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Shouto stares down at his feet sticking out of the blanket covering the rest of his legs, wiggling his toes which are currently painted a dark purple after his evening hanging out with Jirou, Momo, and Kaminari after they’d demanded he let them add some color to them. It had been a fun evening.
He looks at his feet and then turns to the set of legs stretched out next to him, feet fully covered under the shared blanket, then back at his own.
“The fuck you doing?” Katsuki asks, looking up over the rim of his reading glasses. They’re both sitting on Katsuki’s bed in the dorms, leaning back against the headboard and doing their homework. At least, Katsuki is; Shouto’s just contemplating his “long-ass” legs and the fact that he’s now almost a whole head taller than his boyfriend after his growth spurt over the past summer.
“Looking at my feet,” he answers truthfully.
“Well, they look fucking sexy I told you already, stop fishing for compliments and get to work. I’m gonna quiz you on the reading later.”
“‘Kay. But I’m not looking at my nails, I said I’m looking at my feet.”
“Hmm.” Katsuki has gone back to focusing on his reading and taking diligent notes. Maybe Shouto can bug him later to copy them down just to get him riled up.
He starts rubbing his bare feet together, the dry skin-on-skin making a soft, scratchy sound. It’s a little chilly without his feet fitting under the blankets. Katsuki grabs the discarded sweatshirt on his lap and chucks it at them and it lands perfectly, covering them in the clothed warmth.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah. You want socks?”
“No, this is good.”
“Alright.”
“…Katsuki?”
“Hmm?”
“I have a question.”
“Oh, goody. What is it dumbass?” his boyfriend doesn’t look up from his notebook as he aggressively underlines a word and keeps writing, but Shouto knows he’s listening. He always does.
“Would you date me if I was shorter?”
“No.”
Okay, good– Wait .
He whips his head, mildly panicked, to face Katsuki only to find him trying to suppress a laugh, his lips pursing in amusement as he continues to stare at his page even though he’s clearly not focused on it now.
Shouto shoves his shoulder with his own, a bit annoyed and relieved at the same time. “That wasn’t funny, Katsuki.”
“Well, with how stupid your question was I couldn’t fucking resist.”
“…it wasn’t a stupid question, I was genuinely wondering.” Shouto does feel a little silly now though, but he won’t tell Katsuki that.
“Yeah, I know it was genuine, which is why it was stupid. If I was going for height over anything I could fucking go after Shoji or even fucking Soy Sauce.” Katsuki just shakes his head with a small smile, leaning over to kiss Shouto’s cheek before returning to his work.
A beat of silence and then –“Okay. I have another question.”
Katsuki lets out a sigh, not necessarily exasperated but accepting that Shouto’s not going to get back to work or let him continue with it any time soon; not until all his burning questions for the evening are answered in full. He places one side of his notebook into the one he’s doing his reading in as a bookmark and closes them on each other. He sets them aside on his nightstand and takes his reading glasses off too, setting them on top. He turns in place, switching to sit cross-legged so that he’s facing Shouto. It’s a tight squeeze and he could totally fall flat on his back if he tips backward even a little, so Shouto reaches an arm around to hold him.
Katsuki’s hand comes to rest on his thigh and he gives it a squeeze. “‘Kay, I’m listening for real this time. And I’ll answer seriously, no jokes.”
Shouto smiles. “Thanks. I was just going to ask why you’re dating me?”
Katsuki’s eyebrows scrunch in confusion, mouth turning down in a slight frown.
“Uh, like do you not want me to?”
“No, I was just wondering why you’re still with me.”
The expression suddenly shifts to hurt and anger. “Wait, are you trying to break up with me, bastard?? If that’s what you want just say it straight! Don’t play these fucking games with me!”
Shouto’s eyes widen in alarm; shit that’s not what he meant but he can see how Katsuki jumped to that conclusion.
“No!” He pulls his boyfriend an inch closer with his arm and grips the hand on his leg with the other. Katsuki has his eyes narrowed at him, a hint of doubt behind his eyes, gleaming in the low light from either anger or tears building in them. Or both. “No, Kat, why would I do that?”
“I dunno, you tell me! You’re suddenly asking all these weird questions that are more cryptic than usual, so what am I supposed to think?”
“Okay, okay, sorry. Just to be clear, I’m not ending this,” he gestures between them. “It’s the last thing I would ever want to do,” he adds softly.
Katsuki glares at him a little longer trying to detect a lie and finally seems convinced, his body relaxing again and features softening.
“Okay, can you maybe be a little more clear with what you’re asking, dumbass?”
