Archive of Our Own

Katsuki fluffs out the ends of his hair, a nervous motion more than it is constructive towards his appearance. Then, he lifts his fist to rap on the front door, clearing his throat.

It was rare when he was this nervous, but it was rightly deserved. His hand grips tighter on the bouquet of flowers, maybe a bit too large for a first 'official' date but Deku would only be getting the best from Katsuki.

There's the sound of footsteps behind the door and Katsuki straightens up.

It unlocks, feet shuffling in house slippers, and then opens.

Only for Katsuki to come face to face with a bleary Aizawa, who he must have accidentally awoken from a nap. Behind him, he can see Deku silently panicking.

Aizawa looks at him, scratches at his chin, and turns right back around.

"No."

Then the door slams shut.

---

Katsuki had been friends with Deku since childhood. Their parents had been friends, and then they had been neighbors, so they'd just… never been apart.

Not even when Inko died did they drift apart. Katsuki had clung to Izuku with all his might when there were talks of sending Izuku abroad, to a distant relative that had room for him.

Which is why he's so grateful to Aizawa, their old pre-school teacher for stepping up and adopting him a few months after it became apparent that Izuku didn't want to leave Katsuki (and Japan) either.

Katsuki doesn’t know all the details, but he does remember the many nights Aizawa had spent at his parent's house, working on official looking documents that meant that Izuku would be able to stay with him forever. His tired ex-teacher was even more tired during those long months.

But he'd done it, and he'd adopted Izuku— and kept Izuku even when Katsuki abandoned him way back when.

Now, Katsuki had learned to never let Izuku out of his sight. To love and cherish him. They wanted to court, and move in together, and become the best hero-support duo on this side of the planet.

The problem is that… Aizawa is strict.

Very strict, about little things. Like turning the lights off by 8— even if they stayed up later— or like how Deku isn't allowed to visit Katsuki if no one else is home.

And courting.

Especially courting.

---

Katsuki hops the tall fence to Izuku's front yard.

It's midday, but Aizawa should be out to tote off their weekly recycling. So Izuku should be free for atleast a few minutes.

And he is, apparent by the way he's pacing the yard. Izuku peeks around the corner, just outside of the front gate. He's facing away from Katsuki, and Katsuki uses the opportunity to hop down and pounce.

He grabs Izuku by the waist and lifts him, stuffing his head against the nape of Izuku's neck. "Gotcha, nerd."

Izuku squeals, legs kicking out before going limp. "Oh! Kacchan, don't do that!" He admonishes, squirming. "I thought I was about to get kidnapped."

"I oughta, one of these days," Kacchan grumbles beneath his breath. He lets the omega back down on his feet, though he doesn't let go— only loosens his hold.

Izuku twists, so that they're face to face, and tips up on his toes to kiss him.

"We don't have much time," Katsuki reminds him, and Izuku pouts.

"We have time for a few kisses."

Katsuki grunts, but acquiesces for another three kisses across his lips and cheeks. He knows it makes his face go red— but who could resist affection from such a cute mate?

Well… almost-mate. Soon.

Izuku drops on his heels with a pleased look. "Will you come back later?"

"Obviously."

Katsuki tucks his hand into his pocket and pulls out two items: A shiny Sir Nighteye charm and a neatly folded handkerchief that he'd scented all day yesterday.

Izuku accepts both of the gifts eagerly, immediately pressing the handkerchief to his neck; a bootleg scenting.

"Thank you, Kacchan!" Izuku holds the charm up to the light and lets it twirl, glinting sunlight. "I'll repay you soon."

Katsuki's lips curl up with the beginnings of an offended snarl, and Izuku laughs. "Just kidding!"

"You better. What kind of alpha doesn't provide for his omega?" Katsuki grumbles, squeezing Izuku tighter again. "Shitty Deku, always testing me."

"Always teasing." Izuku corrects him, tugging Katsuki over to the front door to place the gifts just inside the threshold. Katsuki keeps a wide berth around it, because if Aizawa caught his fresh scent inside of the house he may murder both of them.

Little scented things like handkerchiefs were okay because Izuku could, atleast, pretend he'd borrowed it and would return it soon. Even if Aizawa didn't want them to mate, he was fine with them being friends.

Izuku interrupts the musings by clearing his throat. "Besides, Kacchan. Omegas can give gifts to their alphas, too. We live in modern times you know."

It's another tease but Katsuki's hackles rise anyway.

It was… true, yes, but Katsuki was raised a bit traditionally. And the thought of his omega— the one who he was meant to protect and provide for and cherish like a prized jewel— having to go out and get something to please Katsuki instead?? FOR WHAT?!

Absolutely not. No. Fuck no.

"Fuck no." Katsuki says aloud, and Izuku laughs again. "I'm keeping you in your nest 'til the day you die, Deku— and if you even think of leaving to get me some stupid gift I'll kill myself."

"Kacchan!" Izuku shrieks, horrified. Then, contemplatively: "Even if it was a limited edition All Might figure?"

"Especially if it was that," Katsuki says, gravely. He's only half kidding.

Izuku laughs again, louder.

He knew exactly how traditionally Katsuki was raised— and accepted it as part of him. And he knew how Katsuki's instincts ran a bit more ferally than others. Izuku was fine with it because… well, Katsuki was also blunt. He wouldn't waste all the effort of pampering someone on an omega that he didn't think deserved it. And Katsuki, above all else, prized strength above all else.

Izuku wasn't sure how he fit the bill but he loved Katsuki too much to argue. He'd just have to work hard to prove him right.

Katsuki pecks his lips against Izuku's. "Quit getting distracted, nerd. Didn't I say we don't have a lot of time?"

"Yes, yes," Izuku concedes, bending his neck. "Scenting now."

They scent for as long as they can, though it's much too soon for both of them when Izuku's phone starts buzzing in his pocket. An alarm he'd set, to give them warning that Aizawa should be back soon.

They pull back with matching frowns on their faces, and Katsuki takes a step away. "Tomorrow, okay?"

Izuku begins to nod, but then his eyes zero-in on Katsuki's hair. His eyes dilate, just a bit, and Katsuki warily steps forward again. 

Izuku tugs Katsuki down with a firm grip to his lapels and frowns harder.

"What?"

"Hold on," Izuku sticks his tongue out in concentration and proceeds to shove all ten of his fingers across Katsuki's scalp. They go in smooth, but Katsuki jerks for a second when they snag on a few tangles.

Ah, grooming.

"Oi, don't make me bald, you ass."

