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“Come on Izuku! It’ll be super fun! Mina said she would be bringing her friends and everything so you can just play the bass!”
Chocolate eyes sparkled with excitement as Ochako tugged on Izuku’s knitted sweater, eyes lit with mischief and moist with convincing tears. He knew better than to consider his best friend’s teary pleas, but it didn’t change that he was not immune to them. Izuku’s shoulders sagged as his will bent ever so slightly, the action not being missed by Ochako as she perked a bit more.
“Please Izu? I mean- it would be fun and casual! Don’t you want to be with friends on Valentine’s Day?” Almost immediately the girl seemed to wilt at her own comment, fingers curling hesitantly in front of her face at the touchy topic. No, Izuku didn’t really want to be with anyone on Valentine’s Day. If he’d had his way, he would be all alone watching stupid shows with cheap chocolate. But perhaps he had been worrying Ochako… And Izuku didn’t have the heart to watch her worry.
“I’ll um… Okay, I’ll go. But promise I can leave early?”
“Whenever you want. Thanks Izu, why don’t you get ready and I’ll drive!”
The perk in his best friend’s tone never failed to both ease and bother Izuku. Yet knowing he had made someone happy on such a dreary day was enough to lift his spirits if only a little.
And he couldn’t pass up a chance of Rock Band.
ღ
“Look, I don’t give a fuck about your little get together. I’m only here because I promised Shitty Hair an hour. After that hour, you losers can do whatever and I’m going back home. I’ve got better things to do than hang with a bunch of awkward nerds.”
Crimson eyes flared defiantly, thin lips pulled into a satisfied smirk. Yeah, maybe Katsuki was a dick, but at least he had enough self respect than to pretend he wanted to spend this lame holiday with his shitty friend’s friends. Denki had shook his head, arching his eyebrow with exasperation.
“You’re crazy dude, don’t let Ei know you’re being such a brat about this, he really wanted you to meet Mina’s friend. Ocha or something. Said she’s cute, you might be interested.”
That was a hard pass already. Katsuki had been there and done that. Women just didn’t give him the companionship he wanted. Not that Katsuki was a very companionable man. No, he was alone and that was the way it should be.
“Whatever. When are those losers getting here so I can start my timer?”
“You’re seriously going to leave in an hour?”
“Obviously.”
Denki had come up with some choice words in response to that, but he did not voice them. The door bell sounded and Mina practically spiralled out of her room with Eijirou in tow. Pink locks were tugged into a messy bun, Mina’s eyes lined with the precision only she seemed to have.
“Ocha! Izu! It’s so great to see you two! Sho and Tenya called that they were about a block away! I’m surprised you didn’t all carpool!”
Ochako wrapped her arms around Mina, chocolate orbs looking over the female.
“You look great Mina! We were going to, but I needed some extra time to get ready and Izu wasn’t sure if he was coming.”
Having been put on the spot, the male shot a hand up to his curly locks, scratching behind his ear nervously. Mina didn’t seem to mind his anxiety or lack of enthusiasm though, she instead moved to hug the nervous man with that same squeal she had graced Ochako.
“Izu I’m so glad you came! How has work been? Any interesting collabs I should know about?”
“O-Oh um, not really! I’m just uh- you know… Working through a few different playthroughs right now. I’m not that popular. You had a collaboration recently though, right?”
“Heck yeah! Hagakure is so good! She showed me this super cool technique, look at my eyes!”
Mina pointed at her eyelids, showcasing her new style and blending. Izuku didn’t know enough about makeup to truly notice how it was different but he offered a weak smile and a thumbs up.
“It looks great!”
“Thanks! Oh! Denki wanted to ask for some editing advice sometime tonight, so you should definitely talk to him about that! And also-”
She poked her manicured finger against his chest, lips lifting in amusement.
“I think you look pretty cute, got a date?”
“ No!”
Her laughter filled the house, much to Izuku’s terror. Denki peaked his head into the hallway and shot an easygoing wave, seemingly able to ignore the obnoxious laughter and embarrassed mumbling.
“Yo! You guys are always late!”
