Work Text:
Another day without you with me
Is like a blade that cuts right through me
But I can wait
I can wait forever
***
Two years and three damn months.
And yet to Katsuki it feels like just yesterday.
Maybe its karma, maybe it’s his punishment from the universe for all the bullshit he’d done for the past twenty years, maybe it’s the world’s way of saying fuck you to his face. Because it feels like just yesterday when he finally got his head out of his ass, and finally realize and confess his feelings to Deku. It feels like just yesterday when he saw the sad smile from the nerd’s face and hear him say, “I’m sorry Kacchan, I’m leaving for a New York next month”
It also feels like just yesterday when he waited with Deku at the airport for his flight to the US.
“No matter what you say, I’m still going to wait for you nerd.” Katsuki promised.
Deku’s face softened as he clasped both of his hands with Katsuki’s. “Kacchan –“
“no, you can’t stop me nerd, take how much time you need, years, decades, centuries, fucking forever, and I’ll be right here waiting for you.” And fuck his tear ducts, of all the time to malfunction they choose this. “if all I could do to make up to all these years of being so fucking stupid, I can wait forever.”
Deku let go of his hands to place it on his cheeks, pulled his head to him and placed a kiss on the top of his head. If it weren’t for his tear ducts flowing with tears like a fucking waterfall, Katsuki might tease the nerd for being a fucking sap.
You’re the one crying your guts out, who’s the sap now?
They stayed in that position in what feels like forever, and Katsuki honestly doesn’t want this to end. But unfortunately, the shitty gates for Deku’s flight is closing, so the nerd had to let go.
To Katsuki, it feels like just yesterday when he last heard the nerd in person, saying:
“take care Kacchan”
Katsuki never cried that much in his life.
***
Katsuki guessed the universe hadn’t given him enough fuck you’s yet.
Almost half of the previous Class A was hanging out on their shared dorm one morning. Yes, shared dorm, they maybe working on different agencies, but they’re still living on the same roof. These shitheads decided that three years wasn’t enough and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Or just too broke to afford their own place, though even Princess Ponytail and Prince Zuku is also living here, maybe it’s because of the former. In Katsuki’s case, it’s because it’s the most convenient option for him. And living alone sure is lonely.
Anyway, it was a good day, it was just past nine in the morning and most of them has day offs or afternoon shifts. Sugar man decided to cook a hell lot of pancakes enough to feed the whole city, but knowing the appetite of these idiots, the amount was fair enough. Katsuki was enjoying his pancake drowning in pepper sauce while the international news was on the TV serving as background noise. It seems like he’s uninterested, but he kept his attention secretly on the news, hoping he will hear something about a certain green haired hero.
“Now, on showbiz news” the anchor said. Katsuki was about to divert his focus on his breakfast when he heard the next sentence.
“Japanese Pro hero Deku just got engaged to his rumored girlfriend, half-American half-Japanese model/actress Sophia Shimizu.”
…
Plates shattered.
Yes plates.
It wasn’t Katsuki’s, of course, he’s not a stupid idiot eating while holding his plate if there’s a huge ass dining table.
No, those plates were from the hands of Round-face, Half n half, Four-eyes, Muzzle head and Shitty hair. Also known as “Deku’s harem” from highschool. They looked like all of them has their hearts shattered like their plates.
“I-I don’t understand” Round-Face said. She sounded hurt and so fucking confused.
“I-I’m going to call Izuku” Shitty-hair croaked, in the verge of tears and then ran outside.
Half n half, Four eyes and Muzzle head are frozen in place, looking down at their shattered plates as if waiting some portal to appear and suck them into the void.
And Katsuki? He looks fine, but not his fork, the poor thing is now bending in an unnatural manner and covered in soot.
“what the hell, Deku got that popular huh?” Katsuki finally said after a minute of awkward silence and swear he doesn’t sound broken.
Nobody seems to hear him, like how nobody heard the rest of the news.
A generic ring diverted Katsuki’s attention to his ringing phone, the caller ID says “Old Hag”
He didn’t want to answer but he needed distraction.