Still, Katsuki stays obediently bent over. He loosely wraps his arms around Izuku's back, though they drift lower to lay against his hips instead, and accepts the sudden primping.

Izuku picks through the strands with a critical eye, plucking out whatever it is that offends him so. Probably twigs from Katsuki's head hitting the low-hanging branches of the tree outside Izuku's fence.

Katsuki melts, just a bit, as Izuku smiles brightly and purrs at him. His nails scratch pleasantly at his scalp, until Katsuki's head starts lolling and swaying with the gentle motions.

If he had a tail, it would be wagging.

He doesn't even get to bask in the pleasant feeling buzzing through his gut when a furious-smelling odor burns itself into his nostrils.

Katsuki yanks back, lifting his hands off of Izuku as if they'd been zapped. Aizawa stands at the gate, arms crossed and looking like he'd just caught someone trying to rob him. Well… technically it was true?

Izuku twists on his heel, letting out a soft, 'Eep!'

Aizawa ends up chasing Katsuki out of the yard with a rolled up magazine in one fist and an empty trash bin in the other, and scampers off with a quick, "Love you, bye!" to Izuku before he trapezes back over the fence where he came.

---

It's because Izuku is quirkless that Aizawa is so strict. Well, partly. He knows what happens to quirkless kids— and keeping Izuku away from people like Katsuki was his job as a parent.

People like Katsuki: rough 'n tough alphas who bully omegas— especially the quirkless kind— until they were rejected from all of society. And a rejected omega, never able to find their own pack, is a death sentence. Aizawa refused to let it happen to Izuku.

But Katsuki wasn't like that. Not anymore.

The major problem is that he had been like that.

Even growing up clingy with Deku, he'd succumbed to the pressure of fitting in and started teasing— started hurting his omega to prove that he was the top alpha.

Katsuki regrets it every day.

It took him smelling Izuku's scent in middle school to realize what he was doing was damaging, and not worth it in the slightest. Izuku had taken his scent patch off, sitting in the abandoned, derelict part of the gym to finish school work that had gotten ripped up earlier by his bullies.

His scent was soured all over with not a touch of that wonderful petrichor from childhood. And Katsuki hadn't noticed until that moment how gaunt and pale Izuku had gotten. His dark freckles, usually sparkling across his skin like jewels, made him look even more sickly.

Katsuki had never felt so out of control of his instincts until that day. He had stalked forward, world blacked out except for the sad, sad sight of an omega— his omega— curled up and alone, and scented Izuku then and there.

And Izuku had looked at him, face red and pretty as he whispered a soft, awed, "Kacchan…?"

And then he'd smiled as if Katsuki hadn't blown up his notebooks earlier that morning or dumped water on him during lunch. He smiled as if nothing had ever changed between them and Katsuki was still the only person he wanted in this world, just like when they were children.

Even if everything hurt, he chose to live— and to stay the sweet little Izuku he'd always been.

So, Katsuki had changed.

---

"Kacchan!" Izuku beams, whispering his outburst. Katsuki shushes him, his gift of the day— a rose stripped of its thorns— stuck between his teeth. What a panty-dropper, right?

Katsuki was currently hanging off of the awnings of Deku's roof, nearly upside down from having to reach to knock on his omega's window. He hands the rose off to Deku, who happily twirls it in his fingers before he tucks it behind his ear.

"Can you come out?"

Izuku's answer is immediately squeezing himself out of the window, legs kicking up behind him. Katsuki helps him out with a firm grip on the back of his shirt, heart pounding when Izuku's feet slip once before Katsuki hauls him up the rest of the way.

They flop back on the roof, as quiet as they can so they don't get caught. Izuku is still smiling bright at him, breathless, and rushes forward into Katsuki's lap so they can scent.

Katsuki obliges, tugging off his jacket and pulling at the collar of his shirt. Izuku snuffles as he shoves his fast against it, too eager. When he pulls back, rubbing at his squashed, reddening nose, Katsuki snorts at him.

"Idiot. Do I have to teach you how it's done again?"

Katsuki dips forward, hands falling to Izuku's waist to keep him steady. Izuku already has his neck bared and ready, fingers peeling at the scent blocker patch.

As soon as it's off, his blooming scent calms Katsuki down. The antsy feeling that had been rocking through him all day from not being with his chosen omega just… dissipated. His smell, of something fresh and green and of life, pleased his instincts and made him want to flop belly-up and let Izuku do whatever he wanted to him.

Katsuki rumbles at him, the beginnings of a purr, and gently nudges his nose against the tender skin beneath Izuku's. It's paler than the rest of him, always covered by scent blockers, and Katsuki licks a line across it just because he can.

Izuku responds by nosing at Katsuki's own neck, slower this time. He presses his nose flush against Katsuki's skin, mostly to steal the heat from it to warm his face.

Now that he focuses on it, Katsuki can feel the night chill starting to seep into Deku's skin.

He slides his jacket off of his shoulders and lays it across Izuku's, wrapping him forward and back with Katsuki's own bodyheat. It makes his omega go slack, pleased at being cared for by his alpha.

Katsuki smiles, hiding it against Izuku's hair before he kisses there, just at the curve of his hairline behind his ear.

"Missed you," Izuku murmurs, pawing at Katsuki's back to hug him even closer. "I wish we could do this inside— in my nest. I want it to smell like you."

Aizawa, of course, would never allow Katsuki into Izuku's den.

Katsuki frowns, scent souring for just a moment until Izuku calms him again by knocking their foreheads together. The body contact is good, especially when he tilts Izuku's head up and kisses him across the lips.

"Keep the jacket. I'll bring you more tomorrow."

Izuku's shoulders drop, though he knows it'd be bad to have Katsuki in his nest behind Aizawa's back. He nods, gently chided, and hides his face again.

"Hey, quit with the face." Katsuki shoves his fingers into Izuku's messy hair and gives him a quick noogie while he's at it. "I'm right here, ain't I?"

Izuku perks up. Then, he gets the determined look on his face, like how he gets when he's studying heroes or working on a new support item.

"Right." Izuku shoves his wrists against Katsuki's, scenting there too.

Izuku is nearing his heat. Katsuki can smell it in the way their scents mingle easily, as if Izuku is opening himself up for his alpha.

And that image makes Katsuki grimace because not now boner.

He focuses, instead, on rubbing the heat from his hands into Izuku's fingers to stave off the cold, and tucking the rose back against Izuku's ear when it falls between them.

When they've thoroughly scented, and the moon has gotten a little higher in the sky, Izuku pulls away. "We should probably… stop for today."

