Chapter Text
“It’s not a f*cking crush, you half-n'-half bastard!”
Katsuki yells and tosses his ice cream spoon onto the table between them. He knew asking f*cking Eijiro to meet him for ice cream and a chat was a stupid idea. He’d thought it was because of his pride, but no, it was his sixth sense telling him f*cking Todoroki Shoto would be tagging along.
Kirishima grins with a knowing look. “Kinda sounds like it, dude.”
Shoto merely sips his drink, eyes sharp behind the swirling steam, because he’s a f*cking weirdo that orders tea in an ice cream shop. Katsuki doesn't need to see his face to know that he's smirking. Bastard. He's always been too observant for his own good.
"It's not a crush," Katsuki grumbled, studiously avoiding Shoto's gaze. "I just want to know why he lied."
"Lied about what?" Kirishima asked, leaning forward with curiosity shining in his eyes.
"About exercising alone," Katsuki muttered.
Kirishima snorted. "Man, you got it bad."
"I do not!" Katsuki slammed a fist on the table, earning disapproving glances from their fellow customers and a delighted giggle from Kirishima.
Shoto leaned back in his chair, calmly nursing his drink while watching this exchange with veiled interest. "If it isn't a 'crush' as you say," he began slowly, "why is this Izuku person even on your radar? You're usually so focused on yourself."
"I'm not a narcissist, you icyhot sh*thead," Katsuki snapped. "I just noticed things. We've been friends since we were kids, for f*ck's sake."
"Friends?" Shoto raised one meticulously groomed eyebrow, the corner of his lips twitching upward in a rare smirk. "Is that what you're calling it now?"
"Oh, shut up." Katsuki scowled, shoving another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.
The silence that followed was punctuated by the quiet clinking of spoons and the faint hum of conversation from the other patrons. Amidst the background noise, Katsuki found his mind wandering once more to Izuku. His confounding lies. His hidden workouts. The way he’d deflect when Katsuki tried to dig deeper.
"Alright, let's say you're just worried about him," Kirishima finally broke the silence, shooting Katsuki a knowing look. "What are you gonna do about it?"
"What d'you mean?" Katsuki huffed, a little too quickly. "It ain't my business if he wants to box in secret."
"But you want it to be your business, don’t you?" Shoto observed, eyeing him with that infuriatingly calm expression.
"sh*tface," Katsuki growled, but he didn't deny the accusation.
Kirishima chuckled, running a hand through his spikey red hair. "Man, just talk to him, Bakugo. Ask him straight up."
"And what? Have him think I'm being nosy?" Katsuki grumbled.
"Well, aren't you being a bit nosy?" Shoto quipped lightly, his lips curling into a smirk. "For someone who denies having a crush..."
"That's it. You're dead, Todoroki," Katsuki declared, lunging across the table.
But Shoto merely evaded his attack with a lazy sidestep, sending him tumbling onto the ice cream-smeared table. The whole cafe roared with laughter, and Katsuki's cheeks flamed with indignation. He fought off Kirishima's attempt to help him up and shot to his feet, fiercely determined to wipe that smug look off Shoto's face.
"Alright, alright," Kirishima intervened, holding his hands up in a peacemaking gesture. "Let's cool down here, folks."
"Cool down?" Katsuki seethed. "He started it!"
Shoto only shrugged as he calmly sipped his tea. The smirk was still there, but there was something less infuriating in his gaze now, something more knowing, more understanding.
As he collected himself, Katsuki couldn't help but remember Izuku's boxing confession again. The way he had hesitated before admitting it. How he had avoided Katsuki's questions like a pro. There was something going on, and he was damn sure going to find out what it was.
With a final glare at Shoto and an annoyed grunt at Kirishima, Katsuki stormed out of the ice cream shop, his mind buzzing with questions and suspicions. His steps led him unknowingly towards Allcare Physical Therapy. Before he knew it, he found himself standing outside the sleek, modern building that was now as familiar to him as his own home. The night lights illuminated the facility in a soft glow, making it seem eerily quiet and tranquil.
A sudden impulse made Katsuki push open the doors, his feet taking him towards the workout area, where he spotted a lone figure fighting a training dummy. The sight that met his eyes caused a jolt of surprise. Izuku was there - his usual therapist attire replaced by a simple grey tank top and track pants that revealed toned muscles glistening with sweat.
