This chapter's title is cringey. This whole chapter is cringey. I'm getting diabetes and my teeth are rotting.
Maybe cuz i listened to a shitload of Spotify playlists labeled 'fluff fics'. Or maybe this is my inner sap showing itself.
Enjoy.
Chapter 6: the nerd and the jock
Sometimes, Green Valley and Red Lion had visitors.
It wasn't anything new. In the past years, their towns became hotspots for people from all walks of life, from traveling merchants and businessmen to those from rural areas looking for opportunities.
And these visitors would be welcomed warmly in Green Valley and begrudgingly in Red Lion.
Shopkeepers would beckon them over to try new shipments and recipes. Children would grab them by their hands, drag them over to hold the jumping rope, and local townsfolk would merrily invite them to drink at the local bars or even a simple meal in a ramen shop.
But sometimes, the people would look past the corner of their eyes and catch a glimpse of green hair and red eyes.
Sometimes, shopkeepers would find themselves shaking their heads, disoriented with hazy memories of a tinkling laugh and a sharp grin.
The children noticed first, who then passed it on to their parents and teachers until eventually, the two towns knew.
Sometimes, Green Valley and Red Lion's gods were visitors.
"Kacchan! Over here!"
Katsuki swore and pulled his cap down on his face, fast walking (more like stomping) to the energetic greennette. He wasn't sure if he should kick Izuku in the balls or give him a noogie for being so adorably stupid.
With arms still outstretched and waving wildly, a wide bright smile on his face, the sun's rays playing on freckles, Katsuki was leaning towards the latter.
Which is what he did.
"Ow! Kachaaan! Stop that!"
Katsuki grinned, giving the rain god one last noogie before letting go.
"Ha, that's what you get, shitty Deku."
"Get for what? I didn't do anything!"
For being so fucking adorable with your baggy hoodie and stupid freckles.
"For attracting attention, idiot," He flicked the greennette on the forehead, trying (and failing) to make the heat in his face die the fuck down.
"Oh," Izuku laughed nervously, "Sorry, Kacchan!"
"If there's anything you should be sorry about it should be about that."
The rain god frowned and looked down at his All Might hoodie, the design showing the comic hero posed with his left arm raised with a wide grin plastered across his face.
Izuku pouts. "What's wrong with my hoodie?"
Katsuki crossed his arms, an unimpressed look on his face. At this rate, he'll learn how to completely replicate IcyHot's face, damn.
"It sucks."
Izuku gasps, looking scandalized. He clutched at the fabric. "Kacchan, how could you! I thought you also idolized All Might!"
"I idolized the badass God of Origin, All Might. Not this," Katsuki grimaces when he pokes at the design. "monstrosity. Sheesh, what were these mortals fucking thinking?"
Izuku sniffed and crossed his arms, "They were obviously thinking creatively, Kacchan. Their little minds can't comprehend and understand, you know?"
"Whatever. Still sucks." Katsuki grumbled, shoving his hands back in his pockets. Unlike the subtle pockets sewn in his yukata, the pockets of these jeans were too tight and noticeable.
"It makes your ass look amazing though, Bakubro!"
(No, shut up, he didn't endure wearing these just because the stupid rain god offered to show him around Green Valley on a dat– platonic hangout)
"We just gonna hang 'round this shitty convenience store or what?" The fire god clicked his tongue, eyes looking with disdain at the rickety establishment. It looked like a simple gust of wind would make the whole thing collapse in on itself.
"Ah, no, no. Yamomoto-san's place was just the nearest to the border. Come on, let's go, Kacchan! I promise you're going to love Green Valley!"
Then Izuku grabs his arm, wrenching it out from his jeans, and wraps his hand around Katsuki's.
He wants to blame the summer heat for short-circuiting his brain. Or maybe it was the too-tight jeans cutting off circulation and bringing all the heat to his face.
