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It was a weird circumstance. Usually, the customer felt more out of place when getting coffee. But whoever this person was, they definitely knew the place.
The man with the green hair walked in with a bright smile, much too happy for someone walking into a college coffee shop at seven am. He quickly waved at the two people making coffee as he made his way to the counter.
“Good morning!”
Katsuki had to force down an eye roll, he hadn’t even looked up yet and this customer was already way too excited.
“Yeah, what can I get started for you?”
As he finally looked up he momentarily paused. Wow whoever the fuck this was, they were cute.
“Hmm, what do you recommend?”
Usually, Katsuki hated that question, but coming from this stranger he couldn’t help what came out of his mouth next.
“This morning tape face back there made some almond peppermint iced coffee, I bet I can get him to make another.” He surprised himself, why was he telling a random customer that his idiot friend makes random shit up and forces him to drink it?
The man, clearly amused, had tilted his head to the side for a moment before speaking up.
“Sero? He does seem like someone who would come up with that!”
“Yeah he’s always coming up with some gross ass shit and forcing me and dunce face to drink it, today he got lucky.”
“You sure have some funny nicknames for Sero and Kaminari. Either way! If you think it won’t be a hassle to make it again, I’d love to try the almond peppermint iced coffee!”
“Pft, they’ve made much more complicated things for way more shitty people, don’t sweat it, nerd.”
The man laughed lightly.
“What makes you think I’m a nerd?”
“You just have that nerd vibe, plus who else willingly takes morning classes in the summer, other than nerds.”
The now deemed ‘nerd’ looked confused for a moment before he realized he had his school books sticking out of his bag.
“I guess that’s fair! At least the summer classes are almost over!”
“Yeah, and I bet you have morning classes in the fall too.” Katsuki countered, with an eyebrow raise.
The man blushed lightly, letting Katsuki know that he was in fact right.
“It’s only one class in the morning! It's 8 am on Friday! Really not that bad!”
Katsuki was going to counter but he realized he had a similar class, so he decided to keep his mouth shut.
“Either way you’re still a nerd but I can’t put that on a cup, so I need a name.”
“Oh! Izuku, Izuku Midoriya.”
“I’ll make sure tape face works fast, should be ready soon.”
“Wait! How much is it?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Katsuki shot the man, Izuku now, a wink and quickly turned, immediately regretting it. He never did that, he never winked or gave out drinks for free. Damn it this nerd was going to be the end of him.
Izuku was left blushing at the counter suddenly very grateful for the hell he went through this summer for his morning class.
“Oi! Soy sauce! Make another one of those iced coffees you made this morning for the nerd!”
Sero furrowed his brow for a moment before responding.
“Oh! Midoriya! You’re gonna love this!”
Katsuki was determined to redeem himself, he couldn’t leave it at a wink, he was better than that!
“Even your name is nerdy. The first half of it can be read as Deku!”
Izuku blushed at the nickname, why couldn’t the hot guy be an asshole! That would make it so much easier not to like him.
“Well if I’m Deku then you’re- Kacchan!” He looked triumphant, only making him even more adorable.
“What the fuck is a Kacchan?”
“You! You are Kacchan!”
“And you are a fucking nerd, Deku.”
“Don’t think I didn’t spot the All Might pin next to your name tag! You’re secretly a nerd too, Kacchan!”
Katsuki blushed at the call out, what can he say? All Might was the single greatest superhero to ever be written!
“Hey, Midoriya! Here’s that coffee! You gotta tell us if you like it, Sero swears it’s his best one yet!”
“For sure Kaminari! I’ll see you guys tomorrow! Bye Kacchan!” Izuku left after raising an eyebrow at Katsuki, almost daring him to counter.
Once the bell on top of the door dinged, signaling that Izuku had left, both Kaminari and Sero moved in like sharks on prey.
“So what was that all about, Kacchan?” Kaminari always seemed ready to provoke the beast.
“Don’t fucking call me that dunce face. I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
“Really? So you just give everyone free drinks and cutesy nicknames? I noticed a distinct lack of insult to Deku, no shitty, no dunce.” Sero was right there with him.
“Well maybe if you two shit heads would mind your own business you wouldn't have even heard Deku!”
