Work Text:
Bakugou Katsuki is the best, period. He’s number one at everything he does, and he doesn't settle for less. He's afraid of nothing and no one. That is, until he realizes his feelings for Deku, and his complete and utter lack of experience in wooing someone. The one and only fear he's ever had stares him right in the face, never relenting on reminding him how far out of his league he is in knowing how to navigate any sort of love life, let alone being the best at it. Thus, the most awkward flirting attempts of his entire life begin. He tries everything in the book. Or, at least what the internet tells him is 'good'. Pick-up lines? Utter fail. He couldn’t even finish the damn sentence without flushing from his eyes to his toes.
“I think you’re suffering from a lack of vitamin me.” he says with what he hopes is charm. He might just die of embarrassment right now, and this is only flirting tip one.
Luckily for his pride, Deku is so oblivious that the disastrous flirting attempt goes right over his green cotton-filled head.
“Kacchan, what are you talking about? I’ve never heard of that vitamin, and I’ll have you know I take ALL of my vitamins! I have to be the healthiest, strongest hero there is, and I won’t...” commencing a mumbling rant nearly driving him to explode his own ears off.
The next flirting tip recommended was eye contact. Good enough for him. During the next class period, he turns around several times in his chair to hold prolonged eye contact with Deku, making sure he was showing off how well his flirting skills actually are. Izuku looks surprised the first time he does it, and progressively looks more and more concerned each time Bakugou stares at him, unnervingly. This is beyond Bakugou though, who nods to himself in satisfaction. ‘Hell yeah, me, you are the smoothest motherfucker in this room.’ But something in the universe clearly has it out for him because why would this go smoothly for him?
“Problem child, can you try focusing on your classwork and not glaring holes into your classmates?” Thanks for nothing, Aizawa sensei. Grumbling, he turns back in his seat. Cross that one off the list. Next.
This one is going to be a piece of cake: compliment them. Listen, he’s not one to give out compliments to just anyone, but that doesn’t mean he’s not capable of it. He’s gonna knock that damn nerd off his feet. During sparring practice, him and Deku test out their skills at hand to hand combat with no quirks. After they’re finished and have started stretching, he thinks, 'I'm going for it, this is a great time’ and smugly says to him “you’re not nearly as shitty as you used to be, stupid Deku.” Fuckin’ fantastic, that compliment was. Deku blinks at him, and says slowly “Uh... thanks? I guess?” Deku glances away and rubs the back of his neck with a confused expression. Bakugou’s smug smirk drops from his face immediately. DAMN it, why is this so hard? I’m the best at everything, so why can’t I get this right? Swearing up a storm that would make even his mother wince, small explosions bursting from his palms, he stomps his way into the locker room. Fuck it, this is the last useless internet tip he’ll try.
Rubbing his temples, he tries to get up the nerve for this one: smiling. He can do that. He can, right? It’s not hard. It’s literally just moving muscles in your face, and he’s got the best muscles, better than anyone. Hah, that’s right! He’s Bakugou fuckin’ Katsuki, the best of the best. And he’s gonna show that nerd the smile of the century. After getting changed out of his training gear and back into his uniform, he waits super casually by the locker room door for Deku to come out. He’s nailing it, the total picture of nonchalance. Breezy laughter echoes in the locker room and the rosy-cheeked boy of his dreams walks out with Kaminari and Kirishima in tow.
“Y-you guys are too much!” he gasps between hiccups of laughter, rubbing the happy tears from his eyes, and opening them to see one Bakugou Katsuki waiting just outside the door. Jolting, he scrambles to regain his composure “Hi, Kacchan! What are you up to?” he asks with a curious tilt of his head. This golden retriever of a boy will be the death of him.
“Nerd, walk with me back to the dorms.” he all but demands. Izuku’s eyes widen to the size of saucers, and begins to stutter.
“S-sure, Kacchan, of course!” They bid the other two boys goodbye, (at least Deku does), and they start their evening trek back to the dorms. The walk starts of quiet and calm, much like the spring weather outside. It's peaceful. A little too peaceful. When you're with Deku, that's much too quiet. He wants to un-pinch those dark eyebrows on the nerd's face, so he asks him about who he thinks is the best up-and-coming hero on the charts. Taking the bait with giddy enthusiasm, Deku spews words a million miles a minute with a focus that would put any analyst to shame.
'It's so easy with him', he thinks to himself. He feels grateful that Deku has allowed him a second chance after so many years of turmoil between them. He tries to remain inconspicuous as he listens, but he can’t help but let his eyes trail over the soft tufts of green that bounce with his enthusiastic gait, or his verdant eyes that seem to shine brighter than the smile on his face.
“...and I think that Kamui Woods really shows the most promise because he-" the rambling comes to a sudden stop, the night air too quiet again. Quickly glancing at Izuku, he realizes that the green-haired boy is gawking at him.
“What? Lost your last brain cell?” says Bakugou, completely baffled at how quickly the younger boys' demeanor changed. Deku remains quiet, teeth gnawing his lower lip and gazing at him at what could only be described as a look of wonder. He starts to get frustrated by the lack of his usual word vomit, suddenly feeling on the spot.
“I can never get you to shut up and now suddenly you’ve got no words? HAH?! Spit it out!”
So so quietly, only hearing it because he was standing close by, Deku murmurs, “you’ve never looked at me like that before...”
A vicious blush paints Bakugou’s features in scarlet hues. Shit, he must’ve been too distracted and let his guard down. What did he even look like right now? Embarrassed and feeling much too vulnerable, he masks the embarrassment with what he knows best: anger.
“What, so I’m not allowed to smile, hah? Is it against the law? Stupid Deku, you don't know a thing.”
Feeling caught in his pitiful plans to somehow romance Izuku when he damn well knows zero things about romance in the first place. he tries to turn to leave, running away like the coward he is. A soft scarred palm snags his wrist, and wrenches him roughly back to face the green-eyed angel himself. He doesn't know why he even bothered trying to run; he always follows.
Huffing, he growls, “what? I got shit to do.”
Izuku bounces on the balls of his feet, looking antsy and more like an anxious mess by the minute. Muttering under his breath, Deku pleads “God, oh god, please don’t let me be wrong about this...”
Bakugou snaps, “What the fuck are you -“ when soft lips are pressed against his. His heart comes to a halt, only for it to start again with a fervor, beating in leaps and bounds like it’s going to burst out of his chest. His previous worries fall to the wayside and he cups Deku’s jaw in his hands and says everything he’s been feeling in the only way he knows how: with his actions. He drinks in Izuku’s kisses like it’s the only breath he’s ever needed. They pull apart, not knowing how long they had been intertwined, and not giving one flying fuck about anybody but themselves.
Breathing hard, lips brushing, Izuku chuckles low in his throat, “looks like my guess was right after all.”
“Hah?! What are you trying to say?”
Deku throws his head back in a full-belly laugh that is music to Bakugou’s ears.
“You’re not the only one who’s googled tips on how to flirt, Kacchan. You’re about as subtle as your quirk.” Before he can protest, Deku kisses him once more. Well, he guesses he’s not the best at everything it seems, but in his book, he’s still the winner after all.