Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Hey, it’s Midoriya!” someone called from the porch of the office building as he marched up the wood chip coated path from the parking lot.

“Haha, hey guys!” He waved, running up to meet them. “Gosh, it’s good to be back.”

“Tell me about it,” Uraraka gave him a pat on the back.

“How many people are here so far?” he asked, smiling giddily at the circle of counselors he knew well: Uraraka, Todoroki, Kaminari, Kirishima, and Ashido. “Is this everyone?”

“Uh, actually, Sero’s here too. He’s helping the new guy take his stuff to his cabin.” Kirishima answered.

“Oh, cool. Always nice to have a new face.” Izuku nodded. “He from overseas?”

“Nope. From California!” Ashido wiggled her fingers as she said it, smiling excitedly.

“Oh, wow! That’s so cool! I used to live in California!” Izuku lit up.

“Oh, yes. That’s right,” Todoroki nodded.

“Want some help getting your stuff down to your cabin?” Kaminari pushed himself off from his perch on the fence. “You’re with me, Kirishima, and Iida in Red Oak for training week.”

“Sure. I take it Iida hasn’t gotten here yet?” Izuku asked, walking with Kaminari back down to parking lot, Kirishima deciding to follow when Ashido made a joke about how much stuff Izuku tends to pack.

“Nope. Still waiting on him and like, twelve other counselors, plus five international hires,” Kaminari responded. The three of them unloaded Izuku’s car, Kirishima and Kaminari opting to carry his trunk while Izuku managed his two duffles, one strapped over each shoulder, and carried his favorite pillow in his hands.

“You got all that?” Uraraka yelled down from the office porch when the trio came back into sight.

“Yup! All good!” Izuku called back. They kept going around the building, the senior boys’ cabins not far down the path to the left. Unsurprisingly, Sero and the new guy were making their way back up at the same time, and the two groups met in the middle.

“Oh, nice, Midoriya’s here!” Sero greeted them, a tall, blonde man close on his heels. He was staring hard at the ground as he approached, and Izuku froze, hit with a strange sense of familiarity.

When he looked up, Izuku knew why.

“K-Kacchan?” he choked.

“Oh. Hi… Deku.”

—

“So you two know each other?” Todoroki asked at dinner.

“Hahaha, yup! How crazy is that?” Izuku gave him a strained smile, Katsuki silently pushing his lasagna around with a fork. “We grew up on the same street, used to hang out and everything, before me and my mom moved out here.”

“And where did the nicknames come from?” Kirishima asked, head in his hand, half leaning over the table.

“Uhhh… I don’t know. It’s been a long time, I guess I just don’t remember?” he scratched his head innocently.

Katsuki’s eyes snapped up; liar they said.

Izuku set his mouth down in a flat line and glared back for just a moment. Says the one who won’t even talk to me he thought.

“So, uh, Kacchan.” Izuku started up again, a pleasant smile plastered back on his lips. “What are you doing out here anyway?”

“I go to college in upstate New York. Not too far from Vermont,” he shrugged. “Needed a summer job that keep me from having to go back home.”

“Welp. Being a camp counselor don’t pay good, but it sure as heck keeps you busy the whole summer,” Kaminari joked. The table agreed, chuckling to themselves and finally dispersing into other conversation. Izuku watched Katsuki from across the table, brows furrowed slightly and a certain indignance rising like bile in the back of his throat.

It couldn’t be a coincidence, could it?

—

He was the first to leave, cleaning off his plate and saying something about needing to take a shower before slipping out through the swinging doors into the dark campgrounds.

Izuku followed.

“Kacchan,” he called sharply once they were halfway down the dirt path to the cabins.

“Huh?” Katsuki turned his head to look over his shoulder, hands in his pockets and posture slouched.

“What are you doing here, really?” Izuku asked the pointed question.

“Oh, fuck off Deku,” he hissed, starting to walk again before mumbling under his breath “So now you fucking care.”

Izuku tightened up, fists clenched.

“F-fine!” he yelled after him. “F-f-fuck you too!”

Katsuki didn’t seem to care, just picked up the pace as he made for Yellow Birch, the cabin he Sero, Tokoyami, and a foreign hire from France were placed in for training.

Izuku melted slightly once the door slammed shut and moved a hand to cover his mouth. A few tears percolated up in the corners of his eyes, but he shut them tight and willed himself not to cry.

“Midoriya! Is everything alright?” Iida’s booming voice startled him, and suddenly there was a heavy hand on his shoulder.

“Ah! Yes, yes, I’m fine!” Izuku moved his hand over his heart. “Except that you scared the daylights out of me, Iida.”

“My apologies! I just saw you standing in the middle of the path and I thought you looked upset,” he explained.

“No, no, not upset,” Izuku shook his head, toothy grin over taking his face. “Just lost in thought is all. You know how I get.”

“Ah, that is true,” Iida nodded, finally removing his hand to stroke his chin. “Well, I must excuse myself, I’m in dire need of the restrooms!” With that, he marched on past Izuku, who sighed heavily before sprinting to his own cabin.

He couldn’t let his presence there interfere with his summer. For himself, yes, but also for the campers. That was why they all did this, to make the campers as happy as they were when they went to Shady Forest Summer Camp and to relive the memories of their happiest childhood summers.

But the question remained: why was Katsuki there?

Chapter Text

“Aw, man. You always beat me!” Izuku whined, letting his controller fall into his lap.

Katsuki grinned proudly, the television in front of them playing his character’s winning theme. They were in Izuku’s basement, the only light besides the screen coming from small windows high up on the rear wall which casted a pale glow on their backs as they sat on the ratty old couch.

“Course I do,” Katsuki championed, “I’m the best at everything!”

“Mmmm.” Izuku puffed up his cheeks, pouting, then tossed his controller onto the table. “Can I just watch you play, then? It’s not fun to get beat by you over and over.”

“Tch. Fine.” Katsuki went into the menu and set the fighter game to single player, sparing only a slight glance to the side as Izuku curled up in the blanket he had brought down from his room, then wailed on the computer opponents.

For the first few rounds he shared witty banter with Izuku, but as the difficulty slowly increased, he poured more and more of his concentration into the game. Perhaps that was why he didn’t hardly feel it at first when Izuku’s head landed softly on his shoulder. When he had won yet another round, however, his eyes shifted down to see what that soft weight was, and it finally registered that Izuku was leaning against him.

But he let the ‘end match’ screen linger for too long.

“Are you going to play another round?” Izuku asked, lifting his head.

“Huh?” Katsuki startled, eyes darting back to the screen in some desperate attempt to hide the fact that he had been staring. “Yeah. Yes. Of course.”

“Good. It’s fun to watch you win,” Izuku said, completely genuine.

“Uh, yeah, of course it is,” Katsuki responded, practically on instintinct, but the words came out a tad breathier than he had meant, so he gulped hard to keep down any oncoming blush, and got back to the game.

—

“Best friends. We were best friends,” Izuku clarified, walking down the path to the lake with Uraraka.

“How come you never told us about him, then?” she asked, adjusting the box of new life vests in her hands.

Izuku reddened slightly, looking away.

“Emphasis on were. We haven’t talked in five years, and… and when I left…” he trailed off, sighing.

“What?” Uraraka shrugged. “You left on bad terms, or something?”

“Sure. Let’s go with that,” Izuku shook his head, walking faster as the gate approached. He unlatched it, shifting the box to his other arm, then marched silently onto the sand and towards the boat shed.

“Is this going to be a problem?” Uraraka dumped her box onto the sand, finally having caught up to him.

