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‘Midori’s Cafe. A place where good coffee is served day and night’ the sign says. Bakugou Katsuki has just gotten off a long and brutal shift and he needs a place to just reset. It’s around 9 pm. Not many are on the streets and it’s starting to rain.
The blonde sighs, looking through the glass. It’s a nice little shop, on there is chairs that line up along the tables against the windows, a few more individual tables where maybe couples could sit on the right side of him and the counter (?) that is L shaped as a worker comes through the kitchen and starts making something, facing away from the blonde.
His eyes trained on the guy, wearing a white dress shirt and an apron that ties around the back. He has green hair that forms an undercut that is only noticeable from Katsuki’s view if you squint. The guy has more hair than the average male, same as Katsuki yeah, but it’s not so common you see another male around with some healthy hair.
(His mother, Bakugou Mitsuki, taught him well about hair production).
So, he shakes his head and heads towards the door, and pulls it open. There’s a bell that erupts through the cafe, making the barista turn around as the blonde approaches. He wears a small smile on his face as he takes on Katsuki’s appearance.
Now, at the moment, he’s wearing a dark maroon hoodie that has a black hood, matching the color of that out-of-coincidence bomb on the front, along with some basic sweats. He always puts comfortable clothing in his locker for when he changes. It’s his goal to just relax after work.
There’s a soft jazz melody ringing through the cafe. Mostly saxophone with a little piano. The rain adds to the aesthetic, making it all fall into the correct pieces.
“Hello. Are you a hero?” the guy asks. Usually, he would shoot down the answer with just his order if he walked in any other cafe and they said such a thing. (Katsuki’s hair is sometimes a giveaway). But today, some things different. And he’s tired, there’s no need to get himself worked up.
“Yeah,” He replies as he sits on the brown stool, it’s surprisingly a nice seat. Not too soft, not too hard. Right in the middle. “Can you guess who?” The barista chuckles, “It’s obvious you’re Ground Zero. With your hair and such.”
“‘And such’? Most people go off my hair and that’s it. What else is there to it?” All the barista does is hums as he turns around and starts making whatever he’s making, “Not a fan?” The blonde asks, the barista turns around, the scent of plain black coffee hitting his nose, making his mouth water.
“No, but you are an interesting hero, no doubt.” The barista sits the beverage on the counter and slides it forward, Katsuki accepts, “Care to tell me how?” He sips from his coffee, watching as the greenette leans back against the appliance table, “I’m not a big fan of heroes in general. They are all boring. Simple. Bland.” Katsuki nods as he continues, “The only reason I found you interesting was because of how your personality is and how society perceives it. Many people note you as the loud dumb blonde who was born with a good quirk but it’s obvious, there’s so much more.”
Katsuki raises an eyebrow, “Oh?” He says taking another sip. This is not how his conversations usually go but at the moment… he’s content. “Why yes of course. The fact that you are sitting here right now, not calling me out of my name with profanity says a lot. If I didn’t know who you were, I’d note you as someone who’s a bit anti-social and/or introverted.”
Katsuki chuckles as he sits his drink down, “Anything else?”
“Whenever I see you on the news or internet, you appear as not a big fan of the media. But you can’t do much about it because their eyes are on you,” He finishes as he crosses his arms over his chest. It’s silent for a few minutes and no one questions it. The only thing audible is the music, rain and on occasion, Katsuki sipping his coffee.
A ghost smile appears on the blonde’s face, “Heh. Got that right. Personally, I’d prefer my days to be as simple as this.”
The barista tilts their head, “What are they usually like?”
“Well, my friends are social fucks. They are always together, trying to hang out as much as possible. In a way, it’s like crowding?” He sighs, and looks down at his drink, “I love them to death but I never get space. They dock it off as my personality because I’ve been saying it for who knows who long.”
The greenette nods, “You won’t tell them because?”
Katsuki huffs out a dry laugh, “I don’t know. It’s just weird, to be honest, but like I said. This is nice.” His words are soft-spoken. Said in a voice he uses with so few people. When he’s truly calm, collected, and relaxed.
“I don’t think I make good company so what’s so nice?” He grabs Katsuki’s cup as it’s suddenly empty again, Katsuki shakes his head softly, “No, you truly do. You bring a somewhat calming aura. One that says to just come, sit down and talk,” The blonde said, sliding his head down the countertop. It’s a marble surface, nice and clean.
“One that just makes me want to sit down and listen to classical music all day,” He lets out a laugh, the barista turns around with his second cup of coffee, “And you bring one that says I come in peace. One that says don’t judge a book by its cover. Glad I didn’t, to be frank, I find you quite the story.”
He sits down the next cup, Katsuki takes a sip and asks, “Have you found the moral yet?” The greenette huffs and shakes his head, “No not yet. Yes, you’ve been sitting here, not portraying the image media presents, and I’m glad but still,” The barista pulls a stool from his side of the counter and sits across from the blonde.
“You’re still complex and at the same time, simple.”
