help me / bakudeku omegaverse /

Part 15

The garden glowed in the late morning light. Dew still clung to the petals of the deep red lilies, and bees hovered lazily over the lavender hedges. Beneath the arched trellis, a soft blanket had been laid out on the grass. Cushions and a few small tables decorated the scene, along with a woven basket and a steaming pot of tea already waiting.

Katsuki stopped dead as they rounded the path.

"The hell is this?" he muttered.

Izuku turned toward him, suddenly shy. "Our date."

Katsuki looked from the basket to the shaded spot under the trees, then to Izuku again. He blinked once, then twice. "You did all this?"

Izuku gave a sheepish nod. "I didn't have money or anything, so I asked the palace staff for help. They were... surprisingly enthusiastic."

Katsuki raised an eyebrow. "You planned this while sitting right across from me for three days?"

"Mhm."

A pause.

"Damn."

Izuku looked up, startled.

"I mean it," Katsuki said, stepping closer. "This is..." His eyes scanned the area again. "It's lovely."

Izuku's face flushed. He wasn't used to being complimented. Not like this.

They settled down on the blanket, the soft rustling of trees the only sound around them for a while. The food was simple but thoughtful—grilled rice cakes, flaky pastries filled with savory meat and vegetables, and a few sweet buns shaped like tiny flowers.

Izuku poured them both tea, careful not to spill.

"Okay," he said, once they'd both eaten. "So... I planned a game too."

Katsuki narrowed his eyes. "A game?"

"To get to know each other better." Izuku reached into a pouch by the basket and pulled out two small stones—one green, one red. "We take turns asking each other questions. If you don't want to answer, you pass the red stone."

Katsuki smirked. "You really thought this through."

"I didn't want to waste our date."

That shut Katsuki up for a second. His smile faded into something softer.

Izuku cleared his throat and looked at the stones. "Want to go first?"

"Sure." Katsuki leaned back on one arm. "Favorite color?"

"Green," Izuku said immediately, then glanced down at himself and laughed softly. "Bit obvious, I guess."

"It suits you."

Izuku blinked.

Katsuki looked away, clearly already regretting saying it out loud.

"...Your turn," Izuku said quickly, to save him.

Katsuki shrugged, tossing him the red stone, "Pass."

Izuku tilted his head. " Already? You won't even tell me your favorite color?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"It's embarrassing."

Izuku squinted at him suspiciously. "Is it something like... baby pink?"

Katsuki didn't answer.

"Oh my god, it's baby pink—"

"Shut up."

Izuku giggled behind his hand.

Katsuki grumbled but his eyes sparkled when he looked at him. "Your turn."

Izuku thought for a moment. "Favorite thing to do when you're alone?"

"Training," Katsuki replied. "Or cooking. Kinda depends on the day."

Izuku nodded. "That makes sense. You're good at both."

Katsuki scoffed. "Damn right I am. Yours?"

Izuku hesitated.

"Don't have one," he said after a moment. "Didn't really get alone time back in the rings. I mostly... watched people. Imagined things."

Katsuki's face hardened. "Imagined what?"

"Quiet. Peace. Being left alone."

Katsuki didn't say anything for a long moment.

Then: "We'll fix that."

Izuku blinked at him.

"I'll give you all of it. The peace. The time. The quiet mornings and dumb favorite hobbies. The tea you like. Every stupid flower. Every small thing you missed out on. I'll give it all to you."

His voice was low but fierce, like a promise sworn in fire.

Izuku stared at him, breath caught.

No one had ever said something like that to him before.

Not once.

A long silence fell over them. It wasn't awkward—just heavy. Thick with something too new to name. Izuku's eyes drifted down to Katsuki's hand, resting just beside his own. Close. Too close. Not close enough.

"I..." Izuku started, then stopped.

Katsuki looked at him.

"I think I'm scared of how much I want to kiss you."

Katsuki didn't move.

The world held its breath.

"Then be scared," he murmured, "and do it anyway."

Izuku leaned in.

Their lips met with a soft press—gentle, cautious. But as the seconds passed, the kiss deepened, grew into something bolder. Katsuki's hand came up to cradle Izuku's jaw, holding him steady as if afraid he might drift away. Izuku clutched at Katsuki's cloak, heart racing so hard he could hear it in his ears.

It wasn't just passion—it was the quiet ache of longing. The crash of emotion behind everything they hadn't said.

When they finally pulled back, they were breathless.

"Izuku," Katsuki said, still close enough that their noses brushed.

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna fall stupidly in love with you."

Izuku swallowed. "I think I already have."

Neither of them moved. The sunlight dappled through the trees, casting warm gold across their faces. For the first time in either of their lives, the world felt still. Whole.