Old Friend, New Year [NYE 2023]

“Do you have a resolution for the new year?” Izuku asked, nudging Katsuki lightly with his shoulder.

“To spend more time with you.”

Izuku froze, eyes wide – he didn’t have a response loaded for that, had never expected anything remotely close to that sort of answer. He half-expected Katsuki to start laughing, to sneer at him for even considering that he might mean it, but when he glanced over, Katsuki’s face was as impassive as ever. Other than anger, or feigned anger in most instances, Katsuki’s expressions never gave anything away; part of Izuku hated that, since he could never tell what the guy was thinking, but most of him thought it was oddly endearing. Seeing Katsuki’s face so soft was always a joy, compared to his yelling and sneering.

“That can be arranged,” he said finally, cursing how stupid his voice sounded as it wormed its way out of his lungs. “I’d like that.”

Katsuki just nodded once, looking up at the bright, colourful fireworks exploding above them. It was the one benefit of working on New Year’s Eve, especially being posted at such a weird spot, so close to a theme park. It was different from their usual celebrations, hanging out at home with family – Katsuki arguing with his mother all night while his dad played referee; Izuku calmly eating noodles with his own mother, his father halfway across the world as usual – but neither of them really seemed to mind the change of scenery.

There were so many thoughts swirling in Katsuki’s brain. Things he wanted to say, things he thought maybe he should say, but he kept his mouth firmly shut. He didn’t want to jeopardise the tentative friendship they’d pieced together over the past few years, since they came together in high school and began to sort out their differences. Not that Izuku had ever caused trouble between them, at least not intentionally – ‘since Katsuki had gotten his act together’ would probably have been a better description.

“What do you wanna do together?” Izuku prompted him, looking up at the shimmering colours cascading through the dark sky. “We’ll be twenty this year, we could start doing Friday night drinks or something if you want.”

He wasn’t sure whether either of them would really become big drinkers, but it had always sounded like a nice way to end the week – hanging out in a warm, dark bar, sipping at a glass of something nice, with just enough of a buzz to dull all the raging thoughts from the work week that were always clogging up his brain.

“That sounds good,” Katsuki agreed. “Couple of months away, though.”

“Yeah,” Izuku smiled faintly. “But that means you can’t give up on your resolution super early, we have plans to keep it going.”

“True,” Katsuki chuckled, and Izuku looked over to catch a glimpse of the soft smile. “I won’t give up, nerd. I never give up.”

“You might get sick of me.”

“Not a chance.”

Izuku grinned at that, and Katsuki elbowed him sharply in protest, looking away in an attempt to hide the pink that tinted his cheeks.

It failed.

A loud burst overhead sent golden sparks cascading over their world, framing Katsuki in a soft golden glow that made him seem otherworldly, like he’d descended from the heavens just to sit with Izuku on a cold rooftop and wile away the hours.

As the sparks died out, the glow fading, a little shiver ran through Katsuki’s body, making him curl inward to defend against the gentle breeze. Izuku shuffled a little closer to share his body heat, his puffy winter jacket keeping him toasty and cozy within, and for once, Katsuki didn’t squirm away when Izuku leaned up against him.

“Wait here,” he instructed after a moment, touching his zipped-up pocket to make sure his phone was still inside. “I’ll be back.”

“What? Where are you-”

His question was cut off by a rush of wind as Izuku fell, dropping off the edge of the building without a second thought and pushing a burst of neon green energy into his legs to protect them as he landed. Katsuki could only watch him go, wide-eyed, and wait like an obedient little puppy for his return. He felt like an idiot for it, but what else was he supposed to do?

“Kacchan!” Izuku called brightly, as he hurried back down the street. “I’m back!”

Katsuki couldn’t come up with a non-stupid way to say “yeah, I know, I was watching the whole time” so he opted to just keep his mouth shut, instead focussing on not letting the admiration show in his eyes when Izuku sprung back up to join him like it took no effort at all.

“I got you the vegetable soup,” Izuku began, as he pulled a can from his pocket and tucked it between Katsuki’s gloved hands. “Lots of good nutrients to keep you healthy!”

“Thanks,” Katsuki mumbled, pulling his scarf up to cover his blush. “I uh, appreciate it.”

“My pleasure, Kacchan!”

