Chapter Text
His mother left in a hurry, practically jogging out the door with loud ‘click clacks’ following her. Katsuki’s eyes snapped back to Deku as soon as the door slammed shut and he heard hears his mom walking down the hallway. The boy in front of him still had his head turned towards the exit, a solemn look on his face. He looked deep in thought, eyes darting back and forth and mouth opening and closing forming unheard sentences.
Katsuki didn’t look away when Deku turned around, which left him staring firmly into dark green eyes. The boy’s hair was the same damn seaweed color as his eyes, giving him a very ‘nature-y’ feel. Katsuki wondered for a moment if Deku liked to be outside, but the thought quickly vanished. Why should he care what the loser did and didn’t like?
Ignoring Katsuki’s death stare, Izuku quickly finished eating the remaining buckwheat, placing his spoon in the empty bowl when he finished. Deku, chin pointed downwards, bashfully looked up at Katsuki from under his eyelashes, “Where do I put the bowl, Kacchan?” he asked sweetly.
Katsuki quizzically looked at Deku for a moment longer, before sighing, “Put ’em in the sink, I’ll wash it later,” he said, pointing a finger towards the sink on is left.
The green headed boy nodded and pushed his chair back with his legs, silently wincing in pain while doing so. Shit, Katsuki forgot about that. He watched as Deku put a hand on the table and pulled himself into a semi-stable standing position. Maybe he could do this on his own, Katsuki thought for a moment. Though, his thoughts were proven wrong when one of the Deku’s knees give out, making him fall forward.
Several things happen at once, Katsuki thoughtlessly jolted up, causing both his chair and bowl of buckwheat to tip over when he slammed his left hand on the table as the other shot out to catch Deku’s face before it hit the table top. His palm was pressed against Deku’s freckled forehead and his fingers were spread out over his face, he could feel thick eyelashes brushing against his ring finger. Though catching his face didn’t stop the rest of the boy’s body from continuing to fall. Deku’s arms flailed out on instinct to try and block his chest from hitting the table. They only managed to get trapped up under his stomach, which was bent over the furniture, the curve putting some serious pressure on his wound.
Katsuki was glad he had his other hand planted on his side of the table because if he hadn’t, Deku’s fall would’ve made the entire damn thing flip over, bringing him down with it. He was also thankful he had managed to place his hand on Deku’s face. If he were a second too late, there would’ve been a big ass bruise on Deku’s face for sure. One that Katsuki would have to explain.
He heard Deku gasp in pain, one of his arms that were already up under him moving down to where his wound was. Slightly panicked, Katsuki quickly took his hand away from Deku’s face, and let it fall onto the table top with a soft thump. Katsuki hurriedly rounded the table, stepping behind Deku and awkwardly bending over him.
Katsuki’s chest was pressed against the other’s back, his chin probably digging into the crease of Deku’s shoulder. His arm sliding up under Deku’s pits, the green headed boy coughed as Katsuki tried to raise him up off the table. "Katsuki straightened his legs and pulled back, bringing Deku's ass up against his thighs.". He managed to get Deku high enough off the surface to quickly slide his hands down and wrap them around his upper chest.
The scrub finally decided to help out by using the hand that wasn’t holding his wound to help push himself up. By doing so, Katsuki finally managed to get the other boy back up to his feet, though he stumbled back a bit as Deku weakly fell back into his chest.
With a grunt, Katsuki tried to raise Deku a little higher so that he could at least carry him better. Grabbing hold of the chair to his left, Deku used it for support as he stood back up. Katsuki’s head was sitting on top of Deku’s, he rolled it to the side to get a better look at the boy’s stomach.
“How bad is it?” Katsuki asked, he couldn’t quite see since Deku’s hand was over it. When the other just whimpered, Katsuki removed one hand from Deku’s chest and placed it over the hand covering his wound. Grunting, Katsuki pried the hand away from the injury, letting his own hand cover it instead. A warm sticky liquid seeped onto his fingers, causing him to cringe. “Pretty bad, then,” he whispered.
Without another word Katsuki removed his hand from Deku’s stitches, now placing it under his knee. Katsuki huffed as he hoisted the other into his arms, wobbling before setting off to the well-lit living room. He’s careful not to hit Deku’s head on the doorframe of the living room. Katsuki gently laid him on the L shaped couch, the one in front of the tv, and hurried to the bathroom.