“what?” he answered when he’s away from hearing range from the people in the joint living and dining room.
“what the hell brat, is that how you answer your mother?”
Tsk
“anyways, don’t come home on your birthday next week, we’ll come to you.”
…
What the hell? Katsuki always spend his birthday at home, just a simple dinner with his parent and Inko-san, no noisy brats, no clingy assholes, no nosy press. A quiet, simple and relaxing dinner.
The nerd I’ve been waiting for two years just got engaged to some shitty model, and now I’m going to lose my only (temporary) escape from this mess?
“Inko also said Izuku would be back in Japan that time too, it will be a double celebration. I already called your friends and they’re willing to help. See you brat.”
Then the line went off.
Katsuki did what a normal distressed person would do in this situation, he threw his phone against the wall so hard it shattered into pieces, just like his heart. If that wasn’t a big fuck you, Katsuki doesn’t know what anymore.
***
Found her
Izuku was frantically looking for Sophia before things escalated further. Ever since he got a call from Eijirou about the obviously fake news, all Izuku wanted to do was call Kacchan and explain things, but his number is still out of service, so the next sensible thing to do is find Sophia and clear everything with the press.
Izuku should have known there are ulterior motives to Sophia’s extreme friendliness these past few days, especially when he told her his plan of going back to Japan next week. She became extra clingy and extra caring. Would you blame him for being unsuspecting, though? They were neighbors, and Sophia being the only one in his neighborhood with Japanese background, he instantly grabs the branch of having connection to home. She became his bestfriend here in the USA. Yes, there were rumors about them spreading around. But all of them are just rumors. Sophia assured him that it’s just the bored media having no dirt against him. And Izuku felt betrayed. It felt like the two years of friendship were just an act.
“Sophia” Deku said quietly so the people won’t notice but sternly enough to get the full attention of the model. She’s currently sitting leisurely at the fancy lounge of a six-star hotel in Los Angeles, a good six-hour flight from Brooklyn. She clearly planned this through beforehand. Her pale blonde hair loose and her strapless black gown flows like the river Styx into the Underworld. Izuku just got acquainted with the Greek Mythology, but he could see her as Persephone waiting for her ride to go back to the Underworld.
“Babe!” she said impossibly loud and approached him. Izuku must make a quick decision. Play it out with the press? Or risk another scandal by dragging her out? Sophia’s piercing ruby red eyes made the decision for him. For it reminded him of someone waiting for him to come home.
He drags Sophia out of the lounge then outside the hotel. Since she is in heels, Izuku threw her into his shoulders like a sack of potatoes and took off into the nearest building that is short enough to reach in one jump but tall enough to lose press that are chasing them. After the third roof they jumped into, Izuku put Sophia down harsher than she expected, as her squeal of surprise should go by. She glared at him dirtily.
He glared back, “What the hell are you doing?” he asked slowly, emphasizing every syllable with heated intensity.
The talented model shifts her face from distress to smug. “I’m making news for the both of us hon, aren’t you thankful?”
“thankful? I didn’t want this. I’m a hero, not a fame-whore celebrity”
“who would suspect an angelic face like that could curse?”
“you’re changing the subject!”
The model shrugged.
“Izuku, hon, bear with me a little longer okay? I just needed some exposure, I’m auditioning for a billion-dollar movie. I need this”
“there are other ways! Other guys! Why me?”
“you’re my bestfriend, you’re extremely popular and aren’t you single?”
“But someone’s waiting for me! And you know that!”
The statement snapped something in her, she inhaled deeply like what she used to when delivering heavy dialogues in her movies.
“You’re choosing someone who’s just sitting pretty at home just waiting for you to come back than me who’s taking care of you while you’re struggling with home sickness?! Me that always make sure you enjoy the everyday you spent here in America?!”
Sophia slumped on the floor of the rooftop, trying to suppress her sobs she ends up hiccuping.
“I like you okay, so much. You’re sweet, caring, pure, determined, smart, witty, funny and most of all, you understand me. I don’t want you to go home, that’s why I made up some news. I don’t want to be left alone.” she explained in between sobs she gave up suppressing.
