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Katsuki crouched down and reopened the cold bar fridge, staring into it for the third time as if its contents would’ve magically changed since the last two times he had checked. Six whole milk, one 2%, two almond, two soy, two coconut, the tub of frappuccino roast, and a carton of strawberry puree. Just as it was five minutes ago and-
“It’s the same shit that’s in there everyday.”
Katsuki whipped his head around to glare at Hitoshi who was leaning against the hot bar counter, waiting for a set of quad shots to pour while also trying to not be in the way of Hanta who was actually working the hot bar. Hitoshi had been working cold bar before Katsuki stormed behind the counter and pushed past him to get to the fridge. Not that Hitoshi minded much, he didn’t particularly feel like making anything at the moment.
“Fuck off eye bags.”
Hitoshi rolled his eyes and crouched down to be on the same level as Katsuki, bringing his quad shots with him, “Why are you even here right now? You don’t work today.”
“Kacchan only knows how to show affection via hot drinks so he’s a little lost.” Izuku laughed without missing a beat, his green sharpie gliding over his current customers cup.
“You can fuck off too, Deku. And while we’re at it, tape face, you can keep your fucking mouth shut too,” Katsuki growled out causing Hanta to look over and throw his hands up as if to ask, ‘Now why am in it?”
Katsuki hated to admit it, and he’d never do so out loud, but Izuku wasn’t entirely wrong. Katsuki didn’t “only” know how to show affection with hot drinks…He actually didn’t really know how he showed affection at all. Katsuki and Kirishima Eijirou had been dating, and practically inseparable to many people’s surprise, for almost six months now and since that fateful day in the library, Mina had gone over ‘love languages’ with him probably a dozen times but he still always ended up more confused than before. Was all the coffee making he’d done during first semester acts of service or gift giving? Did it count as anything if they barely even knew each other at the time? Did it count if Eijirou didn’t even know Katsuki was being affectionate? Did it count if Katsuki didn’t even realize he was being affectionate? And what about now? He was never confused about how he felt about Eijirou, just how he was supposed to be showing it and if there was a correct way to be doing so.
Katsuki had been in a couple relationships before this. None of which had gotten to or past the six month mark and definitely none where he had felt this strongly about the person. And honestly, that’s what terrified him most about all of this. Often those other relationships ended because Katsuki was desperately trying to make his partner feel loved and cared for but it never seemed to be in the right way, even when he’d adjust to what they said was their love language, and so they left. Six months in and Eijirou was still there and while that excited Katsuki and made him happy, he couldn’t help but feel scared. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop and he was so sure it had to be coming.
“...He’s staring into an abyss of whole milk and frapp roast because… He’s emotionally constipated?” Hitoshi looked over his shoulder at Hanta and Deku, swirling his espresso shots around their cup.
Katsuki growled at being called ‘Emotionally constipated.’ How dare Shinsou even say that? Yes, it was kinda correct but he shouldn’t say it, right?
“Precisely, “ Hanta laughed back, not even looking away from the pitcher of milk he was steaming.
“I told you to shut the fuck up, tape face.” Katsuki seethed, which only caused Hanta to laugh more.
Hitoshi nodded for a moment before shrugging and throwing the espresso shots back, “Just give him something loaded with sugar and no actual coffee in it. Works on Denki all the time.”
Katsuki grimaced at Hitoshi downing straight espresso before returning his attention to the cold bar fridge, “I can’t do that, he always gets a white mocha in some form. No matter the season. But I wanna get him something different, show him that I’m actually paying attention to what he likes… Also stop giving dunce face fucking sugar, he does not need it.”
Hitoshi laughed to himself thinking about the number of times he had loaded his boyfriend up with sugar before sending him into his shift that he worked with Katsuki, “Well whatever you’re doing, hurry up and figure it out or I’m making you make all the cold drinks stacking up.”
Katsuki’s eyes raked over all its contents again and again before it finally hit him. “I’m so stupid!” He exclaimed as he shut the fridge.
