Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Hey, Kat. We're here."

The chill of the July air whipped over Bakugo's face as one of his team members - Eijiro Kirishima - opened the car door.

Katsuki groaned.

"give me 10 more minutes.." he grumbled to his teammate.

"Katsuki just get out of the car and help bring your board and stuff in, you can sleep more after that," Hanta said, rolling his eyes.

Katsuki grumbled something under his breath and rolled himself out of the bundle of blankets he was balled under.

He might be a human radiator but the Alps were too cold, even for him.

He rubbed his eyes as the sun beamed over him, his blond hair shining in the light.

As soon as they're out of the car, Sero is throwing his arms out and breathing in the fresh, clean, crisp air.

"Smell that, Sho?" He asks. Shoto simply hums and walks over to the side hatch to get his luggage out of the trunk. "That's the smell of the mountains. Of pure winter and ice. That's the smell of victory."

"Someone remind Hanta that he is a snowboarder, not a poet," Aizawa, their coach, grumbles, pushing past him round the car and pulling his earbuds out of his ears.

"I can't be both?"

"You can't." Katsuki grins. Then he throws a blanket at Sero's face. "Take that. I'm getting my shit from the boot."

He rounded the back of the car to grab his bags and board. He promptly bumped into someone coming in the opposite direction.

He took a step back to steady himself. He glared down at the person before pausing.

The boy was pretty.

No.

beautiful

His hair was luscious and green, and his eyes were a similar colour. He was pretty short and looked like he was no older than 18. He had a deep-coloured coat, and neat shoes and his polished figure skates were tied to his bag like trophies.

"Izuku!" another voice came. When Katsuki looked up he saw another man, he looked more mature than the previously mentioned boy. He was taller, his face more sharp in comparison to this izuku's rounded, more child-like ones.

“Excuse us,” The taller sneers, his eyes passing over the lot of them like they’re nothing. Katsuki stepped back immediately, the man walked past, the smaller one hurrying after him. When the two of them walk by, the outside air seems to follow, cold and unforgiving, making Kirishima shiver all over again. Even Shoto, who loves the cold, feels a bit of a chill.

That kid, the way he walked, with his nose high and his piercing green eyes forward like he didn’t even see them- it unnerves Katsuki. Makes him feel off.

“A figure skater,” Shoto notes once they’re both out of earshot.

“Ugh,” Sero groans. “Prissy bitches.”

“A kid,” Katsuki corrects. “Just like us. And you don’t even know him. Besides, people think you’re just a big dumb boarder when they first see you.”

“And they’re usually right!” Kirishima jokes, punching Sero in the arm. Aizawa sighs and steps between them before they can go at it.

“Let’s go get checked in, alright?” He says. “Get out of the way of the door- just in case.”

"Yeah," Kirishima says, breezing by, pack on his back, "the last one checked in gets the worst room."

Sero gasps, jumps up, snatches the blanket from Katsuki's hands, and nearly throws himself into the trunk to get his bags. "I'm not rooming with Kiri ever again. He snores like a fucking dragon."

"It's called being a man, Sero, fuck you!"

"A man who needs a fucking lung transplant!"

--------------------

They arrived in the sleeping quarters, Katsuki planting his bag next to one of the bunks.

Sero instantly collapsed onto one of the bottom bunks, exhaling loudly.

"This is nice!" he said, a big smile plastered onto his face.

Shoto nodded in agreement, Kirishima stayed silent.

Eijiro will admit that he gets a bit on guard and antsy whenever Katsuki is quiet for too long, but once they’re checked in and settled, he’s back to his normal self, ready to 'beat ass', as Katsuki always says.

“It’s the Olympics, Shitty hair,” Katsuki says when he brings it up. “Why shouldn’t I be ready to beat ass?”

And that’s true- Kirishima can’t argue with that.

Katsuki grabbed a hoodie and headed back out of the room.

"where are you going?" shoto asked.

"to look around," he said flatly before closing the door behind him.

So he's still in a mood. Kirishima thought.

----------------

Katsuki wandered around the building, making a mental map of where everything was.

He made it to the end of a corridor, a large glass door and matching window were on the end wall. Inside katsuki could see a large rink.

He hummed to himself, knowing it was where the figure skaters, ice hockey players and speed skaters probably would be practising. He was about to walk off when his eye caught on the same green-haired boy and his trainer.

He watched for a moment, watching how the boy effortlessly pushed himself around the ice, performing seemingly impossible moves with such ease.

katsuki was in awe.

Suddenly, the boy fell flat on his back, his arms buckling slightly beneath him. katsuki winced, expecting to see the coach help him up, but instead leaving his player on the ice and exiting the room.

