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“I’m making the pasta,” Todoroki declares with confidence as if he’s preparing for battle.
And well, knowing Katsuki’s strict leadership in the kitchen, Todoroki might even be right.
But when Katsuki turns to look at his boyfriend, what he sees leaves him shocked.
“Hah?!” Katsuki might have misheard him. Maybe the explosions are finally getting to him, and he’s going deaf.
Or, which is most likely, Todoroki just said something really dumb. Like. painfully dumb. Something that he would usually get away with by keeping a straight face and tilting his head to the side until Deku laughs it off. But this time, Katsuki doesn’t see that telling tilt of his mouth. This means… he’s not joking.
“Are you being serious right now?”
Todoroki blinks at him, then down at his arm stopping him from getting to the stove with the pot in his hand. Then to Deku, always to Deku, when he’s out of his element and wants some reassurance. As if that nerd could be any help when it comes to cooking.
“I said, I’m making the pasta?”
Katsuki looks down at the pot, full of water, and the dried pasta already in it. It’s not a joke. It has to be. But it’s not.
From the other side of the counter, Deku walks over. He’s been tasked with chopping the vegetables - basically anything that puts him the farthest from the stove. Katsuki would have pushed Todoroki to sit down as well, but he gave him the puppy eyes, saying he wants to help, so Katsuki relented.
Maybe he shouldn’t have.
“Uh. Is the pasta done soaking?” Deku asks and WHAT.
Katsuki takes a deep breath because he needs to calm down and not bite their stupid faces. They’ve only been open with each other about their attraction for a month. Katsuki can’t murder them. Not yet. Not until he can get away with Todoroki’s inheritance. (Which for legal reasons, is a joke. But Katsuki knows he would make a convincing grieving widow.)
“I need both of you to shut up and put the pot down!”
However, there’s mutiny happening on his deck.
“I’m not even holding a pot, Kacchan!”
“Is that really necessary?”
“Tsk. Do you guys think you need to soak pasta?”
Todoroki looks at him like he’s the dumb one while Deku flushes. “Uhh, we did soak the noodles last time!”
Damn. Why couldn’t Katsuki be attracted to someone with a working brain? His life would be so much easier!
“That was when we made pad thai. And those were rice noodles! This is going to be pasta with roasted vegetables! Those are not the same!”
Deku looks apologetic while Todoroki tilts his head to the side. “So they don’t need to be soaked?”
Katsuki is getting close to throwing in the towel. He’s not sure why he’s torturing himself. He could be going to a restaurant with Shindo Yo or some other extra from Endeavor’s agency. He’s gotten offers! But no, Katsuki has to choose these two idiots. Instead of being pampered at an elegant restaurant, he has to stand in the dorm’s kitchen, cooking with his boyfriends so they can have a date night! Pathetic.
“Did I do something wrong?” Todoroki asks in a small voice. “I confess I’ve never made Italian pasta before.”
The retort burns Katsuki’s tongue. ‘For real? I wouldn’t have known!’ . He’s close to blurting it out but sees the look on Todoroki’s face. It’s the same look that he’s given Katsuki when he messed up the chives. He’s trying so hard to impress them, but he doesn’t know how.
Todoroki’s already bought Deku a new pair of sneakers and a soft scarf for Katsuki. Todoroki’s eyes always light up when he sees them enjoy something. And when he can get something for them that he knows they’ll like, he’s proud of himself.
Some people might think his gifts are over the top and shallow, but Katsuki sees them for what they are. A show of care and love from someone who’s never gotten gifts, let alone given them before.
And now Todoroki’s standing in front of Katsuki, trying to impress him with how much he can help in the kitchen. It’s adorable even if it’s completely useless.
“Boil the water first, then add the pasta.”
“Oh.” Todoroki looks down at the pot, realising his mistake.
“Don’t worry, I bought an extra pack!” Deku says, opening up the cupboards to look for it.
“You can start again,” Katsuki tells him, and Todoroki perks up. “But no more unsupervised antics.”
Just to be sure, he keeps his eyes on Todoroki for the rest of the evening. It’s a good excuse to look at him, really look at him. He knows Deku’s face better than his own. Knows how many freckles are on his cheeks, could recognise the shape of his nose from all angles. He doesn’t know Todoroki’s quite as well. And he wants to learn.
Todoroki catches him staring, and the corners of his mouth curl up a bit. He’s not one for wild expressions, but this is the sign of happiness.
“Am I doing everything alright?”
He’s making sure the pasta doesn’t boil over. It’s not rocket science.
“Yes, you’re a passable kitchen aid.”
Todoroki’s eyes are crinkled at their corners. That’s his way of grinning. “Hear that, Midoriya? I’m passable.”
“At least you get to stand at the stove,” Deku says. “I’m banished!”
When he brings the vegetables over, Katsuki makes sure he slides them over the counter and keeps a good 1.5 meters from the stove.
“You know what you did. These are my good pots, I don’t want you anywhere near them.”
At least he can chop everything up. Everything, except for one thing.
Katsuki clicks his tongue and touches Todoroki’s arm to get his attention. “Please show Deku how to cut up chives. Properly.”
“I’m on it!”
“Deku, you’re going to be demoted from chopping duty if you don’t improve!”
Deku glares at him. They both know there’s only one thing lower than the chopping: doing the dishes without any help.
And while Katsuki would punish Deku without remorse for messing up the chives, his old rival has a secret weapon that he’s not afraid to utilise to get back into Katsuki’s good graces: affection.
One day Katsuki might be invulnerable against it, but now, as it stands, he’s weak for any sign of affection from either Deku or Todoroki. The least he can do is pretend that he’s not as far gone as he is. They’re currently buying this facade, but probably not for long. They both have gotten deep under Katsuki’s skin. With a bit more time, he’ll have no secrets from them. Katsuki’s not sure he minds that.
In the end, Deku doesn’t have to deal with the dishes. Kaminari, Sero and Ashido offer to clean up the kitchen, in exchange for the leftovers. Katsuki tells them to leave his pots alone, but the rest can be cleaned up.
Usually, Katsuki wouldn’t be roped into giving up his food. He’s not running a soup kitchen! But his so-called friends were kind enough not to tease the three of them about eating together, and now going up to his room. So he can cut some slack for them.
Kirishima texts him that he’s going to sleep elsewhere. This is completely ridiculous because they wouldn’t do anything to warrant this. Or Katsuki thinks. It’s not that he wishes to be wrong, but he also doesn’t want to assume too much. They’re barely past the first awkwardness of cuddling.
Todoroki picks the movie. Last week it was Totoro, this week it’s Princess Mononoke. Secretly, Katsuki prefers this one. Those big wolves are badass! But Todoroki hasn’t seen these old movies before so they indulge him.
In the privacy of their own room, Katsuki can finally relax. He unabashedly lays over Todoroki’s and Deku’s lap, not bothering to watch the movie at a normal angle. Deku’s hands are playing with his hair, while Todoroki’s caressing his arms. When he gets too engrossed with the movie, his fingers stop, and Katsuki has to remind him with a definitely-not-needy whine groan. It’s so comfortable, that he remains after the credits roll.
Deku and Todoroki discuss the ending and Katsuki listens to them with half an ear. They’re taking it too seriously, and when Deku starts talking about environmentalism, Katsuki decides it’s time to end the forum.
He has needs, and there’s an alarming lack of kissing happening! And that can’t stand any longer. They have more than two hours before it’s Katsuki’s bedtime, and he doesn’t intend to waste any more of it on talking when they could be doing something a lot more enjoyable with their mouths.