The sight of Izuku landing swift punches and effective kicks sent a thrill down Katsuki's spine. He hadn't seen Izuku this focused and intense before. The smiling, patient therapist was replaced by a fierce fighter, with every strike landing with precision and force. His green eyes were focused, and his eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
Katsuki watched in silence, taking in the way Izuku moved—swift and sure, each movement flowing into the next. It was mesmerizing to watch, hypnotic even.
Damn nerd, he thought, his heart pounding in his chest.
When Izuku finally noticed him, he halted mid-punch, looking like a deer caught in headlights. The confident fighter was replaced once more by the gentle therapist Katsuki knew.
"K-Kacchan," Izuku stuttered, clearly flustered. "I... umm... didn't think anyone would be here."
"No sh*t," Katsuki snapped back instinctively, his gruff voice echoing in the silent room.
"But... why are you here?" Izuku asked, still panting slightly from his previous training.
"Can't a guy want to work out late at night?" Katsuki shot back, taking deliberate steps towards Izuku. He watched as the smaller man blushed, shifting uncomfortably under his intense gaze.
"I guess..." Izuku mumbled, moving to retrieve a towel. "You okay though? You seem... tense."
"Tense?" Katsuki barked out a laugh. "I'm not the one hiding bodybuilder abs under scrubs, Deku,” he says, shaking his head and eyeing the other man. “I don’t get why you needed to hide it. It’s not like you’re a f*cking vigilante.”
Izuku flinches. He almost didn’t catch it, but he did. Katsuki’s eyes narrow.
There’s no f*cking way…right?
"V-vigilante?" Izuku stammered, his face going impossibly redder. "W-why would you say that?"
Katsuki just shrugged, leaning against a nearby punching bag. "Just a joke, Deku."
Izuku blinked at him, looking anything but amused. He nervously wiped at his sweating forehead with the towel in his hands.
"Well, it's... not really funny, Kacchan. Quirkless, remember?"
“Hmmm,” Katsuki hummed, feigning nonchalance.
He had him; he knew he did.
He just needed proof. He wouldn’t call him out on it tonight, though. He needed time to get Izuku to lower his guard. He was too twitchy right now.
"Whatever, Deku," Katsuki said, pushing away from the punching bag. "I'll see you tomorrow for my therapy." With that, he turned on his heel and left Izuku standing alone in the workout area.
As soon as he was out of Izuku's line of sight, Katsuki allowed his usual scowl to morph into a determined frown. He knew that something was off about Izuku's late-night training sessions, and his sudden, flustered reaction to the vigilante comment only confirmed his suspicions.
Back at home, he flopped onto his couch, his mind whirling with thoughts.
It made sense, Izuku becoming a vigilante. The guy had always rivaled his own stubbornness, and being told he couldn’t be a hero wouldn’t have stopped the Deku he knew. No matter how often he’d told Deku that himself.
But what now? He didn’t have concrete proof. Just a hunch. His eyes fell to his injured shoulder, the sling feeling more like an anchor than before.
God, he felt useless.
Katsuki let out a frustrated growl and rose from his couch, pacing about his living room. There was only one surefire way to confirm his suspicion: Izuku had to confess.
Of course, the tricky part was getting him to do that. Izuku was a pro at evading questions and changing the subject, especially when it concerned his personal life. It was as if he had erected an unscalable wall around himself.
Katsuki’s jaw set determinedly. Challenge accepted, he thought.
The following day found Katsuki in Izuku’s office, early for his appointment. As always, Izuku wore his professional smile and offered polite greetings. But Katsuki could see the tension in Izuku's shoulders and the wary glance he kept throwing his way. It was clear Izuku suspected something, but that didn't deter Katsuki.
"Nice weather we're having," Katsuki started, settling into the chair opposite Izuku. Izuku blinked, clearly taken aback by the casual tone.
"Erm...yes, it is." Izuku replied, attempting to maintain his usual calm composure.
Katsuki couldn't help but smirk at the bewildered look on Izuku's face. It was fun seeing him thrown off like this. He decided to press further.
"Good for... night-time activities, don't you think?" Katsuki asked casually, watching Izuku's reaction closely.
Izuku's smile faltered for a moment before he quickly regained his composure. "I suppose..."
A pregnant pause hung in the air as Katsuki continued to gaze at Izuku, unblinking.
“Are you…trying to ask me on a date, Kacchan?”
Katsuki choked on his own saliva, a spluttering cough filling the quiet office. "What? No!" He exclaimed, shooting daggers at a suddenly smirking Izuku.
