Izuku laughed when he clocked back in from his break to see a line of people in front of the cash wrap. All holding bottles of Arctic Fox hair dye. Kaminari clocked out for his, along with Dabi and Shoto.

"Our cycles lined up," Dabi explained, shrugging his shoulders. "I require one bottle of Transylvania."

"Sterling for me," Shoto said. He glanced at Kaminari. "What color did you get?"

Dabi snickered. "Cosmic Sunshine."

"Hey!" He pouted, giving Dabi a shove. "It's not my fault that it's called - "

Bakugo snarled, leaving the sales floor to stand behind the second register. "Next!"

Kaminari pouted. "I want Izuku to check me out."

"What?! Why?!"

"He's nicer," he whined.

"I prefer Izuku as well," Shoto concurred. "He has better people skills."

Dabi held back a laugh. "Correction, he has people skills."

Shoto nodded. "Agreed."

"Shut up!" Bakugo exclaimed. "Just one of you get over here! You're gonna hold up the line!"

"I only have one item," Kamianri pointed out.

"Same," Shoto said.

Dabi wiggled his eyebrows. "I just remembered. I need two bottles." He leaned towards the hair dye until it looked like he was kicking off a diving board. Then he grabbed a second bottle of Transylvania dye, all without leaving his place in line.

"Why do you need two?" Shoto asked.

Dabi grinned. "I'll tell you when you're older, Nugget."

"I'm twenty-one."

"SPARKPLUG GET OVER HERE OR I WON'T LET YOU USE YOUR EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT!"

"Jeez, fine," Kaminari sighed, shuffling over to Bakugo's register.

After Kaminari was Shoto. Then Izuku was checking out Dabi.

"Will you be home for dinner this weekend?" he asked quietly.

Color rose to Dabi's face as he stared wide-eyed at Shoto. "Oh. Mom's doing dinner?"

"Fuyumi didn't invite you?"

He cleared his throat awkwardly as Izuku handed him his hair dye in a bag. "She stopped asking when I kept…um...turning her down."

"Because of father."

Izuku and Bakugo exchanged looks as they listened curiously.

Dabi shot an apologetic smile. "Pick a day and I'll take you out. What's your favorite?"

Shoto's eyes lit up. "Soba."

"Hot or cold?"

"Cold."

Dabi ruffled his hair. "I know a place called Zaru. A bit of a drive, but I'm sure Keigo would let me borrow the - "

Suddenly every sign of life from Dabi vanished. The shine in his eyes disappeared, leaving them looking flat and dead. His smile disappeared. He didn't even look like he was breathing.

"Toya?" Shoto asked. He turned around to see what caught Dabi's attention.

Standing at the entrance of Hot Topic was a tall man with red hair. He wore a black business suit tailored to fit with gold cuffs in the shape of flames. He also had blue eyes that looked strikingly familiar.

"I'm looking for Izuku Midoriya," the man declared.

Kaminari, Tokoyami (who'd been reading in the corner), and Bakugo pointed at Izuku.

"That's me, sir," he said.

The man smiled pleasantly. "Delighted to meet you. I'm Enji." The man froze as he caught sight of Shoto and Dabi. "Shoto," he greeted, surprised.

Dabi still hadn't moved.

Enji frowned disapprovingly. "Spending time with Toya? I wouldn't bother. He'll just disappoint you."

Slowly, Dabi pushed up the sleeves of his shirt to expose his arms, tattooed in blue flame. "That's right," he said softly. "That's what I do. Disappoint."

He kept his gaze forward as he passed Enji with an arm up. At a leisurely pace, he left the store and walked back towards Spencer's.

Shoto felt a pang in his heart as he watched his brother leave. It's like...he became a different person. The change had been instant. Jarring. It was as if their father was a gorgon and the sight of him turned Dabi to stone. "Why are you looking for Midoriya?" Shoto asked bitingly.

Enji stepped towards the cash wrap. "Ordinarily, I'm away on business. But since I'm in town, I thought I'd deliver the news personally." He placed a skinny black briefcase onto the counter and opened it up, presenting Izuku with an envelope from inside. "You had to seek employment elsewhere because of Cinnabon's renovations. I apologize for getting this to you so late, but our board agreed you should be financially compensated. This equates to the earnings you would've made if you'd been able to work."

Izuku flushed pink. "You mean...money?"

"It's the least we can do after causing you such inconvenience."

Izuku ripped open the envelope and turned bright red when he saw the check and the amount written down. "Holy whoa."

"There should also be a proposition enclosed."

The greenette looked up. "Proposition?"

"That's the other news," he continued. "Cinnabon will be open for business starting tomorrow."

Bakugo went pale. Kaminari gasped excitedly. Tokoyami's brow furrowed. Shoto looked expectantly at his father.

"You're welcome to take your job back," Enji said. "But due to your years of service and loyalty, we want to offer you the manager position."

"Whoa! Did you hear that, Izuku? You're gonna be a manager!" Kaminari exclaimed excitedly.

Izuku stared at the piece of paper, speechless.

Enji smiled. "The summer's almost over. Students will be going back to school. We need someone in charge who knows what they're doing and what to look for in new applicants."

Izuku swallowed nervously. "I...I don't know what to say…"

Without saying a word, Bakugo left the cash wrap and disappeared into the storeroom.

"I offer my sincerest congratulations," Enji said, firmly taking Izuku's hand and shaking it. "To be honest, I think a promotion was overdue. But Cinnabon hopes to welcome you back, Mr. Midoriya."

~.~

Bakugo kicked and stomped the sandbag they used to prop the door open when the truck came through.

