Tall Order - Chapter 10 [FINAL]

Katsuki couldn't believe it was already over. He'd expected to be out of there by day two, but no, he'd made it all the way to the weekend and the boat home, and come out of it with a boyfriend, to boot. Soon they would be back on the mainland, picking up their suits and dresses, heading for the pretty little temple Ochako had picked out to be married in. The girls spent the entire boat ride squealing in their excitement, but Katsuki was a lot less enthused. Completely unenthused, if he was honest. He had one more night of freedom, in a little hotel room in the countryside, then it was back to reality. Back to his little apartment at the other end of the country, alone. Back to working ridiculous hours, alone. 

“I don't want to go,” he admitted, leaning in close to Izuku's ear.

“It's only for a few hours, Kacchan, I'm sure it'll be great! There'll be good food and cake!”

“I don't mean the wedding.”

Izuku turned to look at him with those ridiculous puppy eyes, all wide and pathetic and stupidly cute.

“We'll see each other a bunch, Kacchan, I promise.”

“Not enough.”

“It's never enough, with you,” Izuku smiled, leaning over to nuzzle into his neck. “I could spend every minute with you and be happy.”

“Yeah.”

“We'll work something out, okay? I promise.”

“Like what? You think it's super simple for one of us to just leave our patrol zones unattended?”

“Of course not. But... Um... Okay, math!”

He dug through his bag to find a notebook, grinning as he set to work, and Katsuki couldn't help but smile fondly as he leaned in to watch.

“So this is my patrol area, and this is yours,” he explained, drawing two circles in opposite corners. “But I live over here on this side, where do you live?”

“In the middle.”

“Okay, so...” he drew two little houses in the right places, then an arrow between them. “We could meet somewhere in the middle! How long does it take you to get to your parents' house?”

“Driving?”

“Yeah!”

“Seven hours.”

Izuku froze, frowning, then slowly turned to look at him.

“By train?”

“Four.”

“Shit that's far. Maybe I should tell them I can't take the job.”

“What job?”

“Oh, um, I'm meant to start working in Tokyo in a couple of weeks, so I was thinking about moving up there? I wasn't sure because of leaving Mom and all, but it would be pretty amazing, you know? But if I'm leaving Mom and gonna be further from you, I'll just tell them I have to rescind my acceptance.”

Katsuki froze, suddenly hyper aware of every shallow breath in and out of his lungs.

“I got a job offer,” he choked out, blushing. “In Tokyo.”

“What?!”

“I haven't told them yes!” he cut in, before Izuku could get too excited. “I told them I'd think about it! I mean, I like where I live. But, um, Tokyo is next level, right? So I figured I should consider it.”

“Tell them yes!” Izuku demanded, digging Katsuki's phone from his bag and slamming it in his hands. “Now! Tell your old agency you won't be back!”

“It won't be that quick, damn Deku!”

“It will. They need us!”

“Jesus, you're a demanding little shit. Fine, I'll write the emails, god damn.”

With Izuku peering over his shoulder, he wrote out a humble – if he did say so himself – acceptance to the agency in Tokyo who had been fighting to recruit him for the better part of two years. It was a different one than Izuku, as his boyfriend so helpfully pointed out as he read along, but they both had equally good reputations, so that was a good sign. They wouldn't be able to work together directly, but honestly that was probably for the best. Every day, though, they'd be able to go home to the same little apartment, would be able to snuggle up together in bed and compare their incidents for the day. Katsuki would be able to cook for him - warm, hearty dinners every night that would keep him fueled for his long days of work. They could kiss each other goodbye in the mornings, trade lunchboxes even, if they felt like being extra sappy, and in the evenings they could welcome each other home with open arms – to a warm apartment, not a cold, empty one anymore.

“Do you have somewhere to stay?” Katsuki asked, pausing with his thumb over the send button. “An apartment?”

“I said I'd use company housing for now, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you stayed with me! It looks pretty nice, but if you don't like it we can look for somewhere else together!”

“Okay,” he nodded, hitting the button. “It's done.”

“I'm so excited, Kacchan!”

“Yeah,” he nodded, pausing awkwardly and dropping his voice to a mumble. “Me too.”

“We're gonna live together?”

“Yeah.”

“Kacchaaaaan!” he bleated, tearing up. “Hug me! I'm so happy!”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, but reached an arm out all the same, draping it over Izuku's shoulders. He could hardly even reach the other side, but before he could really focus in on that annoying observation, Izuku was pulling him into his lap, beaming as he hugged tight.

“Cut it out, shitty nerd! You're so embarrassing!”

“Guys!” Izuku called loudly, ignoring Katsuki's protests. “Guess what?!”

“The fuck, Deku?!”

“You know how I got that job in Tokyo?” he continued, as if Katsuki hadn't spoken. “Kacchan got one too! We're gonna be together after all!”

“That's great news!” Ochako beamed, clapping her hands happily. “It'll be nice to have you back near us, Katsuki!”

“I'm very happy for you both,” Iida nodded firmly. “I'm sure you'll be very happy together.”

“Oh my God,” Katsuki groaned, as the excitement continued. “Throw me overboard, god damn.”

