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Katsuki grumbled to himself, tossing his third batch of cupcakes straight into the trashcan. He just couldn’t seem to get them quite right. The first were too salty, the second batch was too sweet, and somehow this last one had come out fucking spicy. Which, he actually enjoyed if he was being honest, but the person they were supposed to be for didn’t like spicy shit.
No, that person was a basic mother fucker and liked to have pumpkin spice flavored everything the second a slight chill hit the air. He was ready to just give up, convinced that he didn’t need someone so cliché in his life anyways, but then his mind flashed through images of fluffy green curls, large emerald eyes framed by dark tinted eye lashes, and freckles in the shapes of constellations and he let out a sigh, resigned.
Katsuki had been planning how he was going to ask Deku out for weeks. He never told anyone, but he knew that Halloween was always the boy’s favorite holiday. Growing up, he had told Katsuki it was because it was the one day a year when he wasn’t Deku, when he could be anyone he wanted to be, have any quirk he wanted to have, and no one would question him because everyone else was dressing up as someone else too. At the time, he had scoffed, told him that no costume would change the fact that he was just a quirkless Deku, and he thinks he probably sent a miniature explosion his way (though at the time he would have thought it big).
Now though, it makes him sad. Sad for the boy that was his friend, because to look forward to a night when you don’t have to be yourself is a gut-wrenching way to live. Sad because he was too stupid to see that the person he cared for most in the world was hurting. Angry at himself for being the reason, exasperating the hurt and abandonment Deku—Izuku—felt. Angry at himself for coming up with that dumbass nickname and still not being able to break the habit of using it despite giving it his best effort for two months now.
Still, every time he got it right, the nerd’s face lit up brighter than the sun. It made a funny feeling well-up in his chest. Part of it was happiness, joy at being the source of the look on Izuku’s face. The other part was strong self-hatred. No one should be that happy to hear their “friend” call them by name. That’s why Katsuki was making it his personal mission to ensure that Izuku hearing his name was so commonplace that he stopped reacting to it at all.
But there was time for all that. Hopefully time while they were dating. It had taken a lot for Katsuki to work up the courage to even begin planning this little surprise. He still doesn’t think he deserves Izuku. The boy is too good, too forgiving. Despite the fact that he’d already apologized, he felt like it was all lackluster. His words didn’t make up for the actions he’d subjected Izuku to for years.
Unfortunately, his idiot friends seemed to finally get tired of his endless pinning. He walked into Shitty Hair’s room one night for their usual hangout only to see him, Sero, Kaminari, Ashido, and Jirou sitting in a semi-circle looking more serious than they had when they’d been fighting a fucking war together. So, he’d done what any reasonable person would do and turned right the fuck back around to leave.
Unfortunately Tape Arms was a little too prepared for that. Damn Aizawa Sensei for taking him on as an intern. He gave the fucker way too many ideas.
It had taken them three hours to finally get through to him, which resulted Katsuki breaking all the way down. He told them everything about his past with Izuku—everyone was aware that he’d received his quirk from All Might at this point, but no one really seemed to understand what it meant when they said that before he was given One for All he was quirkless. They didn’t understand why the boy was so self-sacrificial, why he loved so hard and so ardently, they didn’t get how unbelievable it was that not only was he still alive, but he was still good.
Soon enough, they were all sniffling along with him. After divulging all his dirty secrets, he’d expected them to agree with him when he said that he couldn’t tell Deku about his feelings. He expected them to agree that he didn’t deserve him, that he wasn’t even good enough to be his friend, let alone date him. They would tell him that he was right to just take what he could get from the greenette, because they were as sure as he was that one day, Izuku would come to his senses and drop Katsuki faster than you can say “Texas Smash!”
But they hadn’t. Ashido had literally smacked him on the back of his head and called him a “moron.” Him, Katsuki Bakugo, Number One spot in the class, a moron. Before he could turn all the way around to explode her lying mouth off of her bubblegum bitch face, Kirishima was holding him back, arms and chest fully hardened.
“Bro, stop! Just hear us out for a second before you go exploding everyone.”
They finally calmed him down enough to listen to what they had to say. They all seemed…convinced that Izuku felt the same way about him. That the most perfect and good-natured person in all the world would somehow even be open to the possibility of dating Katsuki was asinine to him. He told them so, and while he didn’t explode them, he did tell them all that they were just making stuff up to make him feel better, and to cut that shit the fuck out. Then he went back next door to his own room to decompress from the unexpected emotional outburst and get a little sleep.
