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“You fucking set us up didn’t you?” Katsuki hissed into the phone receiver, bursting through the doors of the apartment complex. He stomped toward the large elevator doors, entering and violently jabbing the button for the appropriate floor as if it had wronged him personally.
“Nooo, what gave you that idea?” Mina replied through a chorus of giggles. “Things just, ‘come up,’ y’know? But honestly, you haven’t seen each other since we graduated. It’s about time you two went on a proper date.”
“Who said I wanted to date the nerd anyway?”
“Right. I forgot. I’m a villain, and you save magazine articles with shots of Midoriya’s ass for your health.”
“What the hell!” Katsuki growled, setting off small explosions in his palm, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. “I’ll kill you for going through my shit!”
“At least you didn’t deny it. Kill me after you thank me for this, ‘kay? Have fun~”
With a soft click, the call ended and Katsuki dragged a frustrated hand through his hair. It had been more than a year since he last saw his childhood friend. Being two of the most promising rookie heroes, their schedules didn’t allow for much free time. Part of Katsuki knew that Mina was right, that he should just get over himself and make the first move, but memories of the past made his stomach clench. Painful experiences couldn’t just be rewritten or forgotten.
After everything that happened between them, all the fights and misunderstandings, he hadn’t expected to become close with Deku at the end of their first year at U.A. Katsuki found that he didn’t hate the time spent with Deku. It started with a reluctant spar here, a group assignment there, and before he knew it, they were hanging out weekly, doing almost everything together well until graduation.
When they were accepted to hero agencies on opposite sides of the country, they parted with simple goodbyes. Katsuki actually missed Deku chasing after him, calling him “Kacchan” with a warm smile plastered on his freckled face. It wasn’t quite like they were four again, inseparable before his fear and pride had torn them apart, but something else entirely. A complicated set of emotions that made his skin prickle, unfamiliar and unexpected.
Katsuki had feelings for Midoriya Izuku.
Not that he would admit it, of course.
He didn’t deserve to admit these feelings out loud.
Ding.
The sound of the elevator doors opening pulled Katsuki out of his thoughts. He made his way down the hall to Deku’s room, sighing heavily and taking a deep breath.
“Oi! Deku!” Katsuki called as he pounded his fist on the door. “The other bastards cancelled and I’m starving. Hurry up and get your ass out here!”
His heart thumped loudly in his chest while he waited. How much had Deku changed? Did Deku even want to see him again?
The apartment door opened slowly, revealing a slightly disheveled Deku, bulkier that he had been at graduation. His dark green curls were mussed, and his cheeks had lost most of the baby fat. He was dressed in a green button-up shirt that rode up past his midriff, fitted jeans that hugged lithe muscle, and his trademark bright red kicks. Deku scratched his head, eyes closed as he shot Katsuki a wobbly smile. Katsuki’s chest tightened at the sight.
Fuck.
Deku was hot.
“Mmm... Kacchan?” Deku yawned, trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. “You’re here… let’s...”
The rest of Deku’s sentence trailed off as he dazedly walked forward into Katsuki’s chest, his head slotting perfectly in the crook between Katsuki’s pecs. Katsuki tilted his head down into green curls and the smell of fresh cut grass with a hint of kiwi and mint invaded his nose. It was calming, a scent so Deku that Katsuki barely registered the head sliding down his chest before he caught Deku by the shoulders.
“Earth to Deku,” Katsuki said, shaking the shorter male lightly. “The fuck’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” Deku replied softly, hesitant hands gripping the cuff of Katsuki’s leather jacket for balance. “I’m just, uh, tired! Yeah, tired.”
Raising one brow, Katsuki stared at him unconvinced. Deku chewed on his bottom lip and fidgeted under the blonde’s scrutinizing gaze. It was then that Katsuki noticed his labored breathing, the flush to his cheeks, and beads of sweat forming at his temples. Deku really was hot, and Katsuki could feel him burning up just by holding his shoulders.
In an instant, Katsuki had moved his hands behind Deku’s upper back and knees, lifting him up into a princess carry. Deku’s face reddened and he squirmed in Katsuki’s hold, a booted foot forcefully kicking open the door to the apartment.
“Kacchan?!” Izuku yelled, his blushing face hidden behind hands. Katsuki could practically see the steam coming from his head.
Katsuki walked through the apartment, side-stepping mounds of trash and scattered clothing. He stopped in front of the bed where he dropped Deku on his back unceremoniously. Deku groaned and raised his head weakly, freezing when Katsuki scowled and pointed a commanding finger at him.
“Do not get up. I will knock you on your ass if you even think about it.”
Deku’s eyes were blown wide, his brows furrowing as Katsuki turned to exit the room. His mind felt foggy and his head throbbed. “W-wait.”
Katsuki stepped forward, a sigh escaping his lips as he considered all the ingredients Deku probably didn’t have in the kitchen. Judging by how high Deku’s fever was, Katsuki figured he should buy more medicine and cooling pads too.
“Kacchan?”
He might as well clean the place up while he was at it. Deku was probably overworking himself, too busy to clean or cook anything. No wonder he was sick.
“Where are you going Kacchan?”
