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To say that Monoma was dramatic was an understatement. Even after graduating from U.A., his theatrics were just something that never went away. Thankfully, he stopped being overly antagonistic towards his peers from class A, though he couldn't help but still hold a slight grudge against them. This mostly just translated to him being rather competitive, only butting heads in a teasing manner but willing to work alongside them when needed.
But that didn't matter either way when it came to you.
The two of you met because you were a simple civilian, and Monoma somehow had an even bigger ego when he was Phantom Thief. While you didn't have a particularly useful quirk he could borrow, he still saved you from the crossfire of a villain attack, and then he had the audacity to flirt with you when everything settled down because that's just what his hero persona did.
But you subverted his expectations by actually getting flustered at his silly one-liner, and the rest was history.
Despite how the two of you had only been dating for a few months so far, Monoma still desired to go to extreme lengths to show his quickly developed adoration for you. He still flirted with you, pulling you close by the waist every time just to be able to feel your face burn and your heart race, and he still went above and beyond for every date night. His recent promotion from sidekick to fully-fledged hero boosted his income rather nicely, so saving up to make reservations at fancy restaurants or popular events wasn't as much of an issue as it would've been before he met you.
All he asked in return was that you kept responding to his grand gestures with those adorable expressions of yours and that rush of heat to your cheeks that he could feel radiating off your skin. You always did as such – and always so eagerly with that bright smile of yours, too – and his heart soared without fail every time. Surely, he couldn't have asked for a better lover.
...But there was one slight issue. It was nothing that would warrant any major concern over, no, it was just...
Monoma couldn't handle when you'd flirt back.
Usually, compliments went straight to his ego. Nothing more, nothing less. He was a well-established hero, of course he was amazing! Did you ever have any doubts~?
So why, why was it that when you'd so much as tell him you liked his hair that day, Monoma felt as though his heart was threatening to implode? Why did your praise have such a drastic effect on him?!
...He wasn't dense. He knew exactly why, but to him, that didn't excuse how easily he lost his composure every time.
As much as he...enjoyed your kind words, the embarrassment he felt over his intense reactions to them outweighed his appreciation. He was supposed to be the suave and collected gentleman that swept you off your feet at every opportunity, he couldn't afford to keep getting thrown off track just because you simply voiced your opinion towards his outfit in passing. So, he did his best to maintain having the upper-hand, always finding some smooth pickup line to say when he could sense that you wanted to praise him.
...But he should've known it'd only work for so long.
Today was an off-day for the both of you. Monoma was able to set aside his hero work without worrying about suddenly getting called in, and your workplace coincidentally didn't have you on-shift today. You'd insisted on just staying in – no extravagant dates, just this once – and strangely enough, Monoma agreed. He wondered if perhaps he was more tired than he actually felt, given how he didn't jump the chance to show you off to the public like he always did.
As he moved around in the kitchen of your apartment preparing breakfast, he couldn't help but feel...something. Like the back of his head was warmer than usual. Glancing over his shoulder to where you sat in the living room, he quickly noticed your head already moving to look back to the TV.
Monoma smirked. "You're not very good at playing coy, love."
You only shrugged in response. Not exactly denying his accusation, but certainly not thrilled to play along with his antics either.
The blond quirked an eyebrow at this. He was already aware that you didn't seem to wake up in the best mood, but he couldn't quite put a finger on what could be wrong, if there even was a reason to begin with.
...Only one way to find out.
Once he was sure he could safely set aside breakfast without burning it, Monoma quietly did so before making his way to where you sat, kneeling in front of you. "Is something the matter, dear?" He asked, paying close attention to how you fidgeted in your seat and kept your focus on your lap.
"No, I'm good."
"...Then look me in the eyes when you say it."
Monoma watched as you took a deep breath, and then looked up to lock eyes with him. There wasn't any animosity or sadness in your gaze like he'd expected, but there was this...intensity in them that he'd never seen before, knocking the wind out of his lungs with no hesitation.
He could sense it coming, so he scrambled to think of something to say.
"Have I ever told you how absolutely breathtaking you are?" He forced another smirk onto his lips. Taking your hands in his, Monoma kissed your knuckles and silently reveled in how your grip tightened just a little in response. "Even as you're dressed in worn-out sweats and that hoodie you've owned for, what, a few years now? You never cease to captivate me and—"
"Neito...?"
Monoma physically felt his heart leap into his throat when he processed your soft tone. You still stared at him so intently, except now your own eyebrow had raised in what he could only presume was not a good sign for his near future. Even if your casual compliment could be seen from a mile away, he still felt the heat creeping up his neck in anticipation for what was to come.
Avoiding this just didn't seem possible anymore.
He shakily inhaled, trying to regain some composure. "Y-Yes, love?"
Carefully, you removed your hands from his, and Monoma's already unstable breathing hitched as you gently cupped his face. You leaned closer, causing his eyes to widen.
This...wasn't how he planned for his first kiss with you to go. His go-to fantasy of how he'd like for it to play out involved something along the lines of a fancy ballroom balcony and an award-worthy profession of his love to you, but...perhaps a "spur of the moment" first kiss would be just as thrilling.
As long as it was with you, he was sure he'd love it regardless.
"Hey, open your eyes. I wasn't done looking."
...Huh?
Monoma hadn't realized he'd closed his eyes until now. They fluttered open at the sound of your voice, and he felt a lack of tingling on his lips.
Did you...not want to kiss after all?
Your face was definitely closer than he last recalled, your forehead almost a few inches away from his own. The thumbs softly caressing his cheekbones momentarily left him too dazed to process the situation, but eventually he snapped to attention when he realized something.
