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Shouto nudges Izuku awake with his foot as the sun rises in the distance, across the grassy clearing. The night before, they had cleared out an area within a ring of trees on the edge of the forest, with enough visibility to see into the clearing, but keeping them concealed within the woods.
Izuku rubs his eyes as he sits up, merely glancing at the campfire that had burned to only embers before looking up at Shouto. “You didn’t wake me, I was supposed to take over again hours ago.”
Shouto shakes his head. “You were peaceful. Better to let you sleep and stay awake. I can rekindle the fire for breakfast. We still have some bread from the last township, and there’s a pond in the clearing.”
“It’s too cold for fishing, we’ll just have the bread. We’ll be back home by nightfall tomorrow, and we can get a warm meal from the tavern. Mom’s last letter said she was running it almost full time with the Bakugous, and Ochako is working there now too.” He stands and stretches before leaning back down to rummage through his bag. “I have the flasks, we can at least get more water if the pond is freshwater.”
Shouto stares at him for a moment, then kneels, ducking his head to stare at the glowing embers in the campfire. He rubs his hands together, then holds his left hand out. Flames leap from his fingertips, and he tilts his hand. The flames seem to dance off his hand and reignite the dying fire as they hit the ground.
By now, Izuku was watching him in awe. He had magic in his veins, thanks to his parents, but it had been so diluted that he could do no more than brew potions. Selling them is what gave him and Shouto the most money when traveling outside of odd jobs they worked together. They could make more using Shouto’s magic, but he always refused to take money for use of his magic, especially if it’s his fire magic.
Shouto tilts his head, still squatting in the dirt. He rubs his face, thinking, then speaks up when Izuku continues to stare at him. “The bread is in your bag, isn’t it? Shouldn’t you get it? We can get the water later.”
Izuku snaps out of his trance, stepping backward towards their bags. “Ah- um, yeah, I have it. Sorry, Shouto.”
He turns around, face burning as he picks up his other rucksack and looks through it.
-
When they reach their hometown just before nightfall the next day, Izuku has decided he needs to get Shouto a gift for Christmas. If their timekeeping is correct, Christmas is just a few days away, and their friend group’s annual get-together at Tenya’s home is the next day, the day before Christmas Eve.
He’s gotten Shouto gifts in the past, of course. They’ve been traveling the country together for almost two years now. But this one needs to be special. This is the one he’ll tell Shouto how much he means to him with. Maybe he can get it in time for the party tomorrow night!
Izuku steps into the tavern with Shouto. It’s bustling with life and energy, and Shouto relaxes for a moment, reaching for Izuku’s hand. Ochako notices them across the room and lets out a squeal, waving at them.
“Shouto and Izuku are home! They’re back in town!” She says, making her way towards them.
Shouto smiles gently at Izuku. “I should probably go and find my father, he’ll be expecting me. Word travels fast. He likely knows I’m back in town already.”
Izuku frowns. “Shouto, wait. We can at least have dinner first, come on. He can wait just a while so we can catch up with our friends. Ochako and Katsuki are working tonight, it looks like.” He takes his hand, wanting to stay close to him for just a while longer.
Shouto looks a little surprised, but nods. Ochako gets close to them, finally, grinning.
“Are you both staying to eat?” She throws her arms around Izuku, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug.
“We are,” Shouto says, “it’s nice to see you again, Ochako.”
She finally lets go of Izuku, who nearly crumples to the ground, unbalanced.
“It is, Shouto. It’s been a while since you’ve come in here, even when you’ve been back home. I’ll grab you boys a table, and get your drink orders.”
“Okay, thanks so much.” Izuku grins and takes Shouto’s hand again.
-
“Tenya, Ochako, it’s no use. I have no clue what to get Shouto this year.” Izuku dramatically drapes himself across the bar.
It was after closing time, nearly three in the morning, and Ochako was finishing up cleaning tables while Tenya swept. He didn’t work at the tavern, but he helped clean while waiting for Ochako so he could escort her home. Izuku wanted to wait for his mom, who was busy in the office.
“Izuku, it’s Shouto, he’s always loved your gifts. You got him a new satchel two years ago, and he still uses it. He talked about it to anyone who complimented it.” Ochako hums, shaking her head at her friend.
“But this year is different, Ochako. I’m gonna tell him this year. I need the best gift I’ve ever given him.” Izuku looks up at her miserably.
“Izuku, you can think clearer if you don’t pout, just keep an open mind. Acting like there is no gift out there that could be the right one hides the right gift from you.” Tenya says.
He props the broom against the bar and sits next to Izuku. “The blacksmith’s daughter, Mei, makes jewelry between learning to take over the business. Maybe you could go talk to her in the morning, her prices aren’t unreasonable.”
“Really? Thank you, Tenya. You’re a wonderful friend.” Izuku leans over and hugs him, the angle awkward as they hug across the barstools.
Tenya smiles and pats his back. “Thank you, Izuku. You are too.”
-
Tenya’s recommendation of Mei’s jewelry had been the best advice Izuku had ever taken from his dear friend. Izuku had chatted with her eagerly about which option could be the best for Shouto. With his background, he wasn’t much of a fan of anything too extravagant.