The resigned look on his face makes Katsuki hurt. His eyelashes are long and pretty, and his lips are soft even when they're pulled down in a frown. A smile would be better, though, and Katsuki would be damned if he left his omega alone all sad.

So, Katsuki gathers Izuku back in his lap again. Faced away this time. "Tell me more about your nerdy stars before I go, freckles."

Izuku had gotten into constellations recently. Because they met up almost exclusively at night these days, it was something they could learn about together. Katsuki was planning on bringing him a book (or three) about it sometime soon.

Izuku brightens up just as quickly as he got sad. Literally, when the stars shine off of his irises and make him look like he belongs up there with them like a god. 

"Oh! Have I told you about Draco yet?"

Yep. Draco: latin or greek or whatever, protected some apples or some shit— got killed and tossed up in the sky by some goddess.

Katsuki shakes his head, though, and tilts his head up in the direction Izuku looks.

And of course, he ends up getting distracted partway through the explanation, when Izuku smiles and holds his hands up to measure his fingers between stardust. Katsuki spends the rest of their time left staring at Izuku's profile and wondering how he would look with a mating bite covering his neck, instead of his plain, white scent patches.

---

Katsuki hates hiding his relationship with Izuku, especially from someone who matters so much in Izuku's life. But he appreciates and respects Aizawa, which is why he holds himself back.

It's so hard, though, sometimes.

"Please, Kacchan. I want to."

"We can't." Katsuki says, firm.

Izuku is crying, tears dripping down his cheeks. He whimpers a few times, words getting jumbled, and Katsuki slowly eases forward. Izuku doesn't push him away, so he cups his palms against Izuku's cheeks and thumbs away the tears.

"I refuse to force you to choose between us— so I won't. I'll wait— forever if I have to. And you and your dad will still have a good relationship after. Understand?"

"He's not my dad." Izuku says, stubbornly. Katsuki almost laughs, but the conversation is too serious for that.

"He is. You know you think of him as your dam and your sire— and don't ever say that again. He'd be crushed to hear you say that shit."

Izuku deflates, and his tears come out even faster. "Yeah…"

Katsuki was never one for patience but… he steels himself and says, "We'll just wait."

He touches his nose to Izuku's scent glands on his neck and inhales deep. Soon, he's trailing gentle kisses across it, until Izuku begins to calm.

"You're worth waiting for Izuku," he admits, awkwardly. He never was one for schmoopy shit, shut up. "And I'm not gonna cause more of a wedge between you and Aizawa. I mean— I'll never stop loving you and, you know…"

Katsuki swallows, hiding his expression against Izuku's chest. "Wanting to be yours. And I know you feel the same, so— we'll just wait. Just be patient, dumbass."

Izuku laughs at the sudden insult, though it's wet-sounding and wistful.

Eventually, he nods against Katsuki's shoulder and reaches out to tangle their fingers together.

"Okay, Kacchan."

---

Fate loves testing Katsuki, though. Because not even a week later, Izuku comes to Katsuki with very bright, very eager eyes and whispers, "Aizawa is going out of town tomorrow."

Katsuki was only so strong.

---

Izuku is pretty, well… pretty when he's got kiss-swollen lips and hair mussed up from where Katsuki's fingers had carded through.

He's laying on his back in his nest, and Katsuki feels something funny squirm around his gut at the sight. He'd never gotten to see Izuku's nest up close before.

It's layered with pillows on the bottom, covered in a thick blanket atop that, and then surrounded by clothes and items heavily scented by his pack.

Katsuki's scent resides heavily throughout. Stale, but his.

Izuku lays out across it, as Katsuki falls back on his haunches just at the edges of the nest.

"You can come in," Izuku laughs, rolling onto his knees. He holds his hands out to Katsuki, who takes one but doesn't use it to pull himself forward.

As Katsuki continues to hesitate, Izuku softens a bit. "You are my mate, right?"

"Of course," Katsuki barks, almost instinctively. "What, you getting cold feet?"

"Nope." Izuku tugs him close, until he tumbles over into the nest. "Just reminding you. This nest is for us."

Katsuki blushes red, and Izuku embarrassedly ducks his face out of sight. His fingers play with the neckline of his shirt, before he yanks it off in one swoop and tosses it out of the nest. All he's left with are his shorts.

Then, Izuku runs his hands across the barriers of it, where it's firmer, and settles further inside of it, until his back is nearly against the cold wall. Katsuki follows him, enraptured as Izuku bites his lip and looks at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Does it please you, alpha?" A moment's hesitation, then softly: "My alpha."

Katsuki strips faster than he ever has in his life. Izuku outright laughs again when his feet get tangled in his jeans, but he does reach over to help.

When he's almost fully nude— still wearing his boxers and socks, he gathers Izuku close and presses butterfly kisses across his face until Izuku turns into a giggling mess.

"It's so perfect, Deku. Izuku. You did so good, my omega." Izuku presses his own hands to Katsuki's, keeping them pressed to Izuku's face, and Katsuki revels in the way his skin heats up beneath his touch.

They lean in to kiss again. Katsuki lets his scent flow out freely, for the first time in Izuku's presence besides the too-brief moments they scent before they're caught by Aizawa.

It's incredible, and so calming, basking in his omega's purest scent.

Then, the doorbell rings.

It echoes through the empty house, and Izuku's eyes blow wide as he goes ramrod straight.

After a brief few seconds, there's jubilant knocking on the door. "Little listener— open up! Shouta will kick my ass if you're canoodling in there."

The sing-song voice is teasing, but holy fuck that timing.

Izuku shrieks, muffling it against his fingers before he rolls and flips out of the nest. His distress floods and overtakes the gentle, calm scent he had not seconds prior, and Katsuki's heart hammers in his chest as he jumps up after him.

"Just a second, Yamada-san!" Izuku's voice is level despite the absolutely panicked way he circles around the room, slipping on a pillowcase that flew up behind him.

Katsuki catches him, only for Izuku to jerk in his hold, even more frantic as his eyes pull open wide. He holds out Izuku's shirt to him.

Izuku makes a number of frantic arm motions, hopping on one leg as he shoves Katsuki to the window, tugging the shirt back on.

For a second, he's sure Izuku is gonna make him do the walk-of-shame home in his tighty-whities when Izuku hisses a quick, "Open! Turn on the fan, too."

Then, Izuku disappears out of the room, slamming it shut behind him with a call to the front, "Coming!"

Katsuki listens as Izuku stumbles through the house, stubbing his toe on the couch before he makes it to the front door. Katsuki shoves open the window and angles the nearby oscillating fan so that it'll suck their combined scents out of the room.