He scowled at katsuki as he left the room. katsuki matched his glare, waiting for him to get out of sight before going in to check on the boy.

He dragged his hand around the edge of the rink as he circled the outside.

"you ok?" his voice echoed across the desolate walls of the hall.

The boy's look instantly shot to katsuki before quickly pushing himself up off the ice, his face going back to stone cold.

"I'm fine," he said, his voice edging on harsh.

katsuki hummed.

After a moment of silence, katsuki spoke up again;

"I never caught your name."

It was more of a statement than a question but the boy responded anyway,

"Izuku."

Chapter Text

“Izuku”

He- Izuku said. In this moment, Katsuki really took in the beauty of the boy infront of him. 

he was elegant and graceful, like a feather when on the ice.

“How old are you?” He blurted.

izuku looked startled, “what?”

”sorry, that came out wrong. You look fucking young for the olympics”

”theres no specific age restrictions for the olympics unless you’re doing a certain sport.” Izuku said, his voice as smooth as him, “and if you must know, I’m 23”

katsuki hummed, almost the same age as him.

”you?”

”24.”

”cool.”

then the awkward silence dropped, Izuku stayed staring at the floor, Katsuki still admiring the boy.

izuku looked up, ”what sport do you do.” he questioned, promptly breaking the silence.

Katsuki breathed out a breath he wasnt aware he was holding, ”i board”

”board?”

”snowboard”

”right” izuku nodded, looking to the side, “i think you can gather what i do.”

Katsuki smirked at that, “speed skating”

izuku whipped his head to Katsuki, “No! No.” She chuckled, “i mean, the girls i’m sharing a room with speed skate, they are on a team.”

”girls?”

Fuck.

Izuku fucked up again. He needed to stop letting that slip.

”aren’t we supposed to be gend-“

”i’m trans.”

oh.

ohh…

it made sense now, katsuki smiled.

”ok. That explains it”

izuku furrowed his brows, expecting a bigger reaction. 

“you good there, snowflake?”

izuku’s eyes widened, “who the fuck are you calling snowflake!?”

”you?”

izuku stared for a moment. 

“fuck you.”

katsuki snorted at that, “sensitive much”

”i am not-“ izuku was suddenly cut off by a girl shouting his name and running over;

”’Zuku!! Oh em gee its be for evs!”

katsuki narrowed his eyes at the woman. “For evs?” He thought “we aren’t 12?”

”oh! Camie- um.” Izuku stuttered over his words, trying to greet the woman - Camie - “Camie, this is-“ izuku paused.

”Katsuki.”

”Katsuki” Izuku finished, “Katsuki, this is my friend Camie.”

katsuki nodded. “Nice to meet you..” he hummed

”you too! You’re like… totes hot! No wonder you’re at the olympics.” She responded.

izuku narrowed his eyes at her.

”Camie, why don’t you show me your team this year..” he grumbled, pulling the girl away. 

“Oh! Ok- bye katsu.”

”katsu?” Izuku asked

”yeah i thought it was funny!”

their voices faded as they walked away, their conversation blending into the hum of the cooler.

“Katsu?” He hated that if he was going to be truthful. But the way Izuku repeated it made him hate it a little less.

—————————————————

when Katsuki opened the door to the room they where staying in, he was not expecting to see Sero and Shoto in the middle of an arm wrestling match.

”Fucking hell shoto!” Sero groaned, desperately trying to push back against shoto’s hand.

shoto looked absolutely unfazed by his current position.

”oh, hey Kat.” He said, still mid arm wrestle.

”hey…” 

katsuki walked over to the only empty bunk in the room, placing his waterbottle onto it and laying down. He pulled out his phone and opened snap.

he to took a quick pic of the corner of his face and put the text ‘at the olympics’ and posted it to his public story.

“Watcha looking at?” Kiri asked, leaning his head back against the bed to look up at him

”checking my socials.”

”that's new.”

”shut the fuck up, shitty hair.”

he then noticed he had a friend request on snap. “Probably just another rando.” He thought to himself, but just as he was about to click the decline button, he read the user:

izukuuu_

“izuku…?”

Chapter Text

“Izuku…?” Katsuki muttered.

He stared at the username on his phone like it might blink first. The name sat there—soft and stupid with all the extra u’s—and yet, somehow, it made Katsuki’s throat go a little dry.

Couldn’t be a coincidence. There couldn’t be two graceful, icy-eyed weirdos named Izuku staying at the Olympic Village.

He clicked accept, because apparently he had no self-control.