“I got Izu out early this time!”
Ochako answered for the two of them, wrapping an arm around Izuku and dragging him down the hallway. She knew once he got a seat and was able to just listen he would calm down after all. Izuku knew it too, but it didn’t change that he was awfully embarrassed. He was meeting Mina’s friends tonight! Other YouTubers. While Mina and Ochako excelled in the makeup community, Izuku was still a small-timer. He had a few hundred thousand followers and he was happy with that, he was just really intimidated by all the people Mina knew!
And Gosh, meeting Mina’s boyfriend the first time had been a disastrously embarrassing situation. Izuku had definitely cried after stumbling on his own name, but Eijirou had been as cool as he was on screen! He was very nice about the whole thing, and even followed Izuku! But now he was going to be meeting a lot of people, a lot of people who were probably in the YouTube community.
He didn’t want to mess this up.
“Why don’t you two get comfortable! Snacks are on the coffee table and drinks are in the kitchen! Kats and Ei are in the living room so you could probably set rock band up now! Jiro and Toru are coming in with Tsu!”
Well, at least he knew most of the people here. He’d never met Jiro or Kats, but he was sure they would be distracted with everyone else. Maybe this would be fine, an easy night he could get out of with little issue. God, he hoped.
Ochako let go of Izuku’s arm, smoothing his sweater back down before teasing.
“You really do look cute. I can’t believe you’re wearing pink.”
“M-Mom knitted it for me for Valentines! I didn’t mean to look like this!”
Admittedly he didn’t even know why he looked cute to Ocha, but his statement only seemed to warm her heart more.
“God, you’re so adorable Izu! I want your mom to make me a sweater too!”
“I could ask!”
Ever the people pleaser, Izuku offered his assistance. Ochako waved her hand dismissively, her lips quirked sweetly.
“It’s okay! I couldn’t ask your mom to do that for me! Maybe I’ll pay her! Oh-Jiro!”
Inside the living room, Ochako practically launched herself against the woman, making her stumble and fumble with the guitar controller in her hand. Jiro set the guitar down, pausing her set up to hug Ochako awkwardly.
“Yo. You’re excited tonight, are you that happy to see me?”
Well, this was new. Ochako hadn’t really mentioned Jiro before to Izuku, but Izuku wasn’t as involved in his friend’s life either. So maybe it made sense he didn’t know. He glanced at the couch, wondering where he should sit. There was Denki on one end and another blond in the middle. Meaning…
He would have to sit in the middle.
Izuku debated hiding in the bathroom, waiting out a little while so he could just leave. But… He knew Denki well enough. So maybe it would be fine to just sit beside him, give him those tips Denki had mentioned to Mina! Sure… This was fine. Izuku sat down, spacing just enough so he was neither closer to Denki nor the blond on his phone.
“Hey Izu! Glad to see ya! I’ve been watching your playthrough of GTFO! We should totally group up and take it as a team!”
“Oh um… That would be cool! We should look into it. H-How’s Sonic Superstars going?”
“UGH, terrible! That game is fucking wack man! I’m this close to tossing it for good!”
“Shut up, Pikachu. You know that’s where most of your clout comes from.”
Izuku turned at the abrupt voice, eyes wide and confused. The blond was looking at the two of them now, sneering rudely at Denki. And God, Izuku couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed who he was sitting by.
“
Gr-Ground Zero?!”
The squeaked out recognition was embarrassing, but Izuku couldn’t help himself as he covered his mouth in awe. This was one of the YouTubers that Izuku had been following since their start! GZ was charismatic and rude, a perfect disaster with the views to back that up. Yet even with his faults Izuku looked up to the blond, enjoying the strategies he placed on each gameplay.
In fact, it was a very GZ thing to do when the blond rolled his eyes and lounged back into the couch. Denki snickered, reaching over to sling his arm around Izuku.
“Oh look at that! I didn’t know you watched Kats, Izuku!”
“I-I really like your videos! Your gameplays are so thorough and um- you’re not crazy concerned with followers… It’s just nice to see someone do it for fun!”