(That didn't make sense, but Katsuki's brain obviously took a fucking nosedive)
It wasn't the fact that a very adorable greennette with smiles like sunshine and a personality of a unicorn who shits rainbows was holding his hand.
Nope, not at all.
Oh my god, I can't believe I'm holding Kacchan's hand! His hand! In mine! I mean, it's not exactly mutual since I'm just grabbing onto it and dragging him around. Oh no, what if he actually hates it? What if he's just enduring it because he still feels guilty–
"Ow!"
Izuku rubbed at his arm that Katsuki pinched, pouting at the grinning blonde.
"Stop muttering, you nerd," The rain god yelped when warm hands ruffled his hair, fingers lingering on a couple strands before pulling away.
Izuku wasn't sure if Katsuki wanted him to combust into flames after today.
He felt the hand in his shift and squeeze back, and yes, he concludes that it was the fire god's master plan.
(Not that he minded dying while holding Katsuki's hand, and wow, where did that come from)
"A-Anyway! T-this is the central square!" Izuku cleared his throat, gesturing wildly at the bustling area they arrived to.
It was an open space sequestered from the hustle-bustle of the business district of Green Valley, with various art scenes scattered in an unspoken arrangement.
At the center was a small platform, a few picnic tables and mats spread before it. Right now, there were duo singers on the stage, with couples and friends lounging on the mats, families opting to sit at the tables.
Surrounding the central area were shops of various kinds; some selling antiques, a couple of food stalls, and there was even a stall for artists doing commissions.
"Oh! There's a lot more people than I expected." Izuku frowned, worriedly gnawing at his thumb.
He wasn't sure if they should take the risk and explore amidst all the humans. Even with assuming human forms, they weren't technically, uh, allowed to mingle in the mortal realm.
At most, they could blend with the shadows of the night and survey once or twice a month. Sometimes they'd show themselves for festivals or during the start of the year– a hint of green eyes and blonde locks around the corner.
So this whole dat– friendly and purely platonic hangout was risky.
They probably could've pulled it off if there wasn't so many humans! Izuku's kind of concerned that there were a lot of people despite it being a weekday. Aren't humans supposed to be working? Schooling?
Then the rain god catches sight of a poster and groans outloud.
"What?" Katsuki grunts, looking at the milling humans with disdain, like their very existence offended him.
Izuku pointed at the poster, 'Children's Day' printed in bold letters.
"I totally forgot! I'm so sorry, Kacchan!"
Great, just great, Izuku! It's the first time since forever that you've seen Kacchan, and you ruined it! You know, suddenly the notion of seppuku seems appealing–
Katsuki rolled his eyes, grabbing Izuku's hand, and drags him along, bravely stepping into the fray of mortals. His nose scrunched up at the assault of smells– some familiar, some foreign.
"K-Kacchan! What are you doing?!"
Katsuki raised a brow. "I thought you were gonna show me around, ha, nerd? You're being a pretty shitty host right now."
"B-But, the m-mortals–"
"You fucking telling me I should be afraid of some slabs of meat, Deku? I do want I want to do when I want to, shitty god!"
Izuku felt his face heat up at the admission that Katsuki wanted to take the risk and continue their dat– very platonic outing.
(His skill in translating Bakugou-speak was getting better, he thinks)
He ducked his head, hands suddenly feeling clammy. Despite the glaring heat of the sun on their backs, Izuku couldn't help but smile.
He peeked through the strands of his hair, emerald green locking with crimson, and he was awarded a heart-stopping sight (if he had one).
The sun's rays looked to be curling around the fire god, acting soft and different from its harsh glare on Izuku and the other mortals. The light played on blonde locks, and the rain god found himself enraptured by the simmering glow of Katsuki's crimson eyes– eyes looking like pools of lava and fire.
Kacchan's beautiful.
Filled with sudden confidence (and a strange warmth and fluttering in his stomach), Izuku squeezed Katsuki's hand and took a step forward.
