Deku's POV
The stars twinkled in their most enchanting light above us as we walked through the park. The same park we've been to a few days ago. Alex was... godlike. She was so pretty, her beautiful brown hair falling over her shoulders like some waterfalls and her eyes shining as bright as the stars. Oh, yeah, she is super hot as well. Not many women look good in such a dress. I had a really strong urge to hold her hand. I swallowed, directing my feet to go a bit to left so I would get closer to her.
I smelled a vanilla scent around her and smiled accidentally. She inhaled the fresh earthy air around us and looked at me, a bit confused when she saw how close I suddenly got. I chuckled and rubbed the back of my head nervously. Was it weird for her? Being here with me? I wasn't sure about that... but I knew I wanted to be treated just like any other human being on Earth and beyond. I licked my lips while thinking how to express it.
"You know... let's just forget I am Deku tonight. Let me be someone who... I don't know... helped you carry your groceries from a market - and nothing else. I don't want you to feel awkward or tied back around me", I said after some thinking.
Her sea green eyes looked into mine. It was a look which could tame a lion, let alone shut up me. She nodded silently and I wondered if she actually understood what I meant.
"I never properly thanked you for carrying those bags for me", she said playfully.
In one quick and determined move she took my hand and continued walking. I could see how quickly she breathed. I was no better. My face went red as I felt her tiny, soft fingers around my hand. I just wanted to hold her and protect her from the harsh reality life usually was. Life where you loose your real smile and replace it with a 'heroic' one. Because she made me smile honestly. I want her to be able to do the same. I am no saint, but... I can make her happy. It's funny... I believe that when you think ahead and so seriously not so long after meeting someone - you are destined to be with them. And that just may have happened to me.
A cute tone of pink was over her cheeks but it was nothing but perfectly adorable. I smiled all the way, causing her to ask me: "Why are you smiling?"
"Oh, just, you're so cute", I said quietly.
This phase we were in; our words causing each other to get all flustered and distracted, simple hand holding to cause us to simply glow in a bright red tone - it was just a beginning. A beginning to something incredible - or so I thought.
Anyway.
She slowed down. I looked at her and she averted her gaze when our eyes met. I turned her towards me and caught her other hand as well. She looked down at her shoes and frowned as she sees them for the first time. I just stopped there. I wanted to admire the moment we were in. She still looked at the ground. I was nervous as fuck. This perfect girl was in front of me and, in my opinion, it was only a matter of time when would I fuck up. My hand shook as I let her go and slowly lifted her face to look at me. She blushed and I laughed quietly, knowing how silly we must have looked. My hand was still on her face. She looked somewhere into my eyes. We were close to each other. The light wind intertwined our hair strands somehow.
Fuck it. What happens - happens.
I closed my eyes and leaned in to kiss her. Her lips were so soft and sweet, and somehow tasted like honey. She put her hands on my shoulders as I held her, and I could feel how nervous she was. But I didn't care. Nothing is perfect. But our imperfections can be. And that's exactly what this was. The fact she barely reached me even in her heals, the fact we were both so nervous... it was perfectly imperfect. And majestic. I pulled away and she instantly turned her head to the side with a flustered smile on her face. Her shyness was adorable. My arms just naturally wrapped around her and pulled her into a hug. The sweet vanilla scent was all around me. It was a bliss. She finally relaxed and leaned her head onto my chest peacefully. We both exhaled at the same time and she giggled.
"This is a fairytale", she whispered and played with a strand of my hair gently.
I nodded and looked away from her and over her shoulder.
How am I so lucky? This is... impeccable. An impeccable moment.
"And you are the most incredible princess who ever walked on this and other planets", I said.
"And you are my brave knight on a white horse", she chuckled.
She stepped away and took my hand again. She tilted her head to the side a bit and began walking towards the exit. I followed her - I felt like I always would. We came out onto the street.
"There's a jazz bar near here somewhere", she said and looked around.
"Lead the way", I smiled.
We arrived into a big place. It was mostly hand-crafted furniture and the 20th century jazz posters all around. It was fancy and the lights were a bit dimmed, giving off a time-traveling vibe. Alex's eyes sparkled when she heard the music and my enthusiasm grew with hers, I guess. A waiter came up to us and offered us a table by the window and we accepted.