He paused, turning around and pointing a finger at the boy groaning on his couch, “Don’t you fucking move,” Katsuki said, before spinning back and jogging into the small bathroom.
——
Izuku was gently laid down on the couch, on top of the covers Katsuki must have used to sleep with last night and his head resting on a fluffy pillow.
”Ouch,” Izuku whined, though, there was a smile on his face. He heard Kacchan shuffling around in the bathroom, something falling and a loud ’Shit!’ which followed soon after. Chuckling, Izuku wiped his bloodied hand on his shorts in disgust.
Sure, he was overreacting a bit, but it was amusing to see Kacchan scramble about like that, so worried over only Izuku. Sometimes it was nice to have someone care about him, even if it was just because they didn’t want to get grounded or some shit.
When he heard Kacchan slam the bathroom door, Izuku’s smile dropped and his hand shot back to his wound. He pressed down on it, causing more blood to squirt out and tears to form in his eyes. Izuku winced in pain just as Kacchan walked back into the living room.
Kacchan had a tray of tools in his hands, Izuku could see a few bottles and some surgical tape popping out from the top. He looked angry, or maybe just stressed, “Stop touching it, you dipshit!” he demanded, rushing over and yanking Izuku’s hand away as he sat on his knees beside him, “Pull your shirt up!” he barked while stubbornly not looking Izuku in the eye.
Looking at him wearily, Izuku held the hem of his shirt down. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust him, it was just that…yeah, he just didn’t trust Kacchan not to stab him with hot iron or some shit. Also, it irritated him.
Obviously annoyed, Katsuki grabbed Izuku’s hand, “I’m gonna clean it and change the bandages, hurry up before you pass out or something,” Katsuki said. Izuku obeyed, though he was pretty sure he wouldn’t pass out from losing that much blood. As soon as his wound was exposed, Katsuki ripped off the thick gauze. Then he grabbed a pair of doctors gloves that were sitting in the corner of the container, underneath a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. He slid them on, whispering, “Fuckers always told me to put gloves on when I do this shit…” Katsuki was silent as he popped open the top to a bottle of rubbing alcohol with his left hand, “This is gonna burn like a bitch, okay?”
The smell made Izuku’s eyes burn, but he nodded, “I’ve felt worse,” he whispered. If Katsuki heard him he didn’t show it.
A cool hand formed a cup on his side, “Turn a little,” Katsuki huffed. Izuku did, to his right. He didn’t jolt when the alcohol was poured onto the stitches, watching as it washed some blood off with it. Katsuki only poured a little at a time, trying (And failing) to catch the bloody alcohol with his cupped hand, instead most of it seeped through his gloved fingers. Muttering a curse, Katsuki took his hand away and rubbed it on his own shirt. He searched around in the box for something, before pulling out a clean blue rag.
Izuku had to hold back a scoff. That would have been a hell of a lot more useful, he should’ve started off with that. Katsuki pulled the alcohol into his lap, wetting the rag with it. He then began to dab around the stitches, cleaning up the remaining blood. As he finished Katsuki grabbed some gauze from the bucket. “You should pour hydrogen peroxide on it too, for extra measure,” Izuku whispered, voice cracking.Peroxide, to him, was a gift from the gods. Bubbling up all the dirt and whatnot that the alcohol couldn’t quite get.
Embarrassed, Katsuki dropped the gauze, “Don't try to tell me what I know, loser!” he yelled as he snatched up the peroxide from the corner of the box. Izuku grinned as he watched a flustered Katsuki hold the rag up to his side and pour the disinfectant over his stomach. This didn’t burn at all, unlike the alcohol. A good bit of fizzing bubbles came up, and Katsuki quickly wiped them away with the dry side of the blue rag.
Katsuki reapplied a new gauze, placing the tape on his skin, then lightly smoothing it over. The hands on his stomach made Izuku twitch a little, that shit fucking tickled. Katsuki gave Izuku’s stomach a soft pat when he was done, before pulling the gloves off and balling them up to put in his pocket. “Be right back,” he said, picking up the box after placing everything back inside as he stood back up.
Izuku sat still as he waited for Katsuki to return, staring at the floor and thinking of nothing in particular. He felt sleepy. He closed his eyes, and found himself drifting off…
He was awoken by a thump to the nose. Jolting awake, Izuku was met with Katsuki standing in front of him, bent over with a black t-shirt in his arms. “You can sleep after you change shirts,” he said calmly, though there was still a small bite in his tone. Nodding, Izuku pushed himself up, trying to ignore the fierce pain in his abdomen. Every time he moved his arms to grab the hem of his shirt, a jolt of pain shot through his body.
