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“You look stupid.”
He didn’t. The correct word would be cute, actually, but there was no way Katsuki was admitting that one. He may have resigned in trying to completely hide his affections towards the nerd, seeing as he was down bad, but he still had some limits he did not want to cross, no matter how hard has it been lately.
Bless and curse the nerd’s oblivious heart at the same time, though, because he actually glanced down and frowned. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”
Other than looking absolutely adorable, decked in fluffy winter clothing and his dorky All Might scarf? Nothing much. But he had to give him an answer, so Katsuki clicked his tongue and stepped forward, re-wrapping the scarf so it actually covered his neck and did its job. He stepped away, quickly shoving his hands into his pockets to hide the slight tremble. “Better.”
Izuku blinked, then smiled at him and fuck, it should be illegal for anything to shine so bright during winter. “Thanks, Kacchan.”
It was a momentary decision when they were doing homework in the common room. One second Izuku was whining about not knowing how to ice skate, and the next Katsuki was offering to teach him. He didn’t know what possessed him to say so – maybe it was the way Izuku’s eyes got all dreamy and distant as he waxed poetics about how he’d always wanted to try it, or maybe it was the vision of Izuku dressed up all cozy and with cheeks colored red from the freezing air, or maybe it was the fantasy of the two of them holding hands while making circles around the rink.
Whatever it was, it made him blurt out an “I can teach you” before he even had the chance to second-guess what the hell was he doing, and then Izuku was hugging him, all enthused and happy, and well, the instinctive urge to take his words back was gone instantly.
And that was how they ended up here, at the entrance of their dorm building, ready to go out.
“Whatever,” he muttered finally. “Let’s go, the day’s wasting away.” He opened the door and held them for Izuku to walk outside, following him. They fell in step instantly.
Izuku rolled his eyes. “Kacchan, it’s barely past seven in the morning.”
“That mentality is why you’re behind me in class ranking.”
“Well not all of us go to sleep at nine.”
He lifted one arm in a half-shrug. “Ain’t my problem you’re shitty at time management.”
Izuku spluttered, trying to find a good answer, and Katsuki grinned at him mischievously. They bickered as they made their way to the nearest train station, and Katsuki wondered, not for the first time, why had he ever tried to push Izuku away. His younger self was so incredibly stupid.
The war changed things, for both the worse and better. Their friendship still wasn’t the best – there were still years’ worth of feelings both of them couldn’t have possibly gotten over in such short time – but they were trying. They were healing and they were better by each other’s sides, and Katsuki worked hard to fix what he’d broken between them. He tried and he would continue trying until Izuku was sick of him because Katsuki was nothing but greedy, and he wanted, hoped, yearned for more.
He shook his head to get rid of those thoughts. The train ride was a short one and soon they were stepping into the ice arena. Katsuki paid the fee for the both of them, not minding Izuku’s protests, shutting him down with quick “I offered to teach you so we’re doing it my way” and soon they were putting their stuff onto the benches, getting rid of additional layers and exchanging shoes for ice-skates.
There were some other people in the rink but not enough to worry about not having space for themselves. Katsuki looked them over, hero-training kicking in as he quickly assessed any possible threats, and nodded to himself contently when he found none. He glanced at Izuku, noted that he had been doing his own recon, and turned his head to hide the twitch of his lips. Some professions just change your interaction with the public, it can’t be helped.
They walked to the door of the rink where they took off the blade protectors and set them on top of the boards. Katsuki then stepped on the ice, the simple motion bringing back childhood memories.
He had always liked skating. The chilly air helped reduce the danger of his quirk so he didn’t have to worry that much about sweating, and he liked how fluid ice-skating was, once you got the hang of it. He had never thought about figure skating or speed skating but he had always believed that the more skills someone has, the better. After all, you never know where you’re going to need them – and fluidity had proved to be very efficient during battles, which only cemented that mindset.
