Work Text:
9:12 p.m.
Faint smell of curry and soy waltzed around the small apartment on the fifth floor. A gentle breeze kept the air circulating, but the smell of home never left. At least until recently, Bakugou Katsuki didn’t think it could.
The clock ticked away on the wall with an annoyingly loud sound; Katsuki, sitting on the kitchen counter in his grey sweatpants for the umpteenth hour, dully noted that it’s not usually this annoying, it’s just that either he is not home to hear it, or Deku is here to break the silence.
Deku.
He was late for dinner. Again. It’s been a long time since they ate together, and it wasn’t hard to admit that Katsuki hated the subtle change in their daily lives. But lately, their paths strayed more than usual.
He sighed and glanced across the small apartment. It hasn’t been long since they started living together after they applied to the same hero agency at All Might’s suggestion. Soon enough, the agency become well-known for the inseparable hero duo, the twin stars, the unbeatable team, Deku and Ground Zero, but in reality, pro hero work was a lot more individual and filled with boring paperwork in empty shifts. They get to do a couple of team-work based missions every now and then, but other than that their schedules rarely match up…
…which is why Katsuki was frustratedly banging the pot of warm overcooked rice with a wooden spatula to a monotonous rhythm for fifteen minutes now.
Today was supposed to be their first break in a long time. These days have become cherished along the way of constant hero work. It was a long way to the top and over time, the “if we take a break together then neither of us will rush ahead of the other, that’s clearly cheating” became “let’s take it easy for like 24 hours before we take the world’s weight on our shoulders again”.
And that was the problem. Izuku kept constantly straying from their newfound comfortable rhythm and went out of his way to be a hero rather than to be Midoriya Izuku. A mistake that ended up being the downfall of All Might, and a memory that Katsuki did not want to relive again.
Cling. Clang. Creak. Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak.
Katsuki’s ears perked up like he was a guard dog on duty.
Izuku was very obviously trying to sneak into the apartment but failing miserably as the door squeaks open in several short and long intervals.
In a matter of seconds, a tall figure loomed over him in the doorway, and pulled him in one quick motion.
“I’m sorry, I ah-!” before Izuku could muster out anything else, he was pulled into a tight embrace.
“Welcome home.” Katsuki breathed into the other’s neck, making Izuku shudder.
Izuku took a deep breath and that’s when the smell of spices hit him alongside with the usual scent of home and Kacchan. Finally.
“You cooked?”
Katsuki scowled and pulled away. “Yeah. But the rice is just mush by now.”
“Sorry…” Izuku looked away, a little ashamed. “They just called in last minute, because Iron Wing got injured last night, and it was a super important mission so I couldn’t say no, but hey I met Ochaco, she’s part of the second unit, but I was only substituting for today, so everything should go back to normal tomorrow and……………..are you mad at me?”
After Izuku finally caught his breath, Katsuki just closed the door behind him, and pushed him towards the coat rack.
“I will be, if you don’t take off your shoes and come eat dinner right now. I’m fucking starving.” With that, Katsuki disappeared into the small kitchen again, but he had no anger in his voice.
“Right!” Izuku exclaimed kicking his shoes off and hanging his jacket on the hanger. “You know, you could’ve eaten without me..”
This earned a few grunts and angry murmurs from the kitchen, but Izuku just laughed and shrugged them off.
After a few minutes of idle silence, both of them were at the tiny dinner table eating donburi. As always, Katsuki poured a little extra hot sauce on top of his bowl.
Izuku made a face at the sight. “Ew. How can you do that Kacchan. You monster. Ruining and authentic dish like that.”
“Next time I’ll cook it into the food if you’re not careful.” he snapped back jokingly, though Izuku wasn’t sure how serious he was.
“You wouldn’t waste your precious hot sauce on me.” he took another bite and let out an exhausted sigh. He just realized that this is his first time sitting down in a while. “Did you hear back from Kirishima yet?”
Katsuki wiped his mouth. “Yeah. He sent a message this morning, said his agency can do the paperwork for last week’s mess. Thank fucking God.”
It’s not everyday that different agencies with their high school friends get tied up in an incident at the same time, but when they do it’s always a race of who can cause less damage to avoid filing insurance documents. It’s really a good incentive for Katsuki to destroy fewer buildings so he can watch his old friends suffer for days when their agency gets hit with those sweet sweet court cases.