Sero and Kaminari shared a look, even if he wouldn’t admit it Katsuki knew they were onto him.
“Wait, hold the fuck up. How do you guys know the cute nerd anyway? He knew your names and everything. I barely know your fucking names.” Katsuki was quick to change the subject.
“Oh he’s a cute nerd now, is he? That’s Midoriya, he comes in all the time. Almost every morning. He’s one of the only people who pay more than two seconds of attention to us so I guess Kami and I became friends with him.” Kaminari nodded along with Sero’s words.
“And why haven’t you mentioned him before? You both go around calling us best friends and yet you don’t tell me these things, that's why I call you my shit heads.”
“Uh, we have mentioned him. Midoriya was the one we were talking about like two weeks ago, he got a few extra tickets to Jirou’s show at that bar on main and gave them to us! He’s the one that introduced me to Shinsou, the drummer, at the concert? How do you not remember this?” Kaminari was sure Katsuki didn’t flat out ignore them every time they talked.
“That was him?! Why haven’t I met him? Ever since you two started getting lovey-dovey with Half and Half and the drummer you have been on my shit to get out there!”
“Hey! We aren’t lovey-dovey!” “Todoroki and I are just friends!” The pair spoke at the same time, trying to deny Katsuki’s accurate description.
“Yeah, just friends how I want to be Just Friends with Deku! Don’t try and argue with that lovey-dovey shit, I saw the heart you drew on his cup Dunce Face.” Katsuki leveled them with a challenging glare, daring them to contradict him.
“Okay fine! Maybe I drew a heart on his cup, and maybe Sero is lying to himself about Todoroki just a little, but what does that have to do with Midoriya?”
“It has everything to do with him! You know what screw it, I’m keeping the morning shift when the fall semester starts. If he comes in here all the time I am going to see him.”
The three abruptly ended their conversation as a customer walked in, letting their customer service personality take over for the rest of the day.
Izuku had to rush to his class, he really spent too much time at Heights Alliance this morning. He couldn’t help it! The hot blonde was super nice to him! He even got away with calling him Kacchan!
Professor Yamada called him out on his daydreaming after class ended, luckily he wasn’t behind in Lit Interpretation class. Less lucky was the comment about young love that followed.
The next morning Katsuki insisted on being at the register, an uncommon occurrence for the brash blonde, he tended to keep himself in the back if he could help it.
Sero and Kaminari simply shared a look and resigned themselves to a shift of trying not to burn themselves on steamed milk.
They swore Katsuki was going to break his neck with all of the quick turning he did as soon as the bell rang as a customer walked in. His reprieve finally bounced in, still much too excited for someone entering a coffee shop so early.
Katsuki quickly refocused his gaze on his computer, attempting to appear nonchalant. He felt his restraint breaking as Izuku moved closer to the counter. Finally, he met Izuku’s eyes.
“Back so soon? Miss me that much?” Katsuki had talked himself up all morning, he had to try harder to make this nerd his.
Izuku gained an even blush at the comment, he had in fact missed Katsuki but he knew he didn’t have a shot.
“Ha ha very funny, I'm here almost every day, what makes you think it's not for Sero and Kaminari?”
Katsuki arched a sculpted brow, “Because they’ve already been set up with your friends.”
“Hmm, you got me there!” Katsuki already knew that, he made sure to interrogate anyone he could about Izuku.
“Alright then, what will it be today? Tape face made some nasty ass shit this morning so I don’t even have a suggestion.”
“Well then just get me whatever you normally get! You can really tell a lot about a person from the coffee they drink!”
“Well then, tell me what you get from a vanilla iced coffee with a shot of espresso?”
“Hmm an espresso shot, that tells me you’re likely a natural leader, vanilla softens up the bitterness of coffee that says you’re laid back but realistic, and it being iced, well that gives me confident and serious but you know when and how to have fun.”
Katsuki was shocked for a moment, how could he have gotten all of that from his coffee order?!
“I wrote a research paper on how coffee is linked to your personality, from there my addiction only spiraled!” Izuku laughed lightly, pulling Katsuki’s thoughts from the scarily accurate breakdown of his coffee to the quite gorgeous man in front of him.
“So, what's your ‘normal’ coffee order then? What does that say about you?”