"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much," Izuku teased, chuckling at Katsuki's flabbergasted expression.
"Shut up, you damn nerd!" Katsuki snapped, his cheeks burning. But his outburst only seemed to amuse Izuku more, who was now laughing heartily.
"Okay, okay... I'm sorry, Kacchan," Izuku said, wiping a tear from his eye. "You were so serious, I couldn't help but mess with you."
Katsuki grumbled something under his breath about "goddamn annoying nerds", earning another round of laughter from Izuku. Despite the unexpected turn of events and the burning embarrassment, Katsuki found himself fighting back a grin. It felt... good to see Izuku laugh like that, the usually reserved therapist letting loose.
Katsuki wasn’t sure if this was part of some elaborate ruse Izuku was putting on to keep his secret safe. If it was, Katsuki had to admit he enjoyed getting Izuku to crack, even if it was at his expense.
"Alright, alright, let's get down to business," Izuku said finally, his laughter subsiding. He moved over to Katsuki, motioning for him to roll up his sleeve so he could access his injured arm.
Katsuki complied wordlessly, sitting still as Izuku began massaging his shoulder in soothing circles. The silence in the room was only broken by the soft pop of joints and the occasional grunt from Katsuki.
But as Izuku worked on his arm, Katsuki found himself stealing glances at the other man. The way Izuku’s brows would furrow in concentration or how his lips would purse slightly when he was trying to work out a particularly stubborn knot. Katsuki watched as Izuku's hands moved with expert grace, fingers digging into his muscles with a firm but gentle touch. His eyes traced the line of Izuku's jaw, the curve of his lips.
Izuku caught him staring a couple of times, a curious look in his eyes, before he let out a soft chuckle and returned to his work. Katsuki tried to play it off coolly, but he could feel the heat creeping up his neck each time.
Trying to distract himself, Katsuki decided it was time to probe a little more.
“Deku,” he started, avoiding Izuku’s gaze, “why are you working at this place?”
Izuku stopped momentarily, looking at Katsuki in surprise, before shrugging and moving back to his work. “I want to help people.”
“But you can do that anywhere. Hell, you could probably open your own center with those skills of yours. So why stay here at Allcare?”
Izuku didn’t reply immediately, his hands slowing in their movements. The room was quiet except for the low hum of an air conditioner. Katsuki could feel Izuku's hesitation, the air between them tense and heavy.
"Because," Izuku finally said, voice soft but unyielding, "It's not about where I am or what I'm doing. It's about who I'm helping.”
Katsuki resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Trust Deku to give such a righteous answer. But then again, that was Izuku for you - always ready to lend a hand to those who needed it, irrespective of the circ*mstances.
Determined to push further into territory Izuku seemed unwilling to tread, Katsuki asked, "Is that why you're training to be a vigilante?"
That got him. Izuku’s hands froze on his shoulder, and he met Katsuki’s gaze, eyes wide and startled. And Katsuki knew he had hit the mark.
In the silence that followed, Katsuki studied Izuku; his freckled face was a mask of shock, his emerald eyes wide in surprise. He glanced away, the hands that had been working on Katsuki's muscles now resting at his sides.
And as the seconds stretched into an uncomfortable silence, Izuku sighed, running a hand through his unruly green hair.
"I...I don't know what you're—"
"C'mon Deku," Katsuki cut him off, a smirk playing on his lips despite the tense atmosphere. "Just admit it."
Izuku looked at him, open-mouthed, before hesitantly shaking his head.
"I don't... I can't... I..."
But Katsuki wasn't having any of it. He got up from his chair and moved closer to Izuku, until they were a mere breath apart. His red eyes bore into Izuku's.
“The Izuku that I knew would never have gone quietly into the background. I tried for years to make you do just that, didn’t I?” he said softly, giving into the urge to grasp one of the ridiculous green ringlets near Izuku’s ears. “And you never budged. You fought back against the bully because, in your heart, you’re a hero. Being quirkless ain’t gonna stop ya.”
Izuku’s eyes fluttered shut, a pained sigh escaping from his lips. Katsuki knew he was stepping into dangerous territory, risking an already strained relationship. But he couldn't just stand by and let Izuku deny who he truly was.
“Kacchan…” Izuku muttered, his voice barely audible.
Katsuki pressed on, his fingers still twisted in Izuku's hair. “Deny it all you want, Deku. But I know you’re fighting. The way you move, your stamina, your knowledge of quirks—you can’t fool me.”