“All that to just close the fridge again?” Hitoshi asked, blinking at him before shaking his head, “Whatever.”
Katsuki jumped up, his eyes scanning the various syrups and toppings across both the cold and hot bar, trying to see if everything he needed was there, “Do whatever drinks you gotta do, I’ll be right back.”
Katsuki rushed into the back of house, pulling his jacket off as he went. He snatched his apron off of its designated hook, replacing it with his jacket, and pulled the neck strap over his head. He looked around the stockroom as he tied the apron strings around his waist. As Katsuki’s eyes landed on the open case of freeze dried strawberries, he could feel all the panic of trying to figure out a plan, melt away. He pulled a bag of the strawberries followed by a bag of vanilla bean powder before turning his attention to the bottles of flavor syrups. He clicked his tongue against his teeth as he tried to process the syrup flavors and which would do best in what he was making. His eyes practically skipped over the bottle that read “toffee nut” before instantly going back. “Perfect.” He pulled down a bottle, cradling it in the crook of his arm along with the two bags and started heading back out to the front. Just before rounding the corner, he backed up and looked over the clean dishes. His eyes narrowed as he debated if what he was about to do was worth it. Deciding, “Of course it is, it’s for Eijirou, “ he grabbed a squeeze bottle and its lid before shoving it into his apron pockets and rounding the corner back out.
Katsuki surveyed the line as he walked back over to the cold bar. There were only a handful of people but he really hoped they’d order something off of the hot bar or at the worst, a refresher, as he was gonna need as much time as he could get with the frappuccino station.
“Strawberries, vanilla bean, there’s plenty of cream base, puree…” Katsuki muttered to what he thought was himself but he could hear Deku snickering at the register.
“Fuck are you laughing at, Deku?” Katsuki seethed.
Deku paused the cup he was writing to look at him, a smirk on his face , “You sound like me, Kacchan.”
Katsuki’s eyes widened and he fake gagged at the realization, “Fucking disgusting.”
Deku snorted as he went back to his customer.
“Alright eye bags, move. And I’m refilling your strawberries and vanilla bean powder, you’re welcome.” Katsuki dumped all the things he had gotten from the stock room onto the corner before pulling each of the respective containers.
Hitoshi rolled his eyes but smirked, “Oh yes, thank you Katsuki, what would I do without you?...What are you making with all this anyway?”
“You’ll see. I really hope this shit works.” Katsuki tore open each of the ingredient bags, refilling their containers and then placing them back where they belong.
After going over his plan a few times in his head, Katsuki turned to Hanta, “Alright tape face, I got you a new toffee nut syrup, you’re welcome. Now pass me a large cold cup.”
Hanta pulled the cup from the stack and turned to Katsuki. As Katsuki went to grab the cup, Hanta raised it over his head, “Say please?”
Deku immediately choked on his own spit as he tried to laugh. Hitoshi leaned against the cold bar counter, a smirk on his face as he heard Katsuki click his tongue against his teeth.
Katsuki scrunched his face in annoyance before sighing, “...No.” He jumped and snatched the cup from Hanta’s hands.
“Nice one, Bakubro!”
Katsuki snapped his head over to the line to see Eijirou’s best friend, Tetsutetsu.
Katsuki genuinely smiled, “Iron giant! For once you have perfect timing.”
“Hey! What do you mean for once?!”
“First, stop yelling in the shop and second,” Katsuki just raised his eyebrows and gave Tetsu a look.
The multiple times Tetsu had walked in on Eijirou and Katsuki making out, amongst other things, because he didn’t read his roommate’s multiple warning texts before walking into their dorm room, flooded back to him.
Tetsutestu sucked air in through his teeth, giving Katsuki an apologetic smile ,”Alright you got me there,” He shimmed through the short line, passing the person at the register so he could meet Katsuki down at the pick up counter, “but what am I perfectly on time for?”
