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Over the course of his hero work, Izuku has gathered many scars. Most of his scars lie beneath his costume, not visible to the public. The scarred skin on his upper arm is probably the worst part.
It makes him feel insecure about his body.
He doesn’t regret gathering these scars. They are the remains of his effort, proof that he gave it his all, to reach his goals. He thinks he would even miss them, if they were to disappear. He has trailed the scarred skin on his hands many upon many times and it calms him. Especially when he gets anxious about his hero work.
It’s just that... people usually prefer unblemished skin, don’t they?
“What are you thinking about, Deku?”
Izuku looks up to find Katsuki walking towards him. He’s already in his costume so he must have come right after finishing patrol. “Nothing much,” Izuku replies. There are many things he is ready to share with Katsuki, but not this one.
Also, it’s stupid to be hung up about something like this, when he has an important briefing to attend. He stands up and grabs his bag, pulling out his costume.
“At first, I thought it’s just a nervous habit, like biting your nails, but you are actually bothered by them, aren’t you?”
Izuku stills with his shirt halfway over his head and turns to Katsuki. The pro hero is leaning against the wall of the changing room, arms crossed over his chest. “What?”
“Your scars. You keep rubbing as if you wish for them to disappear.”
“No.” Izuku pulls his shirt off and turns to Katsuki, giving him full view of all the scars on his torso and arms. “I don’t want them to disappear.”
“But they bother you,” Katsuki states, bluntly. Of course, it must always be Katsuki who looks right through him. “You didn’t deny that.”
Izuku sighs and grabs his right arm, massaging the stiff skin there. “It’s... not pretty, is it?”
Katsuki pushes back from the wall. “A scar is a scar. It’s neither pretty nor ugly. It just is.” He walks closer until he stands right in front of Deku and then pulls the glove of his right hand off. “Everyone has one or two... or a few.” He shows Izuku his palm, covered in little scars. they look like multiple little stars. Some still look tender, other have already faded into white patches of skin. It’s a mesmerising sight.
Of course, Izuku knew about Katsuki’s scars. He’s seen them multiple times from afar. But this is the first time he sees them up close like this and he can’t help himself. He takes Katsuki’s hand in his own and takes a closer look. “Do you only scar with strong explosions or anytime you use your quirk? Do the gloves even help protect your skin? How can you even make explosions without destroying your gloves?”
Katsuki immediately pulls his hand away and makes a small explosion right in front of Izuku’s face. “You never change, nerd.”
Izuku is unfazed, he’s had worse explosions in his face. “You never shared anything about your quirk with me, Kacchan!”
“You know enough as it is.” Katsuki pulls his glove back on and stares at Izuku. “So?”
Izuku gives a small smile. This is Kacchan cheering him up. “They just are,” he agrees. And isn’t that shocking. Of course, he knows that scars just are but having Katsuki of all people saying it to him, makes him want to believe it.
It might also have something to do with the crush on Katsuki he has going on, but that no one needs to know.
Katsuki nods and takes Izuku’s hand. Izuku lets him because he’s curious to see where this is going. “Besides,” Katsuki starts. He pauses for a moment and lifts Izuku’s hands higher. “I have always enjoyed tracing them.” He just barely grazes his lips against the scarred skin before dropping Izuku’s hand and walking away.
Izuku finds himself shocked into stillness. He’s just staring after him until Katsuki says, “hurry up and get dressed. The briefing is starting soon.”
Izuku is flustered. On one hand he wants to hurry after Katsuki and demand explanations but on the other hand they have work to do. So Izuku hurries to pull his pants off. “I’ll catch you after the briefing, Kacchan!”
Katsuki’s laugh carries down the hall. “You wish, Deku.”
And isn’t that true?