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It’s around Highschool when Katsuki realizes his romantic feelings for the other. Not to mention the countless nights of lack of sleep, twisting and turning to define that feeling bubbling up in his chest. No use.
He’s in love with him.
Katsuki’s demeanor shifts. It had shifted a long time before he even knew what Izuku was doing to him.
How soft his heart had gotten.
He’s not careful with Izuku by any means. They still spare and Katsuki still kicks him to the ground to which the greenette twists his arm just so, that in a quick movement, he’s straddling him with a victorious smirk.
Oh.
He’s not all lovey dovey either. He doesn’t leave anonymous love letters in his locker, he doesn’t gift him any expensive chocolate.
They still argue, they still banter, Katsuki still shoves his elbow into Izuku’s side and Izuku still radically attacks him with a loud giggle.
The movie nights don’t change to romantic comedies. They’re still watching Top Ten Best Of All Might and pause to analyze every minute.
But somewhere in between it all, there’s something so small, you could’ve missed it if you only blinked once.
It’s the way the blonde’s eyes soften when they’re laid on the greenette. It’s the way a soft sigh escapes him when Izuku straddles him with all that power.
It’s the way he can’t keep his hands off of the other, the way he holds on longer than necessary.
Oh.
Katsuki Bakugou lingers.
So maybe it’s time to address whatever this is.
A starry night. Izuku likes them best. Staring up at the shiny horizon, figuring out star constellations somebody made up ages ago.
Katsuki knows that.
“Oi, nerd.”
The wind feels light against his own skin. As if encouraging him. And the breeze does a fairly good job at making Izuku look beautiful, moving through his hair like gentle waves.
Green orbs meet red ones.
The greenette sits on the edge of the rooftop as he looks back with a slight smile. “Kacchan.” His hands are placed behind his back, holding his torso up as his attention shifts back to the moon.
“Are you not cold?” Izuku shakes his head once. “Come, sit with me.”
It’s not like Katsuki had any other plans for tonight. Or that he’d rather be anywhere else than in Izuku’s presence. So, heavy feet carry him, and then he sits.
The greenette looks so beautiful with the moonlight reflecting on his skin, every single dot of his freckles visible.
He looks at him like he hung the damn moon.
“You always look at me like that lately.” Izuku whispers, looking at the sky as if waiting for it to answer.
The wind hushes between them, and Katsuki swears he hears his own heartbeat louder than anything else.
He could play dumb. He wants to.
But he’s tired. Tired of pretending he’s not bleeding for the boy right in front of him.
“‘tried not to,” Katsuki mutters. “Didn’t want you to notice. Didn’t wanna ruin anything.”
Izuku turns his head slightly, green eyes glinting with surprise in the moonlight. He looks a little blue.
Katsuki doesn’t look at him. He can’t. Not right now. His voice is low. Rough around the edges.
“But I can’t help it. You… you piss me off and light me up at the same time. You’ve always been there, and I think-”
He pauses. Grits his teeth. Forces it out.
“I’m in love with you, Deku.”
Silence. Wind. The stars above blink back. He exhales sharply, then gets up. Brushes off his pants. Doesn’t look at him.
“Just needed to tell you,” he says, like it’s a burden he’s finally dropped. “You don’t have to say anything. I’ll-” “Kacchan.”
He freezes.
“Stay.”
Katsuki hesitates, jaw tight, fists clenched, then slowly sits back down beside him, heart pounding.
They don’t speak right away. Just sit there.
And then, carefully, gently, Izuku leans his head against Katsuki’s shoulder. His voice is so quiet, Katsuki almost misses it.
“I’ve been looking at you like that too.”
Katsuki stares straight ahead. Doesn’t breathe. Doesn’t move. But something in his chest cracks open.
And for the first time in what feels like forever, he lets it.
He lets himself hope.