Work Text:
It started with small things, and honestly, Genos had never intended to do it, but here he was. It wasn’t that his roommate was particularly unkempt per se, but he didn’t seem to take care of himself. Genos took it upon himself to help out whenever he could. Sure, maybe he had the tiniest of crushes but that didn’t matter, did it? It was normal to help out a friend.
So Genos would stop Saitama to point out if he had clay, modge podge, paint or other various art supplies on him. (One day Genos caught him with tissue paper glued to his face!) He always seemed to scrub his forehead or cheek when he was working. Or shutting off the TV when he dozed off. Really it was just simple things and Genos found them rather endearing. But then he would notice Saitama’s other habits.
The older man had the strangest sleeping habits. Or, perhaps it was more accurate to say he had no sleeping habits at all. Sometimes Genos would wake up for his morning classes and Saitama would still be working away on a project. Genos would make food for the two of them before heading off. Sometimes he would go to bed early and wake up early. Sometimes he slept a lot, sometimes not at all.
Then he found himself making lunches for him after a conversation about how Saitama would skip them. Three meals a day are very important for keeping the brain healthy! Sometimes he found himself having to deliver the lunches, because Saitama would leave in such a rush. It also gave Genos an excuse to see him during the day.
“Ah. Genos-kun! I have a gift for you!” Saitama called to him one afternoon as he walked in. The man was lounging while watching TV and eating chips. “It’s on the counter there.”
“Oh? What is it?” Genos tried to calm his quickening heartbeat. The damn thing. Sometimes he wished he was as stoic as the robots he built. He walked to the lump on the counter.
“It’s an apron. A friend of mine made it. I told him you had been cooking for me and he said I could give it to you as a thank you. He recently used it in a fashion project and didn’t need it anymore.” Saitama explained flippantly. “It seemed very sensible, so you don’t stain your clothes.”
Genos lifted it up. It was… Pink. And the neck strap had frills. He flushed about as pink as the apron. It would be embarrassing to wear it, certainly. Maybe Saitama had other plans for him in it? No. Genos quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts. That would be too hopeful.
“Thank you Saitama-senpai. It’s a very considerate gift. You’ll have to thank your friend for me too… what was his name?” Genos was glad the other man wasn’t looking, so he could hide his embarrassment.
“It’s uh…” Saitama paused and looked to the ceiling in thought. “Hmm. Come to think of it he’s only ever told me what he calls himself as a designer. It’s Puri Puri Prisoner. He says it makes his clothes sound cuter.”
“Right. Tell him I said thanks. I’m going to wash up and get started on dinner.” Genos hurried to his room. His heart was thumping so wildly. He held the apron close to his chest. He didn’t realize he’d be so excited to receive a gift from his crush. After a few calming breaths he put on the apron and went to the bathroom with a blush still high on his cheeks.
A few splashes of cold water helped clear his mind. Over the next week, Genos made sure to put extra meat in Saitama’s lunches as a thank you. Neither mentioned it, and the younger man always made sure to wear the apron when cooking and cleaning.
Then there was the morning Genos came out of his room and found Saitama painting. It wasn’t an unusual sight but he nearly had a heart attack when he saw what Saitama was doing.
“Saitama-senpai!” Genos rushed to him and grabbed the arm that was holding a cup. “That’s paint water!”
“Huh?” Saitama looked down. He had nearly drank the water he dipped his brush in. “Ah. You’re right! I thought this was my coffee. Thank you Genos-kun you saved me! ” He laughed and flashed a brilliant smile that made Genos’s stomach do flips. He quickly let go of the painter’s arm.
“You’re welcome. Just be more careful.” Genos hoped his blushing wasn’t too noticeable.
After breakfast that same morning, he caught Saitama in his pyjamas on his way out without shoes on. Genos hurriedly grabbed some socks and shoes and pushed them to the other man, before going to the kitchen and pouring coffee in a travel mug to give to Saitama. He absently noticed it was his own mug, a gift from his deceased mother that had his name on it.
When Saitama left, Genos also noticed he was running a bit behind. He quickly threw on the nearest sweatshirt, gathered his things and ran to catch up to Saitama. He didn’t realize until halfway through his second class that it was Saitama’s sweatshirt. No wonder it smelled so good.
Then the day came when Saitama asked him for help. It was a request he never really expected.
“Genos-kun, can I use you as a model?” Saitama asked in the middle of a meal. Genos’s cup was halfway to his face and he spilled a little water on himself in surprise.
“I uh… I dunno senpai.” He said as he patted the wet spot with a napkin. He looked at his right arm when doing so. It was completely made of metal. Replaced when he lost it in the same fire that took his family. “I think there are probably some better options besides me.”
“Nonsense. I wouldn’t have asked if I thought so.” Genos looked up. Saitama had a little half smile on his face. Genos’s stomach did a little flip and before he knew it he was giving a reply.
“If it will help senpai with his art studies, I will do it.” He nodded with a look of determination. He knew Saitama would never mock his arm.
The modeling was quick and painless, albeit a little embarrassing. Saitama instructed him to strip to his boxers and sit. Then he positioned Genos exactly as he needed and where to look. Genos was a little frustrated he wasn’t able to look right at Saitama while he was working. His roommate always made little faces when he worked on a project and Genos adored them. He would peek out of the corner of his eye when he could.
When Saitama was finally finished, he told Genos to come look. Genos braced himself and when he finally got around the easel that was set up to see it, he stopped breathing for a moment. It was like he saw himself through Saitama’s eyes, and there, where his prosthetic is, was a bunch of lilacs around his arm. It was so stunning, he felt himself bubbling up with emotions.
“I like you senpai!” Genos blurted out and his face heated up. Oh god he shouldn’t have done it but now it was too late, and Saitama was already responding.
“Thanks, I like you too Genos-kun.” Saitama smiled back at him as he took down his easel, humming a little as he did so.
Genos wasn’t sure Saitama meant it in the same way, but for now, that was all right with him. In the meantime, he smiled back and helped just as he always did.