Chapter Text
Katsuki had been having a boring, dreamless sleep, when he had woken up to blackwhip on his throat. Enough to wake him up but not enough to do anything else than be annoying, however, Izuku looks terrified. He hates that look on Izuku's face.
“‘zuku?” He asks tiredly, still not fully awake. He didn't get a reply. Waiting for a few more moments, he starts to inch closer to Izuku.
“Izuku…?” he murmurs, trying to get his attention. He can tell that Izuku is spiraling again, but he doesn't remember the best ways to help someone out. He's trying, ok?
Getting close enough-in front of him-Katsuki pulls him into a hug. Or tries to, but Izuku flinches back, hard. It reminds Katsuki of how he acted back in Aldera, when Katsuki was an asshole and an idiot to him. Katsuki’s heart clenches painfully, but he doesn't let up. He keeps Izuku in his arms and holds him tightly, eventually Izuku sags in his arms. The green-haired boy trembles the entire time, but Katsuki thinks it isn't because of him. Maybe that's because the black whip has turned to wrapping around his chest, pulling him closer, or because Izuku isn't letting go.
Katsuki rests his chin on the green-haired boy, his hair floofing down slightly, and they stay like that for a while. Izuku is listening to his heartbeat, a calming method that Katsuki knew worked after everything that happened during the war…
After about 10 minutes, several things had happened. Izuku had finally stopped trembling, slowing down ever so often until he stopped, and his tears were finally starting to slow. He was able to close his eyes and start breathing much slower than his previous hyperventilation. And finally, Izuku relaxed in Katsuki’s arms. Asleep, he tells himself. He feels safe enough to fall asleep in my arms.
Carefully, Katsuki let them both down onto the bed, where they eventually both fell asleep, holding each other. Katsuki knows it's temporary, that Izuku just needed comfort for tonight's craziness, but fuck if he didn't want to stay like this forever.