Izuku explained again as he moved to hang up the rejected shirts.
“But…you confessed your love for each other?” continued Ochako.
“Yes.”
“And…you already live together…”
“We’re roommates,” Izuku clarified.
“And nothing romantic has ever happened between you before?” she asked, skeptically.
“Not since this morning at the tea house,” answered Izuku.
“Well, that’s both adorable and frustrating,” she offered.
“You’re tellin’ me,” said Izuku.
“So then…why didn’t you two just like, rush home and…you know…rip each others’ clothes off?”
“Believe me, I’ve dreamed up scenarios like that so many times, but…well, for one thing, we had work.”
“That’s one of the most Deku things I’ve ever heard you say,” she teased.
“Look. I know it doesn’t totally make sense. But nothing with Kacchan and me has ever felt normal. It’s always been so…intense. I guess I’ve just always wanted to know what it’s like to go on a date with someone you like.” Izuku sat on the bed and ran a hand through his hair. His cheeks were turning pink. “Is that stupid?”
“No, Deku, it’s not stupid. I’m sorry for giving you a hard time. I just want you to be happy, that’s all. Both of you idiots deserve that. And if it’s with each other…well, I think that’s just great.”
“Thanks. How do I look?” Izuku held the phone out and did a little spin.
“Handsome, as ever. Katsuki doesn’t stand a chance.”
*****
He moved to sit on the couch, then changed his mind and decided to stay standing. He was this close to pacing. He tugged at his shirt and smoothed the creases in the sleeves, suddenly feeling self-conscious. He touched his hair, but stopped short of running his fingers through it, careful not to muss it. There wasn’t much hope for taming his green curls, and honestly, his hair was one feature he genuinely liked about himself. He figured it wasn’t too much of a stretch to imagine that Kacchan might also like it. So, Izuku hadn’t tried to tamp his curls down or set them in a particular way, but he had added a bit of foaming gel, a pea-sized amount, really, more for the musky smell and to maintain the texture than to change anything. Overall, he was pleased with how he looked and he didn’t think it mattered that much, anyway since Kacchan had already made his feelings known. But this was a date and Izuku wanted to do it right.
At 6:59 Katsuki sauntered into the living room, looking pleased with himself. But his smugness dropped the instant he saw Izuku standing there because, damn did the nerd look gorgeous. He had to avert his eyes. Katsuki cleared his throat and Izuku turned, megawatt smile hitting him straight in the chest. He felt his heart rate rapidly increasing.
“You look…” Katsuki struggled to find the right word, but Izuku cut across him with his own reaction.
“Kacchan, you look hot!” declared Izuku, unabashedly, though the tips of his ears turned decidedly pink.
Katsuki grinned. “You’re not so bad, yourself,” he replied. Honestly, he wanted to eat Izuku right up. They stood apart, admiring each other, the tension in the room incredibly palpable, though that was nothing new. It was just a different kind of tension. Katsuki desperately wanted to close the space between them and he found himself slowly moving in that direction while Izuku drifted towards him too. Katsuki took Izuku’s hand in his and squeezed, gently. He figured that much was allowed, at least. It took all his strength not to pull him into a fervent kiss, but he settled for carding a hand through Izuku’s curls.
“You ready?” he asked. Izuku nodded. He didn’t let go of Katsuki’s hand.
Katsuki had made reservations at a new restaurant in their district, that had received stellar online reviews for the ambiance as well as for the menu. Normally, Katsuki wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the opinions of a bunch of random extras, but the place had just opened. None of their friends had eaten there, yet and he hadn’t been able to try it out for himself first. But Katsuki figured, as much as he’d like to control everything about this night in order to make it perfect, a little bit of risk was necessary to make it truly worthwhile.
They walked hand in hand down the sidewalk, enjoying the warm night and each other. That may have been a little forward in the public display realm, had this been a traditional first date between two people who barely knew each other, but, they arguably knew each other even better than some married couples. Katsuki took it a sign of preemptive success that Izuku was comfortable with the contact. A few times they heard murmurs of ‘it’s Kacchan and Deku,’ but no one bothered them and the outright staring and pointing were minimal. And something strange brewed within Katsuki as he took in the extra attention from strangers. It wasn’t anger or embarrassment or disgust. It was pride. As disinterested in the media and fandom (despite having grown up as a rabid fanboy himself) as he was, he found it pleasurable to think of people speculating about him and Deku. Yeah, it was their private business, but there was definitely a part of him that also wanted to shout it from the rooftops. What the hell had Deku done to him?