“Eijirou is picking me up in fifteen and I’m about to make him something new. I need you to taste it.”
Tetsutesu smiled and nodded excitedly before saluting Katsuki, “Aye aye bro.”
“Thanks and stop calling me bro, I literally sleep with your best friend who you also call bro.”
Tetsutetsup shrugged, “Will try, no promises.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes and with that he turned back to the cold bar and got to work, “I’ll try to stay out of your way, eye bags .” Crouching down, Katsuki opened the cold bar fridge for the fourth time but this time he knew exactly what he was going in for. He pulled the whole milk and the strawberry puree and popped them onto the counter before shutting the fridge. Back in his element, Katsuki was hyper focused as he meticulously poured the strawberry puree followed by the whole milk to their respective lines inside the cup. He swirled the two together in the cup before pouring the mix into a blender bowl. He scanned over the containers and pulled the vanilla bean powder. He made sure each of the 4 scoops he was adding filled the spoon just right. No heapings or empty crevices.
As Katsuki went through the process of conjuring up the drink, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander to the memory that had caused his revelation just a few minutes ago.
Laying in the back of Eijiro’s truck, just as they had planned to do today, had become an almost daily routine for them but that first time was one of Katsuki’s favorites and he honestly surprised it took him so long to figure out what to make Eijirou when that memory played in his head so often.
Katsuki had walked out of color guard practice, about three months into their relationship, to find Eijirou just outside the doors, leaning against his truck. He heard his teammates whispering about Eijiro before he saw Eijiro. If you could even call it whispering, Denki and Momo loved to gossip and were not very good at keeping quiet.
“Oooo Katsuki-”
“Don’t fucking start, dunce face.” Katsuki exasperated, side-eying his teammate and friend.
“Have fuuunnn,” Momo sang as she and Denki headed in the direction of their own cars.
Katsuki rolled his eyes as he walked down but couldn’t help but smile as he met Eijirou’s eyes. Eijirou returned a sharp smile to his boyfriend before opening up his arms for Katsuki. Katsuki slid his equipment bag and backpack off his shoulders before nestling himself into the space Eijirou had created for him. Katsuki was sweaty and exhausted from practice but was more than awake enough to happily bury his face in his boyfriend’s embrace, “Fuck are you doing here, shitty fair?”
“To get the best sweaty hug a guy could ask for, duh.” Eijirou smiled as he rested his chin on the top of Katsuki’s head.
“You did not come all the way down here to get a gross fucking hug, “Katsuki mumbled into his boyfriend’s chest.
Eijirou laughed and the vibration through his chest only made Katsuki smile more, “I did not, but it’d be really funny if I had… Honestly if it means I get to hold you like this though, I might start coming out here just for sweaty hugs.”
Katsuki pulled away from Eijirou’s chest to make sure Eijirou could see him roll his eyes but also the smile that remained on his lips, “But seriously, Ei, what are you actually out here for?”
“I had an idea and didn’t wanna wait so I set it all up and then drove here immediately to come get you.”
Katsuki’s eyebrows scrunched, “Set it all up?”
Eijirou nodded excitedly, “Yeah it’s a really cute date idea, at least I think it’s really cute. And I got food, like actual food, snacks too! Oh, and drinks! And now that I’m thinking about it you just got out of practice and probably just want to shower and go to bed… I’m so sorry, Kats.”
Katsuki blinked up at Eijirou as he processed all the words he had said in his excited tangent before wiggling his arms free from Eijirou’s hold so he could wrap them around him and hug him tightly, “A post practice date sounds really great, shi- Eijirou.”
Eijirou looked down at Katsuki, his excited smile immediately returning, “Really? We don’t have to, or we can-”
“Shitty hair, “Katsuki smiled, “I would really like to do this post practice date you’ve planned.”
Eijirou’s smile widened as he lifted Katsuki off the ground, “ You’re gonna love it, babe! I promise.”