Silence.
Then, Izuku spoke in a whisper. “It’s not just about being a hero, Kacchan.” His emerald eyes opened to meet Katsuki’s gaze. He looked vulnerable and unsure, but also defiant. “I'm doing what I can with what I have.”
An awkward silence filled the room as they stood there, mere inches apart. It wasn’t quite a confession, but it was close. And Deku knew that Katsuki would read between the lines.
“Stupid hero complex,” he grumbled.
It startled a laugh out of Izuku. “Pot, meet kettle.”
“Shut the f*ck up.”
He ruffles his hair and sighs. “Are you going to tell me about it, or do I have to search online for “‘Short green-haired f*ck who won’t stop carrying grannies across the road?’”
Izuku snorts, then shakes his head. “It’s better you don’t know anything, number two.”
“Oi, don’t f*cking call me that. That icyhot f*ck will fall from grace soon enough.”
"Dream on, Kacchan," Izuku retorted with a playful smirk. His hands returned to Katsuki's shoulder, kneading the tense muscles gently.
The rest of their session passed in friendly banter, their previous tension dissipated into comfortable camaraderie.
"Alright, Kacchan, we're done for today," Izuku announced after a while, stepping back from Katsuki and wiping his hands on a nearby towel.
Katsuki flexed his left arm experimentally. The pain had noticeably lessened, and he could move it around more easily than before. He shot Izuku an appreciative glance, receiving a bright smile in return.
“I’m clearing you for light work after today. No blasting through buildings or
punching villains in the face for a while, okay?" Izuku instructed, pointing a stern finger at Katsuki.
Katsuki scoffed, his lips curling into a self-satisfied smirk. “Those are my main hobbies, ‘Zuku. You’re so mean.”
Izuku snorted, rolling his eyes at Katsuki's petulance. "Yeah, yeah. We'll see how mean I can be if you wreck your shoulder again."
As they wrapped up for the day, Katsuki found himself lingering in the building, watching as Izuku went about his usual end-of-day tasks. There was a certain ease with which Izuku moved around the center, a contentedness that intrigued him. Izuku was always happiest when he was helping others - when he was making a difference.
It made him wonder if he was capable of finding the same satisfaction in his own work.
On impulse, Katsuki strode forward and grabbed Izuku’s arm.
"Hey, Deku."
Izuku turned towards him, eyebrows raised in surprise.
“Let's go grab some ramen," Katsuki said, trying to make it sound casual.
Izuku blinked at him several times before grinning. "Sure thing."
The casual acceptance made something in Katsuki's chest tighten. He released Izuku's arm, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants as he tried to hide his triumphant grin.
"Great. I'm driving," he declared, and Izuku only shrugged, heading towards the locker room.
While waiting for Izuku to change, Katsuki couldn't help but ponder over the day's revelations. Izuku was fighting back, in his own way, against a world that had tried to put him down. And Katsuki, the one who had done a significant part of that pushing, was now on the other side.
Did they also share a bond stronger than their shared past? Was there room for something more than just reconciliation?
Katsuki growled lowly at himself for even entertaining such thoughts. He kicked at a stray pebble, watching it bounce off the wall and roll back towards his shoe. Not everything had to be deep and meaningful. He’d asked for ramen, not a confession of undying love.
“Ready to go, Kacchan?”
Katsuki’s head snapped up at Izuku's voice. The other man had changed into a comfortable hoodie and jeans combo, his green hair wet from the quick shower. A vaguely fruity smell wafted over, making Katsuki's heart do something stupid in his chest.
“Yeah, stop prancing about,” he grumbled, heading towards his car parked just outside Allcare Physical Therapy.
The drive to their favorite ramen joint was filled with Izuku’s chatter about new physical therapy techniques and variable quirk interactions. Katsuki pretended to be bored by it, but truthfully, he liked listening to Izuku talk. The passion in his voice was infectious, and he was so into his stories that Katsuki didn’t even think he noticed that he’d driven them to their favorite spot from childhood.
Once they were seated at their usual beaut-up booth in the ramen joint, Izuku's enthusiasm seemed to only grow. His eyes sparkled as he talked about a new rehabilitation program for heroes with elemental quirks, and Katsuki found himself drawn in despite himself.
"Imagine," Izuku was saying, his hands moving animatedly as he spoke, "being able to accelerate the healing process by using a hero's own quirk against their injury. It could revolutionize our whole approach to therapy."
