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Dating is… weird.
It’s kind of how Katsuki expected it to be. Kinda like they’re best friends again, but more affectionate. He does have to say, though, the… uh, mushiness took him by surprise.
He had all these embarrassing aspirations when he asked Deku out about being this suave, macho boyfriend. The kinda guy that kisses him breathless every morning and leaves him squealing excitedly into his pillow every night after they part ways, like in the movies. A tad humiliating in retrospect, and incredibly naive, but true.
Never in a million years did he anticipate the feeling in his chest. He liked Deku, sure, thought he was handsome and cute and strong and smart and (as he begrudgingly admits to himself and himself alone), pretty fucking cool, too. But he also thought he was annoying and nerdy and a little creepy. He figured that would counteract any embarrassing lovey-dovey feelings that would get in his way and stop him from being The Coolest Fucking Boyfriend Ever.
He was wrong.
It’s this… tugging sorta sensation. People are always talking about butterflies in their stomachs, but that pales in comparison to the squeezing in his heart. It feels like there’s a string connecting his chest to Izuku’s, and the feeling only subsides when they’re entangled with one another. Holding hands or cuddling or (would you fucking believe it) kissing.
So, no. Katsuki is not a suave, macho boyfriend. He doesn’t kiss his boyfriend breathless every morning, and to the best of his knowledge, Deku’s never squealed into a pillow over his goodnight messages. He’s a sweaty, flustered, awkward mess. If Deku weren’t worse than he was about the whole thing, he’d seriously consider crawling into a hole and cringing himself to death over it.
Case in point: they’re still navigating the waters of their new relationship.
Do they hold hands on their way to class, or will that cut into their other relationships with people? Can they call each other pet names? Can Katsuki still make fun of Deku for crying whenever there’s a spider in his room? Can Izuku still make fun of Katsuki for getting his mom to do his T shots for him?
(He’s got fucking explosive sweat, alright?! That shit’s expensive, he doesn’t wanna accidentally blow it up.)
Katsuki isn’t exactly the best at… communication. He was taught the Mitsuki Bakugou Strategy for dealing with complicated feelings: bottle it all up and then yell at someone for something totally unrelated until you feel better. (Then apologize for yelling at your secretary when she had nothing to do with what was really bothering you, buy her a gift basket, get your shit together, and move on.)
Deku has been the target of Katsuki’s misguided anger for many years. That doesn’t seem appropriate now, especially since he’s apologized profusely for it. Also, he’s pretty sure you aren’t supposed to yell at the person that you give homemade lunches to every day.
He’s kinda just accepted the fact that this is one of those things that you have to learn over time. Like pushups, and proper egg-to-rice ratio for a lunch bento.
So he’s going with the flow, and it’s… working? He guesses? He keeps kissing Deku at inopportune times and Deku hasn’t yet learned how to lay on someone’s chest without shoving his hair directly up their nostrils, but it’s an improvement. Sort of.
Anyways, he’s starting to become a pretty decent boyfriend. Not quite The Coolest Fucking Boyfriend Ever, yet. He still has a heart attack every second they’re apart and feels like he’s gonna shit himself every second they’re together, but he’s getting there.
The other day, Deku hugged him from behind, and he didn’t punch him. Point: Katsuki.
Still, though, all his training (yes, he’s calling it training, fuck you) failed to prepare him for the day that things were… different.
Deku doesn’t text him in the morning. Which is fine, because he never sees it until he gets back from his run anyways, and by that point Deku’s already waiting for him in the lobby so they can walk to the baths together after he’s finished up his morning workout.
But he’s not waiting today.
He briefly contemplates going up to his room to make sure he isn’t sleeping in, but school doesn’t start for another hours anyways, and he’s sweaty and disgusting right now. It can wait until after his shower.
Well, that comes and goes, and still no Deku.
He whips up a quick breakfast for them to share, grabs his bag, and marches straight to his room. He doesn’t have any free hands to knock, so he kicks the door instead.
“Deku, open up, it’s me!”
He almost thinks he hears an exasperated sigh, but his ears play tricks on him sometimes. Tinnitus is a bitch, and he can’t think of any time Deku’s been exasperated with him when it wasn’t well deserved.
When the door swings open, Deku is wearing nothing but a baggy hoodie (Is that his? Thief.) and a pair of boxers. His face is puffy and he’s hunched over, curled in on himself.