Izuku had eventually settled on something simple. An emerald in an intricate silver casing that Mei had excitedly raved about. She was proud of her work and had chatted Izuku’s ears off about most of her pieces. The stone wasn’t expensive, as it wasn’t the correct color to be worth a large sum of money, and it hung from a simple leather strip that could be tied in the back.
Pretty, but simple enough for Shouto. And the leather was long enough it could be tied to allow the pendant to lay under his shirt. Izuku was thrilled.
He had wrapped it up carefully and tucked it into the pocket of his dress jacket, which luckily still fit him from the year previous. Inko had left for the party early with Toshinori, his old mentor, to help the Iida’s set up.
Shouto knocked on the door about ten minutes before the party was to begin. He looked dashing in a navy blue overcoat and black slacks. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other.
“Are you ready to get going, Izuku?”
“Yes, I am. You look… wonderful, Shouto.”
“Thank you, you as well.”
Shouto stiffly holds his arm out to Izuku, intending for him to take it. Izuku does so, ignoring the urge to blush madly like a schoolgirl in love, even with his arm hooked through his crush’s. A pinkish tinge creeps onto his face anyway.
They walk in comfortable silence. It was always comfortable to be around Shouto, even with his cold demeanor and often aloof personality. Izuku wouldn’t change any of it anyway. He liked Shouto as he was.
“Izuku?” Shouto broke the silence.
“Hmm?”
“Do you ever think of…”
“Think of what?”
“Settling down, starting a family. No more adventuring.” The words escape rushed, Shouto sounding relieved and nervous at the same time. Like he was scared of Izuku’s answer.
Izuku stops. He hadn’t thought about it. What if Shouto wanted to settle down? What if his father had arranged a marriage? He never thought of a future without Shouto by his side, adventuring or not.
“‘Zuku? It’s just a question, you can breathe.” Shouto says. He had stopped beside him and taken his hand. He squeezes it, just once.
“I.. no, not really. I want to adventure for as long as I can.” Izuku eventually forms the words.
“Me neither. I want to keep traveling with you. I’d go to the ends of the earth with you, Izuku. We can settle down when we’re both ready.” Shouto nods curtly and continues walking with him.
Izuku relaxes, relieved to hear they’re on the same page.
-
After they arrived at the party, Shouto had gotten swept away by his father, who insisted on showing him off to anyone who would listen to Enji boast.
Izuku had stuck with Ochako and Tenya but got left with Eijirou and Katsuki when Tenya had to attend to an issue in the kitchen. The conversation hadn’t gone past Izuku awkwardly answering Eijirou’s friendly questions while Katsuki sulked and nursed his wine near them.
“So, uh, how’s adventuring been for the two of you?” Izuku knew Eijirou and Katsuki had planned on leaving town around when he and Shouto did, but he hadn’t known if anything came of it.
“Ah, it went well until I-” Eijirou starts to answer, all smiles, but he’s cut off quickly by Katsuki.
“He broke his damn wrist and got us stuck here. Does that answer your question, Deku?” Katsuki sneers, earning a disapproving look from Eijirou while Izuku flinches and steps backward into someone.
“Ah, sorry!” He apologizes quickly, covering his face. Damn it, why didn’t he stay with Shouto or go with Ochako and Tenya.
There’s a gentle hand on his shoulder, and someone turns him to face them. Izuku slowly peeks up at them, relaxing.
Shouto smiles gently at him. “Careful, you don’t want to trip into the wrong person.”
“I, um, I didn’t mean to-” he stammers out, face hot and flushed.
“Breathe, Izuku. It’s just me.” Shouto squeezes his shoulder.
Izuku takes a breath and puts his hands in his pockets, fidgeting. His fingers brush against the paper the necklace had been carefully wrapped in and he pulls it out of his pocket before he can chicken out.
“This is for you.”
Shouto takes it, raising an eyebrow at him. He almost seems surprised. Then again, they usually swapped gifts on Christmas Eve or early the day after Christmas. He carefully unwraps it and lifts it from the paper.
“Izuku, this is beautiful, thank you,” Shouto says, studying the pendant. “It truly is a work of art, did Mei create this?”
“She did, I thought you would like it a lot. It’s not too fancy, I hope.” Izuku shifts his weight from side to side, glancing around for Ochako.
“No, it’s just right. You have a good eye for what I like.”
There’s a flash of brunette hair in the corner of Izuku’s vision, and both he and Shouto seemed to have noticed it, both turning to look at Ochako, who’s grinning mischievously at them from just a few feet away. She’s pointing above her head.
Both boys look up simultaneously. Apparently, between Shouto making his way to Izuku, and Katsuki’s outburst, they both had ended up standing in a doorway, but this particular one had mistletoe hanging from it.
Shouto looks away first, staring at Izuku. Izuku can feel his eyes on him, patient but expectant. He finally tears his eyes away from the mistletoe and looks up at Shouto. He gives a small nod, not quite sure what he’s agreeing to at this point.
Shouto puts the necklace in his pocket and steps toward Izuku. He wraps an arm around his waist and pulls him close, kissing him.
Izuku wraps his arms around him and kisses back, the party around them forgotten for the moment. They can deal with Enji Todoroki’s rage when they’re done kissing.