Fuck.

Izuku's voice is mumbled, all the way at the front of the house, and Katsuki hesitates for a moment before he peeks out of the cracked door.

It's a tough angle, but he can see Izuku balanced on one leg as he cups his stubbed toe in one hand, leaning against the door with the other. Yamada, Izuku's neighbor (and Aizawa's *cough* boyfriend *cough*) is barely holding back his laughter at the sight, standing in the small foyer.

Double fuck.

"Are you sure you're not hiding something, little listener?"

"I'm sure!" Izuku yelps, tugging at the back of his shirt to make the collar tighten around his neck. Hiding a small hickey Katsuki had suckled there earlier.

Yamada hums, rubbing his palm across his chin. He looks around casually, though his eyes are critical.

"It smells like someone is here."

Triple fuck.

Izuku panics again, Katsuki can tell. His eyes go wide and he stammers for a few seconds before he gives up and takes a deep breath. Yamada narrows his eyes, turning fully to Izuku who ducks his head down guiltily.

"Th-that's— Kacchan. I…" Izuku stares at his feet, shyly tugging at his shirt again. "He… gave me a lot of things to put in my nest— uh, earlier, he left earlier— so that I wouldn't be, um…"

Izuku winces, shrinking in on himself. His face is bright red, and Katsuki's heart is pounding loud in his own chest.

"So I wouldn't be lonely. During my heat. Which is… coming up. Soon."

Katsuki is, honestly, flabbergasted at how quickly Izuku thought of that lie. But, oddly proud? Yeah.

He only blanked out of the conversation for a moment, but it seems that Yamada quickly delved in a half-hearted, awkward lecture in that time.

"W-Well, we— erm… I guess you're growing up fast, huh?" Yamada blows an embarrassed breath past his lips, looking as though he'd rather be anywhere but there. "Just… Good job on resisting temptation. Shouta always tells me how that little alpha of yours laps at your heels all the time."

Izuku winces again, and pointedly looks in the opposite direction of his room— where Katsuki is currently sweating bullets. Katsuki reaches over and turns the fan up higher.

Then, Yamada places a gentle hand on Izuku's shoulder and bends down a bit to look him in the eye. "Just let me know if you need anything, alright? Omega to omega."

Izuku flusters, but quickly nods. "I— will! Thank you."

Yamada leaves with a warning that he'll be back in three hours time, to check on him. As soon as the front door is shut, Izuku breathes a loud sigh of relief. Katsuki flops against the door, adrenaline slowly puttering out of his veins.

Izuku's footsteps are soft as he pads back to the room, timid as he pushes it open. "Kacchan?"

"That was fucking crazy." Katsuki huffs. Izuku, blessedly, laughs. All of the tension leaves them both all at once, especially when Izuku holds his hands out to Katsuki again and leads him back to the nest.

They settle in, only half as awkward as before, and Katsuki softly pets across Izuku's arms, rubbing away the anxious goosebumps that had sprung up there.

Izuku hums, holding his sleeve up with his other hand. He looks serene, as if they hadn't just been interrupted and almost proverbially fucked.

Katsuki can't help himself when he clears his throat and, with a grin, asks: "You wanna smell my scent during your heat, eh?"

Izuku makes a noise between a grunt and a squeak. Cute. He buries his head against Katsuki's neck, prompting his alpha to laugh.

"I…" He takes a deep breath, and then mumbles, "Yes."

"Oh."

Katsuki's laughter abruptly cuts off. He, for some reason, wasn't expecting that.

Izuku peeks at him, at the way Katsuki's face glows an enamored pink, and softens. His shoulders drop, and he nods once to himself before he leans back to press a kiss against Katsuki's cheek.

"I always want you during my heat," Izuku confesses. "I miss you all the time— even when I'm really out of it." He reaches out to hold Katsuki's hands, and their fingers tangle together.

He knows exactly what to say to make Katsuki go crazy.

Izuku doesn't seem to know the power of his words, though, because he almost looks ashamed to admit it outloud. He bites his lower lip, staring anywhere except Katsuki's face.

"Is that… okay?"

"Fuck, Deku." Katsuki rushes forward, hardly able to contain himself. He wraps both arms around Izuku and hugs him close, kissing him hard enough that any noise Izuku makes during is muffled and smothered. It's moments like this when Katsuki longs to be good at… at words and shit— so he could tell Izuku just how much he means to him.

"Yes that's okay, Izuku." Katsuki murmurs, soft. He kisses along the swell of his cheek, until he can rumble in his ear. "More than okay. I'm yours, aren't I?"

They fall back against the nest, thickly cushioned on all sides. Izuku's body is warm to the touch, and Katsuki touches him all over.

He still has his shirt on, and hasn't attempted to take it off again. Katsuki places a palm against it, just above Izuku's belly, and then drifts lower. He's still wearing his shorts, too, but Katsuki is able to paw at the exposed skin of his thighs.

They're soft, covered in more fat than muscle, but firm. He places a kiss across them, where paler freckles lie.

Katsuki wants to see all of Izuku, but if his omega wasn't ready anymore then…

"C'mere." Katsuki rolls onto his back and offers his palms as hand-holds. Izuku is curious as he crawls over, taking the offered fingers, and obediently hooks his legs across Katsuki's hips. "Like this, yeah?"

Izuku's weight is pleasant atop him, and the sun is high enough in the sky that the big tree outside his window outlines him in leafy, shifting shadow. He squeezes Katsuki's palm close to his own and nods his head.

"This is… good."

Izuku looks down at Katsuki's bare chest, and squeezes his thighs against Katsuki's hips.

It's silent for a moment. Katsuki is busy memorizing the way Izuku looks straddling him, but Izuku looks like he's trying to figure out an 1,000 piece puzzle.

"Talk to me, freckles." Katsuki whispers. "This not good?"

Izuku lets out a frustrated breath, but it's half of a laugh. "How do we get naked if we're still holding hands?"

Katsuki can't help the way he snorts, rolling his eyes.

"I knew you were only after me for my body."

Izuku squawks in offense, but Katsuki ignores him in favor of letting one hand drop. He curls it around Izuku's hip, feeling the muscles flex and relax at the touch.

Izuku mumbles an argument beneath his breath, still offended, and Katsuki clicks his tongue at him.

Izuku rolls onto his feet for a moment, falling onto his back. "Just— hold on a second."

He ends up trapping Katsuki's legs beneath him, and they play an impromptu game of Twister as Izuku shoves his shorts down his legs. His thumb had even hooked into his underwear to pull everything off in one swoop. Katsuki ducks out of the way, breathlessly laughing as Izuku gives him a front-row seat to all of it.

