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Bakugou was not in his element. He was expertly working his way around the dorm kitchen while his mind was all over the place. He liked working in the kitchen, it usually helped him from overthinking. The rhythmic way in which he would move around the kitchen, cutting up vegetables and tending the meat. It grounded him. But as he was moving the items from the cutting board to the stove all he could think of were doom scenarios. What if he messed up a part? What if someone walks into kitchen? Nobody was supposed to know about this. This wasn't his first time making chocolates, he even let the extras taste some whenever he made them, but this was different. These were for Izuku. These were Valentine chocolates.
They had to be perfect. He wouldn't give anything that was not the absolute best. So, while he was moving through the kitchen his mind was wandering to all the scenarios he could think of. It was early in the morning; he had made sure to go to bed even earlier than usual. Nobody would be awake for the next two hours. Nonetheless he couldn't stop looking at the door every few seconds, every little noise putting him more on edge.
The other part of his thoughts went into the moment Izuku would open his gift. How would he react? What if he didn't like them? Katsuki had never gifted anyone anything remotely romantic before. This truly was a spontaneous plan that he decided to push through two days before. As his thoughts wandered, he filled the mold up with the melted chocolate from the stove.
----
He had been hanging out with Kirishima in his room two days ago when the topic got brought up.
"I'm going to give Mina some chocolates for Valentines Day." Kirishima suddenly announced.
Katsuki paused the show they had been watching and gave him a once-over.
"Okay?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow. "And why do I get the honour of knowing this? You guys are already together." He said as he narrowed his eyes.
Kirishima gave him a nervous smile. "What I'm trying to say is that more people are doing something for Valentines Day this year. Denki is also planning something."
Katsuki felt like he was being pushed into a corner. "What has that got to do with me?"
Kirishima shrugged. "I figured that now would be a good time to give Midoriya some. You guys are almost inseparable ever since the war, and it's our last year yknow."
Ofcourse he would say something like this. Katsuki huffed, "Why the fuck would I do something like that?" He crossed his arms.
"Well for one, in these two years he has never gotten anything so it would be nice even as friends if you gave him something. And two, it might be easier for you to open up to him like this." He overly explained with his hands. "You're aware that your identity can remain a secret right?"
It shouldn't have piqued his interest, but it had sound enticing. In all fairness, what did he have to lose? He didn't have to upright confess, and it might give Izuku a hint that he likes him. Katsuki couldn't believe that he was actually considering this, but Kirishima didn't need to know that.
Bakugou's eyes returned to the tv as he turned the show back on. "You're stupid for thinking I would do something like that."
With that he successfully shut down the conversation, but he didn't miss the glance Kirishima sent his way.
----
After that, admittedly, the thought had stayed in his head. So much so that the irrational part of his brain had convinced the rational part that it would be a good idea.
He placed the mold in the fridge. He cleaned his station and set up the decorations to put on top of the chocolate. After a while he grabbed the chocolate out of the fridge and carefully popped them out of their molds. He hated to admit it but God this was cheesy as fuck. Probably the lamest thing he had ever done, yet the entire time he could feel the butterflies rumble in his stomach.
Deku was a nerd and he cared for him; despite all the nerdy stuff he did. That for sure was the only reason why he had made All Might shaped chocolates, because he knew the nerd would like it. Scratch that, he would love it. He had made a few in the shape of All Might’s head and a few basic ones in the shape of a heart. Why he already owned an All Might themed mold was irrelevant.
After decorating he carefully placed them in a hand decorated box. Like he said, if he was going to do this it would be perfect. The box was round and painted in the colors of the Golden Age suit All Might used to wear. He carefully wrapped up the box with a red bowtie.
No backing out now, he thought.
--
Bakugou walked into the classroom for the second time this day, but instead of sneaking inside with a box of chocolates this time he was accompanied by Izuku. The freckled boy was rambling on about their latest training session and about the little improvements they had made when his words died out. A slight frown formed on his face and Katsuki followed his gaze all the way to his own table. A pile of gifts was placed on it.
Someone let out a whistle.
"Damn Bakugou this might aswell be a record. Gotta be number one in everything right?" Sero said as he clapped his back.
"He's rejecting them all anyways, so ungrateful." Denki joked. "You should give some to us."
Bakugou ignored the both of them and instead focused back onto Izuku. He couldn't understand why Izuku had reacted like that. All he knew was that he needed to make sure Izuku figured out that he was still available.
He twisted his face into disgust and made a big show of moving everything from his desk. "I couldn't care less what some extras want from me. I ain't accepting any of them." He moved his head to Izuku to check up on him when he saw him let out a soft gasp.
