*Izuku*
It took the rest of the night for Izuku to wrap his head around seeing Katsuki with a man.
He watched their entire interaction, no longer caring that he intended not to give Katsuki any attention. Katsuki's back remained firmly to them, a wall between them as though hiding what he was doing. He didn't see Katsuki look over his shoulder at them once, not even as he called for a drink.
Katsuki flirting with this man was different to how he was with the woman from the last time. He wasn't plastering himself to the man's side, but remained facing him on the swivel headed stools. The man had glanced at Izuku and gestured with his glass in their direction and Izuku thought, yes, send him back .
But Katsuki didn't return. They kissed, Izuku followed the man's hands as they gripped at Katsuki's waist.
"Izuku." Eijirou's voice melded with the music as Izuku's attention remained on Katsuki.
"Hello?" Eijirou waved his hand in front of Izuku's field of vision and he swivelled around hurting his neck. He held it wincing and met Eijirou's eyes. He was very amused.
"Sorry, what?" Izuku was abashed.
"Want another one?" Eijirou gestured at their empty glasses. Izuku nodded and Eijirou rose from his seat. Izuku thought he heard him muttering, "You're gonna need it, dude."
It made sense, the longer he thought about it. He felt silly for assuming that Katsuki was simply straight. It explained Katsuki's weird behaviour with him sometimes. Defending them to a stranger, the gentleness he sometimes displayed when Izuku least expected it.
The way Katsuki looked at him on occasion, like he could be devoured by him and enjoy every second. Being alone with Katsuki now seemed dangerous. And it was all he wanted to do.
Izuku hoped he hid it well, having Eijirou as an audience for his lust was less than ideal. He couldn't keep his eyes off Katsuki's broad back, and he couldn't help but feel feral as Katsuki led the man out of the club by looping his finger in his waistband.
That should have been him.
He had to bury the thought and found that alcohol did nothing to help. With Katsuki gone and Mina waiting, Eijirou and Izuku chattered and danced for only half an hour longer, when they were sure Katsuki wasn't coming back, they left.
Izuku resisted the urge to text Katsuki, interrupting his night.
Saturday was left without contact from either Eijirou or Katsuki. Izuku felt a pang of disappointment, but reminded himself that it was never guaranteed to be a weekly thing.
On the following Monday, there was a text asking if they were still going to resume their sessions, and Izuku had to force himself to wait before answering immediately and risk appearing overly eager.
Monday couldn't finish fast enough.
"Hey." Izuku answered his phone. It was Shouto who had taken to calling lately whenever he would be late. Or when he would be staying the night at his family's house because it was easier to get to the office or make big board decisions.
It had left Izuku feeling like he was living alone lately. It was fine. Shouto had taken to keeping a close eye on operations since the last fuck up with the studios because he couldn't afford to make it worse between him and Izuku through another flop.
The phone remained silent for a bit and Izuku could hear a scruff sound like it was rubbing on the inside of a pocket. Then finally, "Hey, I'll be la-"
"Late, again. Yea it's alright. Tell everyone hi for me." Izuku waited for a response, anything. Instead, he heard a sigh.
"I know we said we'd spend more time together, I'm really sor-"
"Sorry. Yea, I know. It is what it is Todo." Izuku pressed the phone closer to his ear, trying desperately to be closer to Shouto who had for a while now, been feeling as though he was lightyears away. The line sounded like dead air for what felt like a solid minute. He heard Shouto inhale.
"Plans for today?" he finally asked. Izuku could tell he was worried about leaving him alone.
"Other than work? It's Tuesday Todo." Izuku looked at the time, his lunch hour - half hour really, he rarely took the entire hour- was almost up. He sighed, swallowing his hostility. "I'll be in studio after the gym."
Shouto hesitated. "Self portrait sessions back on the go?"
Izuku heard it in his head even though Shouto tried to say it lightly. Selfie shit.
"Yea, I guess. New haircut, all this spare time-" Izuku paused. "I don't mean that like that. "
"I know."
Another awkward pause that lasted what felt like an eternity.
"Listen-" Izuku glanced at the time again.
"You have to go. Yea." There was silence then a sigh. "Okay, see you at home Mido."
"Take it easy, Todo."
Before either of them could exchange I-love-yous, the line was dead.
Call ended 3 mins 6 secs.
This evening couldn't come fast enough.
