It was infuriating, how things changed now that he had Dekuin his life.
Katsuki himself would be the first to volunteer if there were an opportunity to scream at cupid about how complete and utter bullshit it all was. Just a little over a year ago, he was completely fine. Sneered at sparkly couples who cooed at each other in their sleep and wanted to spend every moment of their lives together. Wanted to throw up at the prospect of someone touching him so intimately. He'd rather sock someone in the face than have it anywhere near him.
But now, Deku was the one who sparkled beneath living room lights. Eyes contained an entire galaxy of dreams, determination, and that stubbornness that Katsuki knew all too well. It was so fucking unfair. Because now, Deku was the one who invaded his thoughts with sentiments of wanting to spend every moment of their lives together. Those starlit eyes begging to stay, just an hour longer, had Katsuki giving in until the two ended up tangled in blankets on the floor for an improper sleepover. Deku didn't hesitate to come knocking on his door at seemingly random moments just when Katsuki was starting to miss him.
And each and every time, Katsuki would let him in. He'd let Deku in regardless of how loud he breathed, breaking his concentration and sending them into playful banter. Or how he sometimes left the window open in the mornings so they'd both have colds by evening. If one of them left their stuff at the other person's home, neither of them commented on it.Deku would always come bearing the most random shit- new merchandise, tickets to some event, magazines, even a blender at one point- that both would usually tire of immediately but with Deku, their time together felt priceless.
It took Katsuki way too long to figure out that, a year ago, he was a lot less fucking happy.
"Thinking about your Deku…?" A monotone and unfortunately familiar voice cut through him.
Almost instantly, Katsuki felt all the good feelings that those galaxy-entrusted eyes bestowed upon him leave his body to gift Todoroki the sharpest glare. Because, what the hell, how did this glorified toaster-fridge figure that out? Was it that obvious? "As if. I'm thinking about how many ways I can fuck your leg up before the hour is up."
"You and Izuku always get this look on your faces when I bring the other 's not obvious, at least not to the others." Todoroki helpfully supplied, choosing to answer whatever organ on Katsuki's body betrayed him into making the once isolated doctor so easily read like a fucking book. Despite the front Todoroki put up though,he still backed up a little in response to the other's hand reaching for a tweezer threateningly. It was hard when he was lying horizontal and completely at the doctor's mercy.
"Whatever." Reaching for the strap in his drawer, Katsuki directed it around the hero's ankle as Todoroki prepared for his exercise regime. A clipboard was being scribbled on which detailed , Katsuki felt irked by this sudden development.
This was the first time since Todoroki became his patient a few months ago that any personal questions were shot around. Katsuki was completely content at their only exchange of information being medical jargon and shitty small talk about the today, Todoroki seemed fine with it as well. This very fact had him raising a brow."What's with the sudden interest?"
Contrary to what he expected, he felt the muscles within his palms tightening. Red eyes shooting back up to study his patient, Todoroki's face remained neutral but the taunt limb in his grasp spoke otherwise. And it definitely wasn't from pain.
"Hey," he poked at the calf with a gloved finger. "You hiding something from me, half-and-half?"
"I'm just… curious."
"Curious." Katsuki repeated dryly. What a fucking lie. But if Todoroki wasn't willing to tell him, he wouldn't push it. Resuming the exercise, he ticked off a few boxes with a calculated air that spoke efficiency then went to dispose of the gloves and wash his hands when satisfied. The automatic soap dispenser turned on with a all of this, he felt heterochromatic eyes fixed on him in silence.
"I won in my first Yuuei Sports Festival." The blond slowed in lathering his hands at hearing this, speeding back up a second later. "With my quirk back then being as it was, I didn't think I needed any more than my ice side. I didn't want to use anything but my ice side. I had to prove to everyone that I could win and become the best hero without it."
"I don't need your fucking life story." Katsuki shut off the faucet. He remained facing the cabinet. "I can hear you cringing from all the way over here. It's one thing if you're confiding in me as your therapist. It's another if you're looking to be my friend."
Todoroki rolled his eyes- or as much as he could imitate rolling one's eyes. "Are you always this difficult?"
"Only on Tuesdays."
The hero looked unimpressed. Tuesdays were always the day that they scheduled his appointments. He was about to retort again but those very same words that spilled utter apathy for him, he could spot the smallest of smiles creeping up on the blond's face hidden by spikes of hair.
Well then.