He didn't have to worry about anything when he's with his(?) adorable fire god, after all.
Another thing that Katsuki appreciates (tolerates) about humans was their knowledge.
He never admitted to anyone how he spent some of his free time pouring over the medical books and dramas they created, fascinated by their little minds that created concepts such as the brain, heart, and organs.
Katsuki knew it was to make up for their inability to understand and comprehend the complexities of their existence. However, still, it was impressive as fuck.
So using the knowledge he got from the shitty mortals, he came to a conclusion:
His brain was melting, and he somehow had a heart that would not stop beating and hammering against his chest.
Katsuki looked at the melting ice cream cone in his right hand and at the scarred hand that held his left. A glop of the sweet landed on the ground.
There was seriously something wrong with him if he was fucking sympathizing with a melting puddle of ice cream.
"Ooooh! Kacchan, look! I think that belonged to Koda-kun's dad!" The adorably nerdy rain god hopped like a fucking bunny over to another stall, the 9th one in less than 5 minutes.
Katsuki had about a hundred thousand fucking complaints ready. Still, for some goddamn reason, they all got shut down, and he ends up getting dragged by the greennette.
(Definitely not because he didn't want to let go of Izuku's hand, nope, fuck you all)
He scowls at the shopkeeper, angrily biting his ice cream cone. He watched with satisfaction when the human winced with every obnoxiously loud crunch.
Heh, torturing humans never stopped being fun—especially the rain god's humans.
Izuku glared at him as if reading his mind (which Katsuki fucking hopes he can't do), then goes back to gushing over an 'antique' wolf whistle.
At this point, the fire god's 99% sure that the greennette had never toured anyone in his life because Katsuki's pretty sure that going from stall to stall in a noisy as hell human market wasn't it.
He grumbled and plopped the last of the cone in his mouth. He hummed in approval at the surprise flavor at the end– it was dark chocolate, the only variation of the sweet that he liked.
Feeling bored, crimson eyes looked around, noticing some lingering looks coming his way. He had to stop rolling his eyes when he sensed their lust.
Typical humans. See, this is how they died most of the time. They get blinded by their dicks and desires and the next thing they know, their necks were slit, and their souls dragged to hell.
But then he notices some eyes passing over him, lingering on the bubbly greennette beside him.
Oh, fuck no.
It was forbidden, and he's pretty sure he'll get a lecture from Aizawa or that Half and Half bastard after, but right now, he doesn't give a single shit.
These humans– these slabs of meat dared even look at what was his, and that was too much for Katsuki's non-existent patience.
(No, he was not gonna unearth the fact that he called Izuku' his.' He'll leave that to future Katsuki)
Sparing a glance at Izuku– who was now muttering as he inspected a music box that probably belonged to Kyouka's old man– Katsuki shifted, his free hand channeling energy into the ground.
He focused on pulling up the fire resting, slumbering under the earth, calling it forth. He felt them climbing up, up, up, and he clenched his fist.
It was so, so petty, but Katsuki couldn't help but feel smug when the owners of those lingering eyes yelped when the small whips of fire hit their asses.
"–chan? Kacchan?"
"Huh?"
He turned his head, and he feels his now-existing heart threaten to just shoot itself from his chest.
The sun had begun to set a while ago, clouds littering the sky that exploded into hues of purple, orange, and pink. But that wasn't what made the fire god's newly-conjured heart beat wildly, his breath stop, his mouth part in shock.
Izuku was leaning towards him on his toes, face angled towards Katsuki's. The coming night air passed and greeted the rain god, caressing wild green locks that the blonde fucking knew was soft as fuck. The setting sun's rays caught emerald green eyes, and Katsuki knew he was fucked.
His brain was melting, and he didn't mind at all. He'd gladly be a glop of ice cream if it meant he'd be privy to this sight for all eternity.
Izuku pouted (fuuck, the little shit should be forbidden to do that). "Are you getting bored, Kacchan? You haven't really said much..."