He’d seen her cry many times before, in movies, commercials and TV shows, but seeing his cheerful friend like this in person unnerves him. He felt the strong urge to rush into her and comfort her and tell her that what she did was not wrong. Which is opposite of the right thing to do.
After taking a deep breath, Izuku carefully kneeled in front of her. She already hugged her knees and tucked her face in the space between her knees and her chest. Izuku placed a comforting hand in her elbows and it prompted her to gaze at him.
“Sophia” he said carefully, waiting for her to successfully suppress her sobs. When she did, Izuku continued. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I will always be grateful for the friendship and everything else you have given me. But..”
Sophia’s face starts to scrunch and Izuku hurried his explanation.
“But I cannot accept your feelings. I’m sorry. I wish I could. But Kacchan.. it’s always been him. it’s always been him even before I knew what this feeling even meant. It’s like I don’t even know how to love anyone else.”
“Let me..” Sophia said brokenly instead of crying further. “Let me teach you how.”
“I can’t”, Izuku answered instantly. “I don’t want to hurt you any further. I already hurt a lot of my friends before because of this. I can’t do it to you too.”
Sophia seemed to accept his explanation and her implied defeat. She tucked her face again in between her chest and knees and stayed still. So still it worried Izuku as minutes passed. After not more than twenty minutes, Sophia suddenly stood up and forcefully wiped her face dry. Water and smudge proof make-ups truly are gifts from the gods to humankind.
“Okay” she announced.
“Okay..?” Izuku repeated dumbly.
“Okay, I accept my defeat..” Izuku released a breath he didn’t noticed he’s been holding.
“..for now” she continued, the relief in Izuku’s face turned into a frown.
Sensing the upcoming “what?” from the hero, Sophia explained further.
“it’s not that you’re getting married, I will still have my chance in the future.” The stubbornness of the actress made Izuku pinch the bridge of his nose.
“But you’re going to fix this fake news, right?” Izuku confirmed, almost beg. The fatigue of chasing the actress the entire day is slowly catching up on him.
“Of course, i’m conceding today right?” She said brightly, the traces of tears and hurt are gone now on her face. As expected from an award-winning actress.
Izuku offered his arm to her. “Come on, we have a lounge full of press to get back to, right?”
Then the two headed back to the lounge. Almost all of the press remains from when Izuku came first, and izuku commend and despise their dedication for gossips.
Sophia gently grab Izuku’s arm in front of the media. Izuku stood up with confidence, mirroring his confidence in her. Sophia seems genuine when she promised that she will clear things up. Izuku felt Sophia’s grip tighten suddenly, a usual indication that his attention was desired. Izuku took a glance at the blonde maiden on his side.
“trust me, okay?” she ordered.
Uh-oh
Before Izuku could free himself from her grasp the actress already activated her quirk and they incorporate with the shadows.
The press lost their shit the second time this day.
***
What. The. Fucking. Hell.
This is officially the longest day in Katsuki’s life. It started from the news of Deku got freaking engaged to some shitty model/actress to Katsuki getting out from a freaking shadow travel. And it’s just 10pm here in in fucking Los Angeles.
Shadow travel doesn’t feel as cool at it sounds. It feels like being sucked by Thirteen’s black hole and being dragged by four eyes while using his ultra recipo burst 5 times the speed. But Katsuki won’t lie, if it wasn’t the shitty model’s quirk, he would do shadow travel again.
In short, it was fun.
“what the hell?” he demanded, glaring at the model. The model glared back like a goddess in flowing black gown glaring at a puny mortal. And it doesn’t help that she nailed it.
No wonder Deku wants to marry her.
The glaring goddess in black shrugged at him then turned around to approach the poor guy curled up in the curb struggling not to hurl his guts out.
“Deku!” Katsuki called but was stuck in place.
How will Katsuki explain to him his impulsive decision on coming to US? How will he explain how his stalker ass followed Deku to Los Angeles when he luckily saw him at the airport? How would Katsuki tell him that he’s here to find some semblance of closure like a shitty ass ex-boyfriend?
“Kacchan?”