Katsuki laughed as he rolled his eyes at the sudden lift, “Yeah yeah, I’m sure I will. Now put me down so I can go throw my stuff in my…I drove here,”
“Oh shit, uhhh, do you think you’d get in trouble for leaving your car here for a while or overnight?” Eijirou asked as he lowered Katsuki back to Earth..
Katsuki shook his head, “I’ll just text Aizawa so they know my car is here… I’ll be right back.”
Eijirou nodded and grinned at Katsuki again, “I’ll be in the car,
Katsuki went back to his backpack and rifled through it for his phone. After finding it and sending a text off to his coach, he scooped up his bags and headed over to his car to load it.
With his car all loaded, Katsuki pulled open the door and jumped into Eijirou’s passenger seat.
“All ready?” Eijirou smiled at Katsuki and Katsuki felt the warmth blooming in his chest. He knew it was going to happen and that it would likely be happening all night throughout the date as that same warmth always flooded in whenever Eijirou would give him those smiles that he knew were just for him.
Katsuki nodded as he settled into the seat and propped his feet up on the dash. Pulling out of the practice facility parking lot, Eijirou began their drive towards the location of their date. As they made their way through town, Katsuki recognized that they were heading back towards but still passed campus. While their drive was almost entirely silent, mostly due to Katsuki’s exhaustion, Eijirou stole little glances at Katsuki at every stop light that he could. Seeing Katsuki resting against the window, stealing as many moments of rest as he could, made that same warmth bubble up.
Katsuki opened his eyes as the car stilled. A vast field stretched out around the car. How Eijirou had gotten them out here without waking Katsuki was a mystery but he was grateful for the bit of rest.
“Alright, shitty hair,” Katsuki yawned, “What’s this great date idea?”
Eijirou simply smiled at Katsuki before getting out of the car and going around back to open his trunk. Katsuki peered into the back as he heard the trunk open. How he didn’t notice all of this when he had gotten into the car, he didn’t know but now he couldn’t help but gape at everything.
Eijirou had folded his back seats down to open the entire back of his car to allow for what looked to be a dozen pillows and numerous blankets. Katsuki could see a basket full of all the spicy snacks he liked as well as various candy and other snacks he knew Eijirou enjoyed. As Katsuki’s eyes finished roaming the blanket nest, he looked up and met Eijirou’s face, a huge smile spread across it.
“So, what do you think?” Eijirou exclaimed excitedly.
Without a word, Katsuki got out of the car and walked around to meet Eijiro in the back. With a yawn, and catching Eijirou slightly off guard, he wrapped his around Eijirou and rested his head against him, “...I can’t promise that I’m not gonna fall a-fucking-sleep the moment we get in this thing but this is probably one of the nicest fucking things anyone has ever done for me. So, thanks, Red.”
Eijirou perked up at the new nickname and put his arms around Katsuki, “Honestly if this date was nothing but laying here with you while you slept, it’d still be a dream date for me.”
“You’re so fucking sappy, shitty hair, “Katsuki laughed followed by a shiver as the temperature finally hit him.
It technically was decently warm out but that never seemed to matter. Katsuki was almost always going to be cold.
“Oh! Are you getting cold? I brought you something just in case the blankets weren’t enough. Here, let me get it.” Eijirou let go of Katsuki and crawled in the back of his truck and grabbing what looked to be a ball of fabric before scooting back out just enough to hand the ball to Katsuki. The ball of fabric was actually a decently folded sweatshirt and as Katsuki unfolded it, he couldn’t help but smile.
He hadn’t even put it on yet but Katsuki already knew Eijirou’s sweatshirt was going to be huge on him but what made him smile was reading the words on the sweatshirt, ‘UA University Drumline.’
“So I’ve finally reached the level of boyfriend that I get to wear the coveted UA drumline hoodie?”
Eijirou smiled, motioning for Katsuki to put it on, “Honestly I’ve been planning on giving it to you for at least the last month and just kept forgetting.”