“That’s a relief! I’m glad, Kacchan. No overtime this week then.” Izuku was already calculating the amount of time they could spend together after work.
“Don’t forget about the stupid team training that the boss is making us do.” he added as he finished up his bowl of food with a few more large bites.
Izuki made a face. The hours suddenly dropped drastically. “Right… I forgot.”
The air around them became a little awkward after that. So, of course, what is the rational thing to do about that?
“I’ll go do the dishes! Thank you for the food, it was delicious.” Izuku said hurriedly and grabbed their bowls to escape to the kitchen and away from the guilt. It must be around 10 p.m. by now, so Kacchan was probably tired right? He wasted his whole day, and now they can’t even do anything together for God knows how many weeks.
As soon as the dirty bowls hit the sink though, Izuku felt warm hands on his waist, then a firm grab, and the next thing he knew he was sitting on the counter top.
“Oh-“ was all he could manage before chapped lips captured his in a firm kiss.
“You thought you could run away you nerd?” Katsuki muttered, eyes dangerously seeking Izuku’s.
“I just wanted to-“
“No, listen to me.” A slight pause. “Please.”
That kinda shut Deku up finally. Good. Katsuki took a deep breath.
“I’m not mad that you took the call. You know that I’m fucking proud of you that you get to jump into missions like that. And no, I’m also not mad because you get to save more people than me. I’m way past that bullshit and you know that.”
Izuku nodded but otherwise stayed still like a deer in headlights. So Katsuki continued.
“So just take a fucking break, okay? Everyone feels so entitled to you and it pisses me off.” he huffed.
The green haired boy blinked a couple more times, then cracked a shy smile. “I’m pretty sure you just said that the world pisses you off.”
“If it stops me from seeing my boyfriend for more than two fucking hours a day then yeah it pisses me off. The world can suck it for all I care.”
Warmth spread through Izuku’s chest, and his smile turned into a grin, and then into laughter. Katsuki begrudgingly looked away as if he was offended, but his unusually soft features told another story. Izuku couldn’t help but smile and turn Katsuki’s head back towards him with a gentle hand on his face.
“I’m sorry. You’re right Kacchan. I promise I will take it easy…well easier.” putting his index finger against the blonde’s mouth he smiled. “But! You have to promise to take it easy with me. Deal?”
“Deal. Now c’mere you dumbass.”
With a swift motion, he swooped up the green haired boy into his arms and kissed him again, this time more gently, with care and compassion.
Izuku kissed back gingerly, letting his exhaustion show. “Are you tired?”
Katsuki held him closer and nudged his freckle splattered cheeks with his nose.
“Nah. Fuck sleep.”
Izuku laughed and snuggled closer. “Movie?”
“Fuck yeah. Fight Club?”
“The Hobbit?”
“Bridge to Terabithia?”
“How dare you.” Izuku gasped and poked Katsuki in the chest.
“………………….Pacific Rim then?”
“…I’m pretty sure the ending won’t change even if we watch it 9 times.” Izuku grinned, still enjoying being carried and not having to walk on his worn out feet.
“Well it fucking might, so we’re gonna keep watching it until it does.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Katsuki made his way to the couch with his precious hero in his arms. He just turned the TV to the right setting as they settled down – the DVD was already in the player, unsure if it ever even left it since they moved in.
Izuku was way too occupied to find a comfortable position as close to Katsuki as possible, while the blonde was busy adjusting the curly green locks out of his view.
The first few scenes go by in a comfortable silence. There was exhaustion hanging in the air, but also a tinge of relief. A pause. A safe little space just for the two of them. Nobody needed them right now, except for each other.
Katsuki’s hand found Izuku’s back and shoulders and simmered with faint explosions to ease the tension in the other’s muscles. Izuku let out a soft gasp and lowered his head in an automatic response of approval.
“Mmmm…” he hummed quietly and searched for Katsuki’s other hand. He gently started massaging his palm, enjoying the view of harmless sparks. He giggled and lifted his hand close to his lips, so he can kiss right into it.
“…dork.” Katsuki murmured.
“Says the one who cooked, gave me a pep talk about taking care of myself, and then watching Pacific Rim for the 9th time.” Izuku poked the other’s nose teasingly.
Katsuki leaned in to bite at his finger but was too slow. “Shut up. The best part is coming in like 2 minutes.”
The freckled boy just smiled and leaned back into the other.
“This is already the best part, Kacchan.”