When he sits up again, his hair has fluffed up like a frizzy bird's nest. He shakes a few locks from his eyes, blowing the rest away with a huff, and begins to tug his shirt off, too.

In the blink of an eye, Izuku is naked. He's still half in Katsuki's lap, even.

Katsuki looks up, because it's almost overwhelming.

"You're something fuckin' else, Deku."

Izuku's laugh is impish. "You love me."

Cold fingers press against Katsuki's chest, prompting the other to yelp.

After that, they quickly devolve into playful wrestling. Katsuki pins him quick, but Izuku slips out of his grasp to wrap his legs around Katsuki's waist, tickling up his sides.

Katsuki tumbles, nearly falling out of the nest, and snags Izuku's wrists to capture one between his teeth with a growl. A playful warning.

Izuku acquiesces, going limp even as he giggles.

"You're damn right I love you," Katsuki grumbles, sitting up so that he can straddle Izuku's waist. Almost opposite of before.

Izuku sits up on his elbows and grins. "I love you, too."

His skin is still red, and still hot when Katsuki touches him. Katsuki's lips pull down in a frown, and he eases Izuku back against the nest. By the way his chest rises and falls, he's starting to breathe heavy too.

Katsuki's eyes drift lower, to between Izuku's legs. Izuku watches him look, and spreads his legs further when Katsuki reaches to press against his hip.

His heat was coming on quickly. They both knew it would happen within the week but… Katsuki must have jumpstarted it a bit, over-scenting as they did.

It was pre-heat, though, because Izuku's eyes are still clear and playful as Katsuki rumbles soft, comforting chirps at him.

"Are you… sure you want to do this?"

Katsuki can think of many things that could go wrong during the fact. Including what just happened: getting caught.

Another issue is… claiming. They both, more than anything, wanted to be claimed by the other so that they would never have to be apart again. So they would never have to spend a heat or rut alone again.

Katsuki's heart aches a bit, thinking about it.

Izuku nods his head, confident and sure. "Yes. You're my alpha, Kacchan. There's no one else for me."

Katsuki's nerves melt away just like that, and he nods his head back just as confidently.

Izuku's cock is hard between his legs. Has been since before they started wrestling. But only now does he shift so that Katsuki's focus goes to it again.

He lays flat against the nest, splayed completely out, and Katsuki touches along his upper thighs to watch the way Izuku twitches in response.

Katsuki breathes in, bending over. Izuku's scent is thicker there, of course, and has morphed a bit with his oncoming heat. It's sweeter, less earthy and more fruity-toned. Katsuki can almost taste it.

He does taste it, leaning down to lick across the divot between Izuku's hip and inner thigh.

Izuku's breath catches, and he reaches down to hold a hand against his erection, hiding it away. Katsuki's growl is instinctive, resounding through the room, and Izuku trembles as he pulls his hand away.

Katsuki immediately devours it, pressing his lips against the length of Izuku's cock to suckle at the pre that has spread across. It's salty, and a little tangy, and so fucking good.

"K-Kacchan…" Izuku moans, embarrassed. "You're so impatient."

Says the one who had nearly taken Katsuki's eye out with a stray toe while trying to get naked as quickly as possible.

Katsuki doesn't say that, though, and focuses on suckling across Izuku's skin. It's tender, and sensitive by the way Izuku writhes and barely holds in his little breathy moans.

Katsuki stares up at him the entire time, even when Izuku's head drops back and his back arches a bit. His palm presses against his lips, to muffle, and Katsuki lets him for the moment.

He curls his tongue against the covered head of Izuku's cock, feeling the foreskin shift against the hardened flesh.

Katsuki lifts Izuku's leg, pressing it towards Izuku's chest so that he can get a better angle. Izuku reaches down to help, keeping Katsuki's hand firmly in place.

That's fine, Katsuki only needs one. He pulls away from servicing his omega to swallow what pre and saliva has built up in his mouth. The taste was addicting, and Katsuki hasn't even tasted the slick that has gathered just a few inches lower.

He can see the way it glistens between Izuku's ass cheeks, eagerly calling his alpha toward it. Katsuki forces himself to calm instead of delving right into it, though, and shoves his own fingers in his mouth to get them wet.

Izuku watches as Katsuki focuses on loading them with spit, and he chews at his bottom lip again. He's holding himself back.

So, Katsuki shifts onto his haunches and shoves a folded leg beneath Izuku's rear, to hoist him up a bit. Like that, he gets the full view of Izuku's spread ass.

"Too fast?" Katsuki asks, licking his lips. It still has Izuku's taste lingering there.

Izuku silently shakes his head, though his mouth does drop open when Katsuki leans down a bit. He only did so to better the angle, but he dips further so that he can capture Izuku's in a kiss.

This seems to be what his omega was waiting for, by the way he strains to meet Katsuki halfway.

Katsuki's fingers, dripping with spit, prod at the tiny little hole. Izuku gasps at the feeling, wheezing almost as he focuses on keeping himself upright with his free hand clenched in the blankets. He breaks the kiss to breathe in heavy, eyes rolling back a bit as one slowly breaches his rim. It goes in easily, and Katsuki nervously swallows as he presses the second against the rim, too.

Izuku doesn't ask him to slow, though, only spreads his legs impossibly wider and shakily grunts as Katsuki thrusts both in as far as they can go.

Katsuki's own cock is hard in his underwear, because how the fuck wouldn't he be. He presses it against the curve of Izuku's ass, and Izuku tries to grind back against it.

"Kacchan, hurry," Izuku breathes. "It's not enough." Izuku's body trembles again, and Katsuki eases back so that he can lay flat again. His fingers pull out a few inches, and Izuku whines at the loss.

"Hold on," Katsuki murmurs, shoving at his underwear to ease some of the pressure from his cock. The air is cold when he exposes himself, from the fan still on blast in the corner.

Katsuki presses his chest to Izuku's to shield him from the cool air currents. He also uses the opportunity to kiss all across Izuku's neck, which arches for him so prettily as Izuku whines for his alpha.

Katsuki pulls his fingers out all the way, and they're even more soaked than they were when they went in. He presses the lube, Izuku's slick, directly against the length of his cock.

His toes curl at the feeling, it's so fucking hot and wet. He curls his fist around his cock and thrusts against it just a few times, coating himself in the natural lube.

"You're so…" Katsuki breathes, watching as Izuku blearily blinks up at him. It was only a few moments of foreplay, but he's aching for it. They both are.

