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Katsuki watched him from across the classroom. Idly twirling one of his green curls around his finger as he stared down at his worksheet. The sun was dipping below the tree tops, only a few golden rays slipping between the branches and painting the room in splotchy warm light. One of the beams caught his profile and cast a heavenly glow around his face.
Even without the picturesque lighting, Izuku Midoriya was always glowing in Katsuki’s eyes.
“Kacchan?” Izuku called as he approached Katsuki’s desk, “Do you want to grab some food?”
Katsuki nodded, gathering his things and standing. Izuku grabbed his wrist and led him out of the classroom. As they walked, Katsuki slipped his hand into Izuku’s, lacing their fingers together. The other boy didn’t comment, just kept pulling Katsuki along.
They went to the cafeteria on campus where there were multiple food stalls of varying cuisine. Izuku took his time browsing the options, tugging on Katsuki as they walked around the room. They stopped in front of a boba stall.
“Boba isn’t real food, Deku,” Katsuki groaned. Izuku laughed as they got in line. Katsuki rolled his eyes but didn’t release Izuku’s hand. They ordered their drinks and loitered off to the side while waiting for it to be called out.
“So what do you want to eat, Kacchan?” he asked.
“General Tso’s tofu from that stir fry place,” Katsuki replied instantly, gesturing over his shoulder to the restaurant three stalls down.
“You can go ahead and order while I wait for our drinks,” Izuku pointed out. He dropped Katsuki’s hand and bumped shoulders with him, knocking him away slightly.
“You need food too,” Katsuki argued, not excited at the thought of leaving Deku’s side.
“Just pick me out something that’s not too spicy, I’m not picky,” Izuku replied. Katsuki huffed and left, making his way over to the other stall. They weren’t as busy as the boba shop, so the food was ready in seconds. Katsuki thanked the cook and looked back over at the boba stall.
Izuku was nowhere to be seen.
A sinking feeling began to settle in the pit of Katsuki’s stomach as he frantically scanned the crowded cafeteria. Then a hand slipped around and latched onto his upper arm.
“Looking for someone?” Izuku teased. Katsuki willed himself not to blush.
“Shut up, nerd.”
“Let’s go sit down,” Izuku said, beginning to lead Katsuki to the tables. He planted his feet and made Izuku halt. The green-haired boy turned to him with a confused expression.
“Let’s sit outside. The weather’s nice,” Katsuki suggested lightly. Izuku’s smile widened and he changed course, heading straight for the exit. “H-hey, slow down!” Izuku didn’t listen, picking up his pace until they were nearly running. “Stop running inside!” Katsuki tried to shout.
Izuku just laughed and pulled Katsuki outside.
The weather really was nice, the sky dappled with clouds and a cool autumn breeze blowing across the grounds. Izuku led him to a bench nestled under two trees away from the main path. Katsuki sat down in the middle of the bench and Izuku squeezed himself beside him.
“Here,” Katsuki said, reaching into the plastic bag he had been carrying and shoving one of the takeout containers into Izuku’s lap along with a pair of chopsticks, “I got you the orange chicken.”
“Thanks!” Izuku accepted it happily, breaking apart the wooden sticks and digging in. Katsuki held his own container in his hands, fiddling with the corner. He tilted his chin up and watched a few leaves dance across the ground. He savored the gentle rustling of the branches above his head and the warm pressure of Izuku’s thigh pressed against his.
“Do you think it’ll always be like this?” Katsuki asked absentmindedly.
“Like what?” Izuku replied with a mouthful of chicken.
“You. And me.” He turned his head away, watching a few people walk by in the distance. They were talking, smiling, hands almost brushing. It was like the world existed only for them, two hearts tangled together in a moment in time. He turned back to Izuku.
“Do you think we’ll always be…us?” His question wasn’t malicious, it wasn’t tainted by insecurity. It was raw curiosity, reaching out and asking for Izuku to take his hand.
Izuku smiled warmly.
“Well, I followed you from high school to university, so if my track record is any proof–” Katsuki shoved his shoulder into Izuku’s. The green-haired boy laughed. “I’m not letting you out of my sight, Kacchan,” he added playfully.
Heat blossomed in Katsuki’s chest, curling around his heart and flooding his lungs.
“And you couldn’t get away even if you tried, nerd,” he sneered with no real venom behind his words. Izuku bumped their shoulders together lightly. Katsuki scoffed and ripped open his container of food, nearly shredding his chopsticks when he split them apart.
“It’s almost like you like me or something,” Izuku teased. Katsuki’s face began to burn.
“O-of course I like you! We’ve been dating for–”
“Four years, seven months, and thirteen days,” Izuku rattled off. Katsuki mumbled something unintelligible. Izuku leaned closer, “What did you say?”
“... four hours and fifty-two minutes,” he said louder, voice miserable with embarrassment.
“You remember the exact time–”
“Only because it happened at noon!” Katsuki deflected, voice slightly raised.
“That’s so sweet!” Izuku tried to side-hug him but Katsuki scooted to the far end of the bench and began shoveling tofu in his mouth. Izuku scooted down the bench, trapping Katsuki against the side for a moment before the blond lept up and leveled his chopsticks at Izuku.
“It was just a convenient time to remember, alright!?” he practically shouted at the other boy. Izuku set down his food and stood up slowly, gently lowering Katsuki’s chopsticks and stepping in close.
“I love you, Kacchan,” he said sincerely, bringing up his hand to cup Katsuki’s cheek. His frantic red eyes finally focused on the serene green staring deeply into him.
“I-I…” Katsuki stuttered. Izuku smiled, leaning in close until their lips were barely inches away.
“My heart will always be yours,” he added softly.
“I’ll protect it until the day I die,” Katsuki promised.
Izuku leaned forward and their lips met, gentle pressure and slow movement. It felt like time stopped and the only point in existence for Katsuki Bakugou was that exact moment. His whole body felt like it was on fire, skin prickling and muscles tensing. Everything inside of Katsuki was waiting with bated breath until he finally gave in and kissed Izuku back.
Izuku’s hand cupped the back of his head, drawing Katsuki in closer while still trying to avoid squishing his to-go container between them. Katsuki wrapped the hand holding his chopsticks around Izuku’s waist and held him tight.
They broke apart after a moment, both breathing just a little heavier than before. The leaves twirled around their ankles, kicked gently by the wind. A bird called out a small melody and received enthusiastic answers. The sun glinted just right off of Katsuki’s eye and illuminated the steady glowing ember that watched Izuku with ferocious tenderness.
“I think we’ll still love each other after we’re buried together in the earth,” Izuku whispered wistfully. Katsuki smiled. It was small, and soft, and only for Izuku’s eyes.
“I’m okay with that.”
“Me too.”