Katsuki flinches at the pang of guilt that goes through him when sad green eyes look at him. Who knew having a heart was inconvenient as fuck?
He schools a scowl on his face and opens his mouth, ready to throw an insult because being out of character was too much for one day.
"Oh! I know!" Izuku beamed at him, squeezing Katsuki's hand. Maybe he'll never wash it; who knows. Or maybe he'll chop it off, preserve and frame it.
He glances down at their almost intertwined fingers, his warmth countering the rain god's cool hands.
Or maybe he'll just order Duck Tape to bind them together. Maybe, whatever.
He sees the shopkeeper grin at the two of them, mirth dancing in her beady eyes. Crimson eyes narrow, and there's an insult or two (more than 2 definitely) ready at the tip of his tongue–
"I'll take you to my favorite spot!"
–but harassing mortals would need to wait because sparkling green eyes made him nod dumbly.
The last thing he hears before Izuku whips them away was the son of a bitch shopkeeper chuckling about the 'cute couple.'
Stumbling slightly, a warm hand steadies Izuku, catching the rain god before he ate asphalt.
"Watch it, Deku."
The hand lingers with its hold on the rain god's arm before pulling away, making the latter shiver at the trails of heat that seeped through his hoodie.
"T-Thanks, Kacchan," Izuku mumbled, looking away as he tried to stop himself from looking like a stupid watermelon.
But then he thinks the effort is wasted because he's still holding Katsuki's hand, and he doesn't mind looking like fruit for the rest of his life.
Katsuki tugged at Izuku's hand, the heat going straight to the greennette's face. "Hey, how long do I gotta keep my fucking eyes closed?"
Izuku had to physically stop himself from reaching up to pinch the blonde's cheeks when the latter pouted.
Holding hands was one thing (something he still can't believe he's getting away with), but physically touching Katsuki's face was a whole other thing.
He saves the mental image in his mind for perusal later, though. For friendship analysis, of course.
These are the times he regrets not getting one of those smartphones (a weird name, considering they aren't sentient) that Ochako recommended to him.
"We're almost there, Kacchan! You trust me, right?"
Izuku didn't realize his grip on the blonde tightened, and there was this tension across his shoulders. He didn't realize until Katsuki huffed and squeezed back with the same amount of force.
"'Course I do, dipshit."
Izuku drags the fire god behind him until the asphalt under their shoes turned to sand. A couple of sprites and spirits passed them, curious as they looked at the two gods.
One looked like a ripe watermelon engulfed in a hoodie twice his size, while the other looked like a grumpy pomeranian with red ears.
It was a strange sight, but they knew better than to interrupt the two, leaving unnoticed, some gossips going to their friends.
Izuku finally stopped. Katsuki grunted when he stumbled into the rain god, only managing to stop them both from toppling into whatever shit it was he was stepping on by balancing on the balls of his feet.
"Okay," The rain god squeezed Katsuki's hand, whispering. "You can open your eyes now, Kacchan."
Katsuki never liked it when he was ordered around– not by his parents, not by his mentor Aizawa, and not by the soba-loving asshole.
But this was Izuku, and his eyes could only flutter open in response. The rain god could order him to jump, and he'd fly his ass off to the sun.
Katsuki had to blink a couple times and squint as crimson eyes adjusted to the assault of light. It took a couple seconds for his mind to catch up to the sight before him.
They were at a beach.
Izuku brought the fire god to his favorite spot in Green Valley– Takoba Beach Park, which gave him the perfect mix of the wind, water, and the earth.
But the rain god avoided the areas that the humans frequented. Instead, he dragged Katsuki to a barely hidden area behind some rocks. The area was hidden by the glare of the sun and the constant crashing of waves.
Izuku shifted nervously when Katsuki wasn't saying a word.