It seems the two of them were more similar than Todoroki thought.
"I should be heading out, then." He lifted himself from the bed without a problem, planting firm legs on the newly furbished floors. However, he didn't move after gathering his bag. Mirroring the action, the doctor seemed glued against the counter at a silent war with himself. Not feeling deterred, the hot-and-cold hero went in to bow the slightest. "You've been very helpful, Bakugou. I couldn't have made it this far in my recovery without you."
No response. Todoroki breathed out. This was their last appointment together. When Katsuki revealed to him not long ago that the rest of his routine could be performed at home without any supervision,it caused an unknown feeling to stir in his stomach. Used to being stuck together against their wishes, suddenly parting ways felt another word, he started making his way out the door.
Just as his hand touched a slightly colder doorknob, Katsuki finally spoke up. "Hey, Todoroki."
Pause. "Thanks."
Todoroki smiled, a small thing. "I should be the one saying that."
Maybe they could be friends after all.
-HH-HH-HH-HH-HH-
His phone alarm buzzed. It was exactly four o'clock.
Crossing an intersection, Katsuki cursed. The sun was setting. His session with that half-and-half bastard (friend?) almost made him late. If the guy wasn't so keen on spending his last moments trying to spew out what he's been meaning to say for over a year, then Katsuki would've been early by ten minutes as planned. Todoroki Shouto, the mighty number three hero as of last month and the first in popularity with blushing Neanderthals everywhere was, unexpectantly, really shitty at communicating.
(Katsuki stomped out the burning implication that he was just as bad.)
Finally reaching his destination, he drove his car into the underground parking lot. It never ceased to surprise him how something as throwaway as a place like this should be still seemed so slick and expensive to him instead. The pavement was littered with solar-powered lights rather than standard traffic lines. Vehicles worth twice the amount of his sweet red ride sat innocently in every other space. And Izuku lived at the penthouse on the top floor of all these people.
This is why Katsuki borderline hated being the one to visit. It really drove home the difference in class that he and his dumb boyfriend were. It became no secret over the months that they've been together that he'd rather relax in the sweltering heat of his shitty apartment fighting about trading cards with Izuku than soak in the god damn jacuzzi with him at this penthouse like he was the next coming of Prince William and All Might combined himself.
From his spot in the lot, a car honked behind him. He whirled around but it continued driving in response to the driver it was fighting with sending a yell. Realizing that it wasn't meant for him, Katsuki snorted and allowed his shoulders to relax. "Shit," he cursed, resting his forehead against the wheel. Every single time, being around Izuku's apartment made him jumpy.
The reminder that all of this could be solved easily nagged him from some corner of his was saving up money. From all the clients he gained who were impressed by the work he did on Izuku's arm and Todoroki's leg, many of them were pro heroes who agreed on his prices being vastly too low. Now with the same lifestyle but a bundle of cash that was more than he knew what to do with, his first thought immediately flew to the green-haired man who was now a part of his life.
The idea of asking Izuku to move in with him was one that plagued his mind on a daily basis. On one hand, they could easily handle the expenses together if it was purchased from a quaint neighborhood that he researched being halfway between their two workplaces. On the other, the idea of buying Deku a house that would be worth significantly less than where he already lived…
It just twisted something in his gut.
Crossing the line between the city where he'd like to call the normal people lived and where the rich assholes 'thrived in their natural alien habitat' never failed to feed that voice in his head. It sounded suspiciously like himself, absolutely convinced that Izuku would tire and dump him one day.
But the thing was, Izuku never did. It was his day off and Katsuki would be damned if he made the nerd drive an hour just to see him again. He was working hard enough as it was, having been pushed past the two-hundredth spot by the time he returned to his hero duties. Katsuki was a big boy now, thank you very fucking much.
Just to prove this, he slammed the car door and ducked out, loud and proud. Locking his vehicle, he stomped up to the intercom and pushed the buttons indicating the correct room. "Deku, it's me. Open up."
Clutching a plastic bag within his hands, Katsuki waited impatiently for the door to beep. It wasn't much; a box of Katsudon that he spent a good chunk of his morning cooking plus a few horrible plastic toys that were shipped into his clinic to give to the kid patients. A cheap paddle with a happy face, stickers of a kangaroo with a cast, even one of those mazes with metal balls were all part of the package. Izuku always found them amusing for whatever reason and collected them in a small shelf.