It had taken a long time for Katsuki to get used to saying those words, for him to finally see Izuku’s sweet little gestures as the mark of friendship and not some kind of patronizing implication that Katsuki needed his help to get by. Izuku was still delighted every time Katsuki accepted a gift, no matter how small, and doubly so when it meant hearing “thank you” or seeing the cute facial expressions it caused.

“It’s almost time,” Izuku said softly, leaning in again to rest his cheek on Katsuki’s shoulder. He was feeling bold, apparently, but Katsuki accepted the touch without even flinching. “Looks like you’re off to a good start on your resolution, huh?”

“Boss must be looking out for me,” Katsuki said with a chuckle. “What about you, anyway?”

“Me?”

“Plans for the new year.”

“To help with your resolution.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, and Izuku grinned, laughing brightly when Katsuki shrugged him off his shoulder just to be stubborn.

“I have a resolution too,” Izuku admitted finally, cracking open a can of corn soup and taking a swig. “But it’s not as easy as yours.”

“Easy?” Katsuki scoffed.

“Easy,” Izuku confirmed. “All you had to do was ask, you know I’d never say no to hanging out with you.”

“Asking is the hard part.”

“But you did it before the year even started, look at you go!”

“Nerd.”

“We both know you love it.”

Katsuki’s eyes darted to him for a moment, and Izuku cracked a nervous smile, grateful when Katsuki didn’t hold his gaze.

“My resolution will take longer,” he offered. “Well, it’ll only take a second, but I have to build up to it first.”

“Can I help?”

“You already are.”

Another glance, and this time Izuku’s cheeks flushed, his fingers denting the soup can slightly when he squeezed it a little too hard.

“Does this help?” Katsuki asked, reaching over to clumsily link their wool-clad fingers together.

Izuku’s face burned, his heart beating so hard he thought it might burst out of his chest and fall off the edge of the building, and it took everything in him to keep from pulling his hand away and just running.

“It does,” he squeaked instead, curling his fingers slightly to return the touch. “That uh, helps a lot.”

“Glad we’re on the same page.” Katsuki smiled slightly. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

“Um... My resolution is to... say something. To someone.”

Katsuki blinked at him, but stayed silent, letting Izuku puzzle out his words.

“I just need to... work up the confidence, I guess. Make sure I’m... ready.”

“Okay.” Katsuki nodded slightly. “You’ve got a whole year, so take as long as you need.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki said softly, through another tiny smile. “I’ll be here.”

“You always are.”

“Even when you try to stop me,” Katsuki teased, squeezing Izuku’s hand tighter. “You’re not getting away this time.”

“I wouldn’t dream of trying,” Izuku laughed, his awkwardness forgotten. “Never again.”

“Damn right.”

Izuku leaned in again, putting his head back on Katsuki’s shoulder where it belonged, and this time Katsuki released his hand, wrapping an arm around his waist instead and holding him close.

“Does this help too?” He grinned to himself, grateful that Izuku couldn’t see it, with his head down. He’d become such a damn sap, he’d never live it down if any of his friends saw.

“It does,” Izuku confirmed. “Thanks, Kacchan.”

Katsuki’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he grumbled to himself as he set down his can of soup, digging the phone out to take a look instead. His screen lit up with an image, a still shot pulled from a livestream, and he groaned long and low when he saw the voice message pop through below it.

“Bro!!” Eijirou yelled, when Katsuki hit ‘play’. “Are you serious?! Why didn’t you tell me?! I had to find out from the internet?!”

Izuku giggled, and Katsuki huffed as he changed apps, holding his phone out at arm’s length to fit them both on the screen. He snapped a quick photo, and when Izuku turned his head to look, he snapped one more – but this time, he leaned in, pressing his lips to Izuku’s cold, clammy ones and wishing he could say it made him regret it instead of being the best thing he’d ever done in his life.

“Kacchan!” Izuku gasped, pulling back for a moment to lock eyes. “Where did that come from?!”

“If they’re gonna stalk us and shit, let’s give them something to really look at.”

Izuku laughed at him, but this time, he leaned in first, wrapping his arm around Katsuki’s neck and making him shiver as their lips met once more. He took his time, keeping it slow and sweet, and he felt Katsuki melt, softening into Izuku’s touch like his bones had just completely forgotten how to work. Everything about it was incredible, intoxicating, inevitable, like the atoms of their beings had just been waiting for the moment they could once again become one.