Shouto considers how to word his question again and decides to go for his favorite approach: blunt and direct.
“I want you to tell me the things that you like about me that make you want to stay with me.”
Katsuki looks a little taken aback by the request and Shouto’s a little nervous. But then his face shifts to something more determined; Katsuki’s never been one to back down from a challenge.
“Putting shit like that into words isn’t my strong suit but for your stupid ass, I’ll give it a fucking shot.”
Shouto nods, anticipatory.
“Alright, it’s all gonna sound cheesy as hell and you’re gonna owe me at least four dates this month, got it?”
Shouto grins, “that’s fair.”
“Well, first you’re real fucking strong, that’s obvious. Both physically and otherwise. You’re one of the few people that can probably successfully kick my ass, but don’t think I’ll ever go down easy. You’re so goddamn nice to everyone and everyone loves you. You’re pretty and gorgeous and handsome as all hell and you don’t even fucking try that it’s infuriating. You ask me stupid shit and drive me up the wall but somehow, somehow , it makes me go nuts for ya. And then your hair.”
That’s… a lot to take in all at once and Shouto hasn’t fully processed it all, he just knows that his chest feels warm and there’s a sense of deep affection blooming in there. But-that was a weird note to end on.
“My hair?”
“Yeah.
“What about it?”
“What do you mean what about it? It’s nice hair! I fucking like touching it and shit!”
“Oh. Thank you, I like it when you touch it too.”
Shouto blinks and Katsuki blinks back with a mild scowl. And then as one, they find themselves devolving in a fit of laughter.
Katsuki nudges and shoves him by the chest lightly, indicating for Shouto to lean back against the wall instead, perpendicular to his previous position. They’re both still recovering from the bout of laughter as his boyfriend clambers on his lap and pats his chest affectionately.
“Alright Halfie, your turn. Fair’s fair.”
“Hmm?”
“Now you gotta tell me why you’re still sticking around with me,” Katsuki demands. “I know I can be difficult to handle or be with sometimes, so what’s keeping you around, huh?” his voice turns quiet and hesitant at the last few words.
What the hell is he talking about?
“What do you mean? You’re not difficult.” The suspicious look on Katsuki’s face tells him he doesn’t entirely believe him yet. The little list his boyfriend just spouted to him definitely made Shouto feel so much better and more assured. Of course, he’ll do the same for Katsuki. Sometimes hearing these things out loud does make a big difference.
He wraps his arms around Katsuki’s waist and lifts his chin to look up and meet the bright, crimson eyes. “You’re right, putting this into actual words is hard.”
Katsuki scoffs, eyes saying I told you so.
“Bakugou Katsuki, you’re one of the strongest people I know, and I know a lot of them,” he smiles as heat starts rising on Katsuki’s cheeks. He tries for a scowl to counter it but it just ends up turning into a cute pout. “You’re so incredibly passionate in everything you do and you always strive to be the best and win , even if it’s just a game of monopoly. You’re such a great leader and you inspire so many people including me. You’re so handsome and beautiful all at once. And Katsuki?”
“…yeah?” The voice is barely audible.
“I like your hair too. It’s nice and spikey but also soft somehow.”
Katsuki’s head leans back as he chuckles loud and light and Shouto takes the opportunity to press his lips against his collar bone. Katsuki’s breath hitches in his throat and he tangles his hands in Shouto’s hair. He meets Shouto’s gaze with a wide grin and kisses his lips.
But Shouto still has one more thing to say, one more reason to answer his boyfriend’s question.
“And, I love you, Kat,” he whispers, “that’s why I’m still here. And I don’t really want to be anywhere else.”
Katsuki’s eyes widen, a little shocked and surprised at his words. It’s warranted, Shouto supposes, since this is the first time either of them has said those words since they got together.
“You mean it?” Katsuki breathes the words close to his lips, the warm breath ghosting over them.
A beat. “No, I lied.”
Katsuki’s eyes crumple for the briefest of seconds before he immediately catches on and tugs Shouto’s hair not ungently but just enough to sting a bit.
Shouto laughs. “I’m sorry, sorry!”
“There’s a time and place for jokes like that, moron!” But Katsuki’s laughing too, tone lighthearted and full of fondness for him. For Shouto.
He smashes their lips together again, wasting no time in coaxing Shouto’s mouth open and kissing him so deep and rough and loving.
“And for the record,” Katsuki huffs breathlessly, “I fucking love you too. Too damn much for my own good but I can’t fucking help it.”
Shouto beams at him, heart full and so complete. “I know.”