“I’m not going to class today. I’m sick. Aizawa-sensei already told me I could work out and study in my room.”
Katsuki frowns.
“You got a fever? Hang on, take this,” he says, shoving the breakfast at Deku and allowing himself into his room so he can set down his own things. He snakes a hand under Deku’s curly (and greasy, ew) bangs to check his temperature. “You’re not super warm….”
“It’s a stomach bug,” he insists, shaking his head and stepping backwards. He sets his breakfast down on his bed. “You should go. I don’t want you getting sick.”
“You want me to make you some toast or soup or something? What kinda stomach bug is it? I might have some motion sickness pills in my-”
“Kacchan, I’ll feel better if I get some rest,” he interrupts him, voice weary. “Thanks for the food, but you really need to go. You’re gonna be late for class.”
“I’ve got half an hour,” he deflects. “I’ll go grab you those pills really quick. Did you want the toast? Shit, why am I even asking you? You need toast. I’ll be back in-“
”No,” Deku insists, furrowing his brow. “I can take care of myself, Kacchan. I’m not a baby. Just go to school. I’ll be fine.”
Katsuki’s heart lurches in his chest, and his stomach twists. Butterflies. Not the good kind.
Fuck. He’s bad at confrontation when it’s not the angry sort. Especially if he’s the one in the wrong.
“Did I hurt your feelings or some shit?”
Izuku bristles, eyes flying open wide.
“What the f-“
“That came out wrong,” Katsuki blurts before Izuku can get ahead of himself. “I’m… fuck, that was the default bitch in me. I’m genuinely trying to ask if I fucked up, I’m just shit at using the right tone.”
Izuku’s defensive stance drops.
“… Right.” He shakes his head a little bit. “No, you didn’t hurt my feelings. I’m not… I’m not a pussy, Kacchan.”
Katsuki almost laughs at that.
… Almost.
“The hell? I didn’t say you were.” His eye twitches. “Did someone… call you a pussy? Who was it? I’ll kick their ass!”
“I don’t need you to defend me,” Izuku spits, all that fire rushing back. “No one said anything, but that shouldn’t be your knee-jerk reaction, Kacchan. I’m just as much of a man as you are, I don’t need you to be my… my knight in shining armor or whatever.”
There’s a lump in Katsuki’s throat that won’t go away, now.
“I didn’t…” He takes a deep breath. “Can you tell me what’s actually happening here? Because I don’t know how to read between the lines. Why are we fighting?”
Deku sighs through his nose and closes his eyes.
“We’re not,” he says quietly. “I’m sorry. I’m just irritable right now. I’m not mad at you.”
“Okay,” Katsuki breathes with relief, running a hand through his hair. “That’s understandable. You’re sick, of course you’re gonna be a little edgy.”
“R-Right,” Deku nods, opening his eyes again.
“Do you…” Katsuki wipes his palms on his slacks and momentarily clenches his jaw. “Do you want a hug or some shit? Will that make you feel better?”
“… Yeah,” he croaks, wrapping his arms around Katsuki’s middle and knocking his head against his chest. Katsuki returns the gesture, careful not to squeeze him too tight.
(He doesn’t want Deku to puke on him, after all.)
“You really should get to class,” Deku says, muffled by the fabric of Katsuki’s shirt.
“I know,” he nods, pulling away. He pats Deku’s shoulder in what he hopes is a supportive gesture (fucking stupid). “Text me at lunch. I hope you feel better soon.”
“Y-Yep, sure, will do,” he nods. “Have a good day at school.”
“Sure.”
(Would be better if you were there.)
When the door closes behind Katsuki, he resists the urge to slam his head against it and groan.
There’s that fucking chest pain again.
Izuku is not going to work out today.
Izuku is probably not going to do anything today except for watch bullshit conspiracy videos on YouTube, hide under his blankets, and eat his way through his secret stash of snacks. And crying but pretending he’s not crying. And avoiding mirrors. Especially that last one.
… Right, except scratch that, because the second he uses the bathroom, he’s met with the huge mirror right over the sink.
He’s not gonna look.
He’s gonna do his business, like he came here to do, and then he’s gonna wash his hands, and he’s not gonna look in the mirror while he washes his hands, and he’s gonna walk out, and he’s just not gonna look.