Izuku was now finally looking at his own table, behind Katsuki's. The one that he was expecting to be empty, but instead a round box was seated on. Slowly he made his way over. Katsuki shifted his gaze back to his own table as he held his breath awaiting Izuku's reaction.
He heard the sound of a scraping chair, as Izuku sat down. His hands delicately moved over the box. All Katsuki could hear was the gentle way Izuku moved his hands. The quiet moment suddenly got broken.
"Wait, Midoriya you got a gift?!" Denki shouted as he made his way over. The others had slowly made their way into the classroom and gave them interested looks.
"Deku-kun that's greet, you have a secret admirer!" Ochako proclaimed happily as she also made her way over. "You should open it!" She said as she clasped her hands together.
That is when Katsuki made the great mistake of turning around. He accidentally made eye contact with Kirishima and the all-knowing grin he got was downright sinister. The cherry on top was the thumbs up he gave him. Some way to make it obvious who the secret admirer was. Izuku was thankfully to enamoured with the gift, but luck wasn't fully on his side. Some of his classmates had seen the interaction, and the looks he got were hideous. He was going to murder Kirishima.
As he fully turned around, he saw that Izuku was finally working on untying the bow. Katsuki's heart was beating out of his chest. He tried to school his face into a neutral expression, but he was sure that his nerves were bleeding right through it. Izuku slowly lifted the lid. It was as if time slowed down to a stop.
Izuku's eyes widened as a gasp left his mouth. He looked over the chocolates in the box, and then he looked at them again, and again. Denki peeked over his shoulder to look at the containments of the box aswell.
"Wow that's kinda corny." He said with a chuckle.
Ochako gave him a jab in the ribs, which he responded to with a pained gruff.
"They're All Might themed." Izuku softly proclaimed. He looked surprised and impossibly enamoured. As if he couldn't believe what he was seeing, as if this was all a dream.
Izuku looked up and suddenly Katsuki was making direct eye contact with green dazzling eyes.
"Look Kacchan, they're All Might themed!" He happily said as he turned the box towards Katsuki.
"Can you believe that? Someone gave me All Might themed chocolates!"
Katsuki’s words got caught in his throat. The nerd was absolutely captivating, his bright smile and the gleaming look in his eyes, paired with a deep blush that almost hid his freckles. He was gorgeous without even trying. How could he possibly not love every single part of him? Izuku gave him a questioning look as he stayed quiet, too lost in his own thoughts. Shit he needs to reply fast.
“Uh yeah I can see that.” He awkwardly grumbled as he slowly felt the tips of his ears getting red. Izuku gave him a soft almost shy smile in return.
"I want to taste them, but I almost feel bad for doing so. They're so pretty!" He said as his gaze went back to the box.
As he stared at them, he suddenly got lost deep in his thoughts. "They're almost too pretty. I don't think I have seen them in any store before. Scratch that I know I haven't seen them before. I obviously would have bought them and I'm always up to date with new merch releases. That must mean they're handmade, probably by someone with great talent. They also know that I like All Might so-"
Katsuki saw the gears in his head turning. Shit, he's going to figure it out, isn't he? He quickly turned around in his seat.
"Alright everyone, teatime is over." Aizawa said as he made his way to the front of the classroom. Denki and Ochako hurriedly made their way to their own table as they gave Izuku a questionable look. Katsuki prayed that they hadn't heard the nerds mumbling.
Bakugou had never been more grateful to see his homeroom teacher. But while he was trying very hard to listen to his teacher he could feel Izuku's eyes staring into his back. He was so fucked.
----
The second the bell rang Katsuki made a beeline to the door. Ignoring the protests his friends made and a distant "Kacchan wait!"
He opened the door and immediately got bombarded by a bunch of younger students. All of them here to confess to either him or Icyhot. He angrily made his way through the crowd. Shouting at them as he went on.
One advantage the crowd gave him was that Izuku in no way could follow him. Before he knew it he had safely escaped the crowd and made his way up to the stairs toward the rooftop. As far as he knew Izuku hadn't managed to follow him.
He opened the door to the rooftop and was met with the February cold. The rooftop was fenced and empty. He closed the door and moved to the side of the wall, blocking most of the wind out with the wall. He slowly sat down and huddled together to keep himself warm.
What had he gotten himself into. Ofcourse the nerd would figure out that the gift came from him, he's a nerd. But maybe that was the actual reason Katsuki had given them, maybe he had wanted Izuku to find out all along. He ran a hand through his hair. But if that was the case, why did it feel like he wanted to disappear into a hole? Maybe he should've listened to the rational part in his brain like he always did. He should’ve never listened to Shitty hair. He leaned his left arm on his knee as he let his head hang low.