He distracted himself from the singing of their praises by leaning into Izuku a little more, resting his chin on soft green hair while his fingers brushed at the short little fuzzy bits on the back of his neck. 

“Hey, nerd,” he snorted, when the conversation began to die down. “Look, I'm above you again.”

“Well, we can't have that!”

He tangled his fingers in Katsuki's short spikes, shoving his head downward, and despite himself Katsuki found himself laughing along, batting him away playfully.

“Cut it out,” he whined. “Let me be tall!”

“Never!”

Izuku didn't seem to notice the way Katsuki bounced in his lap as he laughed, didn't seem perturbed by the extra weight on top of him, and something about that was kind of hot. He held Katsuki so easily, like it was no effort at all, and Katsuki was surprised by how much he enjoyed feeling small. It wasn't like he felt weak or frail, Izuku would never do that to him, but being held was just such an odd intimacy that he'd lacked since he was a toddler.

“Sit still, Kacchan!”

“Yes, your Highness.”

With Katsuki's snort, the dumb laughter began all over again, tears pouring down Izuku's face as he giggled. Katsuki wiped them away fondly, meeting his gaze as if they were alone on the big boat, as if there weren't two dozen friends and coworkers within eyeshot, pointedly ignoring their antics.

“Don't change,” he said softly, making Izuku's cheeks flood with pink. “Never change, okay?”

“You and me forever, no matter what,” Izuku assured him. “I've waited this long, Kacchan, I'm not giving you up again.”

“Me neither, stupid nerd.”

─

As Katsuki sat in the crowd, he knew he should be looking at Ochako, at his good friend who was currently in the midst of the happiest day of her life. Instead, though, his eyes were fixed on the tall man in a dark suit at her side, crying like an idiot and wiping the tears away with his sleeve. It took a while before Izuku noticed him staring, before he looked up beyond his sniffles and caught Katsuki's gleaming ruby eyes. When he did, though, Katsuki shot him a smile, and Izuku melted into a pool of nothing but love for his childhood friend – his boyfriend. God that was such a good word. His boyfriend, Katsuki. His boyfriend, Kacchan. He'd never get over that. 

When the ceremony ended, they filed their way calmly and politely out to a big hall where the reception was ready to go, tables lined with good food and sweet music playing from the little stage. Ochako would be there to dance soon, and no doubt Izuku would get dragged into joining her – probably Katsuki too, if he was entirely honest. But for now she was outside, taking professional photos with her partner and their wedding party, including Izuku with his dopey smile and barely tamed hair. They would be cute photos, Katsuki didn't doubt that at all, but as he stuffed a few appetisers into his face he couldn't seem to stop one stupid topic from dominating his every thought.

What would their wedding look like?

Would Izuku try to insist on All Might colours? It wouldn't surprise him, from that dork. 

“But All Might brought us together!!” he would insist. “As kids and again as teenagers! It only makes sense!”

Katsuki wouldn't concede, he preferred something more classy, but maybe he'd let Izuku hold a bouquet in rings of red, white, blue and gold. That would keep a good smile on the nerd's face while they said their vows and took their photos.

Then again, he'd be smiling anyway, right? On their wedding day? How could he not?

Well, no, that answer was simple. He could be too damn busy crying his ass off to smile. 

They could go with green and orange, maybe. Not as garish as their hero costumes, which looked okay together in small doses but certainly couldn't be called classy. Greenery with orange roses scattered among it, in neat arrangements at their altar He could wear a green tie, Izuku an orange one.

God, when had he become such a damn sap?

“Oi, Shitty Hair, punch me or something,” he demanded, walking up to his friends at a table. “Hard.”

“Huh? What? Why?”

“Because I'm being gross and need someone to beat that shit out of me.”

“Awwww!” Mina cooed. “You're already thinking about marrying Izuku, aren't you?!”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Izuku would look so nice in a white tux! With a red rose in his lapel to match your eyes!”

“Fuck off, we're not doing shitty Christmas colours, it'll be orange.”

It took him a moment to understand why his friends were suddenly laughing at his expense, his cheeks burning when he realised, too late, his dumb mistake. That damn Raccoon Face was too good at playing him like a fiddle.

“Hey cutie, you here with someone?”

He looked back with a scowl only to find Izuku grinning at him cheekily, stepping in a little closer as he greeted their friends.

“Yeah,” he nodded finally. “My stupid nerd of a boyfriend is around here somewhere.”

“Oh yeah? He's a lucky guy.”

“Damn right he is.”

Izuku giggled, but held out a hand, his smile full of warmth as he waited for Katsuki to accept.

“Come dance with me, Kacchan.”

It wasn't a question. Katsuki felt his stomach flip as he let himself be led away, out onto the floor where the wedding party were dancing with their partners, tucked in close to each other with sweet smiles on their lips.

“I get to lead,” Katsuki demanded, blushing as he accepted Izuku's hands. “You be the damn girl.”

“Whatever you say, Kacchan!”

Twined together, they swayed to the music, Katsuki's head tucked into the side of Izuku's neck. It was warm there, and oddly comfortable, not to mention it was the best place to catch a whiff of Izuku's unique scent. Wooden and foresty, beneath the cleanliness, just like the baggy sweater he'd been loaned a few days prior and refused to give back. 

