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“Deku, pass me the eggs.”
Izuku opened the fridge and grabbed the eggs, nearly knocking over a carton of milk in the process. His fingers tightened around the cool surface of the carton as he nudged the milk back into place, and he hurried to Katsuki’s side.
“Here, Kacchan!” He chirped, holding out the eggs.
Katsuki took them, not even sparing Izuku a glance as he cracked them over the edge of the bowl with practiced ease. The yolks spilled into the mixture, and he tossed the shells into the trash can behind him without looking.
Izuku marveled at how easy Katsuki made it all seem. His hands moved with a confidence that Izuku envied—precise, quick, and unbothered. While Katsuki measured out flour and sugar, Izuku wandered around the kitchen, his fingers grazing over the cool countertop, the edges of open cupboards, the stray bits of flour that had escaped Katsuki’s control.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help—he did! But every time he moved to grab something, Katsuki had already done it. If he reached for the whisk, Katsuki’s hand was already on it. When he bent to grab a pan, Katsuki had it ready, butter already sizzling.
“Um, Kacchan, can I do something? Anything?” Izuku asked at one point, his hands clasped in front of him. His fingers fidgeted, brushing over the band of his apron.
“Yeah, keep outta my way,” Katsuki muttered, though his tone lacked its usual bite.
Izuku pouted but took the advice. He settled at the kitchen table, chin resting in his palm, as he watched Katsuki work. The kitchen filled with warm, sweet smells—vanilla, melted butter, and the faint bitterness of cocoa. Izuku’s stomach rumbled, and Katsuki shot him a glance.
“Stop drooling. We’re not done yet.”
“I’m not drooling!” Izuku protested, wiping at his mouth just in case.
“Yeah, sure.”
When the cupcakes finally came out of the oven, golden and perfect, Izuku bounced up to peer over Katsuki’s shoulder, resting his chin there. “Can I help frost them?”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, but handed him the piping bag. “Don’t screw it up.”
Izuku didn’t. At least, not too much. One of the cupcakes ended up with more frosting than cake, but he grinned at it, proud of his creation. Katsuki snorted, a soft, barely-there sound that made Izuku’s chest warm.
They ate their cupcakes in the kitchen, Izuku on the counter and Katsuki leaning against the island. Izuku had frosting smeared on his nose, and Katsuki pretended not to notice, instead focusing on the crumbs on his fingers.
“Mmm, Kacchan that was yummy!” Izuku praised, as he licked his thumb clean of any frosting.
“I know dumbass, I was the one that baked them.” Katsuki smirked, crossing his arms.
“Mean.” Izuku pouted and all Katsuki did was laugh in return.
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A few days later, while Katsuki was out on patrol, Izuku found himself staring at the recipe book.
It was old, and it sure looked like it too. Izuku briefly remembered that Katsuki had told him that his mother had given it to him.
“If Kacchan can bake, then so can I, besides how hard can it be?” Izuku muttered to himself as he took out ingredients from the cupboards, setting them in front of him.
“Right, Let’s get to work!”
Izuku rolled up his sleeves, determination burning in his eyes as he measured out flour, cracked eggs, and sifted through the various ingredients. He may not have Katsuki's natural talent in the kitchen, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him.
Within minutes, the kitchen had turned into a war zone. Flour dusted the countertops, and a bit of batter had splattered onto his cheek. He stuck his tongue out, focusing intently as he stirred the mix with all his might.
“Not too bad…” he mumbled, looking at the smooth batter. He glanced at the recipe book, squinting at the tiny, handwritten notes in the margins. “Just need a bit of sugar.”
He grabbed the jar labeled “sugar” and dumped a generous scoop into the mix.
When the batter was finally ready, he poured it into cupcake molds, carefully filling each one. His expression shifted to one of pride as he slid the tray into the oven.
While waiting, Izuku decided to clean up—though by the end of it, he was nearly as messy as the kitchen had been. His hair was powdered white, and sticky batter clung to his shirt.
A timer rang.
Izuku scrambled to the oven, oven mitts slipping onto his hands. He opened the door and was greeted with the sight of perfectly risen, golden cupcakes. His face lit up, and he quickly set the tray down to cool.
“Wow! I did it!” he whispered, his chest puffing out in pride.
Curious, he grabbed one of the warm cupcakes, peeled the liner, and took a generous bite—only to freeze.
The taste hit him like a freight train.
Salt. Pure, unfiltered salt.