Izuku smiled at their linked hands and his face grew pink when he noticed Katsuki notice. When they arrived at the restaurant, Izuku’s eyes widened. It was a lovely place, somehow quaint yet modern, right on the riverfront, with outdoor seating available, which Katsuki had arranged for them.
“Kacchan, this is amazing!” Izuku gushed.
“Yeah, I thought it seemed like a nice place to try,” Kacchan said with a shrug.
“I know what you’re doing, Kacchan. You don’t have to pretend to be humble. Don’t minimize the thought you put into this. I asked you to take me out on a date and you’ve clearly pulled out all the stops.”
“Plus Ultra!” said Katsuki, pumping his fist with a smirk. But Izuku could see right through it. Katsuki was pleased. The host led them to their table and Izuku beamed, even more, when he saw it was adorned with a centerpiece of fresh-cut sunflowers and orange osmanthus. Looking around, Izuku didn’t notice any such arrangements on the other tables and he knew immediately it was something Kacchan had done especially for them.
“The sunflowers remind me of you and your ridiculously bright smile. How it feels to be on the receiving end of it and how lucky that makes me,” Katsuki offered in way of an explanation. “Deku. I’m gonna do everything I can to keep making you smile. If you let me,” he added flashing a grin of his own and taking Izuku’s hands across the table. The smile Izuku wore now was exactly what Katsuki longed to see every day. God, but he was good at this whole date thing!
“Kacchan, that’s so…” Izuku trailed off, leaning in towards Katsuki with parting lips.
“Good evening,” said the server, popping their bubble. Izuku jumped and Katsuki groaned, but they quickly turned their attention to the young woman who stood before them and did their best to appear nonplussed. “What can I get you to drink?” She asked, brightly. Katsuki ordered a sake he knew Izuku liked and the server disappeared, but the moment was gone. Damn. Thought Katsuki. Then, there will be other moments, he reminded himself. The drink came swiftly and Katsuki and Izuku fell into an easy conversation that felt like any ordinary talk they’d have at home or at work, only better because they didn’t have to hide. Izuku didn’t have to look away if he was caught staring too long. Katsuki didn’t have to feign aloofness. They could just be present with each other in a way they hadn’t been allowed to before. Izuku kicked himself, mentally, for the colossal waste of time they’d spent ignoring what they wanted when they could have had this the whole time. Could we have? He wondered.
They ate their way through oysters, wagyu beef, fresh fish, rice, grilled vegetables, and side dishes full of flavors Izuku couldn’t quite pinpoint, but that Katsuki cataloged for his own culinary purposes.
“You’re the one muttering when it comes to food,” said Izuku, teasingly.
“Yeah, and you’re damn lucky I pay attention to that sort of thing. How else do you think I’m able to cook such delicious meals for you. For us?”
Izuku blushed. When they’d first moved in together, Katsuki had prepared them both easy Bentos for work, declaring that it was easy enough for him to make extra and he liked doing it; it was more economical anyway, and Izuku had thought nothing of it. But over time, three years now, the meals had gradually become more elaborate. Katsuki cooked dinner for them at home fairly often and insisted they eat together whenever they could. Now, it was plain as day, and Izuku could clearly see. This had been Katsuki’s way of loving him from afar. Part of it, anyway. This knowledge both pained and delighted Izuku to discover. Tears danced in the corner of his eyes and Katsuki instantly noticed.
“What’s wrong, Deku?” he asked, voice filled with a concern that threatened Izuku’s fragile heart even more. He shook his head, trying to reassure Katsuki.
“I’m just…I’m really happy, Kacchan,” he said. He squeezed Katsuki's hand and the worry in Katsuki’s face melted away. “I love you. I love you so much.”
Izuku leaned in. Katsuki’s breath hitched, their foreheads touched.
“Can I offer you some dessert?” asked the server, who had inconveniently appeared once again. This time they both groaned. Izuku didn’t know if he was annoyed that she acted like there was nothing amiss or if he was grateful. He supposed she was just doing her job in a professional manner. It wasn’t her fault they’d acted like idiots, suppressing their feelings for nearly ten years. Katsuki turned on the hero charm and offered her a smile as he ordered them Anko and Ichigo daifuku. This time, she giggled as she walked away and they were pretty sure they spotted her whispering to some of the other staff.
Katsuki could give or take sweets, but Izuku absolutely loved them, and somehow, Izuku made taking a bite of strawberry look downright sensual. As he observed this, Katsuki tried to shake his amorous thoughts but realized halfway through, he didn’t have to. He could finally let these thoughts roam free, make them known even! And the look Izuku gave Katsuki as he paid the bill made it clear he wasn’t the only one whose mind wandered in that direction.
“Thank you, Kacchan,” he said. “That was wonderful.”