Pulling the hoodie on, Katsuki’s assumptions were confirmed as the hoodie all but swallowed him up. Pulling the hood, Katsuki nodded, “Fits perfectly, Ei. Now let's get into this car nest you’ve assembled.
Eijirou scooted back until he reached all the pillows and then opened up his arms for Katsuki to fit into. In Eijirou’s big hoodie, Katsuki followed suit and pulled one of the blankets over himself as nuzzled into Eijirou’s arms.
The two laid their quietly, enjoying each other’s embrace. After a few minutes Eijirou looked down at his boyfriend and was surprised to find Katsuki still awake. Eijirou pulled Katsuki impossibly closer before sighing contently, “So what’s on the schedule for tomorrow?”
“Same shit as always. I do work an earlier shift tomorrow though. I can bring you a white mocha if you want.”
Eijirou smiled and laughed lightly, “Ya know, I never really drank coffee until that first time I saw you in the shop. Only got that white mocha because you picked it for me and now I drink them all the time.”
Katsuki sat up to look at Eijirou, eyebrows furrowed, “But you were in the coffee shop? Fuck were you getting if not coffee?”
Eijirou laughed, pulling Katsuki back in to cuddle,“Strawberry creme frappuccino.”
Katsuki pulled away again to look at Eijirou, bewilder, “What?! You came in there for something with no caffeine, why would you let me give you something with literally three shots of fucking espresso?!”
“Will you stop getting up?” Eijirou groaned, “I am trying to keep you warm, remember?”
Katsuki muttered out, “Sorry,” before laying back down and curling up in Eijirou’s arms, “But, question still stands. Why did you let me pick your drink? Especially when you hadn’t wanted coffee?”
Eijirou nuzzled his head against Katsuki’s hair and laughed as he remembered all his thoughts from that day, “To be fair, you asked if I wanted something that did or didn’t taste like coffee. Nothing about if I wanted something without it and honestly, I didn’t know enough about what a white mocha was or what was in it to tell you no.”
Katsuki shook his head against Eijiro’s chest and went to open his mouth but was cut off by Eijirou.
“But also, Katsuki, I asked you what I should get and you could’ve put espresso sludge in a cup and I would’ve accepted it, gladly. Sometimes I think about if things would be different if I had spent those three months ordering tens of strawberry creme frapps instead but even at that moment, I would’ve followed you into the sun if you had asked. So I’m lucky all you did was introduce me to mochas.”
Katsuki shook his head but smiled at the memory. He had fallen asleep at some point during that date, as he expected. Somewhere between talking about their days and ideas they had for the rest of break he had drifted off and woken up to a missed call from both Deku, who was his roommate, and his mother. But even if he said he was with Eijirou all night, there’d never be enough words to explain that he felt like he’d spent all night lying curled up next to the love of his life.
He went back and forth between the syrups on the hot bar and cold bar as he finished adding ingredients to the blender. Five pumps white mocha, three toffee nut, cream base, and lastly ice. But before lidding the bowl and blending, Katsuki added the final touch to drink itself. Whipped cream directly into the drink.
Popping the bowl onto the blender base, Katsuki set it up to blend and started setting up the squeeze bottle.
“…What are you putting in there?” Hitoshi asked, already sure he wasn’t going to like the answer.
Katsuki looked at Hitoshi for a second before turning his attention back to the bottle, “I’ll wash it myself, alright eye bags?”
Hitoshi rolled his eyes and turned to grab the new cups that had popped up for refreshers,”That’s not what I asked.”
Katsuki nodded, “Yeah, yeah I know.” Katsuki knew why Hitoshi was asking. If one ridiculous person saw him making all this shit, they’d be trying to order it for weeks when the drink doesn’t even exist and the last thing they’d need as people started populating campus again was droves of people asking why they couldn’t have a fancy strawberry drink.