“Hm?” Izuku turned around, arms already full of life vests. “Oh, no of course not!” He gave her his best smile and waddled into the boat shed. “I’m glad they decided to replace the life vests this year! Those old ones were getting pretty gross.”

“Uh… yeah.” Uraraka nodded, pursing her lips a moment in thought before kneeling down to open her own box. “That’s true,” she added absentmindedly.

“I can’t wait to take the sailboats out. You know I’m going to be the sailing instructor this year?” Izuku called cheerfully, voice echoing inside the damp wooden building.

“Oh, yeah? What’s Todoroki doing, then?” Uraraka inquired, bringing her amful of vests in.

“Kayaking! We switched,” he said.

“That’s cool. I’m still on ropes course. Me and Tsu have too much fun up there to switch to anything else,” she laughed.

“I know, I know. Queens of the mountain, and all,” Izuku rolled his eyes, only for his cheerful expression to suddenly melt away. “I wonder what activity Kacchan’s been assigned to?”

Uraraka shrugged.

“Ask him.”

—

“Swimming.”

“O-oh. Yeah?” Izuku gulped.

“What’s it to you?” Katsuki looked up from the water balloons he was filling.

“Uh… nothing! It’s just… well… I’m on the waterfront too, so…” Izuku stuttered out, eventually just laughing nervously instead of finishing his sentence.

“Doing what?” Katsuki asked, tying off a particularly large blue water balloon.

“Sailing!” he squeaked out a tad too fast. “Um… what are the water balloons for?”

“Dunno. Aizawa told me to fill them up for something we’re gonna do later.” He held the hefty blue balloon his hand, giving it a momentary squeeze before a smirk suddenly overtook his face.

“K-Kacchan!” Izuku put his arms up instinctively, but the projectile splattered water onto his his shirt and up into his hair nonetheless. He put his arms down, glaring and soaked, to see the Katsuki was holding another with the same impish look on his face. “So it’s gonna be like that huh?” Izuku said, rolling his shoulders back and successfully doding when Katsuki threw it right at him.

“Guess you finally grew out of your wimp stage, huh, nerd?” Katsuki yelled, tossing another, only for it to splatter at Izuku’s feet when he jumped back.

“Yeah, but you never grew out of your mean streak,” Izuku returned the taunt, rushing around to the other side of the field shed.

“Oh, what? Scared of me?” Katsuki cackled, taking two more water balloons, one in each hand, and rushed around to find him.

“Not in the slightest!”

Katsuki paled, faced with a hose pointed directly at him as soon as he turned the corner. The water came spraying out, aided by the angling of Izuku’s thumb into the stream, and drenched him in an instant.

“Goddamnit, Deku!” he yelled, throwing both balloons at Izuku as the shower from the hose continued to thoroughly soak him. Both missiles hit their mark – Izuku’s face – but he laughed gleefully at the attack, eyes shut and a bit of plastic stuck to his cheek.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough.” He threw the hose down, still chuckling to himself as he leaned down and shut off the water.

Katsuki, fists clenched and face pulled down in a scowl, rolled his eyes and marched back over to the bucket of balloons. Izuku looked up from the water spout, surprised, and followed him over.

“You’re not mad, are you?” he asked.

“Hah? I’m fucking drenched!” Katsuki hissed.

“Yeah, but you started it. What did you expect to happen?” Izuku laughed, but was quickly cut off by the realization that Katsuki’s face was turning red.

“Don’t you have other shit to do?” he mumbled.

Izuku sighed to himself, then nodded.

“Yeah, well, I guess I gotta change before lunch,” he said, walking off towards the cabins. He stopped, however, when he got halfway across the field, and turned back to yell at Katsuki. “Oh, and watch your language! You’re gonna be working with kids, idiot!”

Chapter Text

Katsuki reclined in his bunk, hands behind his head and legs crossed, as he enjoyed an hour of quiet in the afternoon. It was his favorite time of day, when the sun cast pale shadows down through the foliage, splaying shifting patterns over the cabin windows, and a cool breeze drifted in through the open door, carrying only the occasional chirp of a bird with it. He let his eyes close, chest heavy with a more contented slowness than actual fatigue, and took in a deep breath. The air was so much clearer, out there in the middle of nowhere. It almost made him wish he’d gone to summer camp, too, when he was young.

Someone stomped into the cabin, interrupting Katsuki’s peaceful hour and causing him to make a sour face with his eyes still shut tight.

“Oh. Sorry, did I wake you?” a flighty voice asked. Katsuki recognised it as Aoyama, the french hire.

“Wasn’t sleeping,” he responded, rolling over to face the wall.

“Ah. Just as well. I’m going to hit the showers. Got to get my toiletries!” Aoyama pattered over to his own bunk and started to make a ruckus with his stuff.

“Did I ask?” Katsuki mumbled.

“Hm?” Aoyama froze a moment.

“Nothing.”

“Oh.” The noise started up again. It continued on for much longer than Katsuki thought necessary, then finally stopped as Aoyama made for the door. Katsuki let out a quiet breath, relieved that he was going to be left alone again, then clamped up when he realized Aoyama had stopped just before the door.

“Actually…” he started. Never a good sign. “I’d been meaning to ask you, since yesterday, about your… relationship? With… oh, what’s his name? Green hair and the freckles?”

“Deku?” Katuki hissed.

“Mmm… No, I don’t think that’s it.”

“Right, fuck.” He rolled his eyes. “Midoriya.”

“Oh, yes! Him!” Aoyama chuckled to himself a moment, then got back on track. “See, I happened to see you two having a… playful bout on the field yesterday, and I know someone said you two used to know each other, but when I told… oh, gosh. I’m so terrible with names… you know, cheery brown-haired girl?”

“Uraraka?” Katsuki offered, scowl growing by the second.

“Yes, her! Anyways, when I told her about it, she said it was odd, because you two weren’t getting along anymore, so, well… I’m just curious, is all… do you two get along?” Aoyama posed the question.

“Why the hell do you need to know?” Katsuki huffed.

“Well…” he pulled the word out, and the longer it got the more Katsuki wanted to throw him right out the door. “I just thought you should know that, if anyone else saw your little bout on the field, they might have thought you liked each other, as you say in the states.”

Katsuki gulped, scowl swapped for a look of pure panic, but said nothing.

“Hmm…? Well, thanks. That’s all the answer I need,” Aoyama said, a tad too smug, and sauntered off to his shower.

—

Avoidance. It was easy when they lived two thousand miles apart, free to forget about the other and yet never quite capable of pulling it off, but then Katsuki had moved up to the northeast for college. It was to get away from his parents, of course, but he could have chosen somewhere far from Izuku, too; he could have avoided them both.

But, no. He moved closer. And then he decided to try being a camp counselor – again, to save himself from having to go home for the summer – but of all places, Vermont? It wasn’t like he actually remembered the name of the camp Izuku went to, but it was familiar to him when he read it on the website. He was almost certain.

But, still. He didn’t really expect Izuku to still be there, if he had ever gone there at all. It was just a coincidence, or maybe fate bringing them back together, and either way it was making it a heck of a lot harder to avoid him, not that he wasn’t going to try.

Avoidance. That was the tactic Katsuki chose to keep his secrets safe and his job secure.

But it seemed fate had other ideas.

—

Aizawa stood at the front of the dining hall, waiting with dead eyes as the counselors slowly began to notice and quiet down. When he was satisfied with the volume, he cleared his throat and pulled a loose sheet of paper out of his hoodie pocket.

“Right. Well, it’s that time of the week. I’m just going to tape your cabin assignments to the wall, right next to the door, and leave before you all crowd me,” he said, monotone as ever, before doing exactly that.

