Chapter Text
(1)
The battleground was a sea of fire and screams.
There were dozens of skirmishes happening all around; ranging from one-on-one matches to fights with 12 different participants. As time wore on there were less and less fighters in the battle at large. Bodies littered the ground, whether they be unconscious, too injured to move, or dead.
Most of the dead were heroes.
Bakugou Katsuki ran across the madness in search of one person. The one person in the world that meant more to him than life itself. His lover and partner, Midoriya Izuku. They were fighting side by side at the start of the battle but were forced to separate in the ensuing chaos.
The plans that had been mapped out ahead of time proved to be useless.
Though that hardly mattered now; the heroes had been unaware of All for One’s escape from prison. The bastard apparently stole a kind of cloning quirk. Katsuki blasted two-bit street thugs out of the way as he ran to the epicenter of the whole mess. That was where Izuku was facing a two-on-one battle with All for One and Shigaraki.
As soon as the villain made his presence known, Izuku had only looked him in the eye and said a somber, “I’m sorry, Kacchan” before he went and met the seemingly all-powerful supervillain in battle. Katsuki tried to follow, but the cannon fodder the League of Villains gathered took every imaginable opportunity to get their asses kicked by the great hero, Ground Zero.
The fight between Izuku and All for One was fairly even until Shigaraki showed up. Deku was an amazing hero, truly superior to the late All Might, but facing the grand-daddy of all villainy and his apprentice was proving to be the most formidable challenge he had ever faced. Katsuki was more than eager to arrive at his partner’s side and even the odds.
Before he could though, Katsuki could see the glowing from Izuku’s limbs brighten as he let loose a mighty scream and made one last charge at his adversaries. Even from where he was standing, Katsuki could see Izuku was running on the dregs of his power. This would be his final attack, all-or-nothing.
All for One was much the same.
In a move that shocked all parties involved, All for One chose to save Shigaraki over defending himself. As Izuku’s blow connected with the villain, a stone spike sprang from the ground and skewered the hero where he stood. All for One was clearly dead this time, and Izuku wasn’t far behind him. There were twin shrieks of agony and loss, from two different sides of the battle.
Shigaraki lost no time in taking control of the reigns after his master’s death. With All for One gone, the League would need time to lick their wounds and regroup. The heroes were in a worse position; they had lost their Symbol of Peace and had none to replace him with. Kurogiri had been taken out early in the fight, the hero’s having made sure to use knockout gases to disable the warp gate. No matter. All that needed to be done was to slip away with the proper people while the heroes wasted their time with the small fries.
When Katsuki had seen Izuku impaled on the spike, his heart stopped. But his body moved faster than he ever thought possible. Izuku was just barely alive when his partner and arrived at his side. The first thing Katsuki did was break off the spike and lay the wounded hero on the ground. In that moment, he was hysterical, only thinking of ways to save Izuku’s life. Though, they both knew it was futile.
Izuku used the last of his strength to cup his partner’s face with one hand and tell him. “It’s up to... you now. I... love... you... Katsuki.” And just like that, the light faded from his eyes and his last breath left his body. All Katsuki could do was scream and cry. There was a deep, stabbing pain in his chest as he begged for Izuku to come back to him.
Or just get one more chance to save him.
The sound of Shigaraki’s voice was what brought him back to reality. Katsuki could see him gathering his usual band of villains around him; one of them even had Kurogiri on their back. There were no other heroes paying them any attention. They were all too busy fighting for their lives. Katsuki was the only one who saw them.
Izuku’s last words echoed in his mind and without a second thought, Katsuki launched himself at the gathering villains. If the heroes were going to lose their leader, the villains were damn well going to lose theirs. Katsuki gave Shigaraki no time to react. He ignored all the other villains in his wild charge. He had no regard for his own life anymore.
His whole reason for living was lying dead in a pool of his own blood not 20 feet away.
Katsuki could feel blades, bullets, and fire on and in his body, but the only sensation he cared about was the burning in his palms. The familiar sting of his quirk readying the largest explosion he had ever made. Just as his quirk let loose, a grimy hand wrapped around his throat.
As darkness consumed him, the only thing left in his heart was a desperate plea, to who he had no idea, just the deep burning desire to save the one he loves.
(2)
With a gasp, Katsuki woke up screaming.
His thrashing tangled him in his bed sheets. The impairment of his movement only served to further agitate the boy and he soon toppled over the edge of his bed and onto the floor. His parents bolted upright in their bed when they heard their son’s cries. Sprinting down the hall, they found Katsuki a sobbing mess on the floor, tangled in his blanket.
“Katsuki! Katsuki, what’s wrong, baby?” Bakugou Mitsuki cooed as she freed her son from his cloth bindings.
The 4 year-old-boy was unable to form anything resembling a coherent response. The only word that was understandable from the boy were multiple whimpers of “Deku” or “Izuku”.
Bakugou Masaru came around his wife’s other side and rubbed soothing circles on his son’s back. “It’s okay, Katsuki. We know you miss Izuku, but I’m sure he’ll be back at school soon, if he isn’t there today.”
Teary crimson eyes locked on his and Katsuki could only cock his head and give a confused “Huh?’
