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It’s been going on for three weeks now.
Like clockwork, Katsuki would walk out of the lab every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2pm and head over to the campus library to return and check out more books for his ongoing research paper, and he’d make it about two steps through the door and then…
“Wow…” Every time. Every time he’d hear that word breathed out dreamily but also somehow so boldly?
Katsuki suppressed a smile as he walked past the counter to hang his coat and lock up his bag, not looking back at the muscular redhead no doubt leaned over the counter on his elbows, chin propped in his hands as he smiled at Katsuki.
Kirishima Eijirou, as his name tag said, was indeed leaning over the counter in the presumed position, eyes firmly locked onto the blonde who huffed a bemused breathe before turning to face him, walking up to the counter.
“I need the keys to room 207, made a reservation for three hours.” Katsuki ignored the way the redhead didn’t move back as he approached and raised an eyebrow as Kirishima smiled.
“Yeah, I know, saw the reservation come in and I’ve been on cloud nine all morning.”
“It’s the same timeslot every time.” Katsuki scoffed but Kirishima just grinned as he finally straightened and reached under the desk to grab the keys to one of their private study rooms, “Sun sets every day, doesn’t make it any less beautiful every time. So, should I come in after a count of ten or twenty-?“
Katsuki’s cheeks flamed as his hand faltered in reaching for the keys Kirishima had lifted higher at the last second. They were still easily within reach, they both knew it, and he rolled his eyes.
“Never, like usual.”
But Kirishima’s smile persisted as Katsuki didn’t snatch the keys immediately.
“So after then, with…” he eyed Katsuki playfully, “pizza?”
Katsuki made a loud buzzer sound with a satisfied smirk and grabbed the keys from a playfully groaning Kirishima.
“Wrong again, musclehead.”
“I’ll guess your favorite one of these days, gorgeous. Then it’ll be you, me and a whole table of… Korean BBQ?”
Katsuki couldn’t help laugh that bubbled out of his chest as he shook his head and walked past the desk to the room he needed, “Wrong again, and a penalty for guessing twice, shithead!”
“Can’t help that you make me wanna risk it all!” Kirishima called dramatically after him and Katsuki was grateful for the growing distance to hide the clear amusement on his face.
He was still smiling when he locked the door behind himself, laying his books on the table with the papers he had to grade for his supervisor. god these fucking undergrads. god these fucking professors. That Korean BBQ sounded pretty good right now, Katsuki thought as he stared at the work ahead of him, wishing he had at least stopped to grab a snack before coming here. By the time he was done he figured he might be ready to just take a bite out of the redhead himself and call it a day.
For as long he'd been trying Katsuki was pretty sure Kirishima was going to guess his favorite food correctly any day now, and between his respectful persistence and stunning smile Katsuki wasn’t far off from letting whatever the redhead came up with soon be his new favorite.
But their game was…fun, even if he’d bristled at it the first time he’d met the redhead who had just stared at him in awe for a solid minute and a half at first even when Bakugou got in his face and repeated his request for his room key in a decidedly outdoor voice volume. After getting close enough over the counter to force Kirishima to go slightly cross eyed just to see him clearly the man had simply broken into a big grin and said “If you went to dinner with me I’d buy you your favorite food every day. I’d learn how to cook to make it for you if you wanted. Is it Italian food because right now spaghetti bolognese is definitely my best dish but I can learn something else, no biggie.” to which Bakugou, of course, had responded with: “What the actual fuck is wrong with you”
And somehow that had made Kirishima like him even more. Katsuki could by now quietly admit to himself that it was actually nice to be wooed so earnestly. The first few times he’d chalked it up to the guy just working a customer facing job and being a grade A flirt, but by now he had definitely gotten the memo that the redhead seemed genuinely into him specifically, even after hitting Katsuki’s iron walls time and time again.
He shook his head fondly at the memory of Kirishima’s feigned anguish at his failure to guess earlier and settled in to again try to focus on his work. He did have a penalty to look forward to after all…
-
Three hours later on the dot Katsuki was rubbing away the wrinkle between his eyes, pen shoved behind his ear as he walked down the stairs and back towards the check out desk to hand in the key.
