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Katsuki considers himself an observant person.
If you asked any of his classmates, they would dispute that fact. They think he's so blinded by rage he couldn't possibly be quick witted.
But the truth is, Bakugo is smart. His logic skills and ability to deduce information are a couple of Katsuki’s points of pride. He wouldn't be one of the top students at UA if he wasn't smart. Part of being the number one hero is having the observation skills to make quick decisions in the heat of battle.
So, making observations without the threat of a villian getting the best of you is a piece of cake. Which is why it takes him about 20 seconds to figure out that Deku is looking at him differently than he used to.
He's a few tables away from Katsuki, red in the face and frantically waving his hands at round cheeks.
And then risking a quick glance in Bakugo’s direction.
And then, very quickly, averting his gaze when he realizes Katsuki’s looking right back.
This first piques Katsuki’s interest because since when does Deku do anything other than stare at me? And then, strangely, a wave of irritation at the fact that Dekus's not looking at me.
Shitty hair, Pikachu, and Pinky are next to Katsuki, arguing about something completely irrelevant, so he tunes them out. Katsuki takes another bite of his lunch bowl and chews a little harder than necessary.
Round cheeks is laughing and Deku is staring at his lap, elbows on the table and hands shielding his face. Class rep seems to be scolding Round cheeks. Icy Hot is sitting next to Deku, void of any visible emotional expressions as usual.
Katsuki decides he wants to know what they're talking about. Especially since they each keep glancing over in his direction and then saying something to Deku. Who looks like he's about to burst into flame. Suddenly, he slams his hands on the table and stands up, excusing himself and rushing in the direction of the bathroom.
Now’s his chance.
Katsuki stands up, mumbles something about grabbing more rice to Shitty Hair, and skirts around the edge of the dining hall, avoiding being within sight of Deku’s friends.
He places himself on the other side of the dividing wall between the boothes. Once safely on the opposite side of the group, he takes a seat.
“--you took it too far! Midoriya should be able to trust us with these kinds of things, Ochako!”
“Maybe I did... I'll apologize when he comes back...”
“Though I don't know why Bakugo of all people.”
Katsuki tenses, scowling to himself. Fucking Icy Hot.
“I mean it makes sense if you think about it, Todoroki. They've been in each other's lives for a long time. And after everything that's happened... It's only natural feelings develop from there.”
Feelings, huh?
“We are in no position to judge Midoriya! It is our job to support our friend, who will make the best decisions for himself.”
“Bakugo's so mean though...”
“Maybe he's into that.”
Choking and laughing sounds suddenly erupt from the other side of the booth.
“Todoroki!”
“Oh my god you can't say that!”
“Guys, hush, Izuku's coming back!”
Katsuki leans his back against the cushioned booth seat, drumming fingers his along the table, thinking for a moment.
Katsuki could make a fairly educated guess about exactly what they're talking about. The blushing, the laughing, the averted gaze, talking about feelings...
Katsuki pondered the revelation. He couldn't say he'd ever considered the possibility. Katsuki thought the fact they had cultivated the friendship they had now was a miracle in and of itself. He had never allowed himself to think about the possibility of more.
But now that Deku has opened the door...
Katsuki allowed himself to imagine kissing Deku. Holding him. Going out on dates. How pretty he'd look with a blush painting his cheeks that was directly a result of Katsuki.
Katsuki licked his lips.
He got up, careful not to be seen, and casually made his way back to his lunch bunch.
Right now he only had a fairly likely educated guess. Katsuki didn't like those odds. He had to be certain before he dared to reveal anything.
For the rest of lunch, Katsuki silently pondered his plan of attack. One that could help him be certain he was correct in his assumption and drop some hints to Deku. One that could start small and insignificant, but ramp up in intensity. This gave Katsuki the ability to subtly test the waters so that the moment he sensed resistance, he could back out and no one would be the wiser. But if there was no resistance...
The bell rang and Katsuki grabbed his things to head towards classroom 3A.
***
Katsuki catches a lucky break when Aizawa announces they are going to work on their next assignment in their row pairs.
This was fairly typical for them for certain assignments and Deku just so happens to be his row partner. Katsuki decides to take full advantage of this.
He flips around in his chair, arms crossed over the seat.
Izuku has his back turned and is digging around in his backpack for something. He finally finds what he's looking for--a pencil and notebook-- and turns back around.
Katsuki watches his face carefully with a neutral expression. Deku’s eyes widen the tiniest amount and his face turns slightly pink. You could miss it if you weren't intentionally looking for it.
Deku’s gaze darts quickly over Katsuki-- his lips, his chest, his forearms-- before suddenly returning to his eyes again, as if he was deliberately reminding himself to look there and nowhere else.
Katsuki smirks. Green eyes dart down and then back up again with the slightest furrow of concentration in his brows.
Katsuki feels the urge to tease the boy across from him, just to watch him squirm, but decides that's too much for now.
“So, where should we start?” He asks, letting his gaze casually flick down to Izuku's lips and back up again.
Izuku watches the movement, then seems to shake himself back into focus, “R-right... um so Aizawa said to start...”
***
Katsuki’s next opportunity comes to him as the class is going to their rooms after a movie night.