Mitsuki just laughed and pulled Katsuki to his feet. “Izuku only had a cold last week, ya big crybaby. He’ll probably be back at school today.”
As an indigent “I’m not a crybaby!” sounded behind her, Mitsuki pulled Katsuki’s kindergarten uniform out of his closet.
“Sure you aren’t, Katsuki. It’s time to get ready for school now, baby.”
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Katsuki pulled at his light blue smock in confusion.
He had tried to explain to his parents what he remembered. The fire and blood and screams. They had just soothed his cries when he worked himself up again and waved off anything he tried to explain as nightmares. His mother had even told him, “That’s why you don’t watch grown-up movies, Katsuki.”
There was nothing Katsuki could do except to go along with what his parents were telling him. The only thing his 4-year-old mind was sure of was what his last memories were. There was something deep in his heart that told him what he remembered were memories and not a nightmare. The battle, the screams, the blood, it had all happened. He knew it.
That had to mean what happened to Izuku had happened too. Just the thought of the grisly sight was enough to bring tears to his eyes. But his parents had reassured Katsuki that Izuku was okay, that he was probably at school today and he would see the other green-haired boy. That was a promise he held on to.
His parents wished him a good day at school and promised the boy that if Izuku wasn’t at school that day, Mitsuki would take him to go visit him. As Katsuki entered the preschool room, the first thing he noticed was that Izuku wasn’t there yet. Two other kids, ones he remembered hanging around him before, came up to Katsuki and started talking to him. Not that Katsuki paid them any attention.
A sudden cheer of “Kacchan!” made him spin around so fast, he almost gave himself whiplash.
“Deku!” Katsuki could not hold himself back as he launched himself at Izuku, toppling them both to the floor.
“Aww, I missed you too, Kacchan.” They both picked themselves up and Izuku immediately started pulling him toward the outdoor area to go play. Katsuki was more than willing to go along with him, the two other boys following along.
Katsuki had no explanation for what exactly was going on, but he didn’t care. Even if this was a hallucination his mind thought up while he was in a coma or something, it was all fine as long as Izuku was there. He would rather be stuck in a fantasy with Izuku than live in a world without him.
No matter what, Katsuki would protect Izuku here.
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A few days later, Katsuki got his quirk. The teachers were quick to heap praise on the boy, not only for the quirk itself, but for the child’s sublime control over it. Doubtless, he would be a great hero with a quirk like that.
Months later, Izuku was diagnosed as quirkless. In that one instant, all the other kids turned their backs on him, like quirklessness was something they could catch. Even the teachers gave him less attention than before. One-by-one, everyone was leaving Izuku behind. Except for Katsuki.
No matter what the other kids said, he stayed firmly by Izuku’s side. He protected the other whenever Izuku needed it. Like hell Katsuki would be Izuku’s bully or allow him to be bullied in this new life. He vowed he would protect the one he loved most and he meant it. Nothing was going to stop him.
Not this time.
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It was when they were starting their third year in middle school.
The whole scene had a sense of familiarity to it. The teacher was going on about how he didn’t need to hand out some form to tell the vast majority of the students present were going to shoot for the hero corse. Katsuki could only look around at the other students and scoff. Though Izuku had never liked it when he looked down on the “extras” as he called them, Katsuki knew none of them would ever ascend past being the sidekick of some B-list hero.
While of course, Katsuki remembered the highlights of his past life, the details were fuzzy at best. He did know that last time, around the start of their final year in middle school, he would be attacked by some giant sludge monster. He also remembered Izuku telling him that he met All Might for the first time that same day. Specifics other than those were lost to him.
When his classmates began to show off their quirks in an attempt to prove themselves hero material, Katsuki launched himself out of his seat. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Izuku rolling his. This kind of showing off from him was second nature and everyone knew it. Despite all of Izuku’s attempts to beat some humility into Katsuki, the confidence bordering on arrogance persisted.
Katsuki made his declaration to be the best hero and attend UA, the top hero school in Japan. There were some who scoffed at such a lofty goal and there were some who were in a mild sort of awe at the confidence he exuded. The teacher said offhandedly how Izuku was aiming to attend UA as well. Most of the class held back laughter at the thought, but none let it escape their lips.
They all knew what happened to people who insulted the quirkless Midoriya Izuku. At least, while Bakugou Katsuki was around.
After class ended, Katsuki approached his best friend. The green haired boy was absorbed in his phone, fawning over the hero battle the duo had witnessed on their way to school. Katsuki was mildly amused at the way his friend jumped when he put a hand on his shoulder. And his heart skipped a beat at the absolutely dazzling smile Izuku shot his way when he recognized his only friend.
Even after all these years, many of them being spent as a child, the love Katsuki had for Izuku burned just as, if not more, strong as it had been that one bloody day. “You ready to get going, nerd? All the good games are gonna get taken by some other fuckers of you don’t hurry your ass up.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry Kacchan!” Izuku then shut off his phone’s screen and packed up the remainder of his school supplies. “Crap!”
“What is it, Deku?”
“It’s nothing really, I just forgot my wallet at home today. I’m going to have to go back home to get it.”