“The night’s just getting started, Deku,” Katsuki whispered, leaning in once more.
“All set, sir?” The server again. Dammit, what the hell is with her terrible timing? Thought Izuku, but he covered his face in faux embarrassment as Katsuki nodded and gestured to the bill. It really wasn’t customary for the server at such an establishment to do a final check-in like this, but from the growing blush that dusted her cheeks and the way she fidgeted with her hands, not to mention the several other staff members who were gathering surreptitiously around the area, he thought he understood why she’d really approached. It was Izuku’s turn to ignite the hero charm and Katsuki watched him morph from Izuku Midoriya, his Deku, into hero Deku in a matter of seconds. Deku offered a warm, inviting smile and Katsuki watched the server’s fears melt away as his calming presence assured her it was okay for her to ask her question.
“Could I…could I get your autographs? I’m a huge fan,” she said, speaking quickly as if she couldn’t bear to hold on the words any longer. “You know we just opened up here. It’s my first time serving heroes!”
“Absolutely,” Izuku offered. He leaned down and reached into his satchel and pulled out three eight by ten photographs, one of Deku, one of Kacchan, and one of the two of them with “Wonder Duo” written in bold, gold script at the bottom. Katsuki’s mouth hung open, incredulous, as Izuku handed him a shiny white pen and pushed his likeness towards him. “Who should we make it out to?”
*****
They walked in silence for a while, Izuku grinning from ear to ear, Katsuki studying him like he was some rare species of bird.
“You’re unbelievable,” said Katsuki, his red eyes glinting, but unreadable.
“What?” asked Izuku.
“Do you always carry around eight by tens of yourself?”
“Not always, but most of the time,” shrugged Izuku. “I put yours in there tonight since we’re out together.” He patted the satchel with his free hand, the other was linked through Katsuki’s arm.
“You are seriously such a nerd,” Katsuki said, pinching Izuku’s cheek gently and mussing his hair.
“Well, they came in handy, didn’t they?” Izuku nudged Katsuki with his shoulder. “And look. No one’s bothering us now…” Izuku stopped. They were still in a booming part of the district, but it was an unusually quiet night, and they’d managed to move down a less-trafficked portion of the riverwalk. “We’re practically alone.” They turned towards each other, red eyes looking hungrily into green and vice versa.
“Deku,” Katsuki spoke softly, saying his name like a prayer. He took several steps closer, relishing the nearness of Izuku’s breath. So close now. Katsuki placed his calloused hands on either side of Izuku’s face and slowly pulled that precious face towards his own.
“Aaaaghhghh!” a scream ripped through the moment and they had only seconds to curse their string of truly awful luck before noticing the panicked running of people who were clearly fleeing a nearby building. People spilled past them, brushing right up against them as if they weren’t even there. Katsuki and Izuku shared a glance and just like that, all thoughts of romance were abandoned as they tore off towards the fray. More screams now added to the cacophony as they rushed towards their origin.
Katsuki was cursing not having his gauntlets, already at a bit of a disadvantage in street clothes, when he heard Izuku yell, ‘catch,’ and then he was catching one of his own mini grenades in his hands. Izuku grinned at him, offering another little shrug. “I figured they could come in handy too.”
“God, I love you!” said Katsuki.
Izuku beamed. "So you've said!"
They arrived on the scene and stopped short of the building, a convenience store. Izuku spotted the police and he approached to ask for any helpful information and to make their presence known.
“A robbery,” an officer informed them. “Two villains went in and demanded the contents of the cash register, and when the worker refused…well, apparently one of their Quirks animates objects and sets them to attack. He refuses to come out, so we’ve got a hostage situation.
“Jeez,” said Katsuki. Izuku pulled off his button-down shirt and tied it around his waist. Out of the corner of his eye, Katsuki caught a glimpse of the slightly too tight black undershirt clinging to Izuku’s muscular frame and he mumbled his frustrations under his breath, vowing to tear these villains limb from limb for interrupting their first date.
“We may need Eraserhead on this,” said Izuku.
“He’s been called and he’s en route. Of course, we didn’t know you two were in the area," reported the officer.
“We’re just lucky, I guess,” growled Katsuki.
“We’ll try to clear everyone in the area and keep people calm,” said Izuku. Katsuki and Izuku shared another subtle look that Katsuki took to mean he’d be heading into the store to manage the scene from the inside.