Katsuki crouched to eye level with the squeeze bottle before pouring in just enough strawberry puree for the design he had planned. Screwing the lid back on, he popped up and grabbed a new large cup, deciding the splashes of milk and puree in the original one were going to screw up his design.
Holding the cup carefully, he began to swirl in the strawberry puree. While to most, including Tetsutetsu who seemed to be absolutely entranced by all the work Katsuki was doing, the design probably just looked like random loops and swirls, but Katsuki was just as meticulous with this as he was with the latte art he added to every hot drink.
After swirling in the final, and in his opinion the most important, detail, Katsuki pulled the blender bowl and poured in the drink, topping it off with a perfect swirl of whipped cream and more of the strawberry puree.
After snapping a lid on the one for Eijirou, Katsuki grabbed a small cup and poured in the rest of the drink that was still in the blender before passing it over to Tetsutetsu, “Here, iron giant, how does that taste.”
Tetsu looked in the cup excitedly before putting it to his lips and immediately chugging down the contents.
Katsuki sighed, already used to the way Tetsu, and honestly Eijirou, inhaled food like that, “Well?”
“He’s gonna fucking love it, Bakubro.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes at Tetsu’s ‘Bakubro’ but he couldn’t hide that he was excited to bring Eijirou this drink. And As if Eijirou knew he was done, Katsuki’s phone buzzed to life in his pocket . Pulling it out, Katsuki smiled at the message, ‘ Hey Kats! I’m out front whenever you’re ready, no rush! Can’t wait to see you!’
***
“I thought we were just going to do our usual blanket nest date?” Katsuki wondered out loud from the passenger seat of Eijirou’s truck. The frappuccino sitting in the cup holder had yet to be touched.
Eijirou looked over at Katsuki quickly before putting his eyes back on the road. Eijirou knew Katsuki would likely be confused at this point considering they had just passed the road they turned down to get to their usual date night spot but he had a plan for today. “We are, don’t you worry! Just not at the usual spot is all.”
Katsuki watched out the window as they seemed to start going up an incline, “....Where are we going then?”
“So I found this trail that I eventually wanna hike up with you but I figured, just for today, I’d drive up and I could show you the view. And we could do our blanket nest up here.”
Katsuki whipped his focus away from the window to look at Eijirou and once again there was a familiar pang in his heart. A pang of both joy but also of fear and somewhat, sadness. His worry that he wasn’t showing Eijirou that he, well, that loved him, was not helped by the fact that there was never a question of how Eijirou felt about him. Before they had dated, Eijirou had done a hike here or there but once he knew how much Katsuki liked hiking he was all over it. And now here he was, driving them up a trail he already had decided he wanted to hike with Katsuki, just to show him the view. Katsuki could see and feel how Eijirou felt about him in everything even without Eijirou explicitly saying and he was petrified that he wasn’t giving Eijirou enough of that back. Did Eijirou even know Katsuki loved him? Katsuki had never said it out loud and so much of his feelings were swirled out in milk foam at the top of lattes or like today, at the bottom of a frappuccino cup so did Eijiro know?
He’d say it to Eijirou…eventually. Once he had built up the courage of course. He hoped it’d be soon though, that same insecurity from his prior relationship quietly but slowly eating away at him. Katsuki tried to push that doubt away and smiled up at Eijirou, the fear and sadness being overtaken by the excitement beaming off of Eijirou’s own smile.
As they got to the top, Katsuki couldn’t help but stare wide eyed out the window. This wasn’t even ‘the view’ Eijirou had talked about but their surroundings were just so beautiful. Huge trees and bright foliage, all with the beginning of the sunset starting to peek through.
When he felt the car finally park, Katsuki double checked that the frapp hadn’t melted and after confirming that it was still in very nice condition, he reached into his bag to pull on his now favorite hoodie. Sometimes he wondered if the hoodie wasn’t so big on him if he’d be able to convince someone that he was actually on their university’s drumline.