There was a moment of hesitation, as if they were all waiting for someone to make the first move, and then, sounded off by a screeching of a metal chair against the linoleum floor, the counselors jumped up in a hoard and raced to get a look at the paper.

Katsuki did not run up with them. Instead, he rolled his eyes at the easily excitable nature of his coworkers and slunk down farther in his chair to wait out the ruckus. Up at the front, he saw Kirishima and Kaminari high five – a good pair, all things considered – and Aoyama scratching his chin trying to put a face to the name next to his. He chuckled at the mess of it, all of them pretending to be excited about their pairing regardless of whether they liked each other in reality, and then he caught sight of Izuku.

He was frozen. Wide eyes and pale skin, he blinked twice and looked back at the list, then gulped and turned back towards Katsuki.

Oh, fuck.

Katsuki stood up, suddenly in a rush, and almost shoved a few people out of his way to get to the list. He stared down at the thing, one of its corners folded up and an oil stain in the top right, eyes lapping over the small print that laid their names out in rows, until he saw it.

Wide Creek: Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugou.

“S-so, um. I guess we’re in juniors,” Izuku’s timid voice snuck in from behind, snapping Katsuki out of his dazed staring.

“Yeah, and we’re co-counselors,” Katsuki huffed out, fingers already starting to roll up into fists.

“Mm-hm… I guess… I guess we are!” Izuku laughed, an awkward, stifled sound, then promptly shut up. Katsuki sighed, forcing his hands to uncurl, then balled them back up just as soon and made for the door.

“Wha-wait! K-Kacchan!” Izuku called after him, getting stalled in the crowd for a moment before he finally breached the doors. Katsuki rushed ahead, sprinting towards the tennis court and hopping over the fence that guarded the drop into it. Izuku went around to the stairs, rushing down them by twos, then came to a full stop when he rounded the corner.

Katsuki was sitting on the asfalt, head in his hands and knees pulled up.

“Does–” Izuku stopped, shook his head, and started again. “Does it really upset you that much?”

Katsuki groaned, head rolling down so his hands could grasp tightly at his hair.

“Well, we can’t… I mean, we have to do this, so… so maybe we should just, uh…” Izuku’s voice broke, and he found himself flushing, only able to speak once more when he had half covered his face with a hand. “Talk? About it?”

“No,” Katsuki finally spoke up. “Fuck, no. You know what we’re going to do?” He stood up, eyes suddenly filled with determination. “We’re going to pretend it didn’t happen. We didn’t know each other before this, got it?” He walked up to Izuku, pressing a finger into his chest. “Everything’s gonna be one hundred percent professional, and we’re going to give the kids a great two weeks, got it?”

Izuku gulped hard, then nodded.

“Good,” with that, Katsuki marched away, and as much as Izuku didn’t want the conversation to end there, he couldn’t bring himself to turn around either. So he let him go.

Chapter Text

Izuku spent the whole summer at Shady Forest; he turned fourteen there, and learned how to sail there, and made more friends than he ever thought he could. When he got off the plane at the LA airport, he had one bag strapped over his shoulder, his favorite pillow clutched in his arms, and a massive smile plastered to his face.

“Izuku! Over here,” his mother’s voice called, easily recognizable through the onslaught of sound on the other side of the gate.

“Mom!” He rushed over and pulled her into a tight hug, then moved back to face her, practically bouncing up and down with excitement.

“How was the plane ride? Were you alright by yourself?” she questioned, the faint wrinkles in the corners of her eyes looking more strained than usual.

“Mm-hm! No problem at all!” Izuku nodded, finally starting to walk with his mother out towards the parking lot. “I had so much fun! I know you got my letters, but I still have so much to tell you!”

“Good,” she smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Oh! Oh! Can I go back next year? Can I, please?” Izuku clasped his hands, elbows squeezing into his pillow.

“Of course, Izuku,” she nodded. Izuku lit up, blabbering gleefully as they got in the car and started to drive home.

“Well, I’m certainly glad you like Vermont,” Inko said after they had been driving for about half an hour.

“Hm? Oh, well, yeah. I guess,” Izuku shrugged. “Why?”

“Well…” She took a breath. “Because we’re going to move out there at the end of the week, before school starts.”

“Wh-wha… why?” he looked to his mother, but, seeing the shame and despair on her face, settled for staring out the windshield with unfocussed eyes.

“Because. Your father and I… we’re getting divorced. We think it’s better if I move back east, where my parents live, and… and take you with me.”

Izuku took a few shallow breaths, so suddenly distant from his body that he didn’t hardly notice the tears clouding his vision.

“Is that… is that why you sent me away?” he asked, the monotone words coming out cracked by a constricted throat.

“Oh, Izuku…” It was all his mother could do to turn her head away and let him cry the rest of the way home. When they did arrive, however, Izuku didn’t head up the driveway into their house.

Instead, he ran right down the street.

—

It was drop off day, first session. Izuku sat on the lower bunk to the right of the door, and Katsuki on the one across from him. They’d moved their stuff, made their peace, and awaited the campers.

Wide Creek was one of the  younger junior boys’ cabins, so the kids were all eight and nine year olds. They’d already gone over all their information, knew their names and ages and prefered bunk placements, and soon enough the eight boys began to trickle in one by one.

Leo had over protective parents who lingered around for nearly an hour after they said they would leave. Kyle and Jake knew each other, Eli was incredibly quiet, Foxe also shy, but a tad less so, Bryce had a brother in one of the older cabins, and Everett was a bit too proud of the fact that is was his second year there. Kota was a straggler, but when he finally showed up, it was clear he didn’t really want to be there.

“Hi there! You must be Kota,” Izuku smiled at the disgruntled boy on the porch of the cabin, then pointed in at the far left bunk when he didn’t respond. “Why don’t you put your stuff down over there? Then you can say goodbye to your mom, once you’re settled.”

“She’s not my mom,” Kota mumbled, but walked in towards his bunk anyways.

“Uh…” Izuku looked to the woman standing outside who simply sighed.

“I’m sorry. I’m… I’m his aunt.” She took a step closer and lowered her voice. “His parents died when he was young. It’s best not to talk about it.”

“Oh. Okay, I’m sorry,” Izuku nodded.

“No, it’s… it’s fine really,” she sighed again. “I think he thinks I’m forcing out of the house by sending him here, but I just want to him have fun outdoors and meet other kids his age, you know?”

“Of course,” Izuku gave her a bittersweet smile. “We’ll make sure he has a great time, don’t you worry!”

“Hm. Right,” she nodded. Izuku went back into the cabin to see how Kota was doing, but Katsuki was already helping him put his sheets over the bare mattress. They were even talking, quiet enough Izuku couldn’t quite make out what they were saying over the chatter of the more outgoing boys. He breathed out, placing his hands on his hips, and loosened into a sincere smile.

Katsuki had gotten the job there somehow, after all, so he didn’t know why it was suddenly so surprising to see he was good with kids.

—

Outside, the crickets and bullfrogs were harmonizing in a melodic thrum that washed over the camp as they slept. The first day had been good, surprisingly good. Once they got everyone checked in and did the usual lice checks and swim tests, it was time for dinner and Izuku got them to play a name game that wasn’t even that boring. By the time opening campfire was over and the boys had gotten settled in for bed, Katsuki was actually kind of impressed with how Izuku handled the kids.

But, of course he was good with them. This wasn’t his first rodeo.