Izuku coughed, his face contorting as he forced himself to swallow. “What—What did I—” His eyes darted to the “sugar” jar, and his heart sank as he dipped a finger in and tasted a pinch. “Salt?!”
He groaned, covering his face with flour-stained hands. “Nooo… I was so close.”
The front door clicked open.
Izuku’s head shot up, eyes wide.
“I’m home—” Katsuki’s voice cut off abruptly, and his footsteps echoed in the entryway. “What the hell happened in here?”
Izuku winced as Katsuki entered the kitchen, his crimson eyes sweeping over the chaos. The flour, the dirty bowls, the smeared counter.
Katsuki’s gaze landed on the tray of cupcakes. “Wait… did you make these?” His voice held an edge of surprise, his brows rising slightly.
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, offering a sheepish smile. “Uh, yeah. I thought I’d try baking… but it didn’t go as planned.”
Katsuki stepped closer, his lips twitching into what might’ve been a smile. “Well, color me impressed.” Before Izuku could warn him, Katsuki snatched a cupcake and took a bold bite.
The reaction was immediate.
Katsuki’s face turned a shade paler, his eyes widening as he struggled to swallow. “Ugh—What the actual—” He choked, spitting out the remnants into the trash. “Deku! What did you put in these?!”
Izuku’s shoulders slumped. “I… I mixed up the salt and sugar.”
For a moment, there was silence.
And then, Katsuki began to laugh.
Not just a chuckle, but a full, belly-aching laugh. His shoulders shook, and his hand clutched his stomach as he leaned against the counter for support.
Izuku’s face burned red. “Hey! It’s not that funny!”
Katsuki only laughed harder, his voice echoing off the kitchen walls. “Oh my god, you absolute nerd.”
Izuku crossed his arms, lips jutting out into a pout. “I was just trying to make something nice…”
Katsuki’s laughter softened, and before Izuku could react, Katsuki stepped forward, cupping his flour-dusted cheek. He leaned in, pressing a quick, warm kiss to his lips.
Izuku’s eyes widened, and his pout melted away.
“Dork,” Katsuki murmured, a soft smirk playing on his lips. “It’s fine. Just… maybe leave the baking to me next time.”
Izuku’s lips twitched into a smile. “Only if you promise to teach me.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes but his expression was nothing but fond. “Yeah, alright. Can’t have you poisoning us next time.”
Izuku let out a soft laugh, and Katsuki’s thumb gently brushed away a smudge of flour from his cheek.
“Let’s clean this up,” Katsuki said, but he didn’t move. His hand remained on Izuku’s cheek, his thumb tracing gentle circles. “You know… it’s kinda cute.”
Izuku blinked. “Huh?”
“That you tried.” Katsuki’s voice was softer now, the usual bite smoothed into something warm and genuine. “Even if you suck at it.”
Izuku huffed, but before he could retort, Katsuki leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Izuku’s.
“Thanks, nerd.”
“For what?”
“For… being you.”
A comfortable silence settled between them, and then Katsuki’s arms wrapped around Izuku’s waist, pulling him into a hug. Izuku’s breath caught as he found himself nestled against Katsuki’s chest, surrounded by warmth and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Izuku hesitated, but then his own arms found their way around Katsuki, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. He buried his face in the crook of Katsuki’s neck, breathing him in. “You’re warm…”
Katsuki hummed, his chin resting atop Izuku’s head. “You’re an idiot.”
“Hey!”
“But you’re my idiot.”
Izuku’s cheeks flared pink, and he tightened his hold. “Kacchan…”
The two just stood there for a while before Katsuki spoke up.
His fingers traced gentle patterns against Izuku’s back. “Tell you what—how about we bake something together? No salt this time.”
Izuku pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. “Really?”
“Yeah. We’ll do it right.” Katsuki’s lips curled into a small smile. “And if it turns out good, maybe I’ll give you a reward.”
Izuku’s eyes widened. “A reward?”
Katsuki leaned in, brushing his nose against Izuku’s. “Yeah. Like this.” He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to Izuku’s lips, slow and sweet, like he had all the time in the world.
When they pulled apart, Izuku’s head was spinning, his heart fluttering. “O-Okay. Let’s bake.”
Both of them argued every five minutes over the smallest things, but once the tray came out from the oven steaming hot and cupcakes fluffy, Izuku forgot all about it.
And if the cupcakes had a little too much frosting because Katsuki insisted on smearing it on Izuku’s nose, well, neither of them complained.
Because after all, everything was sweeter when they were together.