Chapter Text
It was a beautiful day out, the kind you only really find in slice of life animes. A small breeze had begun to cool down the heat of a late summer’s afternoon and Tokyo was buzzing with life. It was the perfect day to be outside and it also happened to be Izuku’s first day off work in a while. Maybe fate demanded his perfect day be ruined as he was chasing down a Charmeleon and was almost run over by a skateboarder, or maybe fate had something else in mind.
“The fuck is wrong with you?!” the ash blonde skateboarder, who had just barely managed to swerve out of the way and avoid colliding head on with Izuku, snapped as he crawled to his feet.
“I-I’m really sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was go...oh my god you’re bleeding. I am so, so sorry.” Izuku apologized frantically and shoved his hand into his pocket, trying to find a band-aid. Dammit he was sure he had some on him somewhere.
“Yeah no fucking shit.” the ash blonde retorted as he picked up his skateboard and a piece of it remained behind on the ground. A cold shudder ran down Izuku’s spine as a heavy silence settled in over the other.
“Crap, this is my fault I am so sorry, is there any way I can make it up to you? I can shout you a drink or a coffee or somethi-!” Izuku babbled alarmed and before he could finish his sentence, the ash blonde teen replied almost too calmly,
“You can buy me a new fucking skateboard, that’s what.”
“I-eh what?” Izuku replied confused, wishing he had misheard him, but he knew he hadn’t. The ash blonde male thrust his broken skateboard hard against Izuku’s chest, briefly knocking the wind from his lungs.
“The regionals are in a month. I better have the same skateboard by then or you’re going to regret the day you were born.” he told Izuku threateningly and the green-haired teen could merely nod. How could his perfect day have gone so terribly, terribly wrong? Amongst all the school fees and the rent for his apartment, not to mention the medication for his mom and basic provisions, he wasn’t sure he could afford to buy this person a new skateboard.
“What the fuck are you muttering?!” the ash blonde snapped at him and Izuku flinched, an embarrassed flush heating up his cheeks.
“A-ah I’m sorry it’s a stupid habit.” he replied hastily and then he lowered his gaze, trying to avoid the piercing, red eyes staring at him, “I um...I’ll try to get you a new skateboard...I just can’t promise anything...” he added quietly. That did it.
“The fuck did you say?!” the ash blonde yelled and grabbed Izuku by his shirt roughly and the freckled teen accidentally dropped the broken skateboard onto the ground. He flinched away and squeezed his eyes shut as the ash blonde raised his fist threateningly.
“Whoa, Katsuki, you can’t just punch him, man.” a spiky-haired stranger said suddenly and Izuku felt the ash blonde halt.
“Shut the hell up Eijirou. He broke my fucking board!” Katsuki spat, making the other flinch away as the fist intended for Izuku was swung at Eijirou.
“It was an accident, he said he’d get you a new one, didn’t he?” Eijirou asked as he dodged, obviously used to the ash blonde’s temper. Katsuki turned to Izuku sharply, his glare burning through the freckled teen like fire and it made him feel unbelievably small and weak. Izuku wasn’t strong, he would laugh at anyone who called him that, and he wasn’t brave either but...
“I never lie.” Izuku told Katsuki quietly, again avoiding his eyes as he stared down at the fist still firmly holding onto the fabric of his shirt. He heard the other click his tongue and then almost reluctantly, Izuku was freed from the iron grip. A little shaken, the freckled teen brushed out the crinkle left behind, his fingers trembling ever so slightly as he took a step away from Katsuki. Just in case.
“I-I’ll get you a new skateboard...I just...” he broke off, squirming awkwardly. The last thing he wanted to do was push his problems onto this stranger. It was his fault the board broke, there was no doubt about that...but a month? How much do skateboards even cost?
“You just what?!” Katsuki demanded to know and Izuku shrank into himself again, lifting his hands protectively and whimpered,
“I’m really sorry. Here, uh, Katsuki...” as he fished out a scrap piece of paper from his pocket and scribbled his name and phone number on it, “I’ll um see to it that you get a new skateboard, just please don’t hit me.” he squeaked as he held out the paper along with some band-aids. He opened his eyes a crack, daring to peek at the ash blonde teen in front of him. He’d lowered his fist now and stared down at the piece of paper,
“Midoriya Deku?” he said slowly, reading the name on the paper and then he sneered, “Deku, fits you just fine you fucking nerd.”
“It’s um...it’s actually Izuku.” the freckled teen corrected quietly, unsure of what to say about the insult. The last thing he wanted was to give the other a reason to punch him. Katsuki glanced up at him as he snatched the paper and buried it in the pocket of his baggy cargo pants.
“Deku is a fucking weird ass name, what the fuck is wrong with your parents?” he asked harshly and Izuku felt rage burning up inside him. What the hell did he know about his parents?!
“It’s Izuku.” he corrected again, a little louder this time and the glare he received immediately silenced him. Maybe it would be better to leave before he does actually get his face punched in just because he couldn’t keep himself from running his mouth.
“I um...It’s getting late and I have work tomorrow so...uh...” he stammered, digging for his phone in his pocket. 1%. Of course he just had to leave the app open.
“Is that...?!” Katsuki began as he spied Izuku’s phone. Izuku flinched away, closing the app faster than the speed of light, but the ash blonde had already seen enough, an angry scowl making its way onto his features. Izuku had to leave right now.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing!” Izuku yelled frantically, catching Katsuki and Eijirou off guard, “I-I have to go.”
He had never run home so fast in his entire life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
How could his perfect day off have taken such an awful turn of events. He couldn’t pay for a new skateboard even if he took up a bunch more shifts at work he would still not be able to pay for the damage. How the hell was he supposed to know Katsuki Bakugou was a favourite in the upcoming skateboard regionals? Yes that was a thing and yes that skateboard of his was worth a hell of a lot more than a normal one.
“Izuku~!” a familiar voice chimed in his ear and he almost dropped the cup he was filling with coffee, “You’re scaring the customers cut it out.”
“I’m sorry Ochaco.” he replied embarrassed, and shot the girl an awkward smile. Her head tilted sidewards a little and her fantastically big eyes narrowed at him,
“You have a lot of explaining to do on our break.” she said slowly and Izuku shrank into himself as he maneuvered a plastic lid onto the full cup. He laughed nervously and after he handed the customer their coffee he replied,
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. Everything is fine, I have nothing to explain.”
“Uh huh.” she replied, her eyes merely narrowing and Izuku knew he couldn’t get out of this one even if he tried. He sighed defeated and took the next order, promising to tell her when their shift was over.
“Huh? Are you not taking a break?” Ochaco asked surprised and Izuku shot her an apologetic smile and told her quietly,
“Yeah, I’m going to be working a little more.”
“Are you serious? You practically work every day as soon as you finish school are you going to be okay?” she asked alarmed and Izuku merely shrugged. He didn’t know if he was going to be okay. He would find out soon enough.
Suddenly the door of the small coffee shop he worked at was thrown open and a gut wrenchingly familiar ash blonde walked through the door. Izuku’s heart stopped. Why. Why did this have to happen to him. What had he done to deserve this?
Ochaco noticed his distress and gently pushed him towards the back door, whispering for him to take a break, but Izuku shook his head wildly. He didn’t have time for this, he needed the money, so he broke free from her hold and firmly walked back to the counter, putting on his best, most professional smile as he greeted the skateboarders,
“Welcome to the Catnap Cafe what can I get for you?”
“A fucking chocolate milkshake to go.” the ash blonde replied as he turned around and his red eyes met green ones. Katsuki frowned for a moment and then he sneered,
“You look irritatingly familiar to the fuckface who broke my skateboard.”