*Katsuki*
It felt a little surreal, parking at the old gym and staring up at the studio sign. It felt like months ago since he had set foot here, months since he had picked up drunk Izuku and carried him home before shit hit the fan. He was frustrated.
He hoped Aizawa would be available after today, being in such close proximity to Izuku had been like sucking down oysters or always being in close proximity to soft core porn. He couldn't control his body's reactions and it was becoming a problem. Because he wanted to be Izuku's friend, and if he were to go past that line, he was sure Izuku would hate him. Before he ever even got to apologize for the first thing.
He shook the worry away and pushed through the doors.
"Hey, nerd." He had said it to the room without actually seeing Izuku at all and Izuku's voice called back at him from somewhere distant.
"Kacchan! You're early." He peeked out of the office door and Katsuki could see he was in some form of undress.
"Did ya go to the gym?" Katsuki asked, feeling heat rise on his face. He dropped into a soft poof looking thing and smacked his face with his hands.
"Nope." Izuku finally came out from the office and shook his hair, sprinkling the floor around him with tiny droplets. The spring smell clung to him like a cloud and Katsuki was being called by it. "I wanted to wash the day off me before you came."
Katsuki made a sound in the back of his throat and Izuku started turning on the camera and laptop, attaching things with a familiarity Katsuki didn't have. He got up and placed a mannequin in a general area.
He helped this time, with light positioning, fighting to keep the mannequin because he refused to be the placeholder and so did Izuku. He even helped with the backdrop decisions and theme decision making. He felt like he was being more involved than any of their other sessions and he wondered if maybe they had really become so used to each other that this wasn't weird anymore.
Being around Izuku had become tolerable now that he was getting a fix elsewhere. He just had to remember not to stare at his mouth whenever he smiled or when his mouth glistened from a sip of water, or when he talked or-
Katsuki coughed, choking on his thoughts because his throat had gone dry. Izuku paid him no mind and continued rifling through the clothes.
"I don't have anything like that sheer shirt you wore a week ago. I thought that looked pretty cool." Izuku had his back turned to Katsuki but he still felt the need to turn away and hide whatever expression his face had contorted into. He had turned into a blushing idiot.
"Y'gonna wear everythin' I wear?" Katsuki asked. There was a pause and he couldn't see Izuku so he turned to look at him, satisfied that his angry scowling face was back in place. Izuku didn't even flinch or stop. Maybe they were fine.
"No, Kacchan. I just thought it would photograph nicely." Izuku said as the iron hook of the racks screeched across the metal bar they hung from. His back was still to Katsuki. He took three steps forward and came up behind Izuku, his nose about the height of Izuku's crown and he inhaled that stupid fresh spring scent before he lowered his voice and reached over his shoulder. Izuku froze.
The freckles on the back of his neck begged to be touched.
"This one. Wear this one." Katsuki said almost to his ear. There was at least four inches of space between them and Katsuki could still feel the heat radiate off his body. He had seen a t-shirt he had liked of course, but he swore to himself that he couldn't resist doing this to Izuku when the opportunity presented itself. He definitely needed to see Aizawa later.
He stepped back abruptly and retreated to the camera to peer through the viewfinder. A good five feet away now, and Izuku still hadn't moved. Katsuki was pretending like what he had done was something that would happen naturally, between two people who were friendly but weren't friends .
"You don't like it?" Katsuki asked when Izuku said nothing and he was still peering through the viewfinder and wondering if to adjust any settings. He had gotten okay with understanding what did what after he watched a lot of tutorials. He wasn't going to return to the studio, behind a camera instead of in front of and be a total nitwit.
"It's good. Thanks, Kacchan." Izuku with his back still to Katsuki pulled his t-shirt off and threw the selected piece on. It was a low hanging, loose necked t-shirt with various texture rips through it. It showed some cleavage, it would have been a waste to not use that toned body Izuku had cultivated. Izuku had on a nice pair of blue jeans to go with it and he looked straight out of a magazine.
"You got any chokers?" Katsuki asked, suddenly wishing to see Izuku's neck perfectly encircled by something.
"Chokers?" Izuku's eyebrows rose into his curls that Kirishima had left like bangs across his forehead.
"You know, those shitty tight things that people wear on their necks?" Katsuki gestured to his neck at his own chain. Then he pulled it tight on his own throat to demonstrate and Izuku followed his movement, entranced, like a cat zoned in on a feathery toy.
