How could he have done that?
Izuku huffed a breath from his nose, a great plume of white puffing into the brisk, winter air. White lights shimmered, festive music drifted in the distance, drowned out by the big city din of chatter and cars. It was late evening, and the sidewalks were crusted with snow, but the streets were still packed with holiday shoppers.
Izuku was here too, after all. Night was the only available time he had to pick out gifts for his friends and family. His days were filled with school, every other afternoon with internship duties, and nights with his studies. Getting to relax like this felt almost like a vacation.
Wandering stores as he pleased, grabbing a hot chocolate and sitting on cold bench, watching families pass with laughter and joy. It had also felt good to be able to afford presents for everyone with the wage he made during his internship.
He'd even bought Kacchan a present, knowing full well it would undoubtedly be scoffed at.
Which led back to his unrelenting line of thought.
Why had he done that?
Izuku tucked his cold nose into the thick folds of the scarf Koji had knitted for him. He'd made a scarf for everyone last Christmas – and, although Izuku would never tell his mother, it was better than anything she had ever made for him.
He could feel his face flame up with a hot blush as he held tight to his shopping bags and weaved through pedestrian traffic.
It had been months. Months. More than three since the last time they'd touched each other. Since the time Izuku had snuck into Kacchan's room, horny and high on the idea that he could seduce his rival.
Izuku shouldn't have been surprised that it had turned around on him. No matter how in control he thought he could be with Kacchan, he always wanted, needed, too much of Kacchan. Even when it had looked as if Izuku had been in control, that had only been mindless lust and desire for Kacchan consuming him. There was no thinking clearly when Kacchan's voice was in his ear.
However, he had to applaud himself for washing Kacchan in the shower afterwards with a straight face. He was sure his cheeks had been red the entire time, but Kacchan had remained silent, but for barking orders to scrub harder, softer, here, there, and fuck there's fucking shampoo in my eyes, you bastard.
They'd never met each other's gaze, and Kacchan had scowled the entire way through, but he'd let Izuku help. Properly help, for the first time in as long as Izuku could remember.
And yes, the night did end with Kacchan physically planting his foot flat on Izuku's ass and pushing him out of his door, but – well, Izuku was happy.
Happy and embarrassed.
Pausing in front of a school supply store, Izuku peered into the large windows before popping inside. Ochako's birthday was just two days after Christmas, and he'd wanted to buy her a little something extra. Her backpack had seen better days, and since her family was struggling, Izuku thought he could find her a really cute one.
A wave of hot hair overwhelmed Izuku as he stepped into the shop, and he was immediately uncomfortable in his layers. He pushed his fluffy, faux fur hood back and unraveled his scarf, shoving it into one of his shopping bags as he skirted between people and aisles. Spotting the brightly colored wall of backpacks, Izuku made his way over and –
Found himself staring at the unmistakably hunched figure of Kacchan at the end of the aisle.
Izuku broke out into a smile and called out Kacchan's name as he approached, remaining steady and unflinching when Kacchan saw him and made a sour face.