Katsuki leaned back in his seat, studying Izuku as he babbled on about his ideas. This was the Izuku he remembered from their childhood, before all the ugliness had begun. Clever, dedicated, and so terribly passionate. It was hard not to admire him.
And yet, there was a part of him that still bristled at the thought of Izuku out there, risking his life in secret. The image of him injured, or worse, made his stomach churn with unease.
"Hey, Deku," he cut in, interrupting Izuku's excited rambling. His tone was softer now, more serious. "You better be careful out there, yeah?"
Izuku blinked in surprise, then furrowed his brow. "Kacchan..."
"Don’t give me that look," Katsuki grumbled. "Just because you got all buff and started playing Robin Hood doesn't mean you can't get hurt."
A blush spread across Izuku's cheeks as he ducked his head, hiding his face behind a curtain of green hair. "I... I will. Be careful, I mean."
"Good." Katsuki grunted, satisfied with the response, though his heart pounded in his chest like it wanted to leap out.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence after that, focusing on their ramen while stealing occasional glances at each other.
Eventually, Izuku broke the silence. "Kacchan?"
"Hmm?" Katsuki hummed around a slurp of noodles.
“Are you going to report me?”
Katsuki froze mid-slurp, his eyes shooting up to meet Izuku's. The other man's face was unreadable, his green eyes steady but holding a hint of trepidation. Katsuki swallowed, then dropped his chopsticks on the table with a clatter.
"Report you?" he echoed, his voice low. "Why the f*ck would I do that?"
Izuku shrugged, trying for nonchalant but failing miserably. "You're still a hero, Kacchan. It's your duty to report vigilantes."
Katsuki snorted. "Is that what you are now? A vigilante?" He waved a hand dismissively. "Sounds like a load of bullsh*t to me."
It was Izuku's turn to blink in surprise. "You- You don't think I'm-"
"A vigilante?" Katsuki cut him off, leaning back in his seat. "All I see is a goody-two-shoes who’s never been able to mind his own business. Izuku Midoriya is known for that kinda thing, you know.”
“But Kacchan-”
“A vigilante,” he continues, ignoring the sputters. “Is what I would call someone that I’ve seen at work, possibly in a costume and wielding a quirk. Definitly not a therapist with a savior complex,” he shrugs, going to back to eating and letting Izuku work out what he was saying.
“So... as long as you don’t see me, you won’t say anything?”
He sighs. For being as smart as he was, Deku could be a little thick sometimes.
“Shut the f*ck up and eat your food. You’re one of mine. I won’t let them haul you off, Deku.”
Izuku’s face went crimson at that. "One of yours?" he stammered out, looking completely thrown off guard.
"Yep," Katsuki replied gruffly, refusing to meet Izuku's gaze as he slurped up some more noodles.
"But... Why?"
Katsuki paused for a moment, staring down at his bowl. "Because," he finally muttered, glancing briefly at Izuku before returning his attention to his food. "You're not the villain here, Deku. You're doing good. You always would, because that’s who you are. I may think you’re a dumbass sometimes, but you always mean well."
Izuku was silent for a long moment, doing a poor job of hiding the smile slowly spreading across his face.
"Thanks, Kacchan," he said softly.
Katsuki merely grunted in response, hiding a smile of his own behind his ramen bowl. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this at ease.
As they finished their meal and paid the bill, Katsuki found himself content in a way that he hadn't been in a long time. This revelation about Izuku didn't change who he was to Katsuki. If anything, it only solidified the fact that, despite all their past differences, their paths had always been intertwined.
The drive back to Allcare was quiet. Izuku seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed out the window as he absentmindedly fiddled with the cuff of his hoodie. Katsuki, on the other hand, was hyper-aware of Izuku's presence next to him. Every brief glance and casual touch sent unfamiliar thrills down his spine.
When they pulled up outside Allcare, Izuku finally broke the silence.
"Kacchan," Izuku said, turning to face him. His voice was serious, and his bright green eyes searched Katsuki's face for something. "I want you to know that... I never intended for you to find out about this. Not like this."
Katsuki shrugged, his gaze locked onto the front of the Allcare building. "Doesn't matter how I found out, Deku. It's done now."
"But..." Izuku hesitated, gnawing at his lower lip in a way that was distractingly endearing. "It could put you in danger, too."
Katsuki snorted, turning to face him fully. "Danger's my middle name, remember? Besides," he added, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "you don't get to decide what risks I take. That’s not your call.”