Izuku gets embarrassed again, as Katsuki continues to stare. He folds over, legs closing as much as they can with Katsuki between, and he shoves his hands beneath himself to sit up. "I'm…?"

"You're— so good. Perfect." Katsuki rushes the words out, shifting forward so that they're pressed together again. Izuku's knee digs against his ribs, and Katsuki rolls them so that they're both laying on their sides.

"I'm… bad at this but." Katsuki squeezes his eyes shut in irritation as he tries to parse through the words tumbling through his brain like rocks down a mountain. "I love you. So much, Deku."

Izuku inhales deep, and seems overcome by their mingling scents for a moment. He sways, though he's laying down, and Katsuki presses a steadying hand against his waist.

"You're wonderful at this," Izuku says, finally. His eyes are a bit misty as he leans forward, but he kisses Katsuki as if it's the only thing he ever wanted to do. "I love you too, Kacchan."

Izuku lifts a leg so that it lays across Katsuki's, and their cocks press together. It's as if they get struck by lightning, because they both gasp and writhe at the sensation.

Katsuki angles his hips so that they can do it again. Izuku lifts his leg until it shakes, and Katsuki helps him with the gentle hold to the inner thigh. He's still spilling slick, all across his nest, and it feels so right somewhere deep inside Katsuki's body. This is how it always should be— pleasing his omega so much that he's docile and wanting inside of his sanctified nest.

Katsuki's knuckles graze against the sizeable wet spot, and he presses his fingers back against Izuku's entrance. It's still ready from before— has been all day, really, but Katsuki wants to be sure.

He presses two in again, feeling how readily Izuku spreads for him. They both moan, hips still rocking their cocks together.

This position is hard to work in, but Katsuki gets a perfect look at how Izuku's face screws up as the pleasure overtakes him. His head is angled down, watching as their sexes rub together, and Katsuki is close enough like this that he can just barely hear Izuku's half-hearted mumbles. Mostly sweet nothings, and partly Katsuki's name whispered beneath his breath.

Katsuki shudders, and pulls his fingers out of Izuku's hole. A rush of slick follows after, further soaking the nest.

The room feels hazy with how much they’ve soaked it in their pheromones. Katsuki rolls his neck, nose pointed up in the air as he basks in it. Their scent mixed together is like earth on fire— or like how it felt to be outside at night, in warm rain. Katsuki doesn't know how that makes sense, but it didn't matter.

He presses his face to Izuku's neck, breathing in his smell directly again.

They roll over, and Izuku presses himself flat against the bed, facing away. Katsuki grumbles at the loss, but Izuku only snickers at him.

"I'm ready now, alpha." He lifts his hips up, angling his ass towards Katsuki. "Y-you can… do it. Put it in."

Katsuki can't help the way he gets flustered at the words, all over again. But he nods his head and moves closer. Izuku's slick has dripped forward and down just in those brief moments, and Katsuki thumbs against a line off it to gather it up.

He presses it back against his cock, which sits throbbing between his legs. He's pretty sure he's never wanted anything more than this.

Katsuki breathes in a nervous breath, even as his cock presses against Izuku's ass. He smears pre against it, mostly by accident, and gulps as Izuku's legs spread wider in response.

He'd done… research in preparation for this. He'd read first time horror stories, and how sometimes an alpha would lose control and… hurt their omega. And how, even if an alpha didn't lose control, it might STILL hurt. Especially when the knot caught too soon. Katsuki didn't want that for Izuku at all.

Katsuki hesitates for too long, because Izuku turns to watch him again, legs dropping closed. "Kacchan?"

"What if it's… bad?"

Katsuki drops, sitting back on his heels. Izuku curls his legs beneath himself to sit up, turning the rest of the way around.

"It won't be bad."

"It might," Katsuki argues, readily. "I don't want to hurt you anymore, Izuku."

Izuku looks startled, before he gets a faraway look in his eye. "Ah…"

He crawls forward, and doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Katsuki's middle. Even though his alpha was exuding worry and panic, Izuku was completely calm. He trusted Katsuki with his life— and more than that. He knew it would be good because they both wanted it so badly.

Izuku urges Katsuki onto his back. "How about like this, then? Like before."

Their hands tangle, and Izuku straddles Katsuki's hips. He presses their cocks together again, and Katsuki weakly moans at the stimulation again.

"You won't hurt me," Izuku promises. "I want you so badly, Kacchan. So it'll be okay."

"Idiot," Katsuki whispers, with no bite in the slightest. The nervous look in his eye fades, too.

Izuku lifts his hips so that Katsuki's length nestles its way between his ass. It's… a little intimidating. Izuku had never really done anything more than a few fingers. But they'd sent nudes to one another many times— so he knew what to expect.

It's so different in real life, though. Infinitely better, and… and bigger. Izuku was nervous, yes, but he wanted to feel it inside of him even more than that.

So, he reaches back to angle it better against his hole. It easily catches against the rim, especially, when Izuku curves across Katsuki's front and lays the latter completely against the nest.

He strokes the length twice, just to feel how much he's going to take inside. Then, he slowly presses down against it. The thick of it is an almost immediate presence against his sphincter, but Izuku holds his breath as it breaches. Easily, even, as Izuku makes it as far down as his knuckles, still fisted at the base of Katsuki's cock, with the same breath.

He gasps, just to remind himself to breathe, and Katsuki lets go of Izuku's other hand to press against his hips, stilling him. "S-slower. Slower, baby."

Izuku can't help it when he goes down faster at the tender words, moving his hand away so that he can press his stretched rim against the swell of Katsuki's knot. It isn't full, but it was getting there slowly but surely.

As he bottoms out, Izuku tongues across Katsuki's scent glands, nestled in the crook of his neck. Katsuki responds by squeezing his shaking hands tighter around Izuku's waist and keeping him pressed down deep.

"It's good," Izuku pants, teeth grazing carefully, dangerously, close to Katsuki's glands. If he just… bit down a little… punctured the skin. They'd be mated for life.

Izuku resists, though, only because Katsuki's hips jolt and press in just half an inch further. It winds Izuku, coiling a hot feeling in his gut as he knocks against something jaw-droppingly good inside of him. Izuku flops down, clinging onto Katsuki tight as he grinds down to chase the feeling.

Katsuki lifts Izuku by the hold he has on his waist, and lets him drop slowly. There's a wet noise as slick gets pushed out to make room of Katsuki's girth, and Izuku can't help the embarrassed whimper he makes.