He won’t look.
He uses the bathroom. He washes his hands.
He looks.
…
Ughhh.
So, it starts with his face. Too round, too short, his hair is too long, his eyes are too wide, his freckles make him look like a girl, his ears are small, his neck is still thin and weird.
Then Kacchan’s hoodie comes off.
His shoulders aren’t broad. His chest is way too big. His arms aren’t big enough. His stomach is soft and squishy and round and his hips are curvy and thick. His thighs are too wide. His calves aren’t defined.
He’d say he at least likes his hands, but they’re all jagged and scarred, and they hurt. So, fuck that.
He’s just barely average height for a female his age. His voice is high and soft. His posture is feminine. Everything about him is girlish.
He even has his starkly different masculine boyfriend to prove it.
He doesn’t want to be jealous of Kacchan. That’s just ugly of him. He admires Kacchan, like he always has, and he aspires to be like him. But he doesn’t want to be jealous.
He doesn’t want to think about how easy it would be for Kacchan to pick him up, because he’s so small in comparison. He doesn’t want to think about how he has to stand on his tip toes to kiss him on the lips. He doesn’t want to think about Kacchan defending his honor like he’s some damsel in distress. He doesn’t want to think about getting mistaken for Kacchan’s girlfriend…
But can he blame them? How could they not think he’s his girlfriend, when Kacchan is tall and muscular and strong, with such a deep voice and a “take-no-shit” attitude, and Izuku is short and weak and emotional and, and-
….
…….
… He’s crying.
He’s sitting on his bathroom floor, shirtless and crying because his boyfriend is more of a man than he’ll ever be. How fucking pathetic is that?
His phone pings.
Oh, Kacchan texted him. It must be lunchtime.
Kacchan 🧡: Hey
Kacchan 🧡: How are you feeling?
Izuku sighs.
Me: im ok
Kacchan 🧡: Are you still nauseous?
Me: no, just tired now
Kacchan 🧡: Okay, you should get some more rest, then.
Kacchan 🧡: I took notes for you in class, I’ll drop by after school to give them to you.
Kacchan 🧡: Stupid says he hopes you feel better soon btw
Izuku smiles despite himself.
Me: whos stupid?
Kacchan 🧡: All of em.
Kacchan 🧡: But this one specifically was Sharkboy.
Me: tell kirishima i said thanks
Kacchan 🧡: Never in a million years.
Kacchan 🧡: Seriously though, rest up so I can ki
There’s a pause.
Kacchan 🧡: FUCK
Kacchan 🧡: I didn’t mean to send that. Ignore it.
Izuku snorts.
Me: so you can what, kacchan? ^_^
Kacchan 🧡: SHUT UP!!!!!!
Kacchan 🧡: I was just gonna say so I can kill you. Duh.
Me: sure, kacchan.
Kacchan 🧡: Can it, Deku.
Kacchan 🧡: [Voice Message]
(Play? Yes [x] No [ ])
”GIVE ME MY PHONE BACK YOU LITTLE SHIT!
”HIIIIIII MIDORIYA IT’S ME, BAKUGOU! GET BETTER SOON SO I CAN SMOOCH YOU BECAUSE I LOOOOOVE YOU!! MWAH, MWAH, MW- AAAAAHHH HOLY SHIT DUDE OW OW-“
”That’s what you get for taking my fucking property, Shitty H-“
Kacchan 🧡: Ignore that too.
Izuku laughs to himself.
Izuku 💚 saved voice recording message to files.
Kacchan 🧡: You fucker.
Kacchan 🧡: Get some sleep, because you’re gonna need the energy when I beat your ass this afternoon.
Me: lol
Me: see u later kacchan ❤️
Kacchan 🧡: ❤️🔥
Kacchan 🧡: My emoji was cooler than yours. Suck it, loser.
Me: 😾
Izuku shuts his phone off with a sigh. He pulls the hoodie back over his head.
He doesn’t look in the mirror.
Katsuki is weirdly nervous as he walks to Izuku’s room. He knows he didn’t do anything wrong. It just feels like he’s guilty of something.
He’s not normally one to overthink-
Actually, scratch that, he sort of is, but normally his overthinking has a sense of rationale to it. Spending time with Deku, who has to make a pros and cons list before he puts creamer in his coffee, has rubbed off on him a bit.