Kirishima watched from below, catching the subtle shift in Katsuki’s expression. “What’s up? Get added by a fan?”

Katsuki didn’t answer. The phone buzzed.

izukuuu_ sent you a chat.

He hesitated, thumb hovering.

Then tapped.

“Hey. This is Izuku—speed skating not-speed skating Izuku. From earlier.”

Katsuki scoffed lightly through his nose. He typed back:

“Yeah, I figured. Snowflake.”

The reply came quick.

“Really? You’re gonna go with that as your first message?”

Katsuki smirked. He leaned back against the wall, letting his head thunk against the metal frame of the bunk.

“I’m consistent.”

Izuku was typing. Then not. Then typing again.

“You were easier to talk to earlier. When I wasn’t thinking about it.”

Katsuki blinked. That was… unexpectedly honest.

“Yeah. I guess I get that.”

There was a pause. Then:

“So… how long you been training?”

Katsuki squinted. Small talk? Weird. But not unwelcome.

“Since I was nine.”

“That tracks. You’ve got that permanent scowl of someone who’s never taken a rest day.”

Katsuki huffed, somewhere between a laugh and a scoff.

“And you look like someone who figure skates to sad indie playlists at midnight.”

“Okay wow. That’s terrifyingly accurate.”

“Told you. I’m consistent.”

From across the room, Sero yelled as Shoto finally slammed his arm down. "Finally! My dignity is in shambles, man."

Shoto barely blinked. “You tried your best.”

Kirishima chuckled. “You’re really glued to that phone, bro.”

“Shut up,” Katsuki grumbled, though his lips twitched faintly.

His phone buzzed again. Another message from Izuku.

“There’s this cafe in the Village. Quiet. Good drinks. Want to meet up there tomorrow?”

Katsuki stared at it.

His first instinct was to ignore it. That was safe. That was normal.

But instead, he found himself typing:

“Yeah. Sure.”

The cafe was tucked into the corner of the Olympic Village, all warm wood and low light, the air smelling faintly of espresso and cinnamon. Most athletes were still in training or asleep, so the place was nearly empty.

Katsuki spotted him instantly.

Izuku sat near the window, a paper cup in one hand, the other resting on his knee. His posture was maddeningly straight, like he’d been born to glide. The sunlight through the glass caught in his eyes, turning them a sharp winter green.

Katsuki told himself he wasn’t staring.
He was assessing. Totally different.

“Bakugou,” Izuku said as he approached, voice low and even. “You’re on time.”

“You say that like you expected me to flake,” Katsuki replied, sliding into the seat across from him.

Izuku’s mouth twitched. “Wouldn’t be the first time an athlete bailed on me.”

“Guess I’m not ‘most athletes,’” Katsuki muttered, picking up the menu, though he didn’t really read it.

Izuku sipped his drink, watching him over the rim. “No. You’re not.”

It wasn’t a compliment, but it wasn’t not one either. Katsuki wasn’t sure why it made his chest feel tight.

They ordered—black coffee for him, something elaborate and too sweet for Izuku—and settled into a silence that wasn’t uncomfortable so much as charged.

Finally, Izuku said, “So. Nine years old, huh? You must’ve been terrifying in middle school.”

Katsuki snorted. “I was. Ask anyone.”

“And now?” Izuku tilted his head, studying him. “Still terrifying?”

Katsuki met his gaze head-on. “Depends on who’s asking.”

The corner of Izuku’s mouth curved—barely, but enough to count. “Fair.”

Outside, snow began to drift past the window in lazy spirals. Inside, Katsuki realized that for the first time all week, he wasn’t thinking about medals or scores.

Just the way Izuku’s hands wrapped around his cup.

And the way, somehow, it didn’t feel like a waste of time.

Somehow, Katsuki and Izuku had chatted the hours away, fully distracted by each others company. 

this would be the first ever time that Katsuki would willingly talk to someone for this long, but there was something so enticing about Izuku.

he was pretty, and funny, and something about him made katsuki want to protect him at all costs. 

Katsuki didn't understand this feeling, he wanted it to go away as he lay, staring at the top bunk of his bed.

he was tempted to leave the room, go on a late night workout. Hell, he even wanted to open his phone, scroll through some form of social media for hours until his brain shut down and he fell asleep naturally.

He decided on the first option, grabbing his duffel that still wasn't unpacked from earlier. 

he quietly snuck out the room and headed to the gym that was just down the hall.

he used his pass to get in and grabbed a weight.

he stayed for a few hours. In the end he sat on the floor and stared at the ceiling. He was overwhelmed, and he had no idea why.

he hated it.