Work Text:
"I think you look better like this, I dunno."
Izuku lets out an indignant gasp at the accusation. "And here you were saying I looked perfect before."
You giggle, turning back to the recipe with an eye roll. "Well, yes, but I hadn't seen you in an apron before." You toss your head over your shoulder, winking. "It's a good look for you, hon."
The apron in question is simple, understated. The main part of it is a smooth forest green that matches Izuku's hair, with black straps wrapping around his waist and shoulders and a baby blue pocket over his chest. It's a classic—in looping cursive on his chest reads "kiss the cook", but what makes it so perfect, however, is the smallest personal touch—the shoulder strap is held on by two white clasps in the shape of rabbit heads. The touch is subtle, but you can't help but mentally squeal at how cute he looks.
"Well, maybe I should wear it more often, then," he teases. "Oh, please." You pop up on your tip-toes, kissing him on the nose before shoving a bowl into his arms. "Less flirting, more mixing. You're the big, strong man, mix this up for me while I get out the other ingredients."
"Are we seriously making box mix brownies for your work party?" he asks with a roll of his eyes as he begins mixing the batter.
You snort. "No, the box mix is just the first step. The brownies aren't the show-stopper here, it's what we're putting on them."
"I still can't believe that you tricked us for years into thinking your godlike brownies are just Godiva brand, box mix brownies," Izuku says dramatically, lazily moving the spoon about the bowl.
"They're good, idiot. And the brownies are just an avenue for the good part, which is made from scratch."
"Box mix. My beautiful, wonderful girlfriend makes box mix brownies."
"Izuku, I will literally give you the softest hair known to man if you don't shut up about my family brownie recipe," you tease.
"First I'm not already perfect, and now you're telling me all those compliments on how soft my hair was were lies? Et tu, [name]?" His eyes are covered by his arm as he drapes it over his forehead dramatically.
You raise a single egg in your hand threateningly. "One more word and I crack it on your head."
He's silent for a long moment, meeting your playful glare with his own challenging glint. "How long am I supposed to mix this for?"
"Combined, but not smooth. We love the lumps in this house." You relax your posture a bit, setting the eggs back in their bowl and going back to collecting ingredients for the other things you've planned to bake today.
"Got it. How's this?" He tilts the bowl towards you, crossing your kitchen to lift the spoon out of the batter and show its consistency. You're satisfied with the consistency, but just in case, dip a finger in to taste. The minute your finger's in your mouth and you've nodded your approval, he slowly sets the bowl and spoon on the counter. "...also, you can try to crack an egg in my hair, but that's assuming you can reach it, box mix."
You squawk, reaching for an egg and scrambling after him as he bolts. "Izuku! That's it, get back here! I'll climb you like a tree if I have to!"
Laughter rings through the apartment as you chase Izuku, wielding an egg threateningly in one hand.
"No, no!" he calls over his shoulder. "I give, I give! Just spare me from your eggs-ecution, angel!"
You freeze, nearly dropping your weapon as you try hard not to double over in laughter. "I can be persuaded to let you off, this time, for a fee."
"What fee could I possibly pay in exchange for my life?"
You hum, eyeing him mischievously. "I think you know what I take as bribes by now." You carefully slip the egg into your apron pocket to put away later.
"Remind me?" he says innocently. You roll your eyes and tug him towards you, sealing your lips over his in a sweet, slow kiss. There's a suspicious hint of brownie batter on his lips, and when you pull back, you raise an eyebrow at him.
"Have you been stealing batter when I wasn't looking, mister?"
He grins innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I'm sure you don't. Such an upstanding hero would never lie to me or steal brownie batter." You smile and turn away to go pour the batter into the pan.
Izuku joins you not long after, wrapping both arms around you from behind and snuggling his face into the back of your neck. "I'm so glad you trust me, sweetheart."
"Yes, yes, I'm very loving and trusting," you tease. "Let me go so I can put this in the oven, dork."
