you’ve known it the whole time
pairing: class 1-a & midoriya izuku, implied bakudeku
genre: fluff | canon-compliant, xmas au
warnings: swearing, mentions of past bullying
word count: 2110
summary: Izuku was certain that their families' Secret Santa tradition would be swept under the rug for Christmas this year, but Katsuki has always had a way of proving Izuku wrong.
"Secret Santa."
Izuku startles, trying to ignore the flinch he knows he has no chance of hiding from whoever just spoke to him so suddenly. "What?"
Katsuki looks down his nose at him, sneering as per usual. "Are we doing fucking Secret Santa again this year or not."
It isn't phrased as a question, not in the least, but Izuku stumbles to answer quickly anyway. Katsuki already looks irritated enough - and not his usual mask of irritation that he wears to deter others. No, this is Katsuki's genuinely irritated look.
"I-If you'd like, Kacchan," Izuku stutters, wincing when Katsuki's irritation only seems to grow.
"Good, because Auntie Inko texted me about it two weeks ago and I already have your stupid gift, shitnerd."
Izuku frowns. "But that's not how-"
"Shut the fuck up."
Izuku does, still frowning even as Katsuki reaches forward to pat his head before he strolls back into the kitchen where he can hear Kirishima, Kaminari, and Sero making a ruckus and Mina's deranged giggling.
That wasn't strange, Izuku thinks to himself, deciding to think about this later when he isn't so unsettled by the encounter.
Izuku forgets all about the incident until Aizawa-sensei asks him to stay back a moment after the lunch hour begins and holds out a slip of paper with Katsuki's name on it.
"What's this?" Izuku asks, head tipped back so he can look at Aizawa-sensei's expression.
"Mina approached me about your Secret Santa exchange about a week ago. I decided to be the one to pull names for everyone so I wouldn't be bothered with all your whining. That's who I pulled for you. Go to lunch now," his teacher says, already zipping his sleeping bag up and slumping down behind his desk to nap.
Izuku blinks as it happens, only remembering that he has been dismissed when Aizawa waves a hand at him to shoo him away.
He leaves, heading to the cafeteria as he stuffs the slip of paper away for later. He still has plenty of time to think of a gift to give Katsuki.
It's not like this is the first time he's gotten the aggressive blonde before anyway. Their families have held a Secret Santa exchange between them ever since Izuku was born after all. It's a Christmas tradition that Izuku was sure Katsuki would like to escape this year now that they are away from their parents. Katsuki initially complained about it a lot after the news of Izuku's quirklessness was spread when they were toddlers, but he was civil anyway because he respects Izuku's mom a lot for some inexplicable reason.
Not that Izuku is complaining about it though. That respect is what made them friends again in their second year of primary school after one of Izuku's usual tormentors said something overly terrible about his mom that he would never, ever repeat. Katsuki had been passing by on his way to recess and overheard the boy's horrible words. Izuku had barely blinked before Katsuki was attacking his bully, screaming about showing respect to those who deserve it.
Katsuki hadn't used his quirk during the fight but got suspended anyway. Auntie Mitsuki didn't punish him for it when she learned why exactly Katsuki had gotten into another fight though. When Katsuki returned to school, he set out on a vendetta against any and everyone who said something vaguely demeaning about Izuku. His logic was that if no one had the guts to say shit about Izuku, then they would never dare to even breathe a word against Izuku's mom. Izuku didn't understand what was causing the change in Katsuki's personality at first, but he soon realized that Katsuki really did care about his mom and while he may not personally see Izuku as the friends they once were, he was willing to put that aside for the sake of his mother's honor.
Eventually, they became best friends again and Katsuki even properly apologized to Izuku for his bullying and the scars he left before he learned how to reign in his quirk as a child. Izuku only accepted once Kacchan had proven that he really was sorry for his past behavior and was working to become better. Admittedly, Katsuki did stop talking to him after the blob villain incident but by the time the UA entrance exam was approaching, they were back to being best friends again.
Katsuki has always been more complicated than he needs to be. Izuku is convinced that he's like that just to be difficult because Katsuki can never make anything easy. Not his friendship, not his quirk training or his emotions in general.
Izuku sighs as he enters the cafeteria, quickly making his way towards the table where Iida, Todoroki, Tsuyu, and Uraraka are sat at. Iida greets with him a loud shout that everyone has learned to ignore after having spent a handful of months in the same classroom as him. Izuku smiles up at his friend as he takes out the lunch Katsuki shoved into his arms this morning, swatting at Tsuyu's shoulder when she tries to get a better look at his food.
Todoroki steals an onigiri from him while he is distracted then replaces it with a taiyaki that Izuku promptly hands off to Uraraka in exchange for one of her pieces of chicken from the school lunch. Iida scolds them for trading food before Todoroki passes him a taiyaki as well and takes Iida's pudding cup as compensation. Tsuyu gives Iida her own pudding cup and graciously accepts the taiyaki Todoroki gave him in return.
Izuku only smiles, letting his friend's mindless banter surround and engulf him.
By the following week, Izuku has all his gift shopping done and is busy wrapping presents in the privacy of his dorm.
Uraraka sends a text to their group chat about finishing setting up the decorations and tree that Yaoyorozu, Iida, and Todoroki bought for the dorms just as Izuku finishes labeling the last gift. He smiles as he sends a thumbs-up emoji back then picks up half of the gifts on his bed and heads down to the common area.