He vacated the gate, giving Izuku a challenging look that the nerd accepted with grace. In a true Izuku fashion, he put on his determined face and stepped onto the ice – only to immediately cling to the boards as his legs started to move in opposite directions.
Katsuki snorted, grinning at him. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”
“Mean, Kacchan,” Izuku grumbled, no heat in his words.
“You like me mean,” he teased, not really thinking through the words he was saying.
Izuku looked at him, the humor suddenly gone. “Yeah,” he said softly, “I do.”
Pause.
What.
He desperately hoped none of the emotions he felt at the moment showed on his face as he tried to calm down his suddenly rapidly beating heart. Was the nerd actually trying to kill him today? Because where did this come from?
And, listen. It wasn’t like Katsuki didn’t know Izuku liked him. He did. Everyone knew that, he had never even tried to hide it. But there was something about the tone of voice in which he said those words that had Katsuki on alert.
Like there was something else.
Stop it, you’re just being delusional, he scolded himself. Then, realizing that he’d been silent for too long, he scoffed and offered his hand to Izuku. “Come on, nerd. Let’s get to skating.”
Izuku took his hand without hesitation, and that warmed him all over. No matter how many times had he accepted Katsuki’s hand, it was never going to be enough – it was never going to stop feeling like it’s the first time. It was almost unhealthy, how obsessed about that simple gesture he was, but for Katsuki, it meant the world.
It meant that Izuku was there, with him. Next to him. That he chose to stay, despite everything that Katsuki had done to him, and it was also a sign that Katsuki wasn’t the same kid he used to be.
“First things first,” he started, softly kicking Izuku’s legs closed so his heels were almost touching. “Some basic theory because you’re a nerd and it’s better to explain things with words.”
“Literally how does that make me a nerd?” Izuku asked, incredulous.
“You’re skating in All Might scarf. Everything you do is nerdy, nerd.”
“The fact that you recognize the merch makes you a nerd too. In fact, you’re probably more of a nerd tha– mhhpf!” The rest of his sentence was muffled, as Katsuki shoved said scarf in his mouth in a very mature gesture.
He leveled Izuku with a look, one the nerd returned with no hesitation. “We’re here to skate. So let me explain, or I’m leaving you to figure it out yourself.”
The grip Izuku had on his hand tightened even before he finished speaking. The other boy shook his head vigorously. “You wouldn’t.”
He would not. “Try me.”
Izuku pouted. “I should’ve asked Todoroki for ice-skating lessons,” he muttered.
Oh hell no. “I’m a way better teacher than the fucker will ever be,” he growled, tugging Izuku closer to himself. “Just wait. You’re gonna be skating like a pro once I’m done with you.”
Izuku smiled at him, not at all minding the aggression he couldn’t really hide from his voice. “Well I am waiting, Kacchan. I’ve been waiting the whole time, actually.”
He huffed, ruffling his curls. “Smartass.”
“Thank you.”
Where the hell did he get the attitude from?
“So, some basics.” He positioned himself and adjusted Izuku’s stance too. “Your body weight is spread on all parts of your feet – meaning you can’t lean forwards or backwards. It’s like walking.”
Izuku shot him a sarcastic look. “Like walking. Sure. Except I’m on ice.”
“Yes,” he agreed, unconcerned, because the uninterested tone made Izuku puff his cheeks, and wasn’t that just adorable.
Get a fucking grip.
“When you skate, you use the inner edge of the blade.” He let go of his hand to move. “The motion is simple. It’s like you’re making a tree with your legs.” He demonstrated what he meant, starting with slower, shorter movements that developed into fluent ride. He circled back to the nerd, happy to see those green eyes on himself, where they should stay. “You got that?”
Slowly, Izuku nodded. “I think so.”
“Great. Go on.”
The nerd looked down on his feet, took two steps, then hesitated, eyes shifting back up. “Will you hold my hand? Just in case I start to fall?”
“You won’t,” he assured him but took the offered hand nonetheless. Only a fool would reject the opportunity, despite the fact that if Izuku fell, Katsuki would be more than happy to go down with him.