How could I have been so stupid? Of course, Cinnabon would've finished its construction eventually, but the possibility never occurred to him. He knew without a shred of doubt Izuku would take the offer. He'd be stupid not to. Enji had been right. He'd worked there for three years. He deserved a manager position. Hell, they were almost the same age and Izuku was only a cashier. But even so, he felt like he couldn't breathe.

I can't do it, he thought. I can't go back to watching Izuku from a distance.

"Get a hold of yourself," a dark voice snapped.

Bakugo panted as he tried to catch his breath. "Leave me alone."

Tokoyami stepped out of the shadows. "Tantrums like this aren't acceptable. You're our manager. Regain your composure."

"Go to hell."

"Your turmoil is understandable. But - "

" - I fucked up," Bakugo snarled. "I never should've let myself get close. I knew eventually Izuku would - "

" - Poe and Royster were star-crossed lovers," Tokoyami said. "Not you and Midoriya. You live together for god's sake. The termination of his employment here is not the end of your relationship. Besides, he never said he would accept the offer."

"I'll be pissed if he doesn't," Bakugo snapped. "He's too smart not to realize what - "

" - Not that I give a damn," Tokoyami began, unfazed, "But it's become clear to me over the past few months that he's infatuated with you. Something as trivial as a promotion is not enough to deter his affections. You are foolish to think otherwise."

"I didn't ask you."

Tokoyami hit Bakugo over the head with his copy of Great Expectations. "His love for you is plain as day. If there is to be a wedge between you, it will not come from him. It will spring forth from your own indolence. So speak your feelings and cease your assaults on that helpless sandbag."

"I can't," Bakugo snapped through gritted teeth.

Tokoyami raised the book to hit him again. "Your mediocrity is boundless, you emotionally constipated - "

" - That's not why," he said, hanging his head.

"Then what?"

Bakugo winced. "If he decides to stay...it has to be his choice."

Tokoyami lowered the book. "I'll be damned. You're actually starting to sound like a manager."

~.~

Izuku grinned. "I'm honored. And grateful for this offer, but I must decline it."

Enji's eyes widened. "Why?"

Izuku bowed his head. "When classes resume I plan to cut my hours. A manager position requires a lot of attention I won't be able to give as a college student. It wouldn't be fair to accept when there are others who can dedicate more time than me."

Enji sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that, but I understand your reasoning. Education comes first. Thank you for your honesty. Perhaps after you graduate your options with us will

Increase." Enji closed up his briefcase and bowed. "Have a pleasant evening." He turned to Shoto and gave a brief nod. "I expect to see you for dinner this weekend."

"I might have plans," he said in monotone, turning on his heel and leaving.

~.~

Katsuki hadn't said a word on the ride home. Or when he reheated a tonkotsu broth over the stove. Or when he quickly and harshly chopped bok choy, leeks, and chives for their ramen bowls.

Izuku showered and got into pajamas while he cooked. But the time he was out and towel-drying his hair, Katsuki was placing the bowls on their table.

"Itadakimasu," Izuku said quietly before grabbing his chopsticks while Katsuki grabbed a spoon.

He sipped the broth a few times, but he didn't appear to be eating. Katsuki just stared into the swirling broth, abysmal.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Izuku said.

He glanced up, jarred from spacing out. "What?"

"Now that I've officially moved in, I want to know what my expenses will be."

He raised an eyebrow. "Expenses?"

"Yeah. How much will I pay for rent and utilities? Do you want us to go half and half?"

"Don't be stupid," Katsuki snapped. "I'm not gonna charge you anything."

Izuku flushed. "What about gas for the car?"

"What about it?"

"You've been driving me back and forth to work."

"We work in the same place. It's not like I'm going out of my way."

"What about the days I work and you don't?"

"Put gas in if you need to," he said, shrugging.

"Groceries?"

"You don't cook. Why would you pay for groceries?"

"Because you cook for both of us."

Katsuki flushed. "No, I don't. I cook for myself and there's usually something left over. It would've got tossed anyway."

Izuku gently put his foot on top of Katsuki's under the table. "So. To be clear. While I'm living with you, you don't expect me to pay rent."

"No."

"Or groceries."

"No."

"Or utilities."

"No."

"Just gas sometimes."

Katsuki glared at him. "Why are you asking all this?"

Izuku smiled, his eyes bright. "Well...a manager position would pay more."

Katsuki flinched, averting his gaze.

"But if I don't have any expenses then I don't need a job that pays more."

Katsuki looked back at him, a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"At my mom's I had all kinds of expenses. Not to mention car insurance for the Acura and course materials for school. But if I don't have to worry about any of that, then it doesn't matter how much money I make."

Katsuki glared. "That's a dumb reason to turn down the offer."

"Maybe," Izuku said nonchalantly. He got up out of his chair and stood in front of Katsuki. "Good thing I have a better one." He leaned in and softly kissed him, weaving his fingers into his hair.

It was meant to be a peck, but already Katsuki was deepening the kiss and pulling Izuku closer. He lifted him up to sit on his lap. Then his hands were on Izuku's thighs, keeping him in place. Izuku pressed his palms against Katsuki's chest, greedy for the abs that he could feel through his boyfriend's shirt.

When Izuku pulled away, they were both breathless, flushed with color.

"I want to stay with you," Izuku sighed.

Katsuki laughed weakly. "Moron. That's an even dumber reason."

Izuku smirked. "Then call me stupid." He slid off his boyfriend to the floor, balancing on his knees. Then made quick work of Katsuki's belt, undoing the buckle and pulling down the zipper of his jeans so hard he almost broke it off.

"You didn't finish dinner," Katsuki scolded, but he already resorted his head against the back of his chair, spreading his legs wider.

"I'm about to," Izuku whispered.