“Hey there, sunshine,” Kirishima grinned, perking up as he approached, “Tough session? Need a neck massage? Shoulder massage? I can massage more but I am a man of honor and would need to be wined and dined before,” he teased.
Katsuki furrowed his brow, wrinkle coming back full force, “Wouldn’t I need to be wined and dined first in this scenario?”
“I mean,” Kirishima winked at him, leaning closer over the counter, “Don’t have to ask me twice, where are we eating?”
Katsuki swatted a handful of papers at him without real irritation as he stretched his neck a bit and almost considered it before he shook it off and settled for holding up the keys.
“Clock me out and take these before I throw them and they get permanently stuck in all your hair gel.”
“So you like my hair huh? Thought so.” Kirishima quickly hooked a finger into the keyring, brushing against Katsuki’s fingers for an electric moment before pulling away, grin never wavering.
“Got your penalty coming right up, too. Got it on my break like ten minutes ago so it’s nice and fresh.” Kirishima smiled as he tapped around the keyboard before reaching down to grab a brown paper bag and a small to-go cup.
“Black coffee, decaf because it’s after 4, aaaaand a cherry danish, I asked them to heat it up again so it should still be warm!”
Katsuki blushed as he accepted the bag and coffee, unable to resist taking a sip and an eager bite. Oh fuck. Oh my god. So good. So fucking good.
“Fuuuuck” he breathed out loud into his treats before he could stop himself and Kirishima bit back a fond laugh.
“If I’d have known this is how to make you say it like that I’d have gotten you this penalty combo ages ago.”
The penalties so far had just been a small coffee or treat at first after he’d joked about the redhead ‘breaking the rules’ by guessing at his favorite food twice in one day a couple weeks ago. Now Kirishima “broke” the rules almost every day just to have a reason to get Katsuki a treat he wouldn’t refuse… and it made Katsuki want to hide his face in his hands for five years. Maybe ten.
“Thanks…” Katsuki managed after swallowing, feeling his ears heat up as he hesitated before adding “…technically this is two penalties, coffee and the danish...”
“…oh yeah?” Kirishima grinned, “What’s the rule book say about paying extra penalties?”
“…penalty’s for an extra guess. Extra penalty… one more guess today.”
“Wow, what a generous rule book.” Kirishima chuckled, leaning over the counter again, a waft of his cologne making Katsuki a little pleasantly lightheaded.
“Yeah,” Katsuki blinked, “Well the rule book likes lukewarm cherry fucking danishes I guess.” He pushed his growing smile down but according to Kirishima’s happily crinkling eyes he wasn’t succeeding.
“An extra guess…” Kirishima smiled, “well, if you’re done with work today then you’re headed home… to order your favorite food for a job well done…from that Thai place right off campus?”
Katsuki smirked, leaning into Kirishima’s space and relishing the way the other man melted a little At their new proximity, letting his eyes flutter closed… before making a loud buzzer noise in his face.
“Aww really? I thought this time for sure!” Kirishima laughed and Katsuki grinned as neither of them backed out of each other’s space. He could see every small freckle on Kirishima’s tan face, the hint of lip balm shining on his lips…
“I’m done with work today, so I’m headed home,” Katsuki raised an eyebrow, “where I’m going to relax while you order my favorite coconut curry with rice… from that Thai place right off campus, and then come over for that neck massage with dinner.”
Kirishima’s entire face lit up instantly, “Yeah? Better be ready, my massages are addictive. I get off in half an hour, I’ll pick up the food on my way.” He grabbed a notecard and Katsuki leaned over the counter to fill it out, smiling as he felt the warmth radiating off Kirishima.
“Sounds great. Numbers on there, too. Text when you’re outside I’ll buzz you in. Don’t bother with dessert, I’ve got it covered.” He looked back up to see Kirishima eyeing him with a warm intensity that made a pleasant shiver go down his spine.
“Yeah you do.”
Katsuki blushed again and flipped him off as he walked off to get his things from the locker, stuffing his mouth with cherry danish to keep from getting too flustered, pretending not to hear the amused laughter from the counter. The cold air outside helped excuse his red cheeks as he picked up the pace. He had some wining & dining to do after all…