He sat there for a bit, knowing that inevitably he would have to face his childhood friend. Izuku would obviously try to corner him after classes. The moment came sooner than he would've liked as the rooftop door opened just a few minutes later.
He saw the nerd's shadow before anything else. Izuku took a few steps forward as he assessed his surroundings. Meanwhile Katsuki kept his gaze to the ground, looking at the space between his shoes. He could hear footsteps getting closer and within a minute red shoes stood right in front of him. No words were spoken for a while as the freckled boy just stood there.
Izuku was the first to break the silence.
"Kacchan" He softly spoke.
Katsuki stayed silent and Izuku took it as a sign to sit next to him on the floor.
"I thought you hated the cold?" Izuku said as he slightly bumped into the blond.
"I do." Katsuki grumbled out.
"Then tell me Kacchan. What are you doing here?"
Katsuki could feel the green eyes staring at him, but he had no idea how to respond to that question. Not without laying himself open and bare, not without telling the truth, and that absolutely terrified him. Because how could he convey what he was exactly feeling for Izuku? Words wouldn't do his feelings justice.
The silence returned.
All of a sudden, the chocolate box appeared in Izuku’s hands.
“I haven’t tried one out yet. Is it okay if I try one now?” he asked.
“They’re all yours, no need to ask me.” Katsuki mumbled out. He could feel his heart rate picking up as Izuku took a bite.
“Mmm, it’s so good!” said Izuku with his mouth full. “You should try one Kacchan.” he said as he playfully shoved the box in his face.
Katsuki gave him an angry glare. “No thanks, they’re for you.”
“But Kacchan, I’m sure it took you so long to make. It must have been so difficult. You should atleast try one!” He pressed on as he leaned more into his personal space.
Bakugou let out an irritated sigh as he looked his childhood friend in the eyes for the first time since he arrived on the rooftop. How dare the nerd think that making some dumb chocolates was difficult, nothing was difficult for the Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight!
“It wasn’t difficult at all you damn nerd. It didn’t take-“the words died on his tongue as Izuku gave him a knowing look. “Fuck” how could he fall for that? Izuku was baiting him and he fell right for it.
“So you did make them.” Izuku said smugly.
Before he could reply Izuku started rummaging through his backpack, it piqued his interest. In his hands he was holding a green heart shaped box wrapped with an orange bow tie.
“I was supposed to leave this on your desk, but I chickened out. So much for being a hero, right?” Izuku chuckled lightly. “They’re store bought so I doubt they will taste as good as the ones you made for me, but I hope you would take them nonetheless.” he finished by holding out the box to the blond as he slightly bowed.
Katsuki’s breath hitched, he couldn’t believe it.
“You have chocolates for me?” He said with great disbelieve. Because how could Izuku give him chocolates? He had never deserved that, not from him. He never really thought that his feelings would be reciprocated. Katsuki took the box with a light tremor in his hands anyways.
“How could I not give you something Kacchan? You’re so amazing!” His eyes shined brightly. “But I was scared you would reject them like you always do with the other Valentines Day gifts.”
Shit he’s right. If Izuku had placed the box on his table, would he had given it any thought? He probably would have thrown it out just like all the other things. He knew that he had to clear things up.
“Look, I’m not good at this talking thing, okay?” He said carefully.
“That’s totally okay, you’re allowed to take your time.” Izuku gave him an encouraging smile, the ever-patient man.
“I never looked at the gifts because I couldn’t care less what an extra thought of me.” His gaze went to the green box now in his hands as he took a deep breath in and out. Here goes nothing.
“I couldn’t care less because they weren’t from you. I never looked through them because I never thought you would give me any. I didn't think that I deserved any.” His gaze stayed on the box while he carefully traced the wrapping with his bad arm.
Katsuki was expecting a lot, but what he hadn’t anticipated was for Izuku to start laughing. It was loud and full of color. Katsuki could do nothing but gape at him dumbfounded.
“Sometimes you’re kind of oblivious Kacchan.” The freckled boy giggled out between laughs.
“The fuck-“
Izuku’s laughter slowly died down to some mere chuckles. He gave Katsuki a slight nudge.
“C’mon you should open your gift. I mean, I would really appreciate it if you did.” he said softly.
Katsuki gave him a slight nod and made careful work of pulling apart the ribbon. After he untied the bowtie, he slowly opened the box. In there were a bunch of heart shaped chocolates, all decorated with green and orange colored chocolate.