"Nooo," he whines. "You're so huggable. Don't wanna let go."
"Oh my god, you are the worst baking partner. I'm never asking you to join a baking marathon with me again."
"But [naaaaaame]~" he whines into your ear before letting you go. "I love youuuuu." God, you can hear the pout in his voice.
"I love you too." You roll your eyes with a goofy smile before leaning down to slide the brownie pan in. "Come on, I promised you I'd teach you to make my favorite bread, and if you behave, we can get the first proof started before the brownies are out. Can you set the timer for me, baby? Fifteen minutes."
He nods, determination flashing in his eyes. "We're gonna work together so well you'll have to ask me for help next time."
You giggle. "Alright, alright, I get it. Let me know when the timer's set."
Izuku salutes you with a grin before dutifully setting about his assigned tasks. The rest of the baking goes as smoothly as it can–amid soft laughter, teasing jokes, and the occasional errant smear of flour, both the brownies and the bread are the best you've ever made them.
~
Bonus:
Later, when the smell of bread wafts through your apartment and the brownies are somehow successfully iced and cooling (despite your goofball's best efforts), you come up behind Izuku, wrapping one arm around him in a soft hug. "Thank you for helping me bake today, Izu."
If a man could purr, he would be. You press a gentle kiss to his back, giggling when you can feel the vibrations as he speaks. "Thanks for teaching me how to make your signature recipes."
Your eyes lock on their target as he speaks, readying yourself as your hand slowly inches toward its goal. "Mhmm. You'll never use the knowledge against me, right baby?"
He chuckles, wriggling around to turn in your arms. You panic, but it's far too late to abort the mission—you pop up on your tip-toes and pull him into a kiss before he can see what you were about to do. He smiles into the kiss, hands landing on your waist and pulling you closer. You peek one eye open to aim for the prize, and finally, finally, it cracks.
Izuku yelps when the first feeling of cold and wet seeps through his hair, yanking himself back in surprise. "Did you actually—[name]!"
In your heart of hearts, you know you should run while you can. Izuku's fast even without his quirk, but if you're quick and act while he's still processing, you can get away. So you bolt, expertly maneuvering your way around your furniture, and you're about to make it into the bathroom to hide when your feet go out from under you and you shriek as Izuku lifts you off your feet effortlessly.
"You are gonna pay for that," he growls playfully, carrying you into the bathroom and kicking the door shut behind him. He tilts his head forward, and you whine as the egg you'd cracked onto his head slides off and plops onto yours, the yolk breaking from the force of the landing.
"Zukuuuuu," you whine, writhing in his arms as the egg seeps into your hair. "whyyyyyyy?"
He giggles, carefully setting you down. "Now you have to join me in getting cleaned up."
"I would've joined you anyway, jerk!" You roll your eyes as you untie your apron, desperate to get out of your clothes before you have to wash egg out of them.
"I couldn't take that chance." He looks so damn smug, and god, you'd love to wipe that grin off his face, but you're more worried about stripping at present.
"Hate you," you grumble as you yank your shirt off. You yelp when arms circle your waist from behind, tugging you close as a warm kiss is placed on an egg-free section of your head.
"Love you too, my sweet little box mix."
The moment is sweet for about two seconds. Pretty much up until the moment a drop of egg white drips down onto your now-bare chest, eliciting a shriek at the cold, gross sensation.
"Okay, okay, moment over," you complain, forcing yourself out of your boyfriend's vice grip. "You can be cute when we're in the shower, egghead."
"Mhmm, and you can apologize for cracking an egg in my hair while we're there," he replies, raising a daring eyebrow at you before he strips down, himself.
You climb in the shower after him, and true to both of your words, he is cute while you're working the egg out of his hair, and you do, in fact, apologize. Whether or not that apology is, how one might say, proper, well, it's one that Izuku accepts wholeheartedly, and isn't that what really matters, in the end?