Katsuki hums, “You’re like an artist, painting what you see on the horizon,” He glares at the guy playfully, “I better come out a masterpiece,” The barista laughs softly, matching the melody of the music somehow, “Sure I can do that. And you’re like a puzzle piece. I’m putting you together, slowly but surely.”
“How many pieces? Want to know the difficulty level.”
“Maybe around 250?”
“That seems like a lot. Why would anyone want to do that?” Katsuki takes a long sip from his drink, “The sense of satisfaction,” The barista says as he looks the hero in the eye, “The sense of satisfaction it brings knowing you complete a task many cannot. Most cherish it.”
Katsuki shakes his head with fondness, “Understandable.”
“Plus it’s fun,” The barista stands up and stretch, turning around to make himself a cup, “Reading people is fun. Most would react differently once I tell them what I see or feel of them, but you remain indifferent. Why?”
Katsuki smirks, even though he can’t see it, the Barista knows it’s happening, “I should be asking the same,” The barista questions, “Huh?”
“Why aren’t you fangirling right now? Asking for my autograph? Trying to get a picture or video?”
He chuckles as he turns around while putting a pack of sugar in his coffee, “Simply because I don’t want it,”
“That’s a first.”
“I don’t find value in things as such. Now, if you were my favorite author, I’d maybe ask. But other than that, I don’t want it.”
“That’s cool I guess… I used to adore All Might.” The greenette sighs as he adjusts in his seat, “Until he got exposed as quirkist?” Katsuki nods, “Yeah. That was surprising.” The barista nods, “But expected.”
Katsuki raises an eyebrow, asking a silent question, “It’s not really expected per se but more like ‘It was always a possibility’. The higher most heroes go the more stuck up they appear or grow to be. Which is another reason I find you interesting.”
“Are you saying I’m like them?”
He shakes his head, “No. You still do hero work because you want to help. Not for the fame, money, and/or perks. Plus, you seem like the type to keep everyone at a leveled playing field.” Katsuki nods, “You seem like the type to keep things to yourself. Maybe doesn’t open up much nor share ideals. I feel as if you’ve got quite the head on your shoulders.”
The barista chuckles, “Thanks. Never in my life, did I ever thought I’d get a compliment from Ground Zero.”
“Katsuki. That’s my first name.”
“Izuku. Sorry, I didn’t have my nametag on.” Katsuki shrugs, “ ‘S fine. And nice to meet you,” Katsuki holds out a hand, Izuku accepts, “Nice to meet you as well.” The blonde nods, It’s more silence until Izuku speaks, “This feels like a game,” He takes a sip out of his coffee as he leans on the countertop.
“Are you winning?”
“No… it seems as if we’re tied.” Katsuki laughs, fully understanding. He’s positive on how this night will end, “Working alone?” Izuku nods, “Yep. This is my shop. I have a few other workers but they went home around five-ish. Other than that, I’m mostly here by myself.”
“It’s late. What time do you usually close?”
“On Sundays is the day this place is closed really. My quirk gives me the ability to never sleep.”
“Like insomnia?”
Izuku laughs, “Yes but I’m not necessarily tired. Though I can choose if I want to go to sleep, I just don’t.” Katsuki questions, “Why?” Izuku answers, “A bit lonely when I lay in bed,” He trails his finger around his cup, “I come here to atone for that. It’s usually boring no one here at this time, so…”
“Aren’t ya glad I’m here?” Izuku smiles softly, “Of course, You keep great company.”
“Same to you,” Katsuki finishes his coffee and startles a bit when he feels his phone buzz in his pocket. He grumbles as he gets it out and reads the messages incoming on his phone. His eyes go wide as the news he never expected until a few weeks later come in today, “Apparently, my friend’s water broke.”
Izuku chuckles but then looks at Katsuki, not knowing he’s actually pouting, “Are you gonna leave?” He asks, Katsuki looks him in the eye, then holds his head out. Izuku looks at it questingly until Katsuki speaks, “Give me your phone. There’s no way I’m leaving without your number.”
Izuku chuckles as he reaches in his apron pocket, “Blunt are we?”
“It comes with the package, I should warn.”
Izuku laughs, “Then I’ll accept it gracefully” Katsuki grins in success, “It seems like I won?” Izuku nods as Katsuki takes the phone, “It seems so.”
“There, All you have to do is call me. Don’t hesitate, I’m sure I’ll accept.” Izuku nods as he takes his phone back, “Ok then, I guess I’ll see you later?”
“I guess so, Izuku.”
---
Katsuki walks out of the cafe he surprisingly spent an hour in. Time flew by as he had one of the best conversations in his lifetime. He sighs and starts to walk forward and looks back, the cafe lights turn off. He sees the figure walk up to the door locking it, he assumes. The sign that shined when he got there an hour earlier, flicks a couple of times before shutting dwon. The faint music turns to none.
He sighs once again, letting the smile he’s been withholding show, this night was one to mark in history. The beginning of his new lover, Midoriya Izuku who owns, Midori’s Cafe.