Katsuki got out of their car, bringing the frapp with him as Eijirou got out and went around to open the trunk. As Katsuki got to the back, he gasped. Below them was the entire city, all of the lights just starting to come on for the night and on the horizon was the most incredible sunset.
Eijirou smiled as he watched Katsuki take in the view. The wideness of his eyes, the way is lips sat just agape at the sight, and then lastly the sleeves of Eijirou’s hoodie pooled up around as his elbows. And that’s when Eijirou finally noticed the drink in Katsuki’s hand.
“Oh! Is that for me, Kats?”
Katsuki finally pulled his attention away from the sky to look over at Eijirou, “What? Oh, yeah. That’s why I had you pick me up from the shop.” He held out the drink and looked back out at the view as if that would somehow hide the blush coming across face.
Eijirou plucked the drink from Katsuki's hand and smiled, “You not only went to work on your day off to make me a drink but is this what I think it is?”
The blush on Katsuki’s face only burned harder while he still refused to look up Eijirou. He was almost embarrassed to have only brought Eijirou yet another drink when Eijirou had just driven them partially up a mountain. “Not exactly, it’s a uhm. It’s like a strawberry shortcake frapp. It doesn’t actually exist so you can’t order it if I’m not working…and Especially not if eye bags IS working, he’ll fucking kill me. But um, I even got it iron giant approved so…”
Immediately Eijirou pulled Katsuki into a crushing hug causing Katsuki to let out another gasp, “I’d lift you up but I think I’d drop the cup but you are the absolute best Katsuki.” Letting go of Katsuki, Eijirou motioned for him to get into their car nest but not before placing a quick but soft kiss on Katsuki’s lips. The flush on Katsuki’s face had already reached his ears but was complimented by a small smile with his singular dimple showing through as he went to get in the back of the car.
Eijirou watched Katsuki get in before bringing the straw up to his lips. Almost instantly upon taking a sip, Eijirou moaned into the straw, a habit Katsuki learned very quickly that Eijiro did whenever he really liked how something tasted.
Katsuki laid down in the pile of blankets and pillows and laughed hearing his boyfriend literally moan into what was essentially a fancy strawberry milkshake, “Stop moaning into your straw and come cuddle with me.”
Eijirou smiled and leaned into the car far enough for Katsuki to grab and hold the drink while he got in. Katsuki looked at the drink for a second before shrugging and taking a sip. He was surprised by how much he liked it despite having made it himself. While he thought it was a tad too sweet for him, considering he had made to please Eijirou’s ridiculous sweet tooth, it wasn’t too bad.
Once Eijirou was settled in, Katsuki took that moment to hand Eijirou his drink back before nestling into his arms.
Katsuki would never be able to fully explain it the way he wanted to but this spot in Eijirou’s arms felt like it was made for him. Like the gods had carved it themselves with him in mind, knowing one day he’d get to be right curled up in Eijiro’s arms.
With his head against Eijirou’s chest, Katsuki could hear Eijirou drink and enjoy his frappuccino. A ridiculous moan sneaking out every once in a while and until suddenly the noise stopped. Katsuki looked up and watched as Eijirou’s face scrunched in confusion before his eyes softened, an even softer smile following close behind. When Eijirou didn’t say anything for a few moments Katsuki frowned,“What?”
“There’s a little heart in the cup.”
Katsuki’s cheeks began to burn but he quickly rolled his eyes, “No there fucking isn’t.”
Eijirou laughed as he had immediately noticed the blush painting itself across his boyfriend’s face, confirming exactly what he had thought, “There most definitely is.” Eijirou turned the cup towards Katsuki, taking special care to make sure the little heart drawn in strawberry syrup inside the cup was easily visible.
“It’s cute, Katsuki.”
And at the moment Katsuki couldn’t stop himself from spitting out, “Do you feel… cared for, Eijirou?”
Eijirou’s eyebrows scrunched now, completely caught off guard, “Katsuki, what are you talking about? Of course, I feel cared for?”