I rushed clumsily to pull the chair out for her and almost - almost - tripped over a couple sitting nearby. She thanked me and sat down and I landed down humbly. I felt unworthy of her company. She sensed something and smiled at me. Just looking at her made a smile creep out onto my lips.
I had smiled honestly until I finished high school. Then... my life became hectic. I wanted to behave like All Might, to be able to smile - always - but... But I couldn't. Maybe I just didn't have that thing in me, who knows. He smiles even now. And I don't. Deciding to smile that way meant giving up on that bit of honesty one gives when smiles. But I did it. Eventually, I lost my real smile. Ah, but Alex... she made me smile truthfully, genuinely, honestly - put it however you want - but she did it in an instant. Just watching her makes my smile burst through.
"I'll have... a cappuccino", she said and interrupted my thoughts.
"And the gentleman... wow! Deku! It's such an honor, I..." the waitress yelped excitedly and Alex looked away.
"The gentleman will have an espresso, thanks. See you!" I ended the fuss and the waitress walked away confusedly. "Sorry about that", I apologized and fidgeted my fingers.
"It's fine. It's only natural... I guess", Alex shrugged.
"Uhm... I don't mean to sound weird but - are we just gonna pretend we didn't kiss for 45 seconds? N-Not that I counted..." I said nervously.
She looked at me. One of those looks again. The one I can't resist. I expected her to yell. Or at least whack me on the head. What idiot asks something like that?
"I hope not", she chuckled easily. "I like you Izuku. I really do. More than just like... I think you're kind and noble and smart... and cute", she giggled while blushing, "and you should keep in mind I never really let anyone kiss me on the first date. You're different...yeah."
I was in heaven. It was as if Cupids have flown me away. Someplace... holy and divine. Where I was in a land of vanilla and red dresses and brown hair...
"Izuku?" she called me.
"I fully agree!" I yelled, overenthusiastically, causing the same couple I (almost) tripped over to stare at me. "You're like an angel. Without wings. I mean, you even have a healing quirk", I added, quietly this time.
She chuckled. I took her hand after some debating and got closer to her.
"May I take you to the second date?" I asked.
She blinked a few times before asking me disconcertingly: "Is this one over already?"
"Nope. I just have to make sure it will happen again", I replied through laughter.
She chuckled with what seemed as relief. Our coffees arrived (I was thinking of proper dinner, but I went with what she ordered) and she played with her milk foam.
So. Damn. Adorable.
She noticed me staring at her. "Oh, sorry, I guess being with kids the whole day turns you into one of them", she laughed.
The rest of the evening flied by without even noticing. We laughed, happily and sentimentally, I actually turned out to be funny and with each moment I grew more and more into admiring her. She had a smart sense of humor and she knew a lot about movies and book (don't even get me started on music), she didn't say or do anything rude the entire evening, she even patiently put up with the waitress flirting with me over and over a dozen times. I always found jealous women a bit repellent anyway. She was a picture-perfect girl I could spend hours (hell, even weeks) with and never get bored.
It was far after 10 p.m. when we stood in front of the bar doors.
"I'll take you home. Your rose is still in my car anyway", I said and took her hand gently.
Luckily for me, she didn't protest but simply nodded with an elegant smile. We went for a walk and I opened the car doors for her. I don't quite know how I managed to remember to do all these things since my brain, hart and soul screamed and panicked the entire time. I took a deep breath to pull myself together and we drove off. I took her to Hatsume's place, as she asked. She played gently with the petals of the rose and hummed the same song we listened to the first time I dropped her off. It was delightfully winsome.
I turned the car off as we arrived and looked at her gratefully. She returned my look and once again made me smile from the bottom of my heart. She leaned in and quickly kissed me on the lips one more time.
"Thanks for tonight, Izuku. I've never had such a wonderful time. Up until now. You are always a hero, no matter if it's about fighting Tomura Shigaraki or opening car doors for women. It's in your heart", she said and kissed my cheek before waving a goodbye and walking away.
I watched her smell the rose before ringing on the intercom and going inside. I even think I heard Hatsume's excited shrieking. However, I threw my head back and my arms up. This felt like the first actual victory in my entire life.
Man, what an evening!