“Why would you need to do that, shitty Deku? I can just pay for the both of us. I got enough money for it.”
Izuku could only shake his head at the offer. “I couldn’t make you do that, Kacchan.”
Katsuki scoffed. “Well, it wouldn’t be for absolutely fucking free, nerd. You’ll just pay me back later.” Not that Katsuki would press the matter.
Still, Izuku refused. “It’s okay Kacchan. I’ll just meet you at the arcade after I get my wallet from home. It’s not a big deal, really.” And with that same dazzling smile, Izuku took off and called out, “See you there Kacchan!”
The total and complete hold Izuku had on Katsuki’s heart was astonishing, even slightly frightening to Katsuki. But, as he watched his secret love run towards his home from the classroom window, Katsuki could find no real fault in that. The other innocent teen was unaware of his best friend's passionate feelings towards him, and Katsuki was fine with that, for now. He knew Izuku would love him, when the time was right.
The walk to the arcade they played at almost every day after school somehow seemed longer without Izuku there to talk to. Katsuki played the games there for a while, waiting for Izuku to come in. Every time the door opened and the little bell announced the arrival of more customers, Katsuki would look up, expecting Izuku to be standing there.
It never was.
After nearly an hour of waiting, Katsuki decided to go looking for the green haired teen. A seed of anxiety had rooted itself in his gut after half an hour. Walking from school to Izuku’s home and then back to the arcade shouldn’t have taken more than that amount of time. Every minute more allowed the seeds to sprout into full-blown worry.
As soon as the blond left the arcade, he began a brisk jog to Izuku’s home. There was no way Izuku would blow him off like that with no good reason. He didn’t even call Katsuki telling him his reason for not showing up. Something in Katsuki just knew that something was very, very wrong.
It wasn’t until he reached the overpass a block away from Izuku’s home did he know just how wrong things were.
The first sign of it was the flashing lights and the yellow tape. There were three cop cars parked on the road next to the pass. All Might was there, talking to a couple of the police officers. The man was noticeably more grim than the cheery persona he displayed to the world. An ambulance was conspicuously parked with the police cars.
A single, horrible possibility sprang to Katsuki’s mind as he observed the scene. “No.”
The single word caught the attention of an officer and they started to approach him. Whether that was to ask him why he was there or to shoo him off Katsuki would never know. The single piece of movement was enough to set him off.
“No, no, no no, NO! DEKU!” Katsuki shouted as he sprinted to the overpass. The police tried to get him to stop, but he shoved them off, fear granting him the strength, screaming all the way. He had just caught sight of a very familiar bright yellow backpack, it’s contents laid out neatly in front of it as a muscular arm wrapped around his middle and stopped him.
All Might stood before him, the air of reassurance and safety he normally brought with him replaced by foreboding and dread. “Young man, what are you doing here?”
Tears leaked from his eyes as Katsuki stuttered out, “D-De-Deku was t-taking too long s-so I w-w-went to lo-look for him.” The words that were hard to say suddenly began to trickle out of him the way Izuku’s constant muttering seemed to. All Might’s eyes darkened as he continued to hear the blond speak.
“He only went back home to get his wallet, it shouldn't have taken that long. He didn’t call me. He should have been there a long time ago. He only left school an hour ago, he should be fine. Deku only left an hour ago, he should be fine. He’s okay, right? Deku’s okay, right All Might? If he was in trouble, you would save him, right All Might?”
As Katsuki finished, he looked the number 1 hero in the eye and asked, “You saved Deku, right?”
The hero’s jaw clenched as he knelt down to tell the boy, “There are some people even I can’t save.” Just past where the hero was kneeling, something was covered with a sheet. It was just about Izuku’s size.
A gasp of abject horror sounded from Katsuki then as the tears started streaming in a way that wasn’t unlike the way they did sometimes for Izuku. “No.” he breathed shaking his head. Katsuki backed away from the number 1 hero and pulled at his own hair, all the while muttering the single word over and over. At this point, other police officers were making their way towards him.
“NO! NO! NO! DEKU! IZUKU!!” The sudden wild outburst startled all present as the blond teenager launched himself forward, aiming at where the sheet was laid out. No one was able to stop him this time.
Katsuki pulled back the cover only to see Izuku’s too pale body lying under it.
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There was little Katsuki remembered after that point.
He remembered bringing Izuku into his arms and begging for the other boy to wake up. He remembered all there trying to make him let go of his best friend’s corpse. He remembered his parents hugging him from behind, crying all the while. He remembered hearing Aunty Inko’s wails, so similar to his own.
The last thing he remembered was turning and attacking All Might, blaming him for Izuku’s death, for not getting there in time. The hero had only taken all the blows Katsuki aimed at him before one of the paramedics had sedated him.
Katsuki woke up the next day in his parent’s bed, both of them on either side of him. They did their best to comfort their son but to no avail. Katsuki was dead to the world, a shell of the human being he was before.
He had failed in the one thing he had vowed to do at the start, the one, singular purpose he had assigned himself at the tender age of 4. That was why, on the very night of Izuku’s funeral, Katsuki jumped from the roof of Izuku’s apartment building.