But he’s not a coward. Don’t get him wrong. He marches straight to his boyfriend’s room, knocks on the door, and waits for him to answer, even though it kinda feels like he might throw up.
Deku opens the door, and he looks… even worse than this morning. His face is all greasy, his sweatshirt (which is definitely Katsuki’s, now that he’s paying attention) is covered in crumbs, and he looks like he’s been crying all day.
“… Hi Kacchan,” he greets quietly, fiddling with his sleeves. Katsuki raises an eyebrow at him.
“Thought you said you were feeling better.”
“My stomach doesn’t hurt anymore,” he explains. “… Um, it never did, actually.”
“Hah?” Katsuki frowns deeply. “You were lying to me? Why? What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Izuku says quickly, dropping his gaze to the floor. “I just…”
The silence is heavy. The bag on Katsuki’s shoulder (dutifully full of notes for Deku) is heavy. His shoes feel heavy. Everything is heavy.
He’s seriously gonna throw up.
“Are you gonna dump me?” He chokes out nervously, his heart racing in his throat. “Because if you are you should just do it, I don’t want to-“
“No, no, oh my gosh,” Deku rushes to say, reaching out to grab Katsuki’s hands. “Nothing like that, I promise.”
Katsuki sighs with relief.
“So what, then? You get your period or something? I got Midol and shit, so-“
“Okay, don’t talk about that,” Deku says firmly. Katsuki’s face softens with realization.
“… Bad dysphoria day, huh?”
Deku’s lower lip trembles.
“… Really, really bad,” he whispers. A few tears slip over his cheeks, and Katsuki swallows.
“Okay. Let’s talk inside,” he decides, guiding them into Deku’s room and closing the door behind him. He sets his bag down and gives his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Go on.”
Izuku immediately crumples.
Sobs wrack his whole body, and he tries in vain to wipe away the snot and tears staining his face with the sleeve of his hoodie. Katsuki’s chest squeezes at the sight.
That heart string’s fuckin’ with him again.
“C’mere,” he says softly, pulling Izuku towards his chest. They stand there, rocking back and forth, Izuku sobbing into his school uniform and Katsuki squeezing him tight. “Talk to me, nerd. What’s going on in that freaky head of yours?”
“I f-feel like a fake man,” Deku cries. “I’m n-not tall or fit or- or handsome l-like you, and my voice is girly and I’m too emotional and n-no one sees me as a boy even though I’m trying really, really hard to show them that I a-am!”
“Okay, okay, deep breaths,” Katsuki says lowly. He pulls away a little bit to look Deku in the face. “You’re not a fake man, Deku. Everyone knows that, I promise.”
“I get misgendered a lot,” he whimpers, shaking his head. “People th-think I’m a girl.”
“Fuck ‘em,” Katsuki scoffs. Izuku chuckles half-heartedly. “No, I’m serious. Fuck them. They’re the ones making assumptions about someone else’s identity. You have fucking pronoun pins on your backpack, Deku. It’s just stupid, transphobic assholes looking to make your day shittier. Happens to me, too. They’re just dumbasses.”
Deku furrows his brow.
“It does?”
“Yeah. Especially after the media coverage of… all my bullshit,” he mutters, shaking his head. “And it hurts. It sucks. But it’s all just stupid, insecure jackasses that have nothing better to do with their time than bully a fucking kid. I promise.”
“But you’re so…” Deku’s eyes rake over Katsuki’s frame. “… Masculine.”
“You are too,” Katsuki says. “I know it’s hard to see for yourself sometimes, but you really are. There’s nothing ‘girly’ about you, because you’re not a girl.”
Izuku takes a deep breath.
“I guess I just don’t feel like it,” he admits. “I know that I’m a guy, but when my body doesn’t… I dunno, ‘match up’ with it…”
“I know,” Katsuki nods. “It’s a bitch to deal with.”
Izuku hums, knocking his forehead against his shoulder again.
“I’m sorry for today,” he whispers. “It’s not your job to deal with all this.”
“It’s not,” he agrees. “But I want to. Because I’ve been there, and because I lo- …”
He stops himself before he can say the word, and both of them stiffen up a bit. Izuku waits in silence for a moment, and then he sniffles.