God fucking dammit, he was so stupid for him. It was almost embarrassing.
The nerd was a natural. It wasn’t that surprising, considering his battle style and the fact he could control his body perfectly. The initial stress aside, it wasn’t long before his steps lengthened and became smooth, the jerkiness disappearing with each stride.
“You’re doing good,” Katsuki told him eventually.
Izuku turned to him, smiling at him happily. “Really?”
His chest ached at the genuine surprised awe written all over Izuku’s face. “Would I lie to you?”
Never. Katsuki wasn’t good with praise, neither with giving or accepting, to be honest, but he never said anything he didn’t mean. Especially not to Izuku, even more when it concerned his skill.
Izuku shook his head no, and Katsuki nodded. “Exactly. I think it’s time to level up.”
The happiness took on a cautious edge. “Level up?”
“Let’s go faster,” Katsuki prompted.
He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he sped up, taking Izuku with him. The smaller boy yelped and hurried to catch up until they were side by side again. Through it all, their handhold never faltered, remaining as strong as ever.
“Are you crazy?” Izuku shrieked. “What if I fell?”
Katsuku simply shrugged. “You wouldn’t.” They weren’t even going that fast yet. Really, the only critical moment was the suddenness of it all. “And even if you did, I would have caught you. As I promised. Easy as that, nerd.”
Izuku nodded but didn’t give him any other answer. They made it halfway around the rink before he spoke up again. “Is this boring for you?”
“Haah?” He twisted his body towards him, absolutely confused. “The fuck are you on about?”
Izuku shrugged. “Just thinking aloud, I guess. I know you can skate but I’ve never actually seen you, you know?”
He raised one eyebrow, the affronted anger that had filled him at the incredulous question receding into understanding. “Is this your weird-ass version of asking me to show off?”
“Uh…” Izuku looked away, the blush on his cheeks deepening and this time not because of the cold. “I mean! Why haven’t you already?”
And, okay, he had nothing to say to that. Had he been here with anybody else, he would have. He would have abandoned them the moment he got on ice to get some of the initial enthusiasm out.
He just… hadn’t seen a reason this time. Izuku already knew Katsuki was good. Katsuki had been on ice for the millionth time by now, but this was the first time he had Izuku by his side. Why would he leave it? Why would he let go of him if he could stay so close instead?
But if the nerd wanted him to show off, he was happy to do so.
“Hm, you might be onto something,” he admitted. “Should’ve offered my credentials before we started. Guess I got distracted.” He straightened up, rolling his shoulders. Reluctantly, he let go of Izuku’s hand. “Eyes on me, Izuku.”
Then he took off.
He skated through the rink, swiftly dodging the few people that were there with them. He twisted and turned, added a spin or two, some easy jumps. It wasn’t really that different than the moves he did during heroics, if he was being honest, but this time there were no explosions or smoke to hide the way his body moved.
He circled back to Izuku, skating backwards. The nerd kept moving while he watched Katsuki so he easily fell in step with him, trusting that the nerd would alert him if he was about to crash into something or someone. He took his hand again.
“Kacchan’s amazing,” Izuku muttered. “Of course he’s amazing at this – the twist in the air was the same one he did during training on Thursday.”
He snorted, interrupting what could possibly be an analysis rant. Of course the nerd noticed the similarity. “You’re not that bad yourself, nerd.”
Izuku’s delight died down lightly, replaced by uncertainty. “Don’t make fun of me, Kacchan.”
Great. Amazing. Look what you fucking did, Katsuki. Good job.
“I mean it,” he insisted. “You have the necessary strength and flexibility, the only thing you need is training. That’s all, Izuku. You could do it if you tried. Pretty sure you’d be able to do it today, too, if you really wanted.”
“Kacchan…”
He slowed to a stop, catching Izuku in his arms as his back collided with the boards and the nerd crashed into him. He steadied them both, grunting. His whole attention was now on Izuku, though.