Ground Zero, newly known as Kats , didn’t react immediately. The man seemed lost in thought as he eyed Izuku up and down. This did nothing for Izuku’s nerves, who rubbed at his arms the longer the silence was held. But suddenly, crimson eyes flared with amusement and Kats leaned back, head cocking mischievously.
“You’re Deku, yeah?”
And the way Izuku flustered was intense, gaping at his idol with wide, sparkling eyes.
“That’s him!”
Denki ruffled Izuku’s hair, grinning easily. It was a gift from God, really. Izuku wasn’t able to form any words, not really. Not at the sight of someone like Ground Zero. And Jesus…
He knew of him.
“Shut it, Pikachu. Pretty sure Deku can speak for himself.”
Oh, if only Ground Zero knew how wrong he was. But with this impossible standard, Izuku could only raise to the occasion.
“Th-That’s right! I didn’t think you watched my videos, haha! They’re um… Not as cool.”
At least not when compared to Katsuki.
“Don’t sell yourself short. At least your shit doesn't melt minds like Shitty Hairs.”
Denki snorted, ruffling his own hair before getting off the couch.
“Suuure, not like you two don’t have the same content. You two chit chat or whatever, I’m gonna pound a shot and see if Jiro wants some help.”
With Denki’s exit, Izuku tugged his legs in front of himself, letting his toes hand off of Mina’s couch. He was still sitting beside Ground Zero, after all. It was quiet for a little bit, but apparently the silence had caught even Kats.
“Izuku, right?”
“O-Oh, yeah. Izuku Midoriya!”
The blond hummed, lounging back and resting his arm against the back of the couch. Like this, Izuku could imagine many series with blushing girls and confident boys. Right now though, Izuku wasn’t sure what could happen. Ground Zero was very popular, much more than Izuku could have ever dreamed to be. He didn’t deserve to even be in the same apartment! With such self-deprecating thoughts, Izuku hadn’t been prepared for Kats to speak again.
“Katsuki. That’s my name.”
“Kat-chuki?”
The mispronunciation was easily the most embarrassing thing he could recollect. The raise in Katsuki’s eyebrow was humorous, the blond cackling dramatically, head thrown back.
“Sure, you can call me whatever. Can’t speak for shit.”
No, he couldn’t. But Izuku felt warmth flutter in his chest. He was talking to Ground Zero. He was learning Ground Zero’s name. And messing it up. God, that sucked.
“S-Sorry! I’ll um… I’ll get it- soon!”
Jumping in his own skin, Izuku stared incredulously at Katsuki’s hand resting on his shoulder. With such attention from someone as admirable as Ground Zero, Izuku couldn’t help the stuttered mumbles that escaped him. Ground Zero was holding his shoulder, Ground Zero was grinning at him, looking at him. He was being acknowledged by him.
“Nah, s’fine. You’re cute, yanno? Thought that was just some kind of persona for the camera.”
“C-cute? I um… I couldn’t act to save my life! D-do you really watch my videos?”
Katsuki looked away, seemingly unsure of how to respond. But his fingers rubbed into Izuku’s arm, and oh he wasn’t sure if he wanted to run or lean into the blond.
“Mm. Since you started. I liked Breath of the Wild but didn’t have enough time to play it myself. You went through it well, you know? I just kept watching you after that.”
Some sort of sick satisfaction wrapped around Izuku like Katsuki’s arm, and Izuku felt the courage to stare up at his idol.
“I couldn’t imagine… Y-You really liked that playthrough? I missed so many easter eggs!”
The two talked for hours about numerous games, Izuku forfeiting rock band even to continue their conversation. And maybe… Maybe this was more fun than being alone on Valentine’s Day night.
Eventually, Ochako wanted to go home. And God, Izuku didn’t want to go yet. The blond smoothed his hand down Izuku’s side, grinning cockily at the brunette.
“Don’t worry about it, Round Cheeks. I’ll get him home tonight.”
And when the two were alone in Mina’s apartment, everyone either gone or drinking on the patio, Izuku mumbled ever so sweetly.
" I just met you but we’ve been talking for a few hours and wow was this meant to be.”