Okay…well…a little was maybe a bit generous. His mind had raced the entire night, thinking over every single interaction he’d ever had with Izuku. He was searching, desperately, for some truth to their words because, despite everything, he wanted Izuku to love him back. He wanted it so badly it hurt. He thought that maybe he’d found it—found it in the way Izuku never stopped calling him “Kacchan,” in the way green eyes sparkled every time he spoke, in their heavy breathing on ground beta and the way they both dropped everything when the other asked for time.
But he couldn’t be sure. He might just be looking back on his memories and twisting them in his favor. No, he needed to start watching Izuku to see if he really acted any differently around Katsuki when compared with his behavior around Round Cheeks or Icy Hot. That would be the determining factor to see if Katsuki was just a friend to Deku or if he was something more.
So, Katsuki had begun his watch. It wasn’t three hours before he realized that his hope might not be so misplaced after all. He never noticed it before, how he and Izuku orbited each other constantly, as if they were exerting their own gravitational pull on each other. If Katsuki moved, Izuku was adjusting himself to stay perfectly in his sphere of influence. Izuku got up to do something? Katsuki suddenly had something that needed doing on the same side of the room. Some might think it intentional, but it was truly just coincidence. There was no effort on either part—it was just as if the universe was pushing them together by force, regardless of whether they were prepared to move or not.
The day he’d gone back to his idiots to let them know that they might have been right, they had the grace to not rub it in too hard. Then, the group began to plan. Katsuki knew Izuku better than anyone, and he’d be damned if he asked him out on a day that was anything less than perfect. He was right before—words meant little. Actions are what defines a person, and Katsuki wanted to define himself as Izuku’s. That was going to take a bit of work.
He'd been buttering the nerd up for weeks now, getting him used to the idea of Katsuki as more than a friend. They spent every hour he wasn’t planning together. Katsuki made sure to make Izuku three meals a day, do homework with him, spar, hang out and play video games, anything possible to show him that he loved spending time together. He’d also started slowly getting more and more affectionate. An arm around Izuku’s shoulders here, a hand brushing his lower back there, a curl brushed out of a perfect face every so often.
He also stopped trying to hide the soft looks he couldn’t help but throw Izuku’s way. There was nothing more adorable than the little nerd spiraling into a mumble fit over something he found cool. Katsuki was so fond of his passion; he could do nothing but sit and listen. Two years ago, he would have never admitted his feelings, but now he was happy to say that if someone stumbled upon the scene, they would find him looking lovestruck.
And tomorrow was the big day, exactly one week before Halloween, when Katsuki would take Izuku out on their first date, show him that he was the most special person in the world, and ask him to be his boyfriend before closing his eyes and trying not to wince at his response, whatever it may be. He had already prepared himself for the worst, of course. He had a planned response to ensure that their friendship stayed intact if he and his friends had read the room wrong and Izuku didn’t feel the same way. This was a calculated risk, after all, and Katsuki was nothing if not prepared for every eventuality.
Which was why Katsuki was cursing under his breath in his mom’s kitchen as he mixed yet another bowl of pumpkin cupcake batter. Izuku always talked about these fucking cupcakes. Apparently, his dad used to make them for him all the time growing up, and he still sent him a few on holidays from America. They were his most favorite thing in the world—even more so than katsudon—and he talked nonstop about how he wished he could have them more every time a package from his father arrived.
Now, Katsuki could cook like a motherfucker. He was a genius in the kitchen and when it came to savory dishes, he had no equal. Izuku always told him that his food was the best; “don’t tell her, but I think Kacchan’s cooking is better than mom’s” he would whisper over his food the nights Katsuki made him his favorites.
But baking? Baking was a different fucking story.
He didn’t understand what was so difficult about this damn process. He’d had the cupcakes before, he knew what they were supposed to taste like, and usually he’d be able to figure out how to incorporate everything and copy the recipe no problem. But these fucking cupcakes, the center piece of his confession, just didn’t want to cooperate with him.
Once the batter reached the correct consistency, Katsuki dipped a spoon into the mixture to taste it. If it was wrong this time, he was going to fix it before he baked the stupid fuckers. As soon as it hit his tongue, he was pulling a disgusted face. It was still fucking wrong. Just as he was getting ready to toss the batter and start over again, his father walked into the room and gave him a curious look.
“Son…are you baking right now?” Katsuki gave a grunt of confirmation before grumbling out, “fucking trying to, anyways.”