Katsuki sighed, rolling onto his back and staring up at the wooden underbelly of the bunk above him. Foxe was sleeping up there, and Bryce above Izuku. Katsuki had found the sleeping arrangement a little odd at first, but it made sense for the counselors to have the bunks closest to the door when he considered it. They’d be coming back in at late hours from meetings some nights, and they wouldn’t want to wake the kids.

He rolled over again, facing back towards the wall, and closed his eyes as tight as he could manage. Still, he felt perfectly awake, mind apt to be running for hours yet instead of drifting off like it should be.

And he knew why.

Behind him, the moon was casting a faint purple light into the cabin through the screen door, and it light picked up the dust particles floating through the air, each one falling slowly to the ground like some ethereal snow. And behind that? Izuku was sleeping peacefully, his favorite pillow hugged close to his chest like a teddy bear. Katsuki recognised that pillow, it was the same one from their childhood, the one Izuku started sleeping with when he decided a teddy bear was too embarrassing because before that it actually was a teddy bear, the one with the faded yellow cover, the one Izuku cried into the last time he saw him before he left.

Katsuki shut his eyes tighter. He refused to turn around and look at him; he’d already wasted an hour of sleep staring at him and his stupid curly green hair and pretty eyelashes and dusting of freckles. He didn’t even have to look to see his face behind closed eyelids, sleeping peacefully across the cabin, or crying into his pillow, or resting on his arm, or so close he could feel his breath on his lips, see every freckle on those blushing cheeks –

“Goddamnit,” Katsuki whispered, placing a hand over his face before finally deciding to get out of bed and head for the bathroom. He forgot a flashlight in his hurry, so it took a bit longer to get there than he would have liked, and the added embarrassment did nothing to lessen the rouge on his face when he finally saw it in the bathroom mirror.

Katsuki sighed, rolling his eyes and heading to the urinals. At least no one else would see him.

Except, the door opened as soon as he started to take a piss. His face clamped down in a scowl, but he didn’t look. Instead, he waited as the approaching figure took up a position two urinals down and finally got a glimpse out of the corner of his eye.

“Bonjour, my spiky haired friend,” Aoyama winked.

“What the fuck do you want?” Katsuki growled already pulling his boxers back up and heading to the sink.

“Oh-ho-ho. Why do you assume I want something, mm? I am simply relieving myself, just like you,” he responded.

“Not when he phrase it like that, asshole. Spit it out.”

“Hmmm. You’re an interesting one after all.” Aoyama wrapped up, joining Katsuki at the sinks. He turned around, hands washed, and leaned on the edge of the counter as Aoyama took his time washing up. When he was done, however, he walked right up to Katsuki with his usual smirk plastered on his face. “My wager is that you can’t even take sleeping in the same room as him, is that it?” he said, pointed finger a mere inch away from Katsuki’s face.

“Wh-wha… who the hell do you think you are?” Katsuki snarled.

“Haha!” Aoyama flicked his nose, then whisked himself out the swinging door. “Just as I thought!”

“What the–” Katsuki started to yell, then reeled himself in. He didn’t want to wake the kids

Chapter Text

Izuku ran down the street, tears flying back behind him and fists balled tightly, then made a sharp turn around to the back of Katsuki’s house. He padded over the grass and up to his window, giving it an impatient knock.

“What the hell happened to you?” Katsuki asked once he had it open.

“P-please,” Izuku hiccuped through his tears, “just let me in.”

“Geez, okay.” Katsuki backed up, helping Izuku through the window and into his room. “Didn’t you just get back from Vermont today?”

“Y-yeah,” Izuku nodded, heading right for Katsuki’s bed and sitting on it’s edge.

“Then what is this about?” he asked, shutting the window.

“I… I just…” Izuku tried to say it, but found himself incapable of getting the words out, so he let his head fall into his hands instead, sobbing louder.

Katsuki rolled his eyes, but sat down next to him and put a tentative hand on his shoulder nonetheless.

“You big cry baby. You come back from camp and I think you’re gonna be excited to see me again, but you come here all snot faced like this instead,” he said. “Just tell me what it is this time.”

“I won’t… I won’t get to see you again,” Izuku whispered, the inflection one of realization.

“Huh?” Katsuki looked at him funny.

“I’m moving, Kacchan. At the end of the week, my mom and I are moving to Vermont because… because my parents are getting divorced.”

The room hung in silence for a moment, and then Izuku choked out another sob.

“Hell, Deku. You just found all that out and… and I’m the first thing you think of?” Katsuki blinked slowly.

“Oh, God. I’m sorry. I-I-I’m still processing all of this, I… I don’t even…” Izuku sputtered, trailing off into his tears.

“Y-yeah…” Katsuki rubbed his back absentmindedly, eyes wide and staring at the floor without really seeing it. “I think… I think I give you a pass for crying about this one.”

Izuku made a choked laughing sound, rubbing at his eyes with balled fists, then turned towards Katsuki and collapsed into a loose hug.

“Please, just… promise me we’ll spend this week together. And… and we’ll write each other letters, and text when we get phones, and come see each other when we get the chance, and-and…”

“Yeah, okay.” Katsuki nodded, telling him it was alright to stop. “Of course.”

—

At the end of morning interest activities, Izuku and Katsuki walked back from the lake together. Because it was convenient, of course.

“I’m glad we had good sailing weather today. That’s the thing about waterfront activities: they’re awfully weather dependent, but sailing is the worst that way,” Izuku rambled on.

“Mm-hm,” Katsuki nodded, only half paying attention.

“How were your kids in swimming?” Izuku asked suddenly.

“Hm? Oh, good,” Katsuki shrugged.

“That’s good, that’s good,” Izuku nodded, tugging at the towel around his neck as they finally approached their cabin.

“Hey, they’re back!” Kyle called from the porch when he spotted them.

“Yup! Everyone get ready for lunch! Once me and Kacchan are changed we’re heading up to the dining hall!” Izuku called back.

“Do you really have to use my nickname with them?” Katsuki mumbled.

“Huh? Well, what would you have me call you instead?” Izuku asked.

He took a breath in, then paled at the thought of Izuku calling him Katsuki, or worse, Bakugou, and let it out in a sigh.

“Yeah. Nevermind.” He shook his head. “Still frickin’ embarrassing though.”

Izuku made a wide eyed face at that, but Katsuki just rolled his eyes.

“They didn’t hear it,” he whispered, “and it was better then what I was gonna say.”

“Mm-hm,” Izuku shook his head, hoping up the wooden steps and into the cabin. “Alright, is everyone here?”

Most of the boys, already too excited for lunch, just nodded and rushed out the door past him to wait outside, but Foxe looked concerned. The red-headed eight year old padded over to Izuku and took a grip on the side of his swim trunks.

“Hm?” Izuku turned to look at him.

“I don’t know where Kota is,” he whispered.

“Well, he’s probably just coming back from his interest activity, still,” Izuku attempted to reassure him, but Foxe shook his head.

“We were both on the ropes course, but he didn’t want to walk back with me. He went off the trial, into the woods.”

Izuku’s eyes widened.

“Kaccha–” he spun around, but Katsuki was already right behind him, face just as grim.

“I heard. I’ll go look for him, okay? You get the kids to the dinning hall, and we’ll join you as soon as we can,” he said, pushing through them and into the cabin so he could get changed into dry clothes. Izuku nodded, doing the same, then marched out of the cabin and counted heads.

“Seven. Right. Let’s go to lunch.”

—

They weren’t back.

Izuku watched with glazed eyes as his seven other campers dug into their grilled cheese and tomato soup, one leg bouncing up and down, until he decided too much time had passed.

“Hey,” he turned around, Uraraka’s cabin seated at the table just behind him. “Can you watch my cabin for a bit? Kacchan went to go look for one our campers that didn’t come back from his interest activity and I’m getting worried that its taking this long.”