When the lock finally clicked, he didn't waste a second in opening up and sauntering to the elevator. Luckily, he didn't run into anyone on the way up. He didn't need any more paparazzi or curious glances his way. Finally, the elevator parted and Katsuki stepped out.
Only to be met with silence. He blinked around, a little off-put. His shitty Deku always loved to greet him right as he arrived, tackling him with some affectionate hug or kiss to the temple. Damn. He was getting soft. Still, his heart quickened in rising panic at the lack of reception. "Deku?"
He stopped when his search finally dropped down enough to notice the petals scattered on the floor. Roses of various colors formed a path leading past the entryway and into the kitchen. Well, at least he knew that it most likely wasn't a villain who did this. The sight was strange, the kind of thing that he'd expect in a cheesy top ten romance magazine.
Which meant that the culprit of this mess was irrefutably and without a doubt, Izuku.
Katsuki quickly ran through the date in his head. No, he didn't miss any birthdays or holidays, and they only just celebrated their anniversary a few weeks ago. Humoring whatever game this was, Katsuki followed the path, dropping off the bag on the dining room table on his way out the sliding doors. The path continued to lead outside and into the fenced-off patio and garden. The doctor peeked outside, bewildered, but paused at what he saw.
The entire yard was decorated with fire red tiger lilies, the symbol of pride and strength sprouted from what was once an empty patch of dirt in patterns that he couldn't completely make out from where he was standing. A small pool was set up immediately to his right. Upon closer inspection, he could spot the shapes of two koi fish swimming eagerly in their new home surrounded by lily pads and rocks.
But the biggest kicker, the shining cherry on top of the hellish cake was the rented stage set up directly in front of him. It wasn't anything more than a single step higher than the rest of the garden, the entire surface covered by a white cloth and then held in place by a wedding arc of tiger lilies. Length wise, the area only stretched over enough land for around four people to stand on. It was an altar.
Padding towards it, the blond inspected the structure with skepticism. Then, turning his attention to the flower bed, he stepped closer when he noticed the flowers arranged in an unusual pattern. The little buds sprouted from the ground in a shape resembling a heart, and at the center of it, spelt two words as clear as day.
Fight me? – Izuku
…
"The fuck?"
Was the only glorious phrase that Katsuki could hope to get out before, from behind the shed, his missing boyfriend rocketed out to grab him by the arms. Using years of expertise from hero training, Katsuki found himself in the wing hold before he could blink, the force of the clutch dragging him back and trying to force him to the ground.
Having none of that, Katsuki instinctively kicked back, aiming for the kneecap. However, his boot lands on nothing but air. Izuku having anticipated this, pivoted on his other leg and released the blond. Not having time to recover, a big right swing is aimed in his direction. Ducking down, it only dislocates a single strand of green hair before Izuku takes out Katsuki's legs from underneath him. Just as well, the trip has the blond faltering and falling into the koi pond.
From his spot on the (thankfully) shallow pond, the koi dance around in panic to avoid the body. Katsuki looked up at his boyfriend, soaked, furious, but mostly confused. "Deku, what the hell is going on?!"
Izuku doesn't falter. "No quirks allowed, one round, whoever pins the other down first for ten seconds wins."
The determination and laser focus in his eyes sent shivers down Katsuki's spine.
Was this the look he wore to work every day now?
Contrary to how Izuku acted in their first fight at the altar, the hero doesn't hesitate to take advantage of his opponent's confusion to spring into the pond after him. Katsuki only has fast enough reflexes to stand before a flash of forest green is all he sees, his arm being grabbed is all he feels, and he's promptly flipped in a perfect arc over his boyfriend's left shoulder then slammed into the grass.
He coughs, hacks the slightest from the impact. The flip was textbook; something that Izuku would have never been able to do if his arm was still was a result of months of recovery, months of training that Katsuki provided him. The ungrateful bastard. From behind squinted eyelids, he makes out the form of the hero somersaulting out of the water and landing near his head to then make a grab for his wrists.
Katsuki snarled. If that's the way Deku wanted to play…
As soon as those scarred fingers encased his wrists, Katsuki tugs them down into the ground as quickly as he can while bringing his head up to slam into Izuku's forehead. The hero flinches back in recoil, releasing one of his hands. Katsuki wastes no time in using the lapse in focus to bring his other hand up to his face then twisting forward. Just as he expected, Izuku let out a small gasp as the rest of his body was being forced forward and he had to let go to avoid snapping his own wrist.