“You don’t have to say it. I know,” he whispers. Katsuki’s face heats up, and he groans under his breath, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Shit. Sorry. Freaked myself out.”
“It’s okay. It’s scary to say for the first time,” he says understandably. “I love you too, Kacchan.”
Katsuki snorts quietly.
“We’re still figuring shit out,” he states. “Sometimes you gotta talk things through to get to the point, y’know?”
“Right.”
“Which means,” His tone turns serious. “You’ve gotta tell me if I’m doing something that makes you dysphoric, Deku. I mean it.”
“It’s not your fault,” he insists. “It’s just me being insecure.”
“Some of the shit I said today certainly didn’t help, though,” he points out. “I want to fix that, but you have to give me a hand.”
Deku sighs.
“Can we lay on the bed to talk?” He requests softly. Katsuki nods, humming.
“Mhm. Yeah, that sounds good.”
Katsuki removes his blazer so he can be a little more comfortable and tosses it on the floor. He can deal with that later. For now, he pulls his boyfriend close and lets him lay of his chest, just the way he likes. And he really doesn’t think about the hair tickling his nose this time.
They stay like that for a while, just breathing in time with each other. Katsuki absentmindedly rubs Izuku’s back every now and then, and Izuku returns the favor by picking at his shirt.
“… I don’t like feeling like I need to be protected,” he says after a good long while. “When I tell you something, you always immediately try to fix the problem. I don’t need that. I can take care of myself.”
“Oh,” Katsuki says softly. Izuku gulps.
“I’m sorry, I know you’re just trying to be nice, but it makes me feel all weak and dumb and-“
“You’re preaching to the choir right now,” Katsuki chuckles lightheartedly. “I know exactly how that feels. People try to baby me all the time because of my PTSD and autism and… yeah, y’know, all that garbage. It fucks with your head, ‘specially when you’ve got an inferiority complex as monstrous as mine. I get it. I’ll cut that shit out.”
Izuku huffs and hides his face in Katsuki’s neck.
“Well now I feel bad!”
“The fuck? Why?!”
“You were just trying to be a good boyfriend!” He whines, and Katsuki can practically feel the tears welling in his eyes again. “A-And I screwed it up because I was too sensitive and-“
“You would do it for me,” he stops him. “If I felt that way, I mean. You would do the same for me. You have done that for me. Hold me to a higher standard, Deku.”
Izuku sighs through his nose again.
“… Okay.”
“What else?” Katsuki asks. “What else can I help with to make those feelings stop?”
“I’m not sure,” he admits. “I think this is just one of those things that we have to learn over time? Like pushups, or-“
“Proper egg-to-rice ratio for a lunch bento,” Katsuki finishes, sounding very sure of himself. Izuku snort fondly and shakes his head.
“I was gonna say calculus.”
“Psh, calculus is easy, you just freak yourself out about it and it fucks ya over.”
“It only comes easy for you!” He pouts. “You’re good at math, and I’m good at everything else. It balances out.”
“Oh please, I could kick your ass at anything.”
“Oh really? A drawing contest, then?” He teases, looking up at him. “What about creative writing? Hero trivia? Leg day?”
”Oi, how the hell do you know all my weak points?” He growls, pushing Izuku’s head back down. “Creepy little stalker.”
“Nuh uh! You know just as much about me!”
“Bullshit.” He sits up a little bit, causing Izuku to sit up with him. “There’s no way.”
“Sounds like we gotta test this theory,” he hums. “Let’s ask questions, and we answer them at the same time. Whoever gets the most questions right wins.”
“Oh, you’re so on,” he grins. “Favorite food?”
“Yours is your mom’s mapo tofu.”
“Yours is the katsudon from that restaurant by your old apartment.”
“Right,” Izuku smiles. “Um… favorite book?”
“Oh, easy. All Might’s autobiography,” Katsuki snorts. “You’ve got, like, four copies of it.”
“It’s a good book!” He defends himself. “Yours is… hm, let’s see. You probably tell people that it’s Parasite Eve or something of that nature-“
“It is.”
“- but!” He grins deviously. “It’s actually Kizuna. You’ve had the whole set since middle school and you haven’t gotten rid of it yet, which means you reread it often, because you always get rid of books after you finish them.”
Katsuki’s face burns red.