He pauses when he steps out of the elevator, in awe of the twinkling lights, bushels of mistletoe and stockings hung up amongst the room. Uraraka and Tsuyu wave at him from the couch and Izuku smiles, setting his gifts down underneath the tree then settles himself down beside Tsuyu.
"Are you still not going to tell us who you got for Secret Santa?" Uraraka asks.
Izuku shakes his head. "That would ruin my one and only tradition."
Uraraka snorts even as Tsuyu pats his shoulder. "My family's tradition was making a cup of hot cocoa for the person who was sitting to your left after opening all the presents on Christmas morning. Ribbit."
"We can do that too then. I'm sure the others wouldn't mind," Izuku says, leaning into Tsuyu's side when she beams at him. "I'll tell Kacchan and he'll fight whoever tries to ruin your Christmas tradition."
"Tell me what, shitnerd."
Izuku jumps, looking up to see Katsuki standing behind him, hands clamped to the back of the couch as he leans over him. "T-to fight anyone who makes fun of others' Christmas traditions, Kacchan."
Katsuki scoffs. "Like I give a shit about some extras' Christmas traditions."
"Kacchan," Izuku whines, pouting when Katsuki only rolls his eyes at him. "Please?"
Katsuki narrows his eyes at him, considering. "Only if you tell everyone that I'm the best, shitnerd."
Izuku smiles. "Done."
Katsuki huffs as he walks away, disappearing into the kitchen where Izuku can once again hear Kirishima, Kaminari, Sero, and Mina giggling loudly as something clatters against the floor. After another moment, Katsuki's yelling can be heard accompanying the panicked cries of his friends and Izuku smiles as he leans back into Tsuyu's warmth.
At six in the morning on December 25th, Izuku is dragged out of bed by Uraraka and Mina.
Both girls are too busy chattering excitedly between each other to notice that Izuku is shirtless, something he is infinitely grateful for. Otherwise, another shirtless photo of him would be making the rounds amongst Class 1-A again and Izuku doesn't want to deal with an irritated Katsuki on Christmas morning.
He tugs on a faded blue T-shirt he is pretty sure once belonged to Iida and grabs his favorite All Might blanket from his dresser. Izuku wraps the blanket around his shoulders as he follows his friends down to the common room, taking the stairs this time and being trailed by Kouda and Jirou. When they join the others in the common room, most of his classmates are already there with only a small number of them close to falling asleep while everyone else is as equally excited as Uraraka and Mina. Izuku settles down beside Tokoyami on the floor and smiles when Katsuki sits down on his other side, nonchalantly pulling him close so he can rest his head on Katsuki's shoulder.
Izuku shifts until his blanket is thrown over Katsuki's shoulders as well, grinning to himself when Katsuki wraps an arm around his waist. He pulls the blanket tight around them, nestling himself close and thinking of what time he'll be able to call his mom later. Probably not for another four hours, considering all the gifts they have to get through and Izuku promised that they would make hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies afterward for Tsuyu and Aoyama. All in all, it doesn't seem like Izuku will have a free moment to talk to his mom until close to eleven in the morning.
He knows she'll be understanding of the time and probably excited to hear about their Secret Santa tradition thriving, but for now, he'll focus on getting through the morning until then.
When Aoyama has finally joined them, Mina jumps up and grabs the gift with Sato's name on it. She tosses it to him and giggles when he catches it effortlessly, thanking her for the gift. After Sato has opened his present, he grabs the gift intended for Ojiro and down the line they go.
Izuku barely pays attention to who got who and who received what until Hagakure drops a slim, green box on his lap and Izuku thanks her quietly. Inside the box is a set of notebooks with ridiculous titles and a set of glitter pens Izuku finds much to his liking actually. Katsuki snorts beside him as Izuku thanks Hagakure again and drops his arm around his waist when he moves to stand, leaving the All Might blanket draped around Katsuki's shoulders.
He easily finds the red box with Katsuki's name on it and picks it up before turning around and sitting back down beside Izuku's other half. "For you, Kacchan."
Katsuki peers down at it, taking the box as Izuku pulls the blanket over his shoulders again. Without paying attention to all the eyes on them, Katsuki rips the wrapping paper off and opens the box unceremoniously. Inside he finds a black shirt with orange lettering, the words King Explosion Murder glinting innocently back at him with tiny bombs and yellow blasts usually found in old comics littering the otherwise blank background.
Izuku bites his lip as he waits for Katsuki's reaction, wondering if he should cut his losses and hide like a coward or take the tongue lashing he is sure to receive like the brave hero he wants to be. Instead, he simply sits there in shock when Katsuki's shoulders start to shake a moment before his crazed laugh rings around them.
Katsuki is still laughing when he stands up and retrieves an admittedly small gift that he tosses at Shouji before collapsing partly in Izuku's lap and the floor. Izuku huffs out an exasperated sigh and runs his fingers through Katsuki's blonde hair, chuckling when the others stare at him like he just joined Katsuki in his insanity.
Really, Izuku lost his mind when he was three years old and first met the explosive blonde he has always cared for, but none of their classmates need to know that.
Later, when everyone is distracted by Kaminari and Mina singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs, Katsuki wraps both his arms around Izuku's waist and brushes his lips gently against Izuku's cheek.
"Thanks, shitnerd," he murmurs under his breath, quiet enough that Izuku has to strain to hear him.
Izuku pats one of his hands and thinks of all the things he has to tell his mom later.
All in all, this year's Secret Santa has been a success and that is all which really matters.
a/n: written for @kurisutythehero as part of the secret santa exchange held by @tdbkdkdiscord!
