Chapter Text
"Ready to go, nerd?"
Izuku pauses his frantic notetaking and grins, his eyes lighting up when he sees Katsuki in the doorway, backpack already slung haphazardly over his shoulder.
After their fight on Ground Beta, Bakugou and Midoriya's relationship had changed, their definitely-not-friends-rivalry becoming ... something else. Their near-constant arguments turn into clumsy conversations turn into a familiar friendship reminiscent of their childhood.
One Saturday, after Katsuki has to listen to Izuku moan and groan about Denki finishing off the tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream (the best flavor, according to Izuku) for 15 minutes, he grabs Izuku by the wrist and drags him out of the dorms, ignoring Izuku's protests about breaking curfew, "You wanted ice cream, nerd. So we're getting ice cream. Now stop complaining and follow me."
Now, even months later, they still made to effort to go and visit the small ice cream shop a few blocks from Yueii and sit on the rooftop patio, enjoying the stars and the view of the city streets. Some nights, they'd bring their school bags and work on homework together, like they used to do when they were much younger and under their mother's supervision. Other nights they'd just sit in silence, content to just exist together in a way they hadn't allowed themselves to in forever.
Izuku briefly writes a few more lines in his notebook before slipping it into his All Might-themed bag, "All set!"
Katsuki suppresses a blush when Izuku grins at him. He takes a moment to bask in Izuku's presence -- gods, it had been so long since Izuku had allowed himself to be this relaxed around him. Even though it had been months since their relationship had developed into ... whatever this was, Katsuki was still afraid that one day Izuku would wake up and realize that he didn't deserve a second chance. That he wasn't worth it. That he hadn't truly changed and Izuku could do so much better. That he deserved so much better.
Nothing good ever seems to last.
"Let's go," Bakugou nods his head towards the door, letting Izuku walk in front of him.
Izuku has one foot out the door when he hears Bakugou clear his throat, "Forgetting something?" he holds Izuku's oversized flannel in his hand, eyebrow raised.
"Kacchan!" Izuku whines, "It's not that cold, I'll be fine. I don't need it," but their words hold no weight when they grab the fabric from his hands.
"Yeah, yeah, you always say that," he rolls his eyes, "Then I gotta deal with you begging for my jacket after the sun sets."
"Okay, okay, I'm taking it," he laughs shoving the red flannel into his bag.
The walk to the ice cream shop -- Drippy Dan's (they had spent a good few minutes laughing at the name the first time they had entered the shop) -- was peaceful. Clouds slowly meandered through the sky, letting the sun shine down on the people walking the street. Birds chirp as they find perches on fences and powerlines, their song mixing with the chatter of passersby and Izuku's gentle humming. A gentle breeze cards through the duo's hair.
Cherry blossom petals fall from the trees along the sidewalk and Izuku holds out a scarred hand, a petal easily falling into his waiting palm, "Look, Kacchan!" he grins, "I caught one!" Katsuki grunts in acknowledgment.
Izuku looks at the petal, suddenly falling deep into their thoughts, "Y'know, cherry petals are supposed to represent how brief and fleeting life is. Sometimes I forget how many times we've come close to dying this past year and- well, nevermind," they pause and shake their head as Katsuki studies them, his brow creasing slightly, but Izuku quickly perks up again, a determined look on their face, "I guess that just gives us even more of a reason to cherish every bit of beauty life has to offer!" he glances over to Katsuki and blushes slightly, "Right, Kacchan?"
"Sure, dweeb," his lip twitches upwards when a petal falls onto Izuku's nose causing the boy to go cross-eyed in an attempt to stare at it before shaking his head, and the petal falls.
Dan, the shop owner, greets them when they arrive, already knowing their usual orders (a testament to how often they visit), and quickly prepares the treat for the duo.
Izuku pulls out his wallet, "I'll pay for both of them today, sir." Bakugou makes a noise of protest but Izuku shushes him, handing their card to the man across the counter.
Izuku takes back his card and grabs both of their cups (one mint chocolate chip, the other rocky road) and heads towards the staircase in the corner of the store that leads to the rooftop.
He turns around and grins cheekily, "Coming, Kacchan?"
Katsuki looks to the side and hoists his bag higher on his shoulder, his ears oddly warm, "Yeah, yeah, I'm right behind you, calm down."
They sit at their usual table -- the one with the best view of the city. Izuku likes it best because it's easy to see hero fights. He usually abandons his ice cream for the interesting ones, dragging Katuki along with him despite his protests (though Izuku knows his grumbles and objections are just for show -- Katsuki loves heros almost as much as Izuku does and besides -- no one could force Bakugou Katsuki to do anything he didn't want to do).
Once they find their seats, Bakugou pulls out his wallet, intent on paying the other boy back but Izuku frantically shakes his head, his arms waving sporadically in front of him, "No, no, it's my treat."
"Deku-" Bakugou growls.
"Really, Kacchan," he leans across the table to place his hand on his friends in assurance, "I got it," he pauses, "I like buying things for my friends."
Katsuki takes a breath, ready to argue, but when he meets Izuku's pleading gaze his will to fight leaves him, vanishing into the night like a fading ember slowly dying out. It was less than 300 yen anyways.
His shoulders slump and he glances to the side, a small blush dusting his cheeks, "Whatever, nerd. I'll pay next time."
Izuku laughs, "Only if you want to, Kacchan."
"Of course I want to, dumbass," he says quickly, crossing his arms in front of his chest defensively, "I don't like owing you shit."
Izuku chuckles and shakes his head, "You don't owe me anything, Kacchan. It was a gift."
A silence falls between them and suddenly Katsuki can't seem to maintain eye contact with the boy sitting across from him, "Yeah, whatever," he huffs, "Eat your ice cream before it melts."
The green-haired boy laughs, his curls bouncing before he pulls out a simple black headband from his backpack and puts it on, his bangs firmly pushed back by the fabric.
They practically moan when they have their first bite, "Mmm, mint chocolate chip is the best," he says around his mouthful of the dessert, "I forgot how good it was."
Bakugou snorts, before taking a bite of his own, "What? Did Denki eat the last of the ice cream again?"
Izuku looks at him indignantly, and gestures wildly, "Yes, actually! I feel like he's doing it on purpose at this point. To mess with me."
Katsuki chuckles, and raises an eyebrow, "Really? I guess I'll just have to talk to him about it then. No more eating the last of Izuku's ice cream."
They banter back and forth until they finish their treats, and Katsuki stands, grabbing both of their trash in his hand before pointing out some left over food on Izuku's mouth. Izuku quickly tries to wipe it off, but his efforts are ineffective.
They wipe at their mouth again but kept missing and Bakugou finally bends down, grabbing the napkin out of the other boy's hand, "Give me that," before promptly wiping off the offending ice cream, and hauling ass towards the trash can, muttering under his breath, "Stupid nerd, can't even properly wipe off his own stupid face."
Izuku squeaks and blushes fiercely as he watches Bakugou leave, belatedly realizing that today was the first time that Katsuki hadn't argued when they called him their friend.
Izuku smiles, the sun shining brightly above him, and the weight on his shoulders seems to lessen. Just a little bit.