Izuku watched as Sero came up with his drink, preparing to grab the cup.
“Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it, Kacchan?” Izuku slipped fifteen dollars into the tip jar, trying to make up for the previous day’s free coffee. With a slight wink, Izuku made his way out of Heights Alliance.
As soon as he rounded the corner out of sight of the coffee shop he covered his face with his hands and let out a deep sigh. What was he thinking! He never winked at people! He was no suave in any way! He could only hope that Katsuki didn’t think he was a gross jerk!
Katsuki stood frozen, trying desperately to commit the entire interaction to memory before he could no longer recall the exact color of Izuku’s eye as it winked closed.
“I would just like to say that Midoriya has never winked at me like that, which I think means you should totally go for it!”
Katsuki turned towards Sero and nodded, still in a slight daze. Sero and Kaminari laughed at their best friend’s face, they had never seen him act this way over anyone before.
The next week followed the same, Izuku would come in, Katsuki would take his order (which always changed) and they would attempt to flirt with each other. Katsuki decided that he was going to try something new on Friday.
Izuku came in, evidently a bit more tired than normal, it was finally the end of his summer classes but the exams were not going easy on him. He asked Katsuki to give him the most caffeine in a cup possible.
Katsuki went along with it knowing that it was a one-time thing, noting that he looked like he could fall asleep standing.
Katsuki quickly wrote ‘Deku’ on a cup and paused. He was determined to go through with his plan, without another thought he messily scrawled his phone number directly underneath it.
Katsuki quickly prepared the abomination of espresso shots, strong enough to resuscitate an elephant, and made his way to hand it off to Izuku.
“Alright Deku, here is a large…. Espresso shot? I don’t really know what the fuck to call this other than ‘barely a step up from straight-up heroin’ I’d say be careful but honestly you could probably use it.”
Izuku laughed heartily, Katsuki could admit that he wasn’t all that funny but if the sleep deprivation allowed him to hear that laugh he would let it slide for the day.
Izuku quickly reached out for his coffee, making Katsuki’s nerves heighten, it wouldn’t be long before he noticed the phone number.
Alas, the moment never came, Izuku’s depth perception was ever so slightly off, just enough to make sure his coffee cup slipped right through his fingers. As the paper cup smacked into the floor the top popped off, making a huge mess of very strong coffee.
Izuku was startled from his sleep-addled state, he made quick work of trying to clean up, requesting paper towels and a floor cleaner so he could repair the mess he made, the first step in his clean up was tossing the now empty coffee cup into the garbage.
Katsuki deflated as he saw the tail end of his phone number displayed in the trash can, Izuku didn’t even spare the cup a glance.
“Don’t worry about it nerd. I’ll get it cleaned up and I can get dunce face to make you another one. I know there is no way you have time to clean this all up.”
“No! I can’t just leave you with a big mess! It was my fault I can clean it up!”
“Deku, it’s the last day of summer classes. Go take your final in peace, if you are really worried about it come back tomorrow and let me choose your drink for the day.”
Izuku softened, why, why, WHY, did Katsuki have to be so far out of his league? This was the perfect man!
“Kacchan you are quite literally the best! What time does your shift end?”
“Uhhh three? Why?”
“Perfect, and don’t worry about it! You will see!” Izuku grabbed the new version of his coffee (sans Katsuki’s phone number) and quickly made his way to his final class of the summer.
Katsuki waited anxiously for the end of his shift to come, what the hell had Izuku meant?! If Sero and Kaminari were less understanding people, they would have smacked him after he asked for the time seven times within the span of about four minutes.
Luckily for everyone, the pair could relate to Katsuki, the whole ‘a watched pot never boils’ phenomenon at its finest.
Around two P.M. there was a big rush of customers, ranging from those on their lunch breaks to those who hadn’t slept in roughly thirty-six hours. Thankfully the closing staff had been clocked in since one. Before they knew it three o’clock rolled around.
As if on command, Izuku walked through the door with a small bag in hand.
“Kacchan! Can I borrow you for a few?”
“Pft, I’m off the clock Deku, you can borrow me for the rest of the day.” Katsuki regretted it immediately after it left his mouth, why the fuck would he say that out loud?
“Even better! C’mon, I have something for you!”