Seeing his obvious struggle, Katsuki wordlessly climbed on the couch and sat criss-cross behind Izuku. His shins were touching Izuku’s back, and he had straightened his back to actually fit on the couch. After setting the newer shirt in his lap, he grabbed the hem himself and tugged upwards, “Arms up,” he barked into Izuku’s ear, making him jump.
Izuku suddenly remembered something, “J-just don’t look, alright?” he stuttered. He knew damn well Katsuki had seen them, but Katsuki didn’t know that.
“How the hell else am I gonna help you change if I can’t fucking see what I’m doing?” Katsuki growled, “Arm’s up!” he said again, more sternly this time.
Rolling his eyes, Izuku slowly lifted his arms above his head. The shirt ended up getting caught on his nose, but he wiggled it off and Katsuki finished removing the shirt, balling it up and setting it in his own lap. Katsuki couldn’t see it, but Izuku was grinning, he knew his scars fucked Katsuki up.
But what he didn’t expect was for Katsuki to touch them. Izuku jumped when a warm, slightly clammy, hand traveled across his back, tracing the healed wounds with his fingertips. Feeling caught off guard, Izuku elbowed Katsuki’s knee, making the other jump. “Don’t do that, please,” he whispered, not bothering to turn his head back towards Katsuki. His grin had fallen.
“Sorry…” he breathed.
——
Katsuki’s fingers lingered for a moment longer, before he withdrew his hand. They managed to get the newer shirt on quickly, Izuku immediately scooted away from him once the shirt was pulled over his head.
The shirt fit well, the v-neck only slipped off his shoulder every few seconds, unlike the other which might as well have been strapless. Izuku seemed to notice, looking down and tugging at the hem of his shirt in curiosity.
Standing up, Katsuki headed for the light switch by the television stand. The loser was probably gonna head back to his room to nap, katsuki decided he might as well do the same. “Didn’t you say you were tired, dipshit? If you’re gonna sleep, go back to my room,” he scoffed, flicking the switch off. The room was now only illuminated by the flat screen tv, which was on the home screen of his cable network. It sat on a stand about 10 feet away from the couch, the blinds were already closed and the light from the tv wasn’t doing well to keep the room bright, Katsuki could hardly see the freckles on Deku’s face from where he stood.
Shaking his head, Deku swung his legs over the side of the couch, letting them brush the floor, “I’d rather stay in here with you, Kacchan,” he smiled, folding his hands in his lap and staring at Katsuki.
He was about to protest, then the sentence fully processed in his mind, “The hell’d you just call me?” he snarled, stomping towards Izuku, muscles flexed in an intimidating manner. Deku visibly shrunk back, pushing himself into the couch cushions with every step Katsuki took towards him.
Silently cursing himself, Katsuki stopped where he was, only a foot or two in front of Deku and tried to shake off his nerves. It was something Kirishima told him to do when he was too angry, though it wasn’t a wise, thought out conversation between the two, instead, Kirishima just yelled, “Dude! Chill out! Shake off the anger or some shit, just don’t hit me, Christ!” As much as he hated it, Kirishima had given him some pretty good advice. He’d never admit it, but had probably saved him from suspension on more than one occasion.
So Katsuki scrunched his nose and shook his head, before bringing his hands up to his earlobes and giving each of them a good tug. He didn’t really feel any less angry, but he was a little calmer. Sighing, Katsuki walked back to the kitchen. He still had to clean up the mess they had made, if the nerd was able, he’d make him come in there and help. But he wasn’t, so Katsuki grabbed a towel to wipe the rest of the buckwheat off the table. He then picked up the chair that fell, sliding it back up under the table. He placed the dirty dishes in the sink, both his and Deku’s, before returning to the living room. With a quiet yawn, Katsuki sat down on the couch, about a foot or so from Deku’s right.
Deku turned his head towards Katsuki, lower lip jutted out and brows furrowed in confusion. Ignoring him; Katsuki reached onto the floor, searching for the tv remote. His hand touched something hard and he pulled it out and began searching the channels. The other's attention was suddenly on the tv, his eyes glued to the thing
Taking note of this, Katsuki nudged the other with his elbow, “S’there anything you wanna watch?” he offered, looking expectantly at Izuku.
Dekus seemed to think for a moment, before slouching back into the cushions, “Cartoons?” he requested sweetly, looking up at Katsuki with big round eyes.