Oh no, did I mess up again? Did Kacchan not like this place? I mean, it does get a bit cold here, especially when the sun sets, but... Oh my god! We're by the sea, and Kacchan's a fire god! Izuku, why are you so stupid–
Then Izuku was going down.
"Blrgh?" The greennette spit out the sand in his mouth, looking over his shoulder at the snickering fire god.
"You should see your face now, Deku. Ha! Priceless."
Katsuki grinned playfully from his lounging position on the ground, his shoes already tossed aside, toes digging into the hot sand.
Pouting, Izuku splashed the fire god. Which he immediately regretted 0.01 seconds after he did it because how did he forget so quickly that Kacchan was a fire god.
Guilt ate at him when the blonde spluttered at the attack, head bowed and tucked into his chest.
"Kacchan, I'm so sor–"
A handful of sand was thrown in his face, the perpetrator grinning with glinting crimson eyes.
Emerald green eyes narrowed.
It wasn't precisely what Izuku envisioned when he brought Katsuki to the beach. Still, the barking laughter and the ear-splitting grin of his fire god were better than all his imaginations combined.
"Ha... I win again, Kacchan."
A handful of sand was weakly thrown at Izuku's chest.
"That's, ha... that's what you think, Deku."
The two gods glared at each other, breathing heavily before they broke into snickers that evolved to outright laughter.
In moments, both found themselves lying on their backs, the oncoming waves tickling at the soles of their feet.
"Hey, Kacchan?"
"Hm?" Katsuki grunted, eyes closed, his arms folded behind his head.
Izuku shifted and turned to face the fire god, resting his cheek on his palm. Bright green eyes looking, memorizing the planes of Katsuki's face.
"What'd you think about my town?"
He watched as Katsuki's brows furrowed into a scowl, then into a pensive look. The blonde answered, still with his eyes shut.
"It's too fucking noisy. There's too many shitty humans and weird smells that's messing with my nose since I got here."
Izuku deflated.
"But," Crimson eyes open and lock with green. "It's your town, and your people. Didn't really expect any less, shitty nerd. Plus..."
Katsuki cleared his throat, head turning away from sunshine smiles and freckled constellations.
They seem to like you, so I like it too.
"The beach is alright, I guess."
Fucking hell, he couldn't believe he almost said something so sappy. Those thoughts made him want to gag and blush until his head was blown off. He wasn't sure about the logistics of that, but it'll find a way to happen.
Izuku laughed.
It'll happen somehow if he kept hearing that laugh that carries over the wind, melodic and sweet, settling in his stomach like butterflies.
Katsuki turns back to the rain god, which was another fucking mistake of the day. Really, his melted brain should've learned a lesson already, damn.
There was a teasing grin on the greennette's face, freckles impossibly stark and– what the hell, were they spreading?
The evening glow of the setting sun also seemed to want to send Katsuki to an early grave. And if he tries, like really, he thinks he spots water sprites watching them from the waves.
But he doesn't dwell on the onlookers much because here was his rain god laughing and breathing life into Katsuki's lungs.
(And making him into an utter sap, his brain melt into ice cream, and heart dance against the walls of his chest)
"And here I thought you were scared of water, Kacchan."
Now Katsuki may be turning into a sap, but that doesn't stop him from tackling Izuku, hands tickling the rain god.
His pride was at stake here, and if tickling Izuku recovered it, then that was just fine.
The laughter-induced tears and squeal of joy and that echoed in the wind and drummed in Katsuki's chest was just a bonus.
Really, it was.
Yall know how Catholics have their images of God? Then in my fic, All Might's image for humans is a fuckin comic hero
I'm kinda disappointed in myself for not giving much of an Izuku POV here but then I remembered that I'm dedicating a whole ass chapter for him later lol
Characters/Vocab:
(1) All Might/Yagi Toshinori - God of Origin (the big boss)
(2) Children's Day こどもの日 - final celebration in JP's Golden Week, so a national holiday
I started doin threadfics on Twitter ( _empressvika) folks.