"We have a couple." Izuku said, wrenching his gaze away; he stooped to a box that was with the clothes rack. Katsuki stared as his jeans strained on his thighs and ripped his eyes away before Izuku stood again.
"Which?" Izuku held out the box for Katsuki, forcing him to go back to him, from the safety of the camera. He kept a three foot distance between them.
Katsuki looked into the box and found a leather strappy one that looped three times and had a silver clasp at the back. It looked like it might be too tight, but the dangly bit at the end should allow it to fit, so Katsuki pinched it between his fingers and dangled it at Izuku's eye level, a grin stretching his face. He watched as Izuku struggled to put it on, not offering to help because he thoroughly enjoyed the view of his biceps barring the bend of his arms.
He stopped himself staring by returning to his camera and gazing at the mannequin.
Now to get Izuku to pose was the only challenge.
Katsuki was focused fixedly at the mannequin that lamely stared back when a soft pressure pressed into his side and Izuku's scarred hand came up the camera at his eye level. This little fucker, Katsuki swore in his head. Heat bloomed from the point of contact and traced it's way down to his groin.
Izuku was essentially spooning him. Izuku's breath tickled the part of his neck where it met his shoulder. He felt a drip of water dampen his vest. How close was he?
"You didn't fiddle with the settings, did you Kacchan?" Izuku's voice was sending breathy waves to his shoulder, to the nape of his neck and he stood stock still, if he adjusted himself now he felt like that would somehow be obvious. He fought hard against the need to shift his feet so his pants would be more accomodating. He forced his breathing to be even.
"I didn't touch shit, nerd." Katsuki managed through his clenched jaw. Izuku's bicep disappeared from his side and he was moving the mannequin out of the way and taking his place. Katsuki exhaled. The space felt cold all at once. Katsuki's face felt like it was on fire.
"I'm ready whenever you are." Izuku smiled at Katsuki and he swore he saw mischief even if it was a split second. Katsuki decided he definitely needed to see Aizawa tonight. Maybe wearing a choker, if he could find one. Better yet, if he could take that one home.
It looked good, straining against his muscled neck and hanging just under Izuku's adam's apple. Three thin straps of leather that made Katsuki want to sink his teeth into his neck, marking Izuku's skin and claiming him.
Katsuki was beginning to think this was a terrible idea.
Izuku had gotten better. Maybe it was because he had gotten comfortable around Katsuki, never flinching or taking his insults seriously. He wasn't sure what the breaking point had been, but most of the hesitancy in their interactions came from Katsuki's own insecurities. Was he doing anything wrong? Could he have been kinder? Different?
That didn't matter, because with every click of the camera, Izuku actually moved. He took Katsuki's directions with only a second of hesitation before he did as he was told, and he found the light with less difficulty than before.
There was some satisfaction, Izuku in a choker and bossing him around.
They had made it through about five hundred photos when Katsuki saw the number and laughed.
"Izuku, I think that's enough." Katsuki said his name without thinking about it and only when he looked up from the miniscule screen did he see Izuku's eyes open in wonder. Katsuki narrowed his own. "What?"
"Nothing, Kacchan." Izuku said as he walked around to the laptop and skipped through the photos. "These are great. You've adjusted the settings a couple times that I can see and you fixed them no problem."
"So, what do we do with them?" Katsuki asked, watching Izuku more than the photos of Izuku slide across the screen.
"Um," Izuku trailed off as he studied one photo in particular. Katsuki thought he filled the frame nicely and felt a little bout of pride in his chest, either for himself or Izuku, or both. He looked like a model.
"Izuku."
"Sorry," Izuku looked up at Katsuki who was grateful he had been staring at the screen and not counting the freckles on Izuku's neck, "I can bring them over on one of my laptops, show you how to fiddle with the editing software."
"You don't have a car dipshit." Katsuki half rolled his eyes. "I'll pick you up after work tomorrow."
"Fine. After gym?" Izuku asked as he started to unplug things and turn off the studio lights while turning on the ceiling lights. Katsuki followed suit and started breaking down equipment without waiting to be told what to do.
"You skipped today, so why not." Katsuki let a stand slide nimbly down into his hands and began detaching the lamp, careful not to burn his fingertips.
"Why weren't you at the gym the past few weeks?" Izuku was releasing the lens from the camera body and putting caps on both ends. Katsuki was still too afraid to try that, everything looked fragile.