Seriously? He didn’t want to watch like, a mystery show or something. “You don’t want to watch a documentary? They came out with some new one on All Might’s origin or some shit, it should be on the air,” Katsuki offered, flicking through the channels.
He heard the other scoff, which made Katsuki turn his head in confusion. Deku had a sour look on his face like someone had just held him at gunpoint and forced a lemon in his mouth. Did he, not like documentaries? “What’s the matter?” Katsuki asked, voice rough.
Deku hummed, glancing to the side, “Nothing,” he said, expression now calm, but sort of troubled, “Put on whatever.”
“Seriously, what the hell is it?” Katsuki demanded, his parents would be angry if Deku was grumpy, so he was going to go above and beyond to make sure the brat was somewhat happy.
The other gazes thoughtfully at the ground, before turning his attention to Katsuki, looking him straight in the eyes, “Just don't like heroes as much as the next guy, I guess,” he admitted shamelessly.
Katsuki wouldn’t lie, his brain just record scratched. Didn’t like heroes? What dumbass didn’t like heroes, they were the best! Especially All Might! Sure the guy was an annoying ass teacher but no one can forget about his debut! He rescued over a hundred people! He…”You’re joking right?” he huffed. When Deku shook his head no, Katsuki’s grip on the remote tightened. “Yeah? And why not? Just jealous because people like us have such amazing quirks?” Katsuki spat, “While you're stuck with nothing? He scoffs, slightly disgusted what a selfish reason not to like heroes.
His words seemed to affect Deku, his expression faltered and shoulders twitched. Deku just sighed sadly, “I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” he wordlessly begins fiddling with his thumbs in his lap, no longer looking at Katsuki. Now he looked sorrowfully down at his fingers, mind wandering.
“Then make me understand,” The words that came out of Katsuki’s mouth surprised even him. Deku seemed to be alarmed as well, his fingers stopped twitching around in his lap and his gaze was turned back to Katsuki.
Taking a deep breath, Deku’s eyes flickered to the side, “It’s just…Most heroes can’t do anything without their quirks, cant fight in hand to hand combat, can’t…I dunno talk someone out of doing something stupid without hitting them in the face with their quirks…They don't take into consideration what’s happened to the person they’re fighting. Maybe someone was robbing a bank for money they needed to pay a relative’s hospital bills. Or think that hey! Maybe this kid needs fucking food to survive, so yeah, if he has to, he’ll grab a single apple from a random cart! Big deal!” he rants thoughtlessly, words dying down to a mumble.
It takes Katsuki a moment to register everything he just said, he was talking so fast. “That’s…an oddly specific example,” he says softly, voice almost cracking in understanding.
The mumbling stopped, and Deku’s body went rigid for a split second, before he calmed down and shook his head, “Sorry,” he apologized, almost robotically.
Katsuki nodded, eyebrows tensed as he looked at Deku for a moment longer. He then clicked to the cartoon channels, then found and put on Pink Panther. Deku stretched his legs and sank back down into the couch, trying to find a comfortable position.
Crossing his legs, Katsuki leaned back as well, watching as the Pink Panther, an animal with an intelligence quirk, steals a suitcase from some unsuspecting stranger.
The show went on for a few minutes before cutting to commercials, and Katsuki heard how Deku’s breathing had evened out. Glancing over, Katsuki saw that Deku had fallen asleep. His head was hung awkwardly low to his chest, eyes closed and hand’s barely managing to stay in his lap.
Katsuki wordlessly uncrossed his legs and scooted over a little, their hips were touching now as he snaked an arm around Deku’s shoulders to pull him in. The mop of fluffy green hair that landed in the crook of his shoulder slightly tickled Katsuki’s cheek. He rubbed it against the other’s head to itch it, letting it rest there after. Katsuki’s right arm was under Deku’s, stretched behind his warm back with his hand in the other’s lap. He was just making sure the weirdo didn’t fall and hurt himself again. Definitely not because he felt bad or some shit.
Katsuki grabbed the remote with his free hand and hit the power button. The room fell completely dark and Katsuki closed his eyes, inhaling the smell of Deku’s hair. Fucker used his shampoo.
His chest felt heavy and suddenly, opening his eyes seemed like it’d be the hardest thing to do at the moment. Katsuki simply decided to go along with what his body wanted, sighing and slouching back on the couch to get more comfortable.
He hadn’t slept much last night anyway.