Izuku Midoriya had been patrolling when he spotted something that instantly made his heart skip a beat. Well, two things, actually.

The first was the most adorable dog he’d ever seen—a golden retriever. The second was the man walking it. He was… cute. Really cute.

Smiling, Izuku stepped closer, lifting a hand in greeting. “Hi! That’s such a cute dog! Do you mind if I—”

“No.”

The answer was immediate, but not harsh. More factual than anything else. The man’s voice was calm but firm, and his gaze flickered down to the dog before back to Izuku.

“Oh! Uh—” Izuku blinked, lowering his hand. Most dog owners were happy to let him pet their furry friends, especially when they recognized him as Deku. He wasn’t expecting rejection, and certainly not so quickly.

The man must have seen the surprise on his face- he sighed and shifted his stance. “It’s not personal. He’s a service dog.”

Izuku’s stomach dropped. “Oh,” he said softly, guilt creeping into his chest.

Service dog. That meant this wasn’t just a pet. Izuku knew enough to understand that distracting a working dog could be dangerous, and now he felt awful for asking without thinking.

“I’m really sorry,” he said, his green eyes earnest as he met the man’s gaze. “I didn’t mean to overstep.”

Izuku hesitated, glancing down at the dog again. The retriever sat calmly by the man’s side, its focus unwavering.

“I… really want to make it up to you,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “How about—uh—coffee? On me?”

The man blinked, clearly caught off guard. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to,” Izuku insisted, smiling sheepishly. “I’d like to get to know you… if you’re okay with that.”

A moment of silence stretched between them.

“…Alright. Coffee sounds nice.”

Izuku beamed. “Great! There’s a place not too far from here. Do you have a preference?”

The man shook his head, and for the first time, there was a flicker of something softer in his eyes. “Not really. Lead the way, Hero.”