Katsuki shushes him with a kiss, continuing the slow, rocking motion. His face is half buried against the top of Izuku's head, in his hair, and his nails bite at Izuku's hip when he tries to move away— just to ease some of the pressure building.

"Katsuki," Izuku gasps, moving his hips faster. "It's so good, please—"

Katsuki's chest rumbles with a pleased growl, and another burst of pleasure shoots through Izuku's core. He sits up straight, tossing his head back to moan freely.

The shift in angle makes the cock inside of him hit all new places. "Ohhhh, fuck." Izuku plants one of his feet against the sheets for more control and shoves himself up so that the head catches at his rim.

"Fuuck, Deku," Katsuki grunts. He drags his hands across Izuku's skin up his torso to press against his chest where Izuku's heart is beating loud against his ribs. Izuku can't help the way he clamps down tight, and it just sends the two of them into a spiral of moans and gasping whines again.

Katsuki sits up, following after Izuku. He suckles another hickey or two against his shoulder, pausing noticeably against the gland before he moves to the other side.

"I love you so much," Katsuki repeats. He drifts his hands low, wrapping his palm around Izuku's cock. It's been steadily leaking this entire time, of course, and the glide is smooth as Katsuki thumbs across the tip. "Tell me what you need."

"Knot." Izuku demands, immediately. Katsuki's other hand reaches behind to spread Izuku's ass, a few fingers dipping between to feel how his length enters him so perfectly.  "Knot me, alpha. And… and—"

The pace stutters for a second, and Izuku loses focus. Then, it speeds up as Katsuki opens his mouth wide. Hot, panting breaths soak across Izuku's neck, his bare scent gland, and Izuku shakes with need.

"Yes, yes, yes." Izuku turns his head almost completely away to expose it fully. "Claim me, alpha— Katsuki!"

The teeth clamp down. Stars bloom behind his eyelids as he squeezes them shut, entire body tensing as his orgasm rocks through him like a meteor entering the atmosphere. He blanks, focusing on the feel of his gut clenching and unclenching— of his cock spilling his seed directly against Katsuki's hand; the teeth digging deliciously tight into his skin.

Then, Katsuki is grunting. He sounds fierce, snarling against Izuku's skin as he continues to pump his cock inside, knot steadily barreling against the rim. It takes Izuku leaning forward, basically shoving Katsuki back against the nest, for it to go in partway.

Izuku's back arches as it does, stretching him even further. Katsuki stops at the feeling— dead stops, as if he's scared he's hurt Izuku— so Izuku moans loud and wanton for him. "Keep going— more Katsuki!"

The teeth pull away from his neck, and Izuku goes limp as Katsuki presses in harder. He clings to his alpha as the knot pops in, welling up twice as fast as Katsuki nears his orgasm. It stretches his rim, makes him ache in such a wonderful way, that he begins to rut his cock against Katsuki's belly, just to chase the lingering pleasure from his own climax.

Katsuki's mouth is still wide, tongue licking along his sharp canines. His hips still rock upwards, though his cock doesn't have much leeway to thrust in as fully as it did before. Still, it's enough. Katsuki shakes just as much as Izuku did when he finally cums, and they both shout when it does hit. He fills Izuku deep inside, cum searing inside of Izuku's gut.

Izuku hisses at it keeps filling him, every drop kept inside by the thick knot that has only just stopped growing inside of him. His legs tremble as it tugs at his sphincter, and he has to clamp down tight to stop Katsuki from moving too soon.

"Sorry," Katsuki pants, warm palms easing the ache from Izuku's hips when they rest there again. "Fuck… Izuku. I hurt you."

"You didn't." Izuku's laugh is breathless, and he lifts his head from where it flopped against Katsuki's chest. Katsuki meets him there with a kiss, rubbing gentle circles into his skin as they both calm.

His neck aches when he turns it and his eyes go wide for a moment as he reaches to touch it, implications hitting all at once.

"Did you really…?"

"No." Katsuki looks away for a moment, embarrassed. "I… almost lost control, though. But I didn't claim you."

Izuku would be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed. And his expression must fall because Katsuki quickly gathers him up closer, hugging his arms tight across Izuku's frame. 

Izuku wants to say that he's happy that Katsuki was able to control himself, even when Izuku barely could. But he also really really wanted to be Katsuki's mate, officially. Finally.

Still, he accepts Katsuki's gentle kisses to his cheek and to the growing bruise on his neck.

"Love you," Katsuki murmurs, a touch regretfully. 

He doesn't say anything further, only holds Izuku close as they bask in the afterglow.

"I love you, too."

Izuku nuzzles his face against the curve of Katsuki's jaw, accepting the small apology. He would just… have to be patient. Katsuki would be all his someday soon.

Eventually, Izuku relaxes, going limp like putty in Katsuki's hold. Every so often, he'll let out a soft moan as he shifts his hips, feeling the knot prod at his entrance.

Katsuki pats his hand across the nest to find a loose blanket to hook over their bodies as the fan continues to blow cold air across them.

It had been the hardest decision of his life, not claiming Izuku in the moment. The 'pro' list was miles longer than the 'cons' of having done it, but…

Katsuki was traditional. He wanted to prove to his future mate's dam and sire that he would be good for him. Be good to him. And even if he hated how Aizawa made them wait to even officially court… he would work hard for that approval.

If he had to prove himself again and again, until that day came, Izuku was worth that much and more.

---

Katsuki knocks on the front door to Izuku's home, some weeks later. He slicks his hair back with his sweaty palm, immediately frowning at himself. Why the fuck did he do that.

The lock clicks, and Katsuki straightens his spine, standing tall. It's nearing dusk, and a few cicadas get startled as the door is excitedly tugged open, slamming against the wall.

"Izuku." Aizawa's voice calls from further in the house.

"Sorry!" Izuku calls, his smile far too jovial for it to sound sincere. He's dressed semi-formal, just like Katsuki, and shoves his hand into his pocket to produce a quick gift.

Katsuki turns his nose up at the All Might keychain that sits in his palm. It's color palette was meant to match the Nighteye keychain Katsuki had given him forever ago.

"I hate you," Katsuki hisses. "I'm supposed to give you gifts. Dumb omega."

"I can't hear you, I'm too happy." Izuku sing-songs, twirling into the house to switch from house-shoes to his loafers. He drops on the raised step, shoving his feet in unceremoniously.

Before he can dash out of the house and steal the night with Katsuki, Aizawa shambles into the foyer with his arms crossed.

He looks tired, as he always does, and critically assesses Katsuki from head to toe. He pauses at the bouquet of flowers sitting limp in Katsuki's palm, and rolls his eyes exaggeratedly.