“Everyone, listen up,” Izuku called, starting to gather people to him. They all obeyed, coming to him like moths to a flame. Katsuki was damned proud. “We need to move out of the area. Please, follow the river path, and start moving south…”
Katsuki didn’t hear the rest of Deku’s speech. He was already moving stealthily towards the entrance of the convenience store. On the fly, he decided the best course of action was to act like an unknowing civilian entering to buy a package of ramen or a can of coffee. His street-clothes provided him this cover. Whistling, he tossed one of the grenades in his hand like a baseball and entered the store confidently. He took in as much of his surroundings as he could, trying to locate the hostages first before acting.
“You! On the ground,” commanded a gruff voice. Katsuki spun on his heel to face the villain. He was met with a tall man with a willowy frame and long greasy, black hair. He had his hand out, waving it like he was some sort of magician, he pointed a long finger at a coffee pot and closed his eyes.
“I wouldn’t do that,” said Katsuki. He continued to toss the grenade. The man’s eyes flew open, surprised that Katsuki knew of his Quirk. It was clearly not registering yet with the villain that Katsuki was a hero, but behind the counter, Katsuki caught sight of the three hostages. And one, a teenage boy, was wearing a very obvious Kacchan hoodie, complete with orange X on the front and little explosions hanging from the drawstring. Katsuki flicked his eyes deliberately at the boy and when the look of recognition crossed his face, he clapped a hand over his mouth. “See this?” Katsuki asked, flaunting the grenade towards the villain. “It’s full of my sweat. That sounds disgusting, I know, but in my sweat is something like nitroglycerin.”
Katsuki spotted his own face on a magazine cover next to the checkout and improvising, he leaned over to grab it, holding it up next to his head. He did his best to conjure up the smoldering look he’d given during that particular photoshoot. He watched as the villain’s gaze darted from his face to…his face. “My partner, Deku is just outside,” he continued, a touch loudly, again locking eyes with the teenage fan. The boy nodded, slightly. “Now, you had a partner too, right? Where’s he gone to?" The hair on the back of Katsuki’s head stood up as he felt the second man’s presence behind him and two, no three things happened at once. He spun and let off an explosion in the direction of the second man, then hurled the grenade at the coffee pot that was coming alive on the other side of the room and he shouted, “Run!”
Taking charge, the young Kacchan fan grabbed the other two hostages and pulled them out the door, quickly and efficiently. The willowy villain let out a howl and now it was a full-on brawl. Katsuki still didn’t know the other man’s Quirk, so he concentrated all his energy into blasting the objects that came hurtling towards him in attack mode.
*****
Outside, Deku continued to calm civilians and guide them away from the scene with the assistance of the police force. Suddenly, the convenience store building shook, and large tentacled arms busted through the glass of the front windows. People screamed and shrieked and the cool, collected, orderly lines of people dissipated as panic set in once again. The officers moved to take over this task as it became clear Deku was needed to fight off the villains.
“Kacchan!” Deku shouted as he noticed Katsuki in the clutches of one slimy purple tentacle. Was this guy’s Quirk just, giant octopus? A large ‘Boom’ sounded and Deku ran towards it, Katsuki slipping from the tentacle arm as he was dropped. He landed hard on the ground with an ‘oof,’
“Don’t worry about me, nerd,” Kacchan scolded, taking Deku’s hand. Deku pulled him from the ground and the green lightning lines of One for All surrounded him. Deku was gearing up for his shoot style attack
“Look out!” Deku called, as he took a running leap in the air, aiming a kick at the octopus head. Below him, several objects, a magazine rack, a carton of milk, and a toaster were moving towards Katsuki with speed and what looked like animosity. Katsuki was shooting off explosions every which way as Deku landed his kick. The octopus villain flew back from the force, but more random objects continued to rush through the broken windows of the convenience store.
Katsuki had lost sight of the willowy villain. He was likely still inside, hiding behind his animated objects, sending them out with increasing speed. Katsuki grunted as he saw the octopus villain reaching out to grab Deku, the force of his earlier smash knocking him back, but not out. And then they were moving in synch, running together, landing a hit together, deflecting objects together. And it was hot! They weren’t the Wonder Duo for nothing.
“Kacchan!” Izuku yelled as dozens of candy bars flew at Katsuki like a flock of angry birds, several pelting him in the head, and then, just like that, they dropped and the octopus shrank to reveal the body of the other man, lying in a pool of purple slime. Eraserhead!
Katsuki was on the ground, covering his head and before he knew what he was doing, Izuku rushed over to him and pulled him up, wrapping his arms around him tightly and Katsuki reciprocated. “Kacchan, Kacchan, Kacchan,” Izuku repeated. He pulled away for a brief moment and then it happened. Izuku plunged forward, arms around Katsuki’s neck and he kissed him, crashing their lips together ardently. Katsuki responded in kind and the whole world fell away as they embraced. And then Izuku was tapping him on the shoulder and Katsuki pulled away with a grunt. Izuku pointed to a screen in the alleyway with their live image and then they noticed the cameras. The media people looked poised to pounce, microphones ready to be shoved in their faces. The giddy expressions of the reporters indicating one hell of a scoop.