Masaru peeked into the trashcan, taking note of the discarded cupcakes before raising an eyebrow at him. “Did you add the coffee?”
Katsuki looked at his father like he’d grown two heads. “The what?”
“The coffee,” he reiterated. “You’re trying to make Hisashi’s cupcakes for Izuku right? He always adds in one of those pumpkin spice coffees from Mermaid-Bucks. Little Izuku always thought it was funny that he was “tricking” his mom into letting him have coffee.”
Katsuki could kiss his father. Actually, he did, as he was grabbing his jacket, running out of the house. Masaru laughed to himself, before tasting the batter and making the exact same face his son had at the taste. Yup. Definitely missing the coffee.
***
The next morning, Katsuki woke up extra early, checking on the perfectly iced and decorated cupcakes sitting on his desk. He hadn’t trusted them in the kitchen overnight where he couldn’t keep an eye on them. They were still lovely and untouched. Then, he made his way to his bathroom to get himself ready for the day. He spent way longer than he will ever admit on his hair, but he’d already picked his outfit out the night before. It was one he noticed had kept Izuku’s gaze on him longer than usual every time he wore it, so he figured it was a safe bet.
It was still casual enough for the day he had planned as well. Ripped black jeans that hugged the muscles he’d built up in his thighs after years of training, his usual black boots, a black tank top that showed off his, admittedly, superior pecs, and a warm dark colored flannel over top. He wasn’t sure what it was about this outfit that Izuku liked so much, but he figured it wasn’t his job to question the boy’s preferences, just to act on them in order to increase his chances of being called his boyfriend.
Katsuki grabbed the cupcakes and carefully walked them downstairs where he pulled out the picnic basket he’d bought just for the occasion, placing the cupcakes in their container on the bottom before carefully piling the rest of the food he’d prepared around them, vigilant not to set anything on top, lest they get smushed in the transit, but packed closely enough that they wouldn’t move about the basket. Once that was done, he checked his appearance once last time before making his way over to Izuku’s apartment where he was home for the weekend.
When Izuku opened the door after his knock, Katsuki felt all the breath leave his body. He was so beautiful. His face was slightly flushed from rushing to the door, making his freckles even more prominent than usual. His hair was particularly curly, and his smile was particularly bright. It even looked like the nerd had put some effort into his own outfit. Sure, he was still wearing that stupid graphic t-shirt, but he’d laid an olive-green bomber jacket overtop and was wearing a pair of light was jeans that left very little to Katsuki’s imagination. He was proud of his own leg muscles but Jesus Christ, Deku could crush his head with his thighs and as Katsuki died, he would thank him with his last breath.
Fortunately, familiar red shoes brought him down to earth quickly enough that he didn’t embarrass himself and ruin the whole day before it had even started. Instead, he let out a soft “Hey nerd,” before holding up the picnic basket. “Ready to go?”
The blush on Izuku’s cheeks deepened as he excitedly nodded in affirmation, bouncing out of the door after Katsuki and quickly locking it behind him. The two chatted happily on their walk, and Katsuki took a moment to bask in how comfortable their relationship was. Silences were never awkward, and conversation flowed easily. When he was with Deku, it was like every negative emotion he’d ever felt flew out of his chest, leaving nothing but light and warmth behind.
That feeling only increased when he saw Izuku shaking with excitement the moment he realized where they were.
“Kacchan! I’ve always wanted to visit the apple orchard!” Katsuki just grinned in response as Izuku pulled them through the gates. He’d made sure to purchase their day passes in advance, so all he had to do was tell the lady at the ticket counter his name and they were ready to explore.
The day was amazing. They picked so many apples, then got to watch as they were processed and turned into bottles of apple juice and apple cider for them to enjoy. They even sent some in to be processed as apple chips before Katsuki purchased a bag for them to snack on as they made their way through the maze on the property. Nothing was rushed, and they took their time through the winding pathways, making their way through at a leisurely pace. Once they reached the end, his hands shook a little with nervousness. It was getting close to sunset. It was now or never, and Katsuki was never one to procrastinate.
Izuku agreed to sitting down to eat quickly enough, and they settled under one of the trees that was a little isolated from the rest of the orchard. Katsuki placed the blanket he’d brought for them to sit on down and began unloading the food he’d brought. Izuku immediately dug in, praising his cooking.
