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When Izuku first noticed Katsuki’s presence at his workplace, he was surprised. He knew the blond didn’t often stick around places like cafés and was even less likely to break his usual routine. Especially since it was a routine he’d had since childhood.
He’d noticed the blond being less of an aggressor than usual when he saw him at school. He’d also seen how the blond was genuinely trying to change and become a better person. Sure, he still fell back into old habits frequently enough, but Katsuki was at least trying.
Izuku had found his shoe locker broken into just the week before, nothing stolen and instead several vouchers for katsudon at his favourite restaurant laid atop his school slippers. No one at Aldera aside from Katsuki knew his favourite food, let alone the place he preferred to eat it if it wasn’t being cooked by his mom. Izuku wasn’t dumb, despite what many of his classmates thought. He knew Katsuki was the one who left those vouchers for him.
It warmed his heart, knowing Katsuki was trying to change and make amends.
With a small sigh, the green-haired barista laid a sandwich and the blonds' order of coffee on a small tray and headed over to Katsuki’s chosen table.
He placed the coffee down first, followed by the sandwich.
“I didn’t order a sandwich” Katsuki grunted out as he slid himself up to sit properly on the banquette that ran along one wall.
Izuku huffed. “Just take it, Kacchan. It’s my way of saying thanks”
“Nothing to thank me for, nerd.” Katsuki’s glare would have sent anyone else running, but Izuku had known the blond long enough to not be bothered by it overly much. There was no actual heat there.
He’d likely always be cautious around an angry Katsuki, but Izuku thought he still knew the blond enough that could tell when he was truly angry versus just annoyed.
At the very least, he knew most of the things that triggered Katsuki’s temper and could do his best to avoid them.
“You left those katsudon vouchers for me. That deserves some thanks, Kacchan. You’re the only one at school that knows it’s my favourite.”
The blond growled something under his breath but accepted the sandwich all the same.
“It should be spicy enough for you,” Izuku commented as he tucked his tray under one arm. “Enjoy.”
It became a new routine. Katsuki would leave something in Izuku’s shoe locker and Izuku would repay him with some spicy snack or meal the next time the blond showed up at the café. The green-haired teen eventually just told Katsuki the combination for his shoe locker so he wouldn’t have to pay the school for damage to their property every time Katsuki left him something. The staff never believed him about anything, so as far as the school was concerned it was Izuku’s fault the locker was broken.
After a month of the new routine, Izuku finally had a break during one of Katsuki’s visits to the café. He grabbed an iced coffee with vanilla syrup before beelining for the blond. Katsuki glared slightly, but the barista knew he wasn’t actually angry, or even annoyed. It was just the default Katsuki look when he wasn’t grinning wildly or blowing something up.
A few minutes of silence passed before Katsuki spoke, “Deku, I-…fuck, Izuku. I…want to say…” the blond cleared his throat, obviously having trouble finding words for what he wanted to convey, “I want to say sorry. I’ve been shitty to you for something you didn’t ask for. I know it doesn’t make up for anything. I just-”
The usually explosive blond cut himself off and shook his head as if to clear it.
“Kacchan…” Izuku reached out and took the others hand into his atop the table. “Apology accepted, Kacchan.”
“Then-!” Katsuki began before the green-haired teen cut him off.
“I’ll accept your apology, Kacchan, but it’ll take a while to begin to trust you again.”
Katsuki stayed silent but gave a small sharp nod to show he understood.
After that day, Katsuki really began to put 110% into becoming a better person. Izuku was impressed with the dedication. They slowly began to become friends again, though Izuku’s desire to attempt UA’s exam for the Heroics course was still a point of contention.
Izuku really began noticing the changes in Katsuki at that time. The blond was honestly doing all he could to change and that endeared him to Izuku all the more. The barista had always had a bit of a crush on Katsuki. The elder teen was smart, strong, handsome, had a powerful quirk. Izuku couldn’t help but have a little crush on him, even with how his childhood friend had treated him over the years.
The heart wants what it wants, as the saying went.
The blond was trying to change, and that meant the world to Izuku.
When they were both accepted into UA’s heroics course come spring, their parents took them out for a celebratory dinner.
That night, Katsuki settled onto Izuku’s bed. The two were having a sleepover for the first time in nearly a decade.
“Hey, Izuku?” Katsuki asked as he rolled onto his stomach and leaned over the edge of the bed. His face was next to Izuku’s, the green-haired teen having taken a seat on the floor to write some of his analysis notes.
“Kacchan?” Izuku turned his head, then blushed when he realized how close their faces were.
The elder teen leaned in and pressed his lips to his friends for a short but sweet moment. It was like a dream to Izuku, his childhood crush finally kissing him.
There was a pause after Katsuki pulled back. A ragged breath left Izuku as his fingers gently pressed to his lips.
Izuku’s voice wavered, “Kacchan? I-…you-….what?”
He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but he also knew Katsuki didn’t do or say anything he didn’t mean. Did this mean that his childhood fantasy of being Katsuki’s Hero partner as well as life partner had a chance of coming true?
“I fucking like you, Izuku,” Katsuki grumbled, face turning a fetching shade of pink at the admittance. “If you don’t feel the same, we can just keep being friends or whatever.”
Izuku was sure he was bright red. He was also sure that he couldn’t put his feelings for the other into words. Before he could change his mind and potentially lose his chance, he lurched forward and kissed Katsuki under his own power.
When they surfaced for air sometime later, Katsuki shuffled forward just enough to comfortably lean his forehead against Izuku’s.
“So…does this mean we’re dating, or some shit?” The elder teen asked.
Izuku released a breathy laugh as happy tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. “Yes, Kacchan. If you’ll have me, that is.”
“Forever, nerd. You’re fucking stuck with me. I won’t let any of those shitty extras steal you away.”