Behind Katsuki, Deku fumbled on the bed, gripping the headboard and sheets to support himself.
“Wait. Please.”
As Katsuki began to walk away, Deku reached out towards him, scarred hands missing and grasping air instead.
“KACCHAN!”
Startled, Katsuki turned around just as Deku collided with his torso, the familiar flash of One For All lighting the room briefly. In a tumble of limbs, the two hit the ground with a thud. Katsuki grunted and his head knocked lightly on the carpeted floor.
“What–” Katsuki’s words were lodged in his throat as large, hot tears hit his face. He opened his eyes and saw Deku above him, clutching the collar of his shirt with white knuckles.
“Don’t.”
Deku’s voice was barely a whisper, sobs wracking his body. He lowered his head onto Katsuki’s chest, hiding his face.
“Please. Don’t go.”
Katsuki glanced down at Deku, confused. “Damn, your fever must be higher than I thought.”
Deku didn’t respond, only burrowing his face further into Katsuki’s chest. They laid on the ground, Deku’s sniffles echoing in the room while Katsuki weighed his options. Drawing a breath to steel himself, Katsuki wrapped his arms around Deku, causing the other man to jolt slightly at the contact.
With a touch so gentle, so reassuring – so unlike Katsuki – he began to rub slow circles into Deku’s back.
“Look,” Katsuki started. “You’re sick. That’s why you’re spewing nonsense. I’m not going anywhere.”
Deku raised his head to glower at Katsuki, his eyes glinting with fresh tears and fury. “How can you say that? After not even trying to contact me all this time?!”
“Deku, I–”
“I missed you.”
Tears flowed steadily, a painful expression and wet sobs marring Deku features. Looking at Deku made Katsuki’s chest ache, and he tightened his hold around Deku instinctively.
“I missed you so much, Kacchan.”
Deku balled his hands into tight fists, crescent indents forming on flesh. “When you were captured by the villains in our first year, I was devastated. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you.”
Deku rested his chin on Katsuki’s chest and drew in a shaky breath, prompting Katsuki to release a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.
“And when we got you back, when you opened up to me for the first time, when you told me that things would be different between us, when you let me back into your life again... I was so happy. It was like a dream... But you probably couldn’t wait to get away from me.”
A hollow laugh fell from Deku’s lips.
“I never thought you’d hurt me, but I was wrong. You hurt me the most.”
“You thought I would never hurt you?” Katsuki chuckled bitterly. “Deku, I spent most of our years hurting you.”
“Yeah,” Deku agreed. “You did.”
Katsuki paused. He should have done this a long time ago.
“Izuku.”
Green eyes met steady crimson ones.
“I’m sorry. For everything.”
Deku looked at Katsuki, his face pensive and wistful. “An overdue apology, but I forgive you.”
“Doesn’t mean I forgive myself, and I… care about you,” Katsuki confessed. “More than I’m willing to admit. But that’s exactly why it’s better if we’re apart.”
A pout forms on Deku’s face and Katsuki continued. “I hurt you, I keep hurting you, and I can’t guarantee I won’t hurt you in the future. I don’t deserve your forgiveness. Not until I prove myself, both as a hero and a person.”
“Kacchan…” Deku wriggled out of Katsuki’s hold and propped himself up on his elbows. “You don’t have to do that. I’m not as weak as I was in the past and you’re different too. What hurts me most is losing you.”
Radiating fondness and affection, Deku smiled at Katsuki.
“I love you.”
Katsuki stilled.
“So please... don’t go.”
“Okay. I'll stay,” Katsuki replied before he could think about it. He raised a hand to caress Deku’s cheek. “You’re an idiot, you know? I’m only slightly less of an ass now. I don’t even know how to begin to make everything up to you.”
Deku hummed in thought, intertwining his hand with the one cupping his face. Katsuki stared at Deku, an idea forming in his mind.
“Hey. Deku.”
“Hmm?”
“Can I kiss you?” Katsuki smirked.
Deku’s eyes widened in shock, his face turning an alarming shade of red. He flailed his arms in embarrassment, muttering up a storm.
Katsuki placed his hand on Deku’s neck, guiding the other’s head down. Their lips met in a chaste kiss, slow and inexperienced. Katsuki could feel how soft and warm Deku’s lips were, slotting perfectly with his own. He moved his hand from Deku’s neck and began to card through thick curls, languid and deliberate.
Preparing to deepen the kiss, Katsuki felt Deku’s body fall limp and unconscious on top of him. Deku rolled off of Katsuki onto the ground and groaned, a flustered expression on his face.
Shit.
In the heat of the moment, Katsuki had forgotten about Deku’s fever, which seemed to have increased tenfold. Quietly chastising himself, Katsuki quickly lifted Deku up and placed him on the bed carefully. The blonde placed his hand on Deku’s forehead, wanting to check his temperature. Deku nuzzled into the cool contact and Katsuki couldn’t help but smile at the action.
Katsuki turned and walked towards the apartment’s exit, listing out groceries and replaying the events of the day in his mind. Since their kiss ended in disaster, he’d have to figure out a different way to make everything up to Deku.
Closing the door behind him, Katsuki smiled.
He wondered how Deku would feel about becoming hero partners.