Katsuki shoots up from around where the other man is falling, aiming a kick into Izuku's back just as he's trying to save the fall and causing the hero to land face-first into the mud. Seeing this, Katsuki felt slightly better now that he wasn't the only one covered in dirt. Flare of confidence and excitement burning in his gut, Katsuki moves to close in on him and seal his victory.
If Deku thought he could use all that training to surpass him, he was dead wrong-
His thoughts cut off when Izuku- Deku, Izuku Midoriya, the nerd- suddenly swings up with one leg from his spot on the floor. Before Katsuki could hope to register the movement, the kick lands square into his chin and forces his body back. Using his arms as support, Izuku takes the momentum of the kick all the way to swing his body in a perfect three-hundred-and-sixty-degree angle. The hero lands in a squat on shaking legs, out of breath and covered in mud, but still completely honed in on his opponent.
As soon as the entire event transpires, the recoiling blond can feel the effects of his muscles relaxing from the hit landing on just the right nerve. Katsuki inwardly curses. Curses Deku and his dumbass determination and his greenness to all things cute in this world. Seriously, fucking damn Deku. He never should've given Izuku all those lessons on anatomy when the nerd begged for it with those bright eyes and stupidly stuttering voice. He never should've healed Izuku's arm to full health to the point where he could spring such a hit on Katsuki in desperation. He never should've given him all the tools that he needed to defeat and finally surpass Katsuki on a silver platter.
But still, some deep part of Katsuki couldn't help but feel proud.
Inevitably, the blond falls to the ground, muscles asleep. Izuku moves to pin him down with haggard breaths. It's the only sound that can be heard from the roof of the building for a long time. As Katsuki watches this happen, he can see green pupils darting around like a machine, alert and prepared for any twitch or change in weight that could open the door to escape.
Finally, after what seemed like eternity, a quiet voice breaks the silence. "K-Kacchan." The name is uttered between erratic heartbeats, pumped adrenaline, and gulped air. "Ten seconds have passed."
Katsuki directs his gaze up at Izuku but he doesn't move to do or say anything else. The man on top of him was waiting, passing on the control over this situation to Katsuki, listening for what he would say next. He opens his mouth. "Yeah-"
But is again, cut off when Izuku dives in to crash their mouths together in a messy kiss. Katsuki is still soaked from the pond. Izuku is still covered in dirt. Obviously, that didn't deter the victor as he doesn't hesitate to push a wet tongue into the heat of his boyfriend's mouth. A whine leaves him, begging Katsuki not to pull away.
And who was he to deny Izuku that?
Feeling the shock dwindling, Katsuki returned the kiss with equal fervor. Scrambling to catch up to the uncensored passion spilling out of the other, he feels three steps behind when Izuku moves to explore every crevice of his mouth with a breathy sigh. Feeling the energy bleed into him, he lets Deku have this, doesn't fight back and just enjoys the warmth of his significant other pressing him into the ground. He lets Izuku's familiar fingers ghost underneath his shirt to run circles on the muscles lining his back.
They have to separate for air a minute later, hearts beating loudly in their still isn't enough for either of them. Izuku closes in to nibble playfully at the blond's upper lip just before they share another open-mouthed kiss. This time, Katsuki is the one to give an affectionate lick, pride lining his throat when Izuku moans lightly in flustered bliss. It was for him- Katsuki Bakugou, Deku's Kacchan- and him only that Izuku could come undone so easily. He rides that knowledge into their next encounter.
The garden is the only witness to the small sounds of the two indulging and enjoying each other. Izuku eventually moves his attention to the other's jaw, running butterfly kisses on the perfect skin under his ear. And god, Katsuki was so gone for this nerd. He reached a shaking arm around his boyfriend to squeeze his shoulder in encouragement- permission to continue. As if Izuku ever needed to ask to do this to him.
His heartbeat quickens when he feels familiar fingers tugging on his collar. Exposing more skin, fingers splayed on his bare back lift him up to press their bodies closer as Izuku nips at the delicate juncture between neck and shoulder. The area bruises wonderfully. Leaving a mark that he was satisfied with, the green-haired idiot goes back to kissing the love of his life. The desperate pull of their lips from before is gone, now locked in a slow and tender dance.
It isn't until minutes later that either of them is filled enough to pull away. Expectant ruby eyes peering up at him in a daze slowly clear up into bewilderment and suspicion as the seconds pass. Eventually, Katsuki sits up as Izuku backs away to rest on the ground adjacent to him with high energy.
