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"I love you."
Izuku startles, turning around. Katsuki stands behind him, teeth clenched and eyes narrowed with intent. They're in the middle of the sidewalk, though it's clear of any other people. A sweet wind blows past, cool but slightly wet.
"What?" Izuku says, his eyes wide. The words from before feel unreal, misheard. His hands wring the edges of his shirt and he bites his lip.
"I said," Katsuki moves forward slowly, stopping just a few inches short, "I love you."
Frozen, Izuku stares. Katsuki's cheek twitches, his eyes darting away for a second. His hands are held in tight fists. Izuku takes a shuffling step forward. If he were to lean in, even the slightest bit, he'd be touching Katsuki.
"You do?" He breathes, unmoored and impossibly fragile.
Katsuki's nose scrunches up and his head whips to the side, "You heard me stupid!"
His face feels tingly, probably bright red with blush. He swallows. Once. Twice. And a third time.
"Ah," he says. He draws his hands up so that they clasp. The world feels bright, ablaze.
Izuku opens his mouth and is hit with a drop of water.
Make that...several drops of water.
Cold rain bursts from the heavens, Izuku yelps, flinching as the downpour rushes in. He can hear Katsuki cursing and suddenly something is thrown over his head.
It's Katsuki's blazer. His hand is grabbed and he's yanked forward, the other pulling him under the shelter of a nearby awning. Izuku tilts his head up from under the wet cloth. Katsuki is completely soaked compared to Izuku who escaped some of the rain due to the other's quick actions.
He isn't looking at Izuku anymore, staring out at the cacophony of water.
Izuku didn't say anything, he realizes. The blazer drops to cover his shoulders when he pulls it, unwieldy on top of his own. He reaches out, with one shaking pale hand, and grasps the other's shirt.
"Kacchan," he says, trying to catch the other's eye, "I didn't get to give you an answer, did I?"
Katsuki's eyes flick toward him, his lips twisting in some unnamed emotion.
"Well," his palms are sweating, already wet from the rain. It's hard to maintain his grip so he twists the fabric, Katsuki stumbling forward. Izuku stares up at him, licking his lips. Red eyes trail the motion.
"I love you," Izuku says, "I always have."
"Fuck," Katsuki says back, running a hand through his hair and flicking away the water there, "Fuck."
If he grips the shirt any harder it's going to rip, "What's that supposed to mean?"
The other huffs, but doesn't pull away. The cold is starting to seep into the parts of Izuku's clothes that are wet. He can't imagine how Katsuki must be fairing, drenched as he is.
"Didn't think you'd forgive me enough for this," Katsuki says, his hand coming up to cover Izuku's own.
"I've forgiven you a hundred times over, you know?," Izuku says, staring at the hand covering his own, "From the moment you started to change, I forgave you instant by instant, day by day."
Katsuki makes a noise in the back of his throat, and objection, perhaps? Izuku gently sets his hand on the shoulder across from him and squeezes.
"And when you apologized a year ago- I knew- I knew it was over for me. I'd have always said yes after that."
There's a beat of silence and Izuku can feel his heart in his throat. Weren't confessions supposed to be easy? Yes or no, I can't or I can. Was there meant to be such hesitation, especially from the confessee?
But perhaps that was just Katsuki and himself, hopelessly complicated and twisted up. No matter how much the both of them had tried to untangle, there were always threads to trip them up.
Izuku had despaired of ever finding his way through the knots. Only when Katsuki lent a hand had any of their progress been made. And perhaps that's why Izuku had hope even in the silence.
A thumb strokes his wrist.
Katsuki would be there, and no matter what tangles may appear, Izuku knows they can loosen them, together.
"...You're such a dumbass," Katsuki says, "You ever think what might be best for you?"
"Mmm," Izuku hums, stepping closer so that they're toe to toe, "I think I'm good, haven't been wrong so far, you know?" He leans forward, slightly on his toes. Their lips are mere centimetres apart.
He's given one last long stare by Katsuki before the other cups his head gently.
The kiss is pretty terrible at first, to be honest. As far as he's aware, Katsuki has never kissed anyone and neither has he. Their teeth clink together and they end up bumping noses at least twice.
But it's easy, after those awkward first moments, to fit together. Katsuki's lips are soft and meld together with his.
They break apart and Izuku, breathless, presses his finger against his lips.
"I love you," he says again, muffled slightly by his fingers.
"I love you too, idiot," Katsuki says back, pulling him close so that Izuku's head bumps against the other's chin. The rain continues to fall, loud against the awning. It should be a racket, but right now it's nothing but peaceful.