“Deku?” he murmured.

“Hmm? Yes, Kacchan?”

“We're not having an All Might themed wedding.”

“Of course not!” Izuku giggled, squeezing his hand a little tighter. “It'll be hero themed. Only the happy couple gets to sit at the All Might table!”

“You're such a fuckin' nerd.”

“And we'll have a three tiered cake, with your motifs and mine and All Might's all on different layers.”

“No.”

“And everyone can come dressed up as heroes.”

“No.”

“And we can eat the favourite snacks of all the top heroes.”

“Fucking no, asshole!”

Izuku pouted, but nodded all the same, looking down at Katsuki's grimace.

“What kind of wedding does Kacchan want, then?”

“Simple and elegant, as short as possible, with a long honeymoon in a nice hotel afterward.”

“Oh, I'm on board with that,” Izuku laughed. “Can we eat Katsudon?”

“Sure. We have to, right? It's the top hero's favourite food.”

“Awww, you do listen to my ideas!”

“Dumbass.”

When the song finally ended, Izuku let himself be dragged away, still hand in hand with their fingers entwined, Katsuki's face still flushed as they wove through the crowd together.

“Hey Kacchan?” he asked, when they found some room to breathe and Katsuki finally paused. 

“What?”

He slipped his hand into Katsuki's back pocket, squeezing lightly, and a wry smile twisted across his lips.

“I saw a roomy-looking closet in the hallway.”

“Lead the way, nerd.”

Giggling, they slipped from the crowded room into a much quieter corridor, and soon they were shut inside a dark closet. Their bodies twisted around buckets and brooms, and Izuku had to keep his head slightly bowed to avoid a pipe running overhead, but still somehow it was so damn perfect. 

“Kiss me,” Katsuki demanded, throwing an arm around Izuku's neck and pulling him in close. “Kiss me like you fuckin' mean it, Deku.”

Izuku wrapped a hand around each of his thighs, hauling him up despite the little squawk it produced, and slammed him back against the closet wall. He was helpless, completely relying on Izuku's brute strength to hold him up, and something about it made his pants way too damn tight. 

His eternally soft lips somehow felt rough as they pressed into Katsuki's, claiming his touch, and Katsuki's hands rose to cup Izuku's cheeks, holding on to him like he could disappear at any moment, like he could wake up from a stupid ass dream and be alone in his bed at home, wondering why the hell his brain had decided to torment him so. This was Izuku, after all. How the hell had shitty little quirkless Deku become the man of his dreams?

“Kacchan,” Izuku smiled, leaning his forehead against Katsuki's as they paused. “You're muttering.”

“I'm not, fucking asshole, that's what your nerd ass does, not mine!”

“You're muttering,” Izuku repeated, grinning to himself. “It's super cute, but this isn't a dream.”

“Haaah?!”

“You're awake, Kacchan, here with me. I promise.”

“I- You- Don't you think I fuckin' know that?!”

“I like being called the man of your dreams, though. Maybe if you compliment me more, I'll make you happy too.”

He pried Katsuki's thighs apart and took a step closer, letting strong legs wrap around his waist and clutch at him tightly, doing their best to support some of his own weight even though it was needless – not to mention futile.

“You're so pretty like this,” Izuku praised, shifting one hand to tilt Katsuki's head back, meeting dazed eyes. “I like you, Kacchan. I'm here with you and I always will be.”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Is there something you want to say to me, too?”

“I love you.”

The words came out of their own accord, before Katsuki could realise what he was saying, but the moment he began to stumble out some kind of stupid, half-baked excuse, Izuku shifted his scarred hand to cover Katsuki's lips.

“I love you too, Kacchan.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

For a brief moment, Katsuki's face softened, and he looked at Izuku with all the joy and love in the world before he caught himself out and scowled again.

“You're so pretty,” Izuku said again, running a hand through blond hair that had already grown messy in their endeavors. “You wanna kiss me again?”

“Yeah.”

“Now?”

“Every day for the rest of my life.”

“Good answer, Kacchan,” Izuku grinned, kissing a light trail along Katsuki's jaw. “And you'll be mine forever?”

“I promise.”

“You like me?”

“Yeah.”

“Think I'm hot?”

Katsuki nodded, hands trailing over strong pecs and back up to cup his face again. 

“So tall,” he murmured, planting kisses in the crook of Izuku's neck.

“So I can't screw this up unless I get short, huh?”

“Correct,” Katsuki smirked. “Don't get short, asshole.”

Their eyes met, and before either of them could speak again, a fit of giggles overran them both. The supply cupboard filled with bright laughter and matching tears, wiped away on their sleeves as they struggled to keep themselves – and each other – upright.

“Marry me, Kacchan.”

“Are you fuckin' proposing to me with no ring in sight, hidden in a shitty, smelly cleaing cupboard?”

“Is that a bad idea?”

“You're the top fuckin' hero, at least get me a big ass diamond.”

“Okay,” Izuku snorted, hugging Katsuki close. “Wait for me, okay?”

“As long as it takes.”