“I- I know you probably want to be loved out loud and not in the form of fucking coffee or…fruity milk drinks, whatever... I’ve been trying to decipher the love languages? And I’ve just been really confused. I don’t know what mine are, either of them. And I think I know yours but how can I adjust what I’m doing to match your languages if I don’t know which one I’m currently giving.” Eijirou just looked at Katsuki as he rambled on. Each word hitting him a sad softness that he had yet to see much of from Katsuki in their half a year together.
“I’m not… I don’t really know how to be really loudly in a relationship. It’s just not who I am. I love when you post pictures of us, I’m so glad everyone knows that you’re mine but I just don’t know how to do things that way…But if you want me to be openly affectionate and what not, I can figure it out. I’m just not, and I dunno if I ever will be, good at that kind of thing..”
Eijirou frowned as he continued to look at Katsuki. Katsuki looked so solemn and almost as if he were disappointed in himself and as if he was waiting for Eijirou to say that he was disappointed in how he was being treated in their relationship. But Eijirou just didn’t know how to explain to the boy lying next to him that his whole tangent of, ‘I’m not loving you properly, I’m not good at this, ‘ just wasn’t true.’
Ya know, It had worried Eijirou for a little bit at first. The idea of being the first to say those three words, because he didn’t want to scare Katsuki. He’d known before they had even gotten together that he was probably at least a little in love with Katsuki. And once they were together? Being in love with Katsuki came so incredibly easy to Eijirou. And for awhile he couldn’t help but fear that if he said it too early, he’d scare Katsuki. But every time they curled up in the back of his car just like they were at the moment, Eijirou began to realize something more and more. Just because Katsuki hadn’t used those exact words, didn’t mean he hadn’t told Eijirou how he felt. Those three words were laced into every, “Shitty Hair! Put a fucking shirt on!” when Eijirou would run out into the snow half naked. And they were folded into every post practice sweaty hug they shared. And there they were again, swirled onto the inside of a frappuccino cup in strawberry syrup. As far as Eijirou was concerned, he had been being told openly and loudly that Katsuki loved him the entire time.
“Katsuki, I have not paid or used a meal swipe to buy coffee in six months. Cliche as anything, but it’s in every single cup you make. Even when you’re exhausted and I insist to you that you go to bed because I have to deal with how I managed my time, you still stay up the night before my calc exams.”
Eijirou tilted his head against Katsuki’s for a moment, his focus flicking to the frappuccino still in his hand, “Literally today, you went to work on your day off, made me a drink that literally doesn’t exist, off the top of your head, and got it approved by my best bro. And if you don’t count any of those things, you are up above the city, in the back of my car, watching the sunset… I am being cared for…and loved… so very loudly.
Eijirou lifted Katsuki’s head up, Katsuki’s chin between his thumb and pointer finger, “You give love in the forms of acts of service and I love every part of it. I know words aren’t your thing and I’m so proud of you for telling me how you feel that way. And you seem to best receive love through affirmation and gifts. Something that reminds you someone is not only thinking of you in this moment or when they see this item, but their thoughts about you are positive. “
Katsuki’s carmine eyes were wide as he stared into Eijirou’s scarlet ones. He immediately shifted, not to sit up completely, but so he could wrap his arms around Eijirou’s shoulder and pull him as close as he could at this angle before tenderly pressing his lips to Eijirou’s.
Their kiss was sweet and it was obvious to both of them that it was laced with everything they had been feeling.
After pulling away Katsuki leaned up and brought his lips to run next to Eijirou’s ear. One day he’d say it outloud for everyone to hear and once he did that he’d never stop. But on that day, the only person who needed to hear was the person it was for. So at a level that nothing else, not even the scenery just outside of the car, Katsuki whispered, “I love you, Eijirou.”
And finally with the fear of scaring Katsuki away long gone, Eijirou finally got to say what he was honestly afraid he’d say that very first day he saw Katsuki at the register.
“I love you too, Katsuki”