“Oh my gosh, wha-what activity?” she asked, instantly alarmed.

“R-ropes… course,” Izuku admitted.

Uraraka gasped and stood up.

“Tsu and I should come too. We know that hill better than anyone!”

“N-no, you really don’t–” Izuku started, but her hands were suddenly on his shoulders, shutting him right up.

“Yes, I do,” she said, eyes locked in a single moment of intensity, then released him to begin her mission. “Momo, I’ve got to go help Izuku with something. You good are your own?”

She gave a thumbs up.

“Iida!” Uraraka whipped around to the table at their right. “Can you keep an eye on Izuku’s cabin for a bit?”

“Certainly!” he responded, picking up his plate and moving to one of their empty chairs.

“Tsu!” Uraraka called, marching over to her table on the other side of the hall. “Can you come with us? One of Izuku’s campers didn’t make it back from ropes course.”

“Oh? Who was it?” she asked, already standing up.

“Kota,” Izuku told her.

“Hmmm. That can’t be good,” Asui shook her head. “Mina, I’ve got to go for a bit.”

Ashido nodded, wide eyes indicating that she had heard the whole thing.

“Alright! Let’s go!” Uraraka grabbed both their hands and marched them out of the dinning hall. They broke out into a run half way down the path, and when they spotted Katsuki coming their from the base of the hill, Izuku sprinted out ahead to meet him.

“Wh-what happened? Did you find him? Is he okay?” he doled the questions out rapid fire.

“No. I didn’t have any luck. I thought I should check if maybe he found his way back to you,” Katsuki shook his head.

“Well, he didn’t,” Uraraka said, finally caught up.

“We’re going to help look,” Asui informed him.

“Right,” Uraraka nodded. “We know the ropes course, so we’ll scour the hill, alright? You two should check for him anywhere else he might have gone.”

“Okay,” Izuku gulped, then turned to Katsuki. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

“Kota?” Izuku opened the door to their cabin, gave it quick once over, then came out shaking his head.

“Told you,” Katsuki said.

“Yeah, well, it was worth a try.” Izuku ran his hand through his hair, thinking, then looked up. “What if he’s trying to go home?”

“You think?” Katsuki bit his lip. “Actually, yeah. You could be right. We should try out by the main road.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Izuku nodded, taking the lead as they ran off down the wooded path away from the cabins. When they stumbled out of the brush and onto the road, however, they were at a loss of what to do. He wasn’t anywhere in sight, but the possibility stood that he had started walking down the road.

“We don’t even know how long he’s been gone. And Uraraka would have texted me by now if they’d found him so I can only assume – oh, God. This… this is really bad,” Izuku mumbled, hands twisting into the fabric of his shirt.

“We have to go back and tell staff. This is more serious than we thought.” Katsuki rubbed his forehead.

“Yeah? Izuku turned to him, face contorted in worry. “Do you think we’ll lose our jobs? This has never happened before.”

“No. C’mon. We have to be level-headed about this,” Katsuki shook his head, heading back in towards the woods. Izuku followed, quivering breath turning to faint sobs as they marched back towards camp. The louder he got, however, the more frustrated Katsuki became.

“Fucking hell, Deku. You really didn’t grow up, did you?” he finally seethed out, ceasing their trek and turning around to face Izuku.

“Huh?” he looked up with glassy eyes.

“I can’t fucking believe I thought your crybaby act was cute,” Katsuki mumbled, then clenched his fists. “Just cut it out already!”

“Act? Kacchan, this is a perfectly reasonable time to be crying!” Izuku insisted.

Katsuki opened his mouth, reading fiery words, then suddenly shut it, spun around, and punched a tree instead.

“Fuck!” he yelled.

“K-Kacchan!” Izuku run up to him, hand reaching out to touch his shoulder, but Katsuki swatted him away.

“I can’t fucking take it anymore!”

“Take what?” Izuku insisted.

“This! Us! Acting like everything is just fine all the damn time!” Katsuki looked him in the eye, hands gripping the air.

“Wha– that’s what this is about?” Izuku took a step back. “You’re the one who said we should!”

“Yeah, and you’re the one who fucking kissed me!”

—

Izuku sat on the basement floor, crying into his pillow and sitting cross legged on his sleeping bag. Katsuki watched, fighting back tears of his own, from his perch on the couch. Half of the house was in boxes, Izuku’s bed was stripped and waiting to be shipped across the country with him close behind.

He left in the morning.

“I can’t sleep,” Izuku whispered.

“Me neither,” Katsuki admitted. A tear broke through from the corner of his left eye, making it halfway down his cheek before he wiped it away. “Come sit up here.”

Izuku nodded, sliding one lanky leg up onto the cushions and then the other until he sat across from Katsuki.

“I’m gonna miss you so much,” he said, voice cracking.

“I know.” Katsuki gulped, then added a bit softer, “I’m gonna miss you too.”

“Oh, Kacchan,” Izuku pulled his pillow in close, letting his face fall into it as he cried harder. “You have no idea,” he said, muffled into the fabric.

Katsuki stared hard at him, lips trembling from effort it took not to start sobbing too.

“The… hell does that mean?” he asked between shaky breaths.

Izuku whined, shaking his head into the pillow so his hair dragged against the yellow cover, making a soft scraping noise.

“You’re gonna leave in…” Katsuki paused, checking the digital clock on the small table next to the couch. “God, less than six hours. If you have something to say, just say it, damnit.”

Izuku sniffled, picking his head up and wiping at his nose with his balled hand, then nodded.

“Okay. I…” he paused, bit his lip, then sighed and closed his eyes. “I like you Kacchan. Like… like like you.”

“Huh?” Katsuki froze, mind suddenly filled with a thousand questions and a thousand answers.

Izuku gulped, face turning bright red, then discarded the pillow on the floor and moved towards him. Katsuki stayed frozen, watching with wide eyes as he crawled over the couch until their faces were so close he could feel Izuku’s breath on his lips and see every freckle on his blushing cheeks. They stayed still like that for only a short moment, but it felt like an eternity, each shaking breath they took so slow until at last Izuku summoned the courage to finish what he started.

He kissed him.

It wasn’t very good, really. It was more of a peck than anything, though Izuku tried to get their lips to interlock and found nothing but a stiff response from Katsuki, so he pulled away soon enough.

“S-sorry,” he said, eyes downcast.

“I–” Katsuki gulped. “I didn’t even… is this… okay?”

“Huh?” Izuku looked up to see him clutching his chest, face completely red.

“You like… me?” he forced out, eyes searching wildly. “But I’m… a boy.”

“Oh.” Izuku clenched up. “Y-yeah. I like… boys. And I kind of thought, well… I kind of thought you did too.”

Katsuki looked up, completely confused.

“Well, you’ve never liked a girl, right?” Izuku asked.

“I… I guess not.” Katsuki gulped, confusion finally starting to settle. “Holy shit,” he said. “Holy shit, I’m gay.”

“Y-yeah?” Izuku attempted a smile, but soon faltered when Katsuki put a hand over his mouth and gave in to intense sobbing.

“Oh, no. No, no, no,” he hissed, eyes shutting tight against the flow of tears.

Izuku sucked in a breath, at a loss of what to do, then placed a hand on Katsuki’s shoulder.

“H-hey. It’s okay. There’s… there’s nothing wrong with liking boys, really,” he said.

“Yeah?” Katsuki asked, slowly letting his hand fall back to his chest.

“Mm-hm.” Izuku nodded. “I like boys and girls, and… and that’s fine too.”