He was looking down at him, the smaller boy looking up in return.
“I’m not joking,” Katsuki told him, as serious as he ever was. “I mean every word, Izuku.”
Izuku shifted, his expression softening. “It’s not that deep, Kacchan.”
“It is,” he protested instantly, not bothering to hide the desperation and seriousness. He needed to clear things up, needed him to understand he has changed, that he meant it when he promised to stand by his side for the rest of his life, no matter in what form. He needed him to know that Katsuki may tease and taunt but he will never, ever hurt him again. “Izuku, I – I’m not joking. Not making fun of you, okay? I’d never, I swear. You’re… You’re amazing, and determined. This, fuck, this isn’t some scheme to deceive or make fun of you, okay? I want to spend time with you. I like doing this with you.”
I love you was at the tip of his tongue. He swallowed the words down, exhaling harshly.
Izuku laid his free hand on top of Katsuki’s that was resting on the nerd’s hip, squeezing tightly. “I like this too,” he murmured. “And I know you’re not like that, Kacchan. I’m sorry I made you think so. You just… took me by surprise, that’s all. I just can’t really believe all of this is real I guess.”
Katsuki searched his face, trying to find anything that would indicate that the nerd was lying. An emotion hidden deep down, a subtle flinch he’d try to cover. He found nothing. “Then I’ll just have to try harder to prove to you that it is,” he promised.
The smile returned on Izuku’s face, like it should. “It’s a deal.”
They stood there for a few more seconds, taking in each other’s presence. It was then when Katsuki realized just how close they were to each other, and how good Izuku looked with that content spark in his eyes. It made him let go of the nerd’s hip, despite wanting nothing more than to pull him even closer.
They started skating again, the silence between them creating a weird, awkward atmosphere. They managed half a circle around the perimeter before the nerd snapped.
“Is this a date?” he blurted out, almost making Katsuki trip.
He looked at the smaller boy, eyes wide open, a hurricane of thoughts and curses flowing through his mind. He didn’t have the time to panic, not when Izuku glanced at him and added, in a quiet, almost hopeless voice: “Please tell me it’s a date, Kacchan.”
For just a moment, everything stopped. The world faded away until it was only Izuku in it. Only Izuku, skating by his side, only Izuku, stubbornly looking ahead as if his question just didn’t make Katsuki’s dream come true.
“Yeah,” he breathed out, voice so soft. “Yeah, it is, Izuku.”
Izuku blinked, processing the words. Once he managed, he whirled to him, full of uncertain hope that resonated with Katsuki. “Really, Kacchan?”
“Yes,” he repeated, completely confident in that one word. “Fucking nerd, I’ve been wanting to take you on a date for so long but you were totally oblivious.”
Izuku chuckled, blush spreading from his cheeks down his neck. “I didn’t want to assume. I’ve always wanted to be with Kacchan, ever since we were kids. Lately you’ve been… ever since the war…” He faltered. There was no need to voice the thoughts; Katsuki knew just how much he had changed ever since. “I wasn’t sure just how exactly you meant everything. Was scared that I was projecting my feelings, that you didn’t really…”
Slowly, Katsuki came to a stop. Izuku did too. He turned to him, letting go of the nerd’s hand to wrap it around his waist, pulling him chest to chest. He moved his free hand to lift up the nerd’s chin. Izuku’s breath hitched as Katsuki started to lean closer. He searched Izuku’s face for any sigh of hesitation or protest, finding only urgency and joy.
Finally, he kissed him.
Izuku shifted closer, his body relaxing under the touch. Katsuki pulled away, bright red eyes meeting shining green. “That clear enough for you?” he rasped out.
Izuku grinned at him, the shyness gone in a instant, replaced by boldness and the determination he oh so loved. “I’m not sure,” he hummed, tilting his head to one side. “I might need some more clarification. You know, just to make sure.” Izuku blinked at him, a picture of false innocence that still perfectly lured him into the trap. “Do it again?”
And who the hell was Katsuki to deny him?