“Tell anyone, and you’re a dead man,” he threatens, shaking his head. Izuku giggles. “Whatever, move on. Favorite color.”
“Kacchan, that’s too easy.”
“You don’t know that. It could be a huge secret, and you’d have no way of knowing. Maybe my favorite color is… blue, or something.”
“Except it’s not,” he counters. “It alternates between black and orange, just like it has since I met you. Just like your bedclothes, and your hero costume, and your nail polish.”
“Right,” Katsuki snorts. “And yours is green.”
Izuku furrows his brow.
“No it isn’t.”
“Oh, fuckin’- teal, or whatever. Basically green.”
“It’s not teal,” he laughs, shaking his head. Katsuki frowns deeply.
“The fuck? Oh, is it- is it yellow? ‘Cause of All Might’s hair?” Izuku laughs louder, still shaking his head. Katsuki grabs his shoulders. “What, what? Quit laughin’ at me!”
“It’s red,” he says, wiping his eyes. “My favorite color is red.”
“… Oh.” He lets his hands drop. “Red? S’not even on your costume, barely.”
“Yes it is. On my shoes and belt.”
“Such a stupid color.”
“Your eyes are red,” Izuku says softly, grinning like a dope. Katsuki’s face warms again.
“Yeah, they are.”
“You have pretty eyes.”
“Shut up,” he groans, pushing his face away. Izuku laughs again.
“Hey, Kacchan.”
“What.”
“I won,” he points out. Katsuki rolls his eyes.
“Oh, whatever. Just proves my point, anyways.” He flicks Izuku’s shoulder. “Creep.”
“Sore loser.”
“Dumbass.”
“Douchebag.”
“Nerd.”
“Dork.”
“Alright, enough,” he growls, laying back down. Izuku chuckles softly. “Feel better now?”
“Much better,” he sighs, resting his head on his chest. “Hey, thanks for taking notes for me.”
“S’the least I can do,” he shrugs. “Thanks for talking things out with me.”
“Thanks for taking me out to dinner at my favorite place to get katsudon.”
“I didn’t do that,” he wrinkles his nose. “Did I do that? I don’t remember doing that.”
“No? Ah, must be my future vision,” he says cheekily. “It’s one of my quirks.”
“No it isn’t!”
“Shh, Kacchan, I’m getting another vision,” he says, squeezing his eyes shut and pressing his temples dramatically. “It looks like… you’re paying for the whole meal?! How chivalrous!”
“Can’t you just ask me to take you out like a normal person?” He mutters, ruffling Izuku’s hair.
“Nope!”
“Yeah, I guessed as much.” He pats his back, attempting to get up. “Okay, c’mon. We gotta change into some normal clothes and get a pass from Sensei if we wanna go out.”
“Noooo,” he whines. “I don’t wanna wear normal clothes! Lemme just go in my depression cocoon.”
“You’re not even wearing pants!”
“I caaaan’t! Pants are the worst.”
“Deku. It’s pants or no dinner. You choose.”
Izuku groans dramatically, rolling off of the bed and onto the floor.
“Just leave me here to die. My boyfriend doesn’t love me enough to let me go into public pantsless.”
“Your boyfriend is just trying to avoid a public indecency charge. C’mon, get up.” He taps him with his foot. “I’ll give you more of my clothes if you listen to me.”
Izuku sits up.
“Can I wear your skull shirt?!”
“I was gonna wear it.”
“You can wear that red tank top, it looks so nice on you,” he gushes, putting on his best puppy dog eyes. “Please?”
Katsuki rolls his eyes and huffs.
“… Fine. Might do ya some good to wear normal clothes for once, anyways,” he reasons. “Do you own any shirts that aren’t hero merch or some stupid pun?”
“I own this hoodie.”
“That’s my hoodie.”
“Then no.”
Izuku skips happily, swinging his hand, fingers interlocked with Katsuki’s. To his credit, the blonde does pretend to be grumpy about such a silly display, but Izuku catches him smiling fondly out of the corner of his eye.
He feels so much better now. Katsuki’s shirt is baggy in all the right places, and he let him borrow a pair of boots as well, so now they’re practically the same height. He still feels super drained and a bit insecure, but it’s muted now. His head is sunny and his heart is light.
“Damn, if I knew this place made you this happy, I would’ve taken you ages ago.”
