1,000

I'm coming up fast on 1,000 followers on twitter, so this is an advance screening of the thread I'll be posting to celebrate! It's exactly 1,000 words long.

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Izuku had been surprised when he got the message from Katsuki, with no explanation, just a stern instruction:

Community centre at 6, dress nice.

He hadn't replied when Izuku questioned him, had either switched his phone off or maybe just ignored the texts, so there Izuku stood in a button-up and messy tie, his watch showing 5:55, staring up at the big doors.

"Oh, you made it."

Katsuki poked his head out, waving him over, and Izuku cracked a little smile as he approached. He held his arms out expectantly and Katsuki obeyed, pulling him into a quick little hug.

"I missed you, Kacchan!"

Katsuki snorted, but planted a little kiss on Izuku's cheek all the same.

"It's only been a few hours, nerd. Have you forgotten about breakfast?"

"Breakfast was yummy and I was happy, but I still missed you! I always miss you!"

Katsuki blushed at that, and Izuku giggled.

"Why are we here, Kacchan?" he asked finally. "Did something happen?"

"Everything is fine."

He took Izuku by the hand and led him inside, their heavy leather shoes echoing in the empty hallway. He'd deigned to remove his bright red sneakers, much to Katsuki's delight.

"I have something to show you," he said finally, glancing back at Izuku when they halted at an internal door. "Um, something I... Well, WE... Did for you."

"What are you talking about, Kacchan?"

In explanation, Katsuki pushed the door open on a packed room, and Izuku gawked.

The room erupted into cheers the moment they arrived, and Izuku looked at Katsuki for clarification, eyes wide and searching. Katsuki wore a strangely soft smile, squeezing a little tighter at Izuku's hand, and led him out onto a little stage at the front of the room.

"You hit a special milestone today," Katsuki explained, the room falling into a respectful silence. "Do you know what it was?"

Izuku shook his head, still wide-eyed and lost for words.

"Today you saved your thousandth person."

"H-Huh?"

"There are one thousand people here around you," Katsuki continued, gesturing toward rows upon rows of filled chairs. "One thousand people you pulled out of fallen buildings, or fires, or shielded from villains. They're all here. For you."

Tears welled up in Izuku's eyes, and he sniffed hard when Katsuki scoffed.

"Already, nerd?" he teased. "I haven't even told you how they were all so eager and excited to come. Y'know there are tourists here? Flew all the way from the other end of the god-damn world for this."

"Th-thank you so much!" Izuku sniffled, looking out over the hushed crowd full of bright smiles. "I never thought you'd all be in one room, there are so many of you!"

He wished he had a speech prepared or something, but his mind was blank.

"What's that empty chair?" He asked, aiming for a joke but not quite hitting the right tone of voice. "Did you forget one, Kacchan?"

"That's mine, idiot," Katsuki smirked, kissing his cheek again. "You want me to go sit in it and leave you here alone?"

"No!!"

Katsuki reached for his other hand, warm thumbs stroking across Izuku's worn knuckles, and when their eyes met it was like the rest of the room no longer existed.

"We have food, drinks, music – we're all set for a big party, just for you."

"This is amazing, Kacchan."

"I spent years telling you that you couldn't be a hero," he continued, looking a little ashamed of himself. "And you've proved me wrong a THOUSAND times. I love you."

"I love you too!!"

"Then..." Katsuki began, hesitating again. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, Kacchan! Anything!"

Katsuki dropped to one knee, and Izuku gaped at him, listening to the cheers that immediately filled the room again.

"Will you marry me?"

Silenced by tears, Izuku nodded so hard he thought his head might come off. Katsuki smirked, reaching into his pocket for a little red box, and Izuku lost a choked sob when he saw the ring inside. Silver, studded with green and orange jewels, one big diamond right in the middle.

"It's our colours, Kacchan," he whispered, as his boyfriend – his fiancé – slipped it onto his finger. "It's so beautiful."

"So are you, nerd."

Izuku threw his arms around Katsuki's neck, smashing their lips together in a messy, desperate kiss, broken quickly when he began to laugh.

The room was cheering again, squealing and snapping photos, but Izuku could only continue to laugh, tears falling down his flushed cheeks. Katsuki's smile in that moment was so beautiful, he hoped one of the photos would do it justice later.

"I'll make sure you're happy," Katsuki said softly. "I promise."

"I'm always happy when Kacchan is around!"

He kissed his new ring, then kissed Katsuki's lips, smiling through his tears when the blush in Katsuki's cheeks glowed brighter.

"Okay idiots," Katsuki called, glancing over his shoulder. "He said yes, assholes."

With a shriek, a side door burst open, and immediately Izuku was swarmed by his friends from high school. Katsuki had to take a step backwards to make room.

Ochako threw her arms around Izuku's waist, bawling, and Todoroki clapped him on the back awkwardly. Kirishima slung an arm across Katsuki's shoulders, his praise about "how manly it was to propose in front of a crowd" lost beneath the sounds of celebration.

"Alright, alright!" Katsuki yelled. "Let's just fuckin' party or whatever!"

Despite his complaints about the crowds and the noise, as he mingled with friends and rescuees alike, he couldn't keep the dopey little smile off his lips.

Izuku returned to his side every five minutes, hunting him down in whatever quiet corner he'd found, for kisses and hugs and hand-holding, and to bleat about how happy he was, how amazing Kacchan was, how beautiful the ring was.

Every time, Katsuki gave him exactly what he wanted, then cupped his jaw in a warm hand with a little smile.

"Be mine, Izuku."

"For a thousand years!"