Katsuki took in deep breath through his sobbing, then reached for Izuku’s hand and clutched it tight.

“Promise me…” he whispered. “Promise you’ll write me as soon as you can.”

Chapter Text

“Oh, you actually care about that?” Izuku yelled back, tone attempting anger but the look on his face one of complete and utter hurt. “Then why the hell didn’t you write me back?”

“Write you back? I didn’t even get a single letter from you!” Katsuki shouted, the sound echoing through the forest, then settling into silence. They stood there, eyes wide and chests heaving, as the realization dawned on them.

“Y-you're… you’re kidding,” Izuku stammered out. “All this time, that’s what happened? You didn’t get my…”

Katsuki nodded slowly.

“So you did… write me.”

“Wait, wait, wait! That isn’t important! Kota is lost! We can talk about this later. We need to focus right now!.” Izuku started out towards the camp, steps heavier and tears run dry, Katsuki only a few steps behind.

—

It started raining as soon as lunch was over. Katsuki and Izuku never ate, but they didn’t notice any hunger, either. Instead, they walked the seven boys in their cabin back to Wide Creek and mulled over what the directors had decided.

One counselor from every cabin was going to help search for Kota, and the other stay with their kids until they found him. The police had been informed and were actively looking for him outside the camp, but suggested the camp do a thorough search of their own grounds in case he hadn’t gone far. Afternoon activities were canceled until they found him.

“I’ll go,” Katsuki said.

“No, no. I can go,” Izuku shook his head.

“Mm-mn,” Katsuki shook his head. “You’re better at comforting them. Stay with the kids.”

Izuku looked up at him out of the corner of his eye, a few raindrops stuck to his face and dripping out his damp hair.

“Okay, okay. You’re better with Kota anyways,” he relented.

Katsuki nodded faintly, slowing to a stop as they approached the cabin.

“Everyone go inside and dry off, okay?” Izuku told the boys who silently followed his instructions. “I’ll be there in a second.”

Katsuki stared at him, expression unreadable.

“What? It’s settled isn’t it? I’ll go meet up with everyone else at the office building, unless you’ve got something to say.”

“I–” Izuku started, then sighed and shook his head instead. “Nevermind. We’ll talk after this, right?”

“Course,” Katsuki nodded, quick to turn away and break out into a run before Izuku could catch his reaction.

“He’s gonna find him, right?” A soft voice asked from behind.

“Hm?” Izuku whipped around to see Bryce standing in the doorway, the sullen faces of Foxe and Eli behind him. “Of course. C’mon, now, let’s all get inside. We can play a card game if you’d like.” Izuku hopped up the steps.

“I don’t know any card games,” Foxe whispered.

“Don’t worry, I can teach you!” Izuku feigned a smile, guiding them all back in by the shoulders. They nodded, eager to be distracted, but Izuku couldn’t help throwing another look over his shoulder and out the screen door.

Please be safe, he thought.

—

Hi, Kacchan.

We made it to Vermont last night, and spent all day trying to unpack stuff. We’re still not done, but I found enough stationary to write this, so I’m taking a break. I already miss you. I wish we could have talked more, especially after what happened on Saturday. I hope you know I really do like you, and it really is okay if you’re gay. I didn’t want to ask you this right then, since it seemed like you were still just figuring things out, but, do you want to go out with me? Like, be boyfriends? It’s okay if you still need time to figure things out, but I want you to know that that’s how I feel about you, in case I didn’t make that clear. I’ve always had a really big crush on you and since you seemed to feel the same way, it would be really nice if we could be dating. Of course, it would be hard, too, since I live so far away now, but it would make it that much more exciting the next time we saw each other! If I asked my mom to let us go back for a vacation so I could see my boyfriend (you know, if we are boyfriends) I’m sure she would say yes!

Anyways, sorry if this all so sudden, but, yeah. I hope you give it some thought, at least. My address is on the envelope, so you can send me one back after you get this, okay?

-Izuku

Kacchan,

It’s been three weeks and I haven’t got a letter back from you. I’m really sorry if I scared you with all that talking about us being boyfriends, I just thought you felt the same way, is all. It’s okay if you don’t, just tell me and we can still be friends! You’re a very dear friend to me, and I hope you at least feel the same way about that, so please write me back.

I started school here. People are really nice, there are already some people in my homeroom who I’ve been talking to! We’re not really friends yet, but at least I have some acquaintances, you know? You always used to make fun of me for not having any other friends besides you, so I was worried I’d be all alone here, but so far everything’s okay. Oh! And the highschool has a GSA, too! (That stands for gay straight alliance.) It’s a place where lgbt people and people who are questioning can get support. I went to the first meeting this Thursday, and it was really cool! You should see if your highschool has one and try to go, if you’re still questioning that stuff. It could really be helpful!

Well, anyways, please write back! I want to know how you’re doing, Kacchan. Don’t forget you’re still my best friend, no matter how far apart we are.

-Izuku

Kacchan, please write me back. Just let me know you got my other two letters, at least? Or, if you really don’t want to write me, you can text me when you get a phone. I got one today, so I thought I’d let you know.

My number is 802-123-4567.

Please, even if it’s just to say that you hate me and never want to talk to me again, text me. I need to know what’s wrong.

-Izuku

Chapter Text

Izuku had written him, he just never got the letters, and he had a sneaking suspicion as to why. Of all the things his parents had done to him, this one stung the worse. All the disappointment and arguments in the world didn’t match up to the utter confusion and despair of finally thinking he’d figured himself out, finally feeling warm and fuzzy inside like everyone said he would one day, and then never hearing from him again. He doubted. He hated. He questioned for years afterwards, trying to seperate Deku’s silence from his own sexuality and figure out if he really was gay or just an idiot. It broke him, not knowing. Not knowing himself nor why the first person to love him as he was suddenly fell off the face of the earth. But that wasn’t what happened at all. All that for nothing. And Izuku must have gone through the same thing. Perhaps not the questioning, he seemed a little more sure of himself, but it must have broke him too, getting no response. They broke each other, completely by accident.

But, Katsuki didn’t have time to think about that right now.

He shook his head, focusing on the wooded path he had been assigned to search; Kota was still missing, and he had to focus. Even if he didn’t find him, even if they never found him, he had to try. It was almost funny, how in Katsuki’s first two weeks as a camp counselor the two worst possible things had happened to him: re-encountering Izuku and losing a camper.

Though, he supposed that first one wasn’t turning out to be so bad, after all.

No, c’mon. Focus! Katsuki scolded himself. The rain kept coming down harder and harder, soaking into Katsuki’s hair and running down his face. Frustrated, he wiped at his forehead as the path became more cluttered. He was coming around to the back of the lake, where the woods got thick and the water swampy, but he kept walking and scanning the woods for any sign of Kota.

The other counselors were calling for him, thinking he’d actually come to them, but Katsuki knew better. He’d run right in the other direction if he heard one of them calling out for him, unless, perhaps, he was hurt. And, seeing as he’d rather not consider that option, Katsuki made his march silently, hoping to see him before he was seen.

The woods began to thin, eventually, and he realized they opened up into a country road. A bit out of breath, he paused at its edge and watched how the rain made a mist hover over the asfalt, giving it an ethereal glow. He looked one way, then the other, then snapped back the first way when he finally registered the distant shape through the mist.

Down the road, cowering against the the grassy hill on the other side, the shape of a child was just barely visible through the mist.

—

“Kota,” Katsuki said, searching for a reaction. He looked up, eyes glassy and face wet from perhaps more than just rain.