“Kacchan…did we…did we just have our first kiss on national TV?” asked Izuku with raised eyebrows. His hands were still fisted in Katsuki’s shirt.
“I think so, Deku,” said Katsuki, hiding his face in Deku’s shoulder. And then for some reason that was all very, very funny. They erupted into fits of laughter, Izuku’s voice going super high-pitched as he struggled to catch his breath. Katsuki half grunted as he attempted to hold it together and they rolled around on the pavement in fits until the paparazzi decided they’d gotten enough embarrassing footage of the pros.
“You’re not in your hero costumes,” said Eraserhead matter-of-factly as he approached, eyeing them, their street clothes ripped and tattered in places.
“No,” said Izuku. “We were on a…” he dropped his head, looking like he’d just remembered they were supposed to be on their date. Eraser gave them a knowing look and shooed them away.
“You guys go. We’ll take it from here. You did good."
They thanked him walked back towards where Izuku had flung his bag on the way to the scene, their ribs still aching from the laughter.
“It’s still here!” said Izuku, half shocked.
“What, worried someone would steal your precious eight by tens?” teased Katsuki.
“Haha,” said Izuku, slinging the bag over his shoulder and swinging it at Katsuki. “They might. You're very handsome, Kacchan.”
And as they started to walk back to their apartment, Katsuki noticed the hostage kid, the teen with the Kacchan hoodie, standing with two older people, presumably his parents, fussing over him.
“Hey, just a second, hand me one of those, my face,” he said, tapping Izuku. Izuku obliged, pulling out an eight by ten of Kacchan and handing it over with a pen. “Hey, kid,” said Katsuki striding over to the boy. “You did great back there.”
“Oh, thanks,” he said looking proud and sheepish, simultaneously. “So, who should I make this out to?” asked Katsuki, flashing a smile.
“Uh, my name’s Akira,” said the boy. “But uh, actually, I’m more of a Deku fan.” More of a Deku fan, then why the hell are you wearing my merch? Katsuki thought, annoyance creeping in.
“We’re kind of a package deal,” said Deku overhearing. He wrapped his arm around Katsuki’s middle and pulled out a Wonder Duo photo. They both signed it and handed it to the boy, who looked starstruck and scared and confused all at once, but he bowed and carried the photo with reverence, holding it away from his body as the ink dried.
“A package deal,” said Katsuki, slinging his arms around Izuku as they continued to walk back home. “I like the sound of that.”
“I love you, Kacchan. I know this wasn’t exactly the night you had planned, but, I’m just happy we’re together.”
“Me too,” said Katsuki.
“Walking along the water like this, It reminds me a little of when we’d spend time at the creek or the beach as kids, just walking.”
“Yeah, but we didn’t do this as kids.” Katsuki grabbed Izuku by the shoulders and captured his lips in a kiss and they both melted into it, happily.
“Move in with me,” said Katsuki when they finally broke apart, minutes or hours later.
“We already live together,” Izuku reminded him.
“I mean for real. Be with me,” he echoed his words from the morning and they went straight to Izuku’s heart.
Izuku bit his lip, another signature thinking tell and for a moment Katsuki lost his breath and all sense of time. “Ok,” said Izuku, finally. "I want that too. I want to be with you. I meant what I said. We’re a package deal.”
“The Wonder Duo,” said Katsuki, pulling Izuku in tight.
“So, I guess that means I’m sleeping in your bed tonight,” Izuku murmured with a wickedness Katsuki had never heard from him before and Katsuki crumbled.
“Our bed, nerd,” he said with a growl.
“Ours,” repeated Izuku.
*****
Katsuki can pinpoint the exact moment when he decided to ask Izuku to marry him. Not the first time he’d thought about it because that would be impossible given their history, but the moment when he decided it…yes, that he can remember clearly. People might assume it was Katsuki appreciating Izuku in a softer moment, sipping tea in the morning before a shared shift, lamenting the early patrol, but blessing the powers of a strong black tea, but it was a much louder moment. Katsuki noticing Deku in the heat of battle, all sinewy and strong, fighting for their lives, saving people with a smile, his cheeks looking impossibly pink, his freckles looking impossibly like little stars, eyes looking impossibly bright. But just because Katsuki decided it in that moment, he didn't blurt it out right then and there. Instead, as they fell asleep together in each other's arms for the first time, he began to formulate a plan.