Katsuki’s arm sank, his grip loosening, and the kiss broke off in a hurry when Katsuki cursed, watching his precious phone go rocketing down toward the earth. Before he could move to dive after it, a wave of dark energy erupted from Izuku’s hand, wrapping the phone up safely and dragging it back to Katsuki’s hand.

“Thanks,” Katsuki grumbled, his face burning bright red. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Izuku giggled. “That’s going on my life-list of Izuku’s Proudest Moments.”

“I don’t know what I see in you.”

Izuku’s eyes widened a little, but he didn’t say anything, and Katsuki mentally kicked himself for the words.

“Sorry,” he choked out. “I didn’t mean to say that.”

“I um,” Izuku hesitated, jaw tight. “I... see things in you, too.”

“Oh yeah?” Katsuki asked awkwardly.

“Yeah,” Izuku answered, just as bad. “I um, I think I’m about to ruin my resolution.”

“Yeah?” Katsuki glanced at his phone again, at the time ticking down. “Hold on a second, then.”

Down below, a chorus of voices began counting down, and Izuku couldn’t help but laugh, despite the fear making his blood run as cold as the air around them.

The crowd below reached zero, erupting into cheers and yells. More fireworks squealed overhead, a cacophony of explosions echoing through the sky as they hit their peaks and burst, raining down lights and colour on the world. Katsuki just smiled, not even looking at the beautiful display, and nodded at Izuku’s dumbfounded expression.

“Okay, go,” he prompted, smirking to himself. “You can do your resolution now.”

Izuku couldn’t help but laugh, his blood warming again in a single heartbeat, and he reached for Katsuki’s hand with a lot more confidence this time around.

“I like you,” Izuku said softly, leaning in so close that their foreheads brushed together. “As more than a friend.”

“Like... a best friend?” Katsuki teased, hand lifting to cup Izuku’s cheek, thumb brushing gently, reverently over his freckles.

“Definitely my best friend,” Izuku humoured him. “But also like a boyfriend.”

“Oh yeah?” Katsuki couldn’t hold back his grin, as much as he wanted to continue being a jerk. “I think that could be arranged.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I guess that’s one way to spend more time with me,” Izuku pointed out. “We’re just blowing these resolutions out of the park this year.”

Katsuki kissed him again, a little less gentle this time, and when Izuku responded by slipping his tongue into Katsuki’s mouth, he had to pull his hand back from Izuku’s face quickly, tiny explosions popping from his palms. Izuku had to pull back to laugh, then, and Katsuki hated himself for ruining the moment, but the look of joy and wonder on Izuku’s face mostly made up for it. Besides, it wasn’t like they wouldn’t have a thousand more kisses in their lives, now that they’d finally gotten things out in the open.

A soft rattle came from below them, and Katsuki looked down to see shards of dark plastic hitting the concrete, blinking at them stupidly while Izuku was already laughing. It took a moment for him to catch on, finally looking down at his stupid hand with the stupid remains of plastic and metal stuck in his glove, and Izuku consoled him with one more kiss, a tiny one pressed to his cheek.

“Sorry,” Izuku said, despite his grin. “I can’t help with that one.”

Katsuki just stared after his ruined phone in despair, wishing he’d had the forethought to put it away after his first dumb accident, with Izuku’s hands his only comfort, gently plucking the remnants from his glove to keep him from hurting himself.

“I’m sure the boss will have a new one for you by morning,” Izuku assured him. “You’ll restore everything from the cloud and it’ll be like nothing ever happened.”

“Only after I tell him what happened, like a fucking idiot.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

He held up his own phone, and it took all of Katsuki’s willpower to keep from exploding that one, too, when he saw the message he held up: another shitty screenshot, this one accompanied by Ochako sending about a thousand laughing emojis. Apparently everyone was stalking them now – some friends they were.

“I’m keeping it,” Izuku grinned, saving it to his phone memory for later use. “Evidence of the time I kissed Kacchan so good that he exploded his own phone.”

Katsuki wanted to complain, but the smile on Izuku’s face and the warmth still lingering on Katsuki’s lips were too much, he couldn’t seem to find any anger or negativity to use.

“Yeah,” he said instead, cracking a smile as he dragged Izuku in for another one. “You’re damn right.”