Izuku blinked at him in surprise before a soft smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"You're right," he said quietly, reaching out to gently squeeze Katsuki's uninjured arm.
Katsuki swallowed hard at the contact, his heart beating a rapid staccato against his ribs as he held Izuku's gaze. They sat in silence for a moment that stretched on, each of them lost in their own thoughts, until the quiet was shattered by the sudden blare of a car horn.
Startled, Izuku jerked his hand back, his cheeks flushing a deep red. Katsuki rolled his eyes at the other car's impatience but couldn't quite suppress the disappointment seeping into him. He watched as Izuku fumbled with the door handle before finally clambering out of the car, awkward and flustered.
"Thanks for dinner, Kacchan," he murmured, throwing a glance over his shoulder at Katsuki.
"Whatever," Katsuki grumbled in reply, forcing himself to look away from Izuku's retreating figure. He waited until Izuku had disappeared inside the Allcare building before he finally pulled away from the curb, his thoughts whirling and his heart hammering against his chest.
As he drove home through the brightly-lit streets of the metropolis, Katsuki reflected on the evening's revelations. His hand tightened around the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white under the strain. One of his, he thought again, letting the words roll around in his mind. There was a warmth to it that he hadn't anticipated, like a shot of whiskey that burned on the way down but left a pleasant heat in its wake. He liked it.
The apartment felt too quiet when he returned home. He dropped onto his couch with an exhausted sigh, staring blankly at the muted television screen.
As sleep eluded him and night turned into morning, Katsuki found himself consumed by thoughts of Izuku -- Izuku who was stubbornly selfless, infuriatingly tenacious, and unfailingly kind; Izuku who walked the world without a quirk but bore the weight of it on his shoulders anyway; Izuku who looked at him like he hung the moon even when all he'd ever done was let him down.
Izuku, who was his.
Katsuki's hand curled into a fist, his heart pounding against his ribcage with a force that left him breathless. It wasn't the first time he'd noticed Izuku, really noticed him, but it was the first time he allowed himself to acknowledge the warmth that spread through him at those thoughts.
It was too early for self-reflection and too late for denial. Katsuki Bakugo was not good at emotions, especially those of the softer kind. It felt like trying to hold smoke; slippery and elusive. But this? This felt more like a punch to the gut; hard and unyielding.
"f*ck," he muttered under his breath, raking a hand through his sleep-tousled hair. The city outside his window was still shrouded in darkness, only a few tendrils of morning light starting to creep over the horizon.
“f*ck,” he growled again, grabbing his phone.
It rang three times before a sleep-tinged voice answered. “Kacchan?”
His heart was hammering in his chest, but he was no f*cking coward.
“De-. Fu-Izuku,” he barked. “Go on a date with me.”
There was a beat of silence. "A...date?" Izuku's voice wavered, surprise evident even over the phone.
"Yeah, you heard me right," Katsuki grumbled, rolling onto his back and staring at the ceiling, the cold certainty of what he had just done sinking in. "A date."
"But..." Izuku stuttered, obviously struggling to find his words. "Why?"
"Because I f*cking want to," Katsuki snapped defensively before hesitating, taking a deep breath. "Just... Say yes, Deku."
There was another lengthy silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Katsuki was sure he had messed up. That Izuku would reject him and this newfound realization would be nothing more than a humiliating blunder.
"Okay," Izuku finally said quietly. His voice was so soft that Katsuki almost missed it.
"What?"
"I said okay," Izuku repeated with more confidence this time. "I'll go on a date with you, Kacchan."
Katsuki blinked at the ceiling, his heart pounding so loudly in his ears that for a moment, he wondered if he'd heard right. Then the reality of what Izuku had said sank in and he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"Good," was all he managed to say, his throat tight.
Izuku's light laughter echoed over the line. "You're really full of surprises, Kacchan."
"Shut up," Katsuki grumbled, but there was no heat behind his words.
Hanging up the call, Katsuki let his arm fall to his side and continued staring at the ceiling, his mind running in circles. He was taking Izuku on a date. The thought was strange and unfamiliar but not entirely unwelcome. Picking up his phone once again, Katsuki fired off a quick text to Shoto - 'It's your fault if this goes to sh*t.'
As he flung his phone aside, Katsuki couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.
"f*cking hell," Katsuki muttered, letting out a wild laugh that echoed through his empty apartment. His heart still pounded wildly in his chest, but it was accompanied by a strange sense of anticipation.
A date. With Izuku.