"I was avoiding you."
"Oh." Izuku hadn't stopped moving, like the conversation wasn't surprising him at all. Katsuki had stopped for a beat but continued his own tasks when he saw Izuku so unperturbed.
"I thought I did something because you didn't reach out or anythin'." Katsuki explained, though without a prompt to do so, it felt like his mouth was going off on its own.
"Don't worry about it Kacchan. I was just embarrassed." Izuku zipped up the bag loudly and Katsuki looked at him, surprised at his honesty.
"'Bout what?" Katsuki asked, confused since he didn't think Izuku did anything embarrassing.
"I got drunk, I guess. That- I shouldn't have been your responsibility." Izuku stood after tucking the bag away, and plugging the camera batteries into their chargers. He stared directly at Katsuki, tilted his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Plus, didn't think we were friends."
Katsuki just stared. He couldn't say anything, because Izuku was right. He had literally said no, they weren't. Izuku smiled and then busied himself with double checking Katsuki's work and ensuring everything was where it needed to be for tomorrow's work day.
"Well, sounded like you were doin' somethin' stupid." Katsuki said after the blood flowed back to his brain.
"I was."
"There ya have it then."
"Mhm."
Izuku faced the wall as he tried to pull his shirt off, changing back into his regular clothes. It snagged on the clasp of the choker and Katsuki felt a sudden rush of warmth and then cold wash over him att he sight of the dimples dipping into his back. Izuku tugged again and it didn't budge.
"Wait-" Katsuki started forward and his hand touched Izuku's who stiffened at the contact. "Sorry, it's snagged."
He was immediately wrapped in the spring scent and his pulse quickened. It was mixed in with Izuku's natural musk, whatever the heat of the lights had drawn out of him. It was a thousand times better than the stupid soap he bought just to get pieces of him when he was alone.
"Oh." Izuku bent his neck forward and dropped his hands, allowing Katsuki to view the clasp. It had snagged into one of the strategically placed rips in the distressed style of t-shirt. Katsuki wanted to press Izuku into the wall but somehow resisted the urge and disentangled it. He felt like he absolutely needed to press his lips, his tongue across the freckles, to trace them all the way down his back.
"Can I keep this?" Katsuki asked in a hoarse voice as it fell free, one end still caught in his hand. Izuku turned to look at Katsuki, and the sudden face-to-face made Katsuki's pulse quicken, his heart hammering in his ears. He stepped back.
Izuku watched him, amused. His eyes caught the necklace in his hand and he smiled.
"Sure. It's yours." Izuku said simply; like it was the easiest decision in the world.
"You sure?" Katsuki asked, surprised at his fast agreement. Izuku laughed and pulled his t-shirt off, and then turned to look for his own discarded one. Katsuki pocketed it. Finally, Izuku was clothed.
"So tomorrow." Katsuki was suddenly feeling extremely useless, everything he was capable of helping with was now done. Izuku slung his bag onto his shoulder and Katsuki followed. "You're gonna cook for me."
Izuku coughed. "What?"
"I got some shit in my fridge, you're gonna cook for me, and I'll edit the photos." Katsuki watched as Izuku's scarred hand locked the door then waited for him outside of the second pair of glass doors.
"At the same time Kacchan?" Izuku asked as he stood outside with Katsuki, looking up at him with wide eyes. Katsuki nodded.
"You've been cookin' at home, I take it. And I've been watching my tutorials. Two birds, one stone or whatever." Katsuki explained, feeling ridiculously like they were standing at the end of a date, making plans for another. He reminded himself to text Aizawa again, because if Katsuki had his way right now, Izuku wouldn't be going home. Not to his home anyway.
"If you think I won't slice my finger off." Izuku's hand flew to his hair and he smiled his broad toothy smile.
"You won't. There's no time limit, no rush." Katsuki turned to his car. "Need a lift home?"
"Missed gym today. I'll bike home." Izuki fiddled with his keys in his pockets. Then they both reluctantly turned away from each other and went their separate ways.
"See ya, nerd." Katsuki called from the driver's seat. Izuku waved, mounted his bike and rode off.
Katsuki pulled out his phone and found Aizawa in his phonebook.
Shouta Aizawa was useless. At least today. And that promise Katsuki made to Izuku to not have to rush might have to change. Otherwise he'd have to wait until the weekend to get his fix, and he could barely make it to tomorrow.