"Give me those."

"Uh…"

Katsuki holds the bouquet out, face going red as Izuku snickers at him. "Wow, Kacchan… I thought I was the only omega for you?"

Aizawa and Katsuki both splutter at the same time, even as Izuku falls out laughing at them.

He sidles up to Katsuki's side, shoving himself under one of Katsuki's arms to sling it around his own shoulder. "Can we go now, please? We already know the rules. And I'll keep my phone turned all the way up so you can call whenever you want."

Aizawa opens his mouth, but Izuku continues with, "And I'll keep my location on. Pleaseee, can we go?"

Aizawa frowns at Izuku, who only flutters his eyelashes like an innocent lamb. Katsuki can't help the way he smiles, if only from seeing Izuku so excited for an actual date.

Katsuki shoos Izuku away briefly, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before he bows at the waist to Aizawa. "I promise I'll take care of him tonight."

Katsuki definitely wasn't the bowing type, but… he truly was grateful Aizawa was finally allowing them to court. For that, and for taking care of Izuku for more than half his life, and… yeah.

"Shouta, quit bullying the kids and let them go eat." Yamada pokes his head around the corner, hair out of it's usual upstyle.

Yamada had, embarrassingly and inevitably, caught Katsuki sneaking out of Izuku's house right after their first time. He'd smelled the pheromones and the pre-heat soaked into Izuku's skin, but he hadn't been angry.

Rather, he'd mentioned how he was surprised it had taken them that long to sneak behind Aizawa's back. And it's thanks to Yamada that Aizawa was finally being more lenient and allowing Katsuki to take Izuku on a date. 

He shoots them both a wink behind Aizawa's back, before he plucks the bouquet from Aizawa's grip and hooks his hand in the empty space. "Don't worry, I'll keep him busy. Be back before midnight or else he might have a heart attack, yeah?"

Katsuki stammers something between a hesitant 'Yes, sir' and an offended 'Of course', but Izuku gathers him up before he can embarrass himself further.

"Got it!" Izuku calls, tugging him away. "Bye!"

They evacuate quickly, even as Aizawa gets into a half-hearted argument with Yamada that quickly fades as the door shuts behind them.

They speedwalk down the street for a couple of minutes, riding on the high of escaping Izuku's home unscathed. At least, on Katsuki's end.

Izuku turns to him just before they reach the crosswalk for the subway, cheeks rosy red as he continues grinning at him like he's the stars in the sky.

"What?"

"Nothing," Izuku hums, upbeat. "Just love you, is all."

Katsuki does not get flustered, thank you very much. He pats around his pockets, finding an empty space to slot the stupid keychain. Izuku's smile threatens to take over his entire face at the sight, but Katsuki holds his hand out to him before he can get all schmoopy.

"C'mon, shitty Deku. I have something for you before we go to our reservation."

Izuku obediently takes the offered hand, even before Katsuki has finished. "Oh?"

Katsuki tugs him along, holding on tight to his hand even as they ride the train. He leads them not too far, just a couple minutes out of the city where the lights are dimmer and the moon is brighter as it rises in the sky.

He tugs Izuku along, until they cross a bridge just below a shrine. It's nearly devoid of people, a stroke of luck.

In the growing moonlight, Izuku's flushed face is even more beautiful. He's looking around, curious even as he keeps in step with Katsuki.

Katsuki pulls him to a stop beneath an old, fruit-bearing tree. It smells faintly sweet, and Izuku lets out a pleased noise as he scents the air.

"Where are we?"

"Somewhere nice," Katsuki says, dismissively. "It's pretty, right?"

There are lots of colors: reds and greens and yellows from the nature around. Izuku loved nature and being outdoors. And he liked sweet smelling things, like fruit, and he liked the night time. Katsuki had been nervously reminding himself of those things when he'd chosen this spot for… for what he was planning.

Izuku looks confused, but nods nonetheless. "It's very pretty. Are we going to pray at the shrine?"

"Just shut up for a second."

Katsuki shoves his hand into his breast pocket and takes a steadying breath before he takes out a tiny box. Izuku's eyes blow wide as Katsuki holds it out to him, voice catching in his throat.

"This is… for…" Katsuki grumbles, immediately losing the words he'd practiced.

Izuku gingerly takes the velvet box and thumbs at the seam of it. "For… me?"

"Obviously." Katsuki ducks his head. "I mean, of course it's for you. Who else?"

He takes another breath, and then shuffles forward to open it. It's a simple silver band, but Izuku's eyes line with tears anyway as he sees it.

"It's just a promise ring, but… because I can't claim you yet, I wanted to give you something."

The nervous energy coursing through his veins was not something Katsuki was used to. He hates the way his voice comes out wobbly, and how his hands are clammy despite the sweat that coats them. Still, it's worth it for the way that Izuku melts at the sentiment.

"Kacchan…" Izuku sniffles, cupping the ring in his palm like it's precious. "You didn't have to…"

Katsuki tsks, crossing his arms. "Well, I needed to show everyone that you're mine somehow."

Izuku's laugh is wet as he feels the smooth metal with one of his fingers.

"Do you like it?" Katsuki asks, hesitant.

Izuku looks at him as if he's crazy, slotting the ring on his finger as if Katsuki was trying to take it away. "It's perfect. Thank you, Kacchan."

Katsuki sighs, relieved. A gust of wind rolls around them, causing Izuku to shiver as it cuts through his thin dress shirt. Katsuki sheds his jacket to curl it around Izuku's shoulders. He'd actually chosen that one, with a green pocket liner, because he was certain it'd look much better on Izuku than him anyway.

After a moment, Izuku leans in to peck Katsuki on the lips.

"I guess this means I can wait a little longer," Izuku concedes, though he does pout exaggeratedly. "But only if you let me get you one, too."

Katsuki curls away in disgust, trying to sink into his own neck like a turtle. "No gifts."

Izuku laughs as he twirls around to survey the ring on his finger in the light, and Katsuki quickly curls around him from behind, tucking his chin against the curve of Izuku's shoulder. They shift together, until Izuku hums a soft tune, and suddenly they're dancing.

They have half an hour or so before they're late for the reservation, so Katsuki doesn't let himself luxuriate in the feeling for too long. But he cherishes the moment for what it's worth.

The feel of Izuku in his arms, warm and swathed in a happy, gentle scent; the sight of Izuku wearing something that marks him as Katsuki's in such a clear way. Katsuki was willing to wait the rest of his life for more, but for now…

It was perfect.