Katsuki followed Izuku out of the coffee shop to a small bench situated under a few trees, trying his hardest to figure out what was about to happen.
“Alright, as a bit of a thank you for this morning I wanted to get you a little something, you are the reason I didn’t fail my history exam! I walked in about thirty seconds before my professor locked the door!”
“For cleaning up some spilled coffee? Deku, that’s what my paycheck is for.”
Izuku leveled him with an unimpressed look, evidently not agreeing with his statement.
“You didn’t have to replace my coffee and clean up after me. I know that isn’t in your job description. Don’t argue with me! Just open the damn gift! Please?”
Katsuki knew it was really no use, he would do anything if it was prompted by those big green eyes pleading with him.
“Alright, fine hand it over.” Izuku became visibly excited as he placed the bag on Katsuki’s lap.
Katsuki quickly made his way to the bottom of the bag and pulled out a small figurine.
“You’re fucking with me, right? There is no way this is the rare bronze age All Might figurine that came out two summers ago in a limited run of 750?”
Izuku was all but bouncing as Katsuki finished his sentence.
“Yes, it is! That summer I bought one for myself immediately and as it turned out my mom bought me the same one to give to me for my birthday! I do not know a single other person that would have recognized it as his bronze age costume, let alone give the details of the release. I have two of them anyway, you seem like the perfect person to give it too! Plus what you did for me today was really nice.”
“I can’t take this from you! All I did was clean up some shitty coffee!”
“And get me a new one, and be nice to me all the time, and generally be a good person. So take the fucking gift before I have to get creative and find a way to make you take it.”
“Fine! I’ll take it! On one condition.”
“Oh, and what might that be?”
“You have to agree to go on a date with me.” Katsuki barely stopped himself from slapping a hand over his mouth. This was not the way he was supposed to ask Izuku out! There’s no way he’s going to say yes to this shitty-
“Okay! Tell me a time and place!”
“Wait really?!”
“Did you not just hear me go on and on about you? Why wouldn’t I say yes?” Izuku spoke as if he was explaining why basic addition made sense.
“You haven’t shown any interest in me! Why would I assume you would say yes?”
“Okay, have you not realized that I have been trying my hardest to flirt with you? I know I’m terrible at it but not this bad!”
Katsuki came to a sudden realization, “You know what. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you said yes! Alright, time and place…”
“Oh good! We’re finally on the same page! I’m fine with going anywhere just as long as we don’t go to Antonio’s, I spend enough of my life there during the dinner rush.”
“Got it no Antonio’s and no coffee, how about dinner at the sushi place up the road? I can pick you up tomorrow night at seven?”
“I’ll call and make a reservation for seven-thirty!”
Katsuki couldn’t help the genuine smile that graced his features, he was happy.
“You know, I tried putting my number on your coffee cup this morning. You just had to go and spill it though.”
“Really?! I’m sorry Kacchan! I would’ve called you if I knew about it!”
“Don’t sweat it, nerd, it all worked out in the end.”
The next night the pair went on their first date, although no one would’ve guessed it was only their first. Neither of them felt an ounce of awkward tension, enjoying the easy flow of conversation as the night progressed.
They learned that they grew up a mere three blocks away from each other, laughing at how they managed to meet long after just missing each other as kids.
They talked about their classes, finding out that they were set to be in a history class together every Friday at 8 A.M. (Izuku didn’t let the chance to call Katsuki a nerd pass.) They had been shocked, they both picked that professor because his ratings were only dampened by those who had no work ethic, knowing they would benefit from the strict regime that any class with Professor Aizawa promised.
The pair ended their night by walking the long way back to campus, hand in hand. Izuku departed with a quick but meaningful kiss, a promise of their future.
They would eventually credit Professors Yamada and Aizawa (or, more accurately Aizawa-Yamada as they came to find out) with their get-together and the strength of their relationship. If it wasn’t for the no sleep Izuku was running on for his class, they may have never gotten together. If their history class had them separated they would no doubt have slowly become too consumed with school and work to have time for one another.
They made sure the older pair knew this at their wedding roughly eight years later.
Summary: Taking the morning shift was the best decision Katsuki ever made, he could survive the early hours and bitchy customers if it meant Izuku went to him for his morning coffee. Now all he has to do is keep him coming back.