“Kashan’s cooking is sho good!” he’d exclaimed around a mouth full of food. If it had been anyone else, Katsuki would have exploded at their lack of manners, but with Izuku he just found it adorable and glowed in the praise he was receiving. He hardly ate, partially because his nerves were at an all-time high, partially because he just wanted to enjoy Izuku, enjoying the meal he’d made for him.
Once Izuku was finished with his food, patting his stomach happily, Katsuki cleared his throat. “Got something else for us.”
Izuku tilted his head at him, curious. Katsuki thought he looked like an adorable little puppy. He gently pulled the cupcakes out of the basket, holding them out to Izuku, tenderly, while looking away in a futile attempt to hide the way his ears were turning pink.
Just as lightly, Izuku took the container from him. Somehow, he realized this was an important moment for Kacchan, even if he didn’t know why just yet. As he opened the container, he let out a small gasp of delight.
“Kacchan…are these pumpkin cupcakes? What’s the special occasion?” Izuku asked as he pulled one out before taking a bite and moaning around it. “Kashan is sho amashing!” A gulp as he swallowed. “Somehow I think these are even better than my dad’s!” That was punctuated by a conspiratorial little giggle, and Katsuki felt some of the nervousness leaving his body. He was sure that, even if Izuku didn’t feel exactly the same, this would all turn out okay in the end.
“Special occasion, huh?” he asked, more to himself than anything, but Izuku nodded along all the same. Katsuki took a deep breath before continuing. “Hopefully…hopefully it’s to celebrate our first date?”
How ironic was it then, that the second those words exited his mouth, Izuku went stock still, wide eyes locked on Katsuki with an emotion he couldn’t decipher lying behind them, before he dropped the cupcake he had worked so hard on. Ironic, that the hope he expressed crumbled to dust in a moment.
He closed his eyes before taking another deep breath, preparing his worst-case scenario speech. Just as he was getting ready to exhale it out and begin, however, it was forced out of him by the weight of a body tackling him to the ground. His eyes flew open, and all he could see, his whole world, was just green, green, green.
Then he heard the sobs.
Katsuki was panicking. This was way worse than anything he ever thought would happen. They had come so far in their relationship and not only had he absolutely failed at confessing his feelings, he had made Izuku cry. It was like he was still the same asshole forcing tears out of the boy from all those years ago. Fortunately, before he even had a chance to come up with what he was going to do to make the situation better, Izuku’s voice, small, slightly raspy, vibrated his neck where his face was buried.
“K-Kachan wants to d-date me?” Izuku asked. Like he was unsure. Like Katsuki hadn’t made himself abundantly clear. Like he couldn’t believe that Katsuki would want to date him, when the reality was that Katsuki couldn’t believe Izuku hadn’t United States Smashed him into next week yet.
So, he did the only thing his brain told him to do. He gently lifted Izuku’s face from the crook of his neck, squishing chubby, tear-streaked cheeks between both of his hands, searching for something in watery emeralds. When he found what he was looking for, he wasted no time in planting his lips on Izuku’s, kissing him the way he had dreamed about doing for months. When Izuku immediately reciprocated, he fought the urge to grin in triumph. The kiss was perfect, full of love and adoration on both sides. It said more than Katsuki ever could with his words.
When they finally pulled away from each other, both sported twin soft smiles and glazed over expressions. Katsuki couldn’t help himself as he whispered out, “So was that a yes?” Izuku simply grinned wider, snuggling into his chest where he still had him pinned to the ground before responding, “That’s a very enthusiastic yes, Kacchan.”
***
From: Mina Ashido
Soooooooo?? How did it go! Don’t make me force all the deets out of you! 😡
From: Izuku Midoriya
Worked like a charm, Mina. Tell Ei and the boys that your thanks is in the detergent bottle on top of washer number 8.
From: Mina Ashido
Pleasure doing business with you, Zuzu.
Izuku locked his phone before turning to squeal into his pillow for the umpteenth time that night. He couldn’t believe that his plan actually worked. He knew Katsuki was feeling the same way as him and the boy just needed a little…push in the right direction. But when he’d gone to the self-dubbed “Bakusquad” for help, he had never expected such an unbelievably perfect day to come out of it.
His phone pinged again, and he rushed to look at it.
From: Kacchan 🧡
Hang out again tomorrow, boyfriend?
Yah, Izuku thought as he munched on another cupcake, grinning while he thought of the best way to say “yes, of course, Kacchan. I would literally fight the entirety of Japan’s Hero force if it meant I got to hang out with you tomorrow.” Yah, his life was perfect.