“I… I tried to walk home, but then I got lost. And… and I didn’t want to go back to camp because I knew you’d all be mad at me, and then it started to rain and I didn’t know what to do, so…” he blubbered, pulling his knees closer to his chest. “You’re not gonna make me go back, are you? If you do, I’ll run away! I don’t wanna get in trouble!”

“Whoa, whoa, I’m not gonna make you do anything, okay?” Katsuki put his hands out and slowly sat down next to him, leaving an amicable space between them.

“Thanks. I knew you were cool.” Kota smiled for a moment, then, seeming to remember his situation, fell back into a funk.

“So… you were trying to walk home?” Katsuki asked, giving Izuku some credit for thinking of that in the back of his mind.

“Mm-hm,” Kota nodded. “I was really mad at my aunt for making me come here, so I was trying to prove a point by refusing to stay. Do you… do you get that?”

“Pff, yeah. I totally get that. Except, I didn’t really get why I was so angry and rebellious ‘till I was in highschool. You’re pretty well-spoken for an eight year old,” Katsuki said.

“Yeah? Are you still like that?” Kota asked.

Katsuki sighed.

“Not really, but… a little. See, there are just certain things my parents and I will never agree on, so I can never really be what they want me to, but, at this point, I’ve lost interest in trying to prove a point. They’re going to think one thing and I’m going to think another, and that’s just the way it’s got to be.”

“Well, at least you have parents,” Kota mumbled, dragging a finger in the mud by his shoes.

“That’s true,” Katsuki shrugged.

They sat a moment in silence, just the rain pattering against the road to listen to, and Katsuki began to think of how he would convince Kota to come back with him. He really didn’t want to force him – the last thing this kid needed was another adult seeming to betray him – but it wasn’t right to let everyone else think he was still missing for too much longer.

Before he could come up with anything, however, Kota spoke up again.

“Um… I didn’t really get lost. I… I memorized the route on the way here, because I knew I was going to do this before I got here, but… but then I started to think it over and I wasn’t too sure I wanted to go home at all.”

“Huh? Why not?” Katsuki asked.

“I guess I just… I started to wonder if my aunt really cares about me at all. She’d probably just be mad at me, and then what point would there have been in running away? Clearly she doesn’t want me around, so I’d just be inconveniencing her by coming home.” Kota buried his head in his knees, throat constricting around the words. “I started to think maybe I should just… run away completely. Stop being anyone’s problem at all.”

“Hey, don’t say that.” Katsuki shook his head.

“But that’s what they call me, you know. My teachers and my aunt’s friends. A problem child.”

“Heh, you and me both, buddy,” Katsuki joked, then sighed when Kota didn’t respond. “Look. Your aunt doesn’t hate you. And she wasn’t trying to foist you onto someone else like all you are is a problem. She wanted you to have fun and make friends, which, in hindsight, was probably over-optimistic and… maybe not the best way to go about it, but she was unsure of it too.”

Kota looked up, brows furrowed.

“Yeah, really. She told Deku as much when she dropped you off: that she wasn’t sure if she was doing the right thing, but, at the very least she hoped she was. Your aunt’s really trying, Kota, and if you want to go home instead of spending the next two weeks here, I think she’d understand.”

“Y-yeah?” Kota bit his lip.

“Yeah,” Katsuki nodded, despite not really being sure of what he’d said. He only met the woman for five seconds, but he had to hope he was right. At the very least, his hunch as to what Kota needed to hear in that moment was.

“Okay. You probably want to take me back to the camp office so we can call her, right?” he asked.

“Mm-hm. And they’re not going to be mad either, okay? Everyone’s just really worried about you, since we didn’t know if you’d gotten hurt or something like that,” Katsuki explained.

“Oh, yeah. I guess I didn’t think about that,” Kota almost laughed, but it came out more like a sob and ended with him wiping his hand over his eyes. “Okay, okay. Let’s go already. I’m soaked.”

Chapter Text

“I feel… so tired. But I don’t really want to go to sleep,” Izuku said, sitting under the unearthly white light of the office building’s lobby.

“Mm. Same,” Katsuki responded, watching said light flicker.

“What you did was really cool, Kacchan. You may tell me I’m good with kids, but you’re… you’re even better. I’m not sure he would have listened to me,” Izuku rambled.

“No, actually, I’m not good with all kids. And neither are you. You’re good with most kids, the little sucker’s will do whatever you say, but I’m good with badkids. ‘Course, I don’t think they’re bad, and that’s why I’m good with them.”

Izuku looked at him out of the corner of his eye, then back at the wall, smiling sadly.

“Is it… because you relate to them?” Izuku asked.

“Yeah,” Katsuki whispered. He paused a moment, collecting his breath, then started up again. “You know I’m getting a psychology degree? I want to work with kids in tough situations. You know, as a social worker.”

“Oh. Really?” Izuku looked at him head on then.

“Mm-hm. I don’t like the idea of kids having to go through the kinda shit me and Kota did without someone there to tell them the truth: that we aren’t broken and things do get better.”

“Mm,” Izuku nodded slowly, digesting his words.

The office door opened, then, and Aizawa walked out, staring his usual blank stare at the two counselors sitting in the lobby.

“You know you two can go back and sleep in your cabin now, right? Everything’s sorted,” he said.

“Yeah, we know.” Katsuki shrugged.

“Alright.” Aizawa exited through the double doors, probably the last staff member out of the building, and left the two of them sitting alone in the lobby.

—

It was a long time before Katsuki spoke again, but when he did, he prefaced it with a long intake and a short sigh.

“You know… they used to bring up conversion camp in arguments?”

“Wha– your parents?” Izuku questioned.

“Yeah. They used it like a trump card, like if they threatened it hard enough I would start to listen to them, but I don’t know if they ever would have actually sent me since… since they didn’t, in the end,” Katsuki explained. “But, fuck did it make me scared. Make me hate them like nothing else. And I had no idea how they knew, either, ‘till now.”

“Hm?” Izuku knitted his brows.

“Your letters. I’m, well, I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I think it’s the most plausible answer that they found the letters in the mail before I did, opened them, and decided not to give them to me based on… whatever was inside.”

“Oh. Y-yeah. If they were… that bad then, they definitely could have.” Izuku nodded.

“Pff, yeah? What did you say?” Katsuki asked, amused.

“W-well… I asked you to be my boyfriend.” Izuku admitted. “And then, I took it back when you didn’t respond, worried that I’d offended you, but I recommend you try and see if your highschool had a GSA, so you could have someone to talk to. The last time, I gave you my number in case… in case you’d be more up to texting than writing.”

Katsuki shook his head, chuckling.

“You were really lookin’ out for me, weren’t you?” he said.

“Yeah… honestly, I was more concerned with making sure you had a support system, either through me or someone else, than trying to date you cuz I knew your parents were conservative. God, I knew they were conservative, but I never thought it was that bad.” Izuku shook his head in disbelief.

“Yup. Basically four years of hell,” Katsuki shrugged.

“I’m sorry. I probably just made it worse.” Izuku bit his lip, looking away.

Katsuki took in a breath, then laughed.

“Honestly? Yeah, you probably did. But… but if had just been a little different – if we had had phones, or if you hadn’t left so soon or not at all, or, heck, even if I had been more attentive about getting to the mail before my parents did – I think it would have been so fucking helpful. I mean, you were trying. You were really trying to be there for me, and that’s a lot more than pretty much anyone else in my life can say.”

Izuku opened his mouth, then closed it again, letting his blush say it all.

“Sorry I was so pissy. But, you know what I thought happened, so…” Katsuki gulped.