Izuku chuckles.
“It’s not just that,” he explains. “It’s a really nice night out! It feels good to get fresh air.”
“Yeah, and you’ve got a hot date too, right?”
“Eeeehh,” he grins. “He’s alright.”
“Fuck’s that supposed to mean? He’s hot.”
“I dunno. He’s attractive, I guess. But hot?” He squeezes Katsuki’s palm. “His hands, maybe. All sweaty and gross.”
“Yours are just as bad,” he counters. “And you get clammy. So gross.”
“I’m not gross. You’re gross.”
“You are too gross. You’re stinky.”
“Am not!” He playfully shoves him with his shoulder. Katsuki snickers. “You’re so mean to me, Kacchan.”
“It’s how I show affection,” he shrugs. “Plus, you owe me for making me pay for all your shit.”
“I don’t get an allowance anymore! I’m broke, and it’s your duty as my rich boyfriend to buy me things.”
“So I’m just a sugar daddy, then?”
“Don’t be gross.” Izuku wrinkles his nose.
“But… yes?”
“Yeah, basically.”
“Wow. I see how it is.”
“I’m just teasing,” he giggles, pausing and wrapping his arms around Katsuki’s shoulders. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Katsuki raises a brow. “What’re you doing?”
“Nothin’.” He smiles happily at him. “I just love you, is all.”
“Lame,” Katsuki whispers, but his bright red face gives him away.
They stare at each other for a long moment, and Katsuki’s hand twitch. He wants to grab his legs and pull him around his waist and kiss him like in the movies. His breath catches in his chest (fucking heart string-) and… and he…
“We’re… probably in the way…” He whispers. But he doesn’t pull away. Not yet.
“They can walk around us.”
“You’re killing me, you know.”
“It’s how I show affection.”
“Deku…” He swallows nervously. “You’re feeling better?”
“Much better.”
“Can I kiss you?”
“Yes,” Izuku says quickly, grabbing his face between his hands and smushing their lips together.
It’s not like the movies. It’s awkward and messy because they’re still trying to work this out, and Katsuki’s nose is kinda big and always ends up getting crushed, but it’s also perfect.
Later, at the restaurant, Izuku spills broth all over his shirt, and Katsuki isn’t even mad about it. He gives him napkin, snickering all the way, and then he smiles easily.
“Hey.”
He feels like such a dope. He can’t stop grinning and his cheeks are all rosy and he’s barely even touched his food because he’s too busy staring at his boyfriend.
“Hm?” Izuku hums, preoccupied with trying to salvage the t-shirt. Katsuki doesn’t care.
“Look at me, ‘Zu.”
That gets his attention. Katsuki never uses that nickname for him.
He’s met with the dorkiest expression in existence. Katsuki feels dumber than a sack of bricks for thinking he could ever be a Cool Boyfriend. But it doesn’t matter.
“… Kacchan?”
“I love you too,” he says quietly, resisting the urge to break eye contact and shove his hands in his pockets and put all his defenses up. He stands his ground.
“Oh,” Izuku says quietly, tears filling his eyes. He covers his mouth. “You said it.”
“I said it.”
“I love you!” He surges forward, peppering kisses all over Katsuki’s face. “I love you so much, and you said it! Kacchan!!”
“I know,” he giggles, actually giggles, and he doesn’t even care that they’re making a scene because- “I love you. I love my boyfriend.”
“I love my boyfriend!”
“Excuse me, sir?”
Izuku drops his hands and sits back in the booth as Katsuki addresses the meek waitress.
“Yeah?”
“A-Are you and … your boyfriend going to be staying much longer? We’re closing up.”
Izuku’s hand grips his knee excitedly.
“Yeah, we’ll be done in a sec,” he says. “Could we get some boxes for the rest?”
“Of course.”
As soon as she’s out of earshot, Izuku bounces up and down, slapping his leg.
“She called me your boyfriend!”
“You are my boyfriend,” he snorts.
“Yeah, but she called me it! I normally get called your girlfriend!” He squeals happily and flaps his hands. “This must be a sign! I’m wearing your clothes from now on.”
“Stealing all my money and all my clothes?!”
“You don’t care.” He sticks his tongue out. “You loooove me.”
Katsuki rolls his eyes.
“Yeah,” he agrees. “Guess I do.”