It's fairly late and not everyone stayed up for the end of the movie. Katsuki finds himself walking to the elevator at the same time as Izuku, while the handful of other classmates that are left take the stairs.
The elevator dings, and the two of them step in. Izuku steps in front of the button panel.
Before Izuku can do anything, Katsuki steps up behind him, just close enough to the shorter man.
Izuku tenses up, ever so slightly. Katsuki smirks to himself, reaching around to push the button for their floor. He lingers, just long enough. His face is inches away from Deku’s neck, which is turning a pretty shade of pink.
In the brief moment Katsuki lets himself stay there, he imagines pressing a featherlight kiss to the back of Deku’s neck. He watches with a smug sense of satisfaction as Deku shudders, just barely, and goosebumps erupt on his freckled arms.
Only then does Katsuki lean back.
Deku turns around, fiddling with his shirt to avoid eye contact. “U-um... thanks Kacchan.”
Katsuki doesn't bother wiping the smug smirk off his face, tucking his hands in his pockets. He waits until green eyes look up and meet his own gaze before he responds.
“You're welcome.”
***
Katsuki decides the circumstantial evidence is enough to ramp up his efforts and be a little more obvious.
Class 3A is doing a conditioning session in the gym. Katsuki is at the rack with a barbell, working on his bicep curl. Izuku is behind him, near the center of the room, standing and stretching out on the mats.
He sees through the mirror that Deku is staring straight at him, seemingly zoned out. He makes eye contact, holding it as he continues his curls. Finally, Deku notices, and startles.
Katsuki quirks an eyebrow, smirks, and winks.
Izuku's face blooms red, mouthing an oh my god to himself before turning around and stiffly walking away.
Katsuki laughs to himself, unable to control the mischievous spark in his chest. Before Izuku leaves entirely, though, Katsuki catches the shy smile and questioning glance that he throws briefly behind him.
***
Round face approaches him during lunch.
“Hey Bakugo!” She says cheerfully, sitting down across from him.
Bakugo puts his phone down.
“Listen, I got a question,” she starts with a glint in her eye, “a girlfriend of mine told me she has a crush on you. Do you want her number?”
Katsuki can see right through it. If the excited energy buzzing beneath her skin wasn't telltale enough, the fact that Deku cannot stop glancing in their direction certainly is.
“Well she,” Katsuki starts, emphasizing the ‘she’ part, “is gonna be disappointed because I'm not into girls.”
Pink cheeks doesn't seem all that disappointed on behalf of her imaginary friend, in fact, she seems spurred on, “oh that's too bad...” she trails off, clearly thinking of how to ask without actually asking.
Bakugo picks his phone back up, feigning nonchalance, “‘sides, I've already got someone in mind.” He says casually.
The girl stills, looking carefully at Katsuki. He looks up from his phone, pointedly making eye contact, flicking his gaze to Deku, and then back.
She clearly gets the message because her face lights up. She clips a quick “okay!” before bounding back to her table.
Katsuki watches with amusement as Izuku tries desperately to seem like he isn't dying to hear what she has to say. He and his friends duck down close to the table-- as if it isn't abundantly clear to Katsuki what they're discussing-- and get the debrief.
The girl is clearly relaying the conversation, excitedly gesturing with her hands. Even though Katsuki can't hear them, he decides to watch Izuku's face as the man listens to his friend.
Eyebrows shoot up. A faint blush. A smile that he tries to suppress. A deeper blush as his friends all excitedly start chatting in his direction. A shy glance in his direction.
Izuku doesn't look away this time.
***
Katsuki is rummaging around in the fridge when he hears someone enter the kitchen.
“Hi Kacchan,” a familiar voice says.
Katsuki grabs a tea from the fridge, shuts the door and leans up against it, “‘sup, Nerd.”
“U-um,” Izuku stutters, fiddling with the hem of his shirt, “so... I was gonna ask you if you were planning on doing anything this weekend,” he asks, not making eye contact.
Katsuki cracks open the tea bottle, taking a sip, “nah, I don't have anything going on,” he pauses, “you wanna change that?” he asks, voice dipping down teasingly.
Izuku looks up, blushing furiously, “I-I mean, if you want to... there's a new All Might Movie...a-and...” Izuku trails off.
Katsuki places his tea on the counter and takes a few steps toward Deku, crowding close to him. His green eyes look up at him through his eyelashes. Katsuki grabs his chin, tilting his head up and presses a short kiss to his lips.
“It's a date.” He says simply, smiling as Izuku’s eyes go wide and he touches his bottom lip.
Izuku falls forward, burying his face in Katsuki’s chest with a muffled “Kacchaaaan don't tease me.”
Katsuki laughs, circling the boy in a comfortable embrace.
“Nah, teasing you is too much fun.”
Izuku looks up at him, “How'd you know?”
Katsuki scoffs and rolls his eyes, “‘Cause I've got eyeballs, dumbass. You were about as subtle as an elephant.”
“Hey! Listen, I wasn't really trying to be subtle. I just didn't know how to ask,” Deku pouts.
Katsuki smirks, “well now you know,” he says, before pulling the boy into another kiss.