“Yeah, no, I totally get it. I was… pretty bad too.” Izuku pursed his lips, thinking. “You know… I said, the day after we got here, that you were my best friend. Past tense. But now? I kind of think you still are.”

“After today? Hell yeah,” Katsuki smirked, putting a hand on Izuku’s shoulder. “I’m really fucking glad we met again, Deku.”

“Hmm.” Izuku smiled. “Me too.”

Chapter Text

“Why did Kota leave, really?” Kyle asked in the way that honest and ignorant nine year olds do. “Was something wrong with him?”

Izuku opened his mouth to answer, but Katsuki cut him off.

“No. This just wasn’t the place for him. Not all kids like sleepaway camp,” he explained.

“Oh. But if he didn’t like summer camp, then why did even come in the first pace?” Jake asked, his arms sprawled over Izuku’s leg and head resting on his hands.

“Because,” Izuku said, “his aunt thought he would have fun, like how all of you are having fun, but when Kota got here, he knew he wasn’t going to right away, and when he spoke to his aunt over the phone, she agreed and came to pick him up.”

“Are his parents really dead?” Everett asked suddenly.

“U-uh…” Izuku blubbered over the question.

“What? He told us,” Everett shrugged.

“Oh,” Izuku nodded. “Well, yes.”

“Not that we’re really in any position to talk about it,” Katsuki joined in. “Honestly, it’s a little rude to be talking this much about him when he isn’t here. Let’s talk about something else, yeah?”

The boys nodded.

—

“I’m glad Eli’s not taking this too hard. He seemed pretty apprehensive about being here, so I was worried he’d get ideas after what Kota pulled, but he seems okay, actually,” Katsuki explained.

“Gosh, Kacchan, you really are good with the kids. And you’re actually planning on working with kids? I mean, a psychology degree? I haven’t even declared my major yet!” Izuku laughed awkwardly, staring ahead into the glow of his flashlight as they walked back from a meeting.

“Are you kidding? The campers practically hang off of you. I honestly think you’d be a really good teacher. Y’know, like elementary school?” Katsuki shrugged.

“I… I guess.” Izuku scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry I keep saying that, but I’m just so impressed with how you handled this whole thing. You even know what to say in the aftermath.”

Again, Katsuki shrugged.

“Well, the praise certainly isn’t killing me.”

“Oh, shut up.” Izuku elbowed him playfully.

“Yup. Just like old times.” Katsuki rolled his eyes.

“Wait. Are your parents paying for your degree?” Izuku questioned.

“Uh, not much. Honestly, the only reason they let me come out this far is because I got a really good scholarship, so they barely have to pay anything.” He paused, sighing. “It’s… well, it’s a low enough price tag that I could pay for it myself with a minimum wage job should they suddenly cut me off, so, that plus the location sealed the deal for me.”

“Oh, yeah,” Izuku nodded.

“How do you pay for college, anyhow? Clearly you’re not making much over the summer,” Katsuki asked suddenly.

“Honestly? My dad pays the whole bill.”

“Oh, huh, yeah,” Katsuki nodded. “I forgot he’s like a business exec.”

“Heh, yeah.” Izuku rolled his eyes. “He may not be there for me physically, but he sure as heck is there for me financially.”

“Mm.” Katsuki paused, realizing they were approaching the cabin. “God, we’re all broken aren’t we? You know that phrase, we spend our whole lives trying to recover from our childhoods? It’s really true isn’t it?” He stared into the dark windows of the cabin for a moment, imaging the seven boys sleeping peacefully beyond. “Makes me wish I could do more for ‘em.”

“Kacchan. You think too much,” Izuku shook his head. “You’re doing everything you can already.”

“I guess,” he shrugged, shutting off his flashlight and making for the steps.

—

The camp dance was always two nights before pick-up day: a much happier last hurrah than the tears expected at closing campfire. And, because the event was relatively contained within the performance hall, the counselors didn’t have to be hovering over their kids the whole time, able to socialize with each other instead.

That year’s theme was halloween in July, so the room was full of ghosts and vampires and fairies.

“Ooooh, nice witch costume. It actually kind of suits you,” Ashido complimented, holding her plastic cup of lemonade like it was her beer.

“Haha, thanks. It actually is what I wore for halloween this year, but I certainly didn’t think it’d be so handy when I packed it,” Izuku shrugged.

“Nice, nice,” she nodded, then pointed to Katsuki. “And are you… the color black?”

“I’m Aizawa’s soul,” he grinned.

“Pff. He gives a different answer every time.” Izuku shook his head.

“That’s the advantage of wearing a vague costume: you can turn it into a million different jokes if you try hard enough,” Katsuki gloated.

“Yeah, well, I just don’t think its creative,” Ashido rolled her eyes; she was dressed as a cotton candy colored mermaid. “But, to each their own.” With that, she walked off to go harass the other counselors about their costumes.

“Well,” Izuku said eventually, looking down into an empty cup, “it’s been a good two weeks. I know it’s not quite over yet, but… but it’s close and… and I just want you to know I really enjoyed being co-counselors with you.”

“Whoa, no need to get sappy,” Katsuki joked. “There’s still three more sessions.”

“Yeah, but we’ll be with different people.”

“Mm.”

They were silent a moment, the beat of some cheesy pop song blasting from the radio and kids happily screaming as they joked around with each other, and then Izuku started to laugh.

“Gosh, it’s like we’re breaking up or something,” he said.

“Idiot. We were never together.” Katsuki rolled his eyes, but Izuku suddenly froze.

“Y-yeah,” he whispered.

“You don’t still – I mean…” Katsuki rubbed a hand over his mouth, trying to find the words. “I know it was a long time ago, but I feel like we still kind of have the same bond as before, you know?”

“Mm. Yeah, definitely,” Izuku nodded, looking up at Katsuki like there were stars in his eyes.

“And I mean…” Katsuki rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. “We were… almost a thing before. So maybe we could… try… again?”

Izuku sucked it a breath, a smile overtaking his face.

“Are you asking me out?” his voice cracked on every word, and Katsuki could hardly look at him it was so adorable.

“Yes, you idiot,” he mumbled.

Izuku giggled happily and wasted no time pulling Katsuki’s face down to his own. Surprised, Katsuki clenched up at first, but soon enough found himself closing his eyes and reaching down to hold Izuku’s waist. He was much, much better at kissing now, and though it pulled a bit at Katsuki’s heartstrings to think it must be because he had some practice, he loved every second of it.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Not in front of the kids!” Iida’s shrill voice pulled them out of the brief but tender moment, and they stared out at him from their tight embrace with red faces.

“Ah! S-sorry! I didn’t… didn’t think that through at all!” Izuku pulled himself away, hands flying up.

“Relax, Iida,” Todoroki broke in, elegant vampire costume a bit comical next to Iida’s gaudy robot get-up, and turned to the two of them. “Just take it outside, kay?”

“R-right,” Izuku nodded, backing away towards the door. Katsuki followed silently, but once they were under the light of the moon he reached out and grabbed Izuku’s hand to pull him into another kiss.

“Mmf!” Izuku was the one surprised this time. Katsuki held him tight, almost a little too tight, and when they pulled out of this kiss he let his head sink into Izuku’s shoulder.

“Um… that was sudden,” Izuku huffed.

“Well, I can’t just let you be the one kissing me all the time. Gotta even it up,” Katsuki said, muffled into Izuku’s shirt.

“Right,” Izuku smiled softly, finally relaxing into his hold, his hands reaching around to rub soft circles into Katsuki’s back. Suddenly, he was determined to make up for those four years of hell Katsuki told him about, and something about the way Katsuki held him like he was the only person he had left in the world told him he might just be able to do it.