His face was practically on fire. Hell, his whole body felt like it was about to burst into flames.
Despite still feeling a tad blissed out from your touch alone, Monoma pouted. "I-If you're going to tease me, at least have the courtesy to—"
You quietly hushed him. Normally, he would've already tried to turn the tables back in his favor, or at least gripe about how you've so rudely interrupted him twice now, but right now he just...couldn't. Not when your eyes refused to look at anything but his own, and how you held him oh so tenderly that he could melt right then and there without any complaints.
The side of your mouth just barely curled upward. "...You never told me your eyes were purple in the right lighting, Nei."
"...Ah," Monoma shakily grinned, his hands slowly moving to hold your forearms. "I've...been told they resemble periwinkles."
"I always thought they were just blue." You were fully smiling now. "But right now they're more like a really blue-ish purple."
"You'd be far from the first to make that initial assumption, love. Is...Is that what's captured your attention today?"
Monoma would've had to have been blind to not see how your eyes flicked down to his lips for a split second. "Give or take." You chuckled. "Originally, I just wanted to appreciate my pretty boyfriend, even if he can't take a compliment to save his life, but—"
The blond suddenly sputtered, "Wh— Bu— I— I-I do too!" He furrowed his brow. "I-It's just that— I— Well... P-Perhaps it's because it's coming from...s-someone I care about, that's all! I-Is it really so wrong of me to also be affected by a loved one's praise? That's quite the double standard, dear, I thought you knew better."
"Aw, are you saying I fluster you too?" You cooed, squeezing his burning cheeks a little and giggling at how he squirmed in response. "You're so cute, Neito~"
To Monoma's credit, he was trying to act as if he was opposing your onslaught of affection, despite the obvious lack of effort to actually move you away from him. "I-I most certainly am not—!"
The sudden feeling of warm lips on his forehead caused him to freeze. While he could feel how your cheeks were just as flushed as his, his thoughts had become too clouded to allow him to make any snarky comeback about it.
"...Have mercy, please." He managed to mutter.
You let out a small huff of amusement, your warm breath tickling his skin. "Can I do one more thing?"
"...Just make it quick."
Before Monoma could question what other forms of torture you had in mind, you carefully tilted his head up enough to ghost your lips over his, and any hope of remaining dignified flew right out the window. Then, you finally closed the little space left after he showed no signs of rejection, and he was gone. It took a moment for him to be able to return the kiss, but once he did, he was suddenly very grateful the two of you had the day to yourselves.
Now that he knew what kissing you felt like, he was not willing to pull away anytime soon.
×~♡~×
The one and only thing that was able to eventually force Monoma to finally pull away was the burning sensation in his lungs. Even then, he was only willing to separate just enough that his lips ghosted over yours while he caught his breath. He swears he says something, but his dizzy mind doesn't catch it before he's on you again. He feels himself shifting, you let out the most delectable noise into his mouth, your hands are suddenly on his back – and it takes another aching reminder that he unfortunately needs to breathe before he willed himself to barely separate from you again.
Your hot breath came out in long pants against his now tender lips. This time, he's able to hear you clearly when you muttered, "I love you too, Nei."
Monoma's eyes snapped open. What did you just say?
It's also then that he comes to the startling realization that—
"Wh— How—" He flushed even brighter, if that was physically possible. "When did I—"
You simply giggled, kissing his cheek. "Having fun on my lap, baby?"
Monoma verbally stumbled several more times, before finally clearing his throat. "...I'm more concerned about what you said a moment ago."
"What, you said it first, babe. Plus, aren't you always calling me your love?"
The miniscule amount of composure he regained quickly slipped from his fingertips again. "I-I—" He clears his throat again, averting his gaze. "...I suppose I do, every now and then..."
You hummed, smiling. "There's no need to be embarrassed, y'know. I think it's endearing that I affect you as much as you affect me. And...it's no fun, not being able to appreciate you like you always do with me... I wanna brag about you too, Neito. Doesn't it feel nice, being openly loved like this?"
Monoma pouted, the flush on his cheeks progressively worsening as you spoke. "...Yes."
"So will you let me actually compliment you now?"
"...Fine. But I must ask that you seldom do so in public. God forbid if anyone else sees me like this – I'd never be able to live it down if any of my colleagues caught wind of this."
"I'll try." You nodded once, before smirking. "Though to be fair, you do fluster me quite a lot in front of others, so—"
Monoma loudly groaned, leaning back and relying on your linked hands behind his back to stop him from falling. "Nooo, please spare me, my love!" He cried, the back of his hand pressing against his forehead in order to really sell his devastation. "My pride couldn't handle it! I'd be mortally wounded! Please, have some compassion! Have some mercy!"
God, you were in love with such a theatre kid. And he'd never let you forget that.
Amidst your eruption of giggles, Monoma suddenly leaned forward and cupped your face to take you by surprise and cease your laughter. "Plus, now that you've forcibly exposed me in such an...intimate manner, wouldn't it be more gratifying to know that only you have seen me like this?" He teased, brushing his mouth across yours and purposely dropping his voice to a more sultry tone. Even if the slight grace of lips caused his cheeks to explode with heat again, he wanted at least some control back. "Only you will know this side of me, and as long as you don't hold this over my head, I'll be even more steadfast in my utter devotion to you. Won't you consider it, my dearest love~?"
You smirked again, and quickly tugged Monoma closer on your lap to mentally knock him off his little pedestal. "I might need some more convincing." You breathed against his mouth, finally closing the lingering millimeter or so of space between the two of you.
...Yea, breakfast was definitely a lost cause now.