“I made sure that they were extra dark since you like the bitter taste.” Izuku said nervously.
Katsuki carefully grabbed one and took a bite. They were actually pretty decent, or maybe it was just the effect Izuku had on them.
“They’re good, I like them.” He said as he looked at Izuku. He in return gave him a beaming smile.
Izuku shifted his gaze away from Katsuki and instead stared straightforward.
"Y'know Kacchan? I don't think you should be thinking about whether or not you deserve my affection." He fidgeted with his hands.
"I think I can perfectly decide that for myself. And you know what I want?" He looked back to Katsuki with a determined look in his eyes.
"I want Kacchan to stop feeling guilty about the past. You've changed and grown, I couldn't be more proud of that."
Katsuki felt those words to his very core. It was the medicine he had needed for all the sick days. He obviously knew that his guilt and feelings of underserving wouldn't disappear overnight. But for Izuku he was willing to try. He was willing to learn to forgive and love himself again. He felt the prickles of tears in his eyes, the way his throat was closing in on him. He pushed the tears down and took a second to regain himself before replying.
"This feeling will probably stay for a while, and I can't promise you that they will ever be fully gone. But Izuku, for you, I'm willing to try."
His childhood friend gave him an understanding nod.
"Kacchan truly is amazing." he spoke softly.
After that the silence returned, but this one wasn't filled with tension, it was nice and comfortably. Katsuki could feel a weight being lifted off his shoulder.
Izuku broke their little bubble.
“We should head back downstairs; we don’t want to be late for our next class.” Izuku said as he made his way back up to his feet.
As he turned towards the door suddenly, he felt a tug on his arm. Looking down at his arm he saw the blond holding his wrist. When he looked back up Katsuki was already making eye contact with him.
“Wait” Katsuki said.
“Would you maybe want to go on a date? Y’know just the two of us.” He said as he felt his cheeks heating up. He couldn’t tell whether the fast-beating heart was his own or the one he felt on Izuku’s wrist.
The tears came before his answer.
“Kacchan, there’s nothing I would like more.” Izuku said happily as he dried the tears with his other hand.
Katsuki loosened the grip on Izuku’s wrist and instead clasped their hands together. The feeling was foreign and new, but it somehow felt like they were always supposed to end up here.
He wasn’t sure if he was deserving of this type of love and care from Izuku. But maybe over time he could learn to accept it. That despite all his wrongdoings, Izuku still saw the goodness in his heart. And if the nerd could see it, then maybe he could eventually too.
He took a step forward and entered into Izuku’s space, their hands still linked together.
He would learn to be vulnerable. The freckled boy in front of him deserved someone who told him every day about how amazing he was.
“Izuku.”
He tried to bring down the walls he was holding up in his face, in the hope that Deku could see the utter and pure adoration that he felt for him.
Now it was Izuku who took a step closer. Their shoes were touching as they stood toe to toe. Izuku tilted his head closer and their noses bumped together softly.
“Kacchan.” Izuku spoke softly in the little space between them as his eyes drifted to Katsuki’s mouth.
Katsuki felt like he was getting pulled in by a spell. His gaze in return shifted to the full lips in front of him. They were slightly chuffed, Izuku would chew on them when he was anxious, but God nothing had ever looked more enticing before. Katsuki sucked in a hitched breath as Izuku closed the distance.
The kiss was soft and short. It had already been over before Katsuki could even comprehend it. All he knew was that he needed more and so he chased after the lips in front of him.
Izuku had not anticipated this and let out a soft gasp when their lips met again. Their hands still clasped together. Izuku’s other hand carefully found his way to Katsuki’s face, softly cradling his cheek and jawline as he deepened the kiss. Katsuki in turn placed his hand onto Izuku’s shoulder, the steady muscle grounding him.
Their lips were moving softly together now, finding a comfortable rhythm. Katsuki let out a pleased hum. The cold of the winter day totally forgotten. They could’ve stayed like this for hours but instead got interrupted by the school bell. It shocked them and they pulled apart from each other.
“Shit Izuku, we’re going to be late, let’s go.” Katsuki was already dragging Izuku towards the door before he could hear his response. They hurriedly made their way down the stairs with a light jog and only stopped when they were in front of the classroom door.
Before Katsuki could open the door Izuku turned his way.
“Can we maybe continue with the uh… with the kissing, after classes? I like kissing Kacchan.” He said as his cheeks turned red.
Katsuki gave him a soft peck on his cheek and smiled at him.
“I like kissing you too nerd.”