Izuku gulps when the haze fades. Nervousness crawls up his spine, seeing the setting sun shine against pale flushed cheeks that made Kacchan look even more breathtaking.
Finally, Katsuki speaks. "Deku, mind explaining what the fuck is going on?"
Before Izuku can lose his nerve, he reaches into his pocket to shove a small box into the other's chest. Heart racing a mile a minute, his mouth rushes to do the same thing. "K-Kacchan, when we first met, you told me that you'd never say yes to someone who couldn't defeat you in a fight. That you didn't want a partner who would sit on a throne all day while you made them happy. Um, I-I'm going to be honest. I really wanted to serenade you. I wanted to give you a romantic dinner. I wanted to make a light show in this very garden complete with fireworks. I wanted to bring you to Paris. There were so many ideas I had in my head, but none of it seemed right when I thought of you and-"
"For fuck's sake, Deku!" His mind is swirling."Breathe…!"
"Right," Izuku breathes. "I don't think I would've been ready until I proved myself to you. So, I-I did both." He uses spastic arms to gesture to the expanse of garden around them. The flowers, the koi, the wedding arc, the candlelit dinner that Katsuki hadn't noticed until now, all of it was finally dawning on him. "I spent the last few weeks arranging all of this for you. Shouto-kun helped me with the curry. I planted all the flowers this morning. The stage is something I put together with Momo. A-And… And I spent every evening practicing the past year so I could defeat you."
Katsuki couldn't speak, speechless for once in his life. He swallowed, mouth dry.
"Kacchan." Izuku, similarly, looks close to hyperventilating, cheeks stained red. He slowly opened the box, revealing a ring made out of gold and ruby. "Will you marry me?"
Engraved on the ring, he could clearly make out the phrase 'From Deku to his Kacchan.'
"Fucking hell." The whispered expletive is the first thing out of Katsuki's mouth as any type of response. In hindsight, it was insensitive even for him. The simultaneous echoes of all his friends and family groaning in exasperation could probably be heard across the country if they were here. But Katsuki wouldn't be Katsuki if he could be eloquent to save himself from a paper bag. Anyone who didn't like it could kindly fuck off.
And Izuku, good-hearted Izuku who could probably convert any common crook into turning themselves in just by looking at them, always did the opposite. He waited, anxiety showing in trembling lips as Katsuki goes to bring a hand up between his eyes in disbelief. "I can't believe I let you confess first, you beat me in a fight, and now you even asked before I got the chance to. I'm losing my touch."
When he removed that hand, Izuku feels a spike of hope at seeing that Katsuki was just as flustered as he was. "Now I have to deal with this shit again. I swear to god, if you spent double the amount on this ring than you're planning to for the venue at our wedding, Deku, I'm going to punch you in the face."
And okay. No one could blame Izuku for leaping into his boyfriend-his fiancé's arms, in tears. The force of the hug sent them both sprawling to the ground again. "KACCHAN!" He litters the other's cheeks in short affectionate pecks. "I promise that I'm going to hold you every night as long as you want it. I'll help you carry equipment into your office without complaint, cook with you every morning, tell you I love you every day, and love you until forever and ever!"
"Oh my god, cut it out!" Katsuki squirmed in the man's hold, face steaming.
Innocent blink. "What? What am I doing?"
Being a perfect boyfriend. "Being a god damn Deku!"
Izuku only laughs, heart full. The sun had finally set, leaving them in the glow of the lamps around them. From his spot clutched tightly into the other's chest, Katsuki watches the light bounce off splattered freckles, a growing warmth settling into his chest. It only increases when he feels Izuku lifting up their dirt-covered hands to slip the ring onto his finger, both ignorant to the grime tarnishing golden metal.
It was a perfect fit.
Not able to help himself, Izuku leaned down to place a delicate kiss on the newly claimed ring finger. Katsuki snatched his left hand back. The weight of the ring should've sent him to cloud nine, it did, but he'd be damned if he let anyone treat him like a princess. Izuku takes it all in stride, smile never leaving his face, not even as that very same hand returns to gingerly touch his jaw in a gentle hold.
This was real. Not some honeymoon phase anymore.
Katsuki let out a breath, the corner of his lips tilting up. "Love you, shitty Izuku."
This only makes the smile spread wider. "I love you too, Katsuki."
They were going to have the best wedding ever.