Oh, there goes nothing
“I.. I-uh…”
Damnit Katsuki pull yourself together.
“finally got your head out your ass, Bakugou Katsuki?” vampire eyes asked.
He doesn’t understand what she means by that but her accusing tone sets ugly feelings inside Katsuki’s gut. He wants to hit something, someone. Probably himself.
“Sophia!” Deku reprimanded.
The bitch finally looked embarrassed and looked at the ground.
“Can you leave us alone please?” Deku requested but more likely demanded according to his tone. Vampire eyes immediately looked up but didn’t argue.
“Fine, just call me if you need a ride back.” And then she’s gone in the shadows.
“I can call an Uber, thank you!” Deku shouted back, adamant to let the shadow traveler know that he prefers a more comfortable mode of transportation.
When Deku was sure his fiancée went away for good, he went to Katsuki’s direction and did the biggest fuck you the universe sent to him.
Life is fucking unfair. How will Katsuki ever move on from this? How will he move on when he finally knew how kissing Deku felt like? How, if it feels like the heavens opened and the angels are singing above his head.
But the bigger question is why is Deku kissing him?
What the hell is happening right now?
Though Katsuki knew this is so wrong in so many levels, he doesn’t have the strength to pull out. Actually, all his strength was used up to keep himself standing while all he wants to do was melt like snow into the ground because shit, Deku’s kissing him. Finally, unfortunately, Katsuki gathered the strength to push Deku off.
“What the hell Deku?” He managed.
Apparently, something in Katsuki’s face made Deku realize something and go full on mumbling.
“Oh! I’m sorry Kacchan, I just miss you so much, but I forgot you didn’t know the truth yet. You might be thinking I’m cheating and used you or something. Then you’ll think that I just lead you on this past few years then dropped the bomb of being engage to someone. You’re confused as to why I kissed you just because – “
“Deku!”
Deku squealed in surprise, then proceed to cover his mouth when he realizes he was mumbling.
“One sentence nerd. Summarize everything in one sentence or I’m leaving” Katsuki demanded, dread and confusion clouding his mind.
The nerd blurted the first thing in his mind due to the threat.
“THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN ME AND SOPHIA IS FAKE NEWS”
Well, shit.
***
I know it feels like forever
I guess that's just the price I gotta pay
But when I come back home to feel your touch makes it better
'Till that day
There's nothing else that I can do
And I just can’t take it
***
Izuku explained to Kacchan how things ended up to the fake news and expecting fans. He was also keeping a stronghold on him to prevent him from hunting Sophia down and give her a “piece” of his mind. Knowing both have strong personalities, Izuku is determined to give his best to prevent the two from meeting when any strong emotion is fueling either of them.
“THAT BITCH!” kacchan spat at the end of Izuku’s explanation.
“Kacchan, calm down” Izuku pleaded for a numerous time since he start explaining. He’s running out of words to say to keep the blonde hero from confronting the also blonde actress.
“If she thinks she can steal you away from me through underhanded methods, that’s where she’s wrong. I’m going to fight tooth and nail for you, Izuku.”
Izuku blinked, caught off guard by the blonde’s declaration of war, he almost let go of the other’s firm biceps.
“she already conceded Kacchan,” Izuku assured though he just remembered the actresses’ stubborn plan. “Just for now though, she promised she’ll have another opportunity in the future.”
“THAT BI – ”
Izuku might admit he said that on purpose, he knew it will rile up Kacchan and he will also admit he let go of his arms in purpose so that Kacchan will be in a best position for a hug. And hugged him, Izuku did.
“You sly bastard” Kacchan accused him but also rest his face where Izuku’s shoulder and neck connect. Izuku just smother the other’s back in response. But something caught Izuku’s attention.
“Kacchan.. is this my perfume?” Katsuki stiffened. Yup, definitely Izuku’s perfume.
“So what nerd? It’s not as if this is made exclusively for you.” The blonde retaliates defensively but didn’t pull out from the embrace. Izuku bet he didn’t want to the green-haired hero to see how red his face is, but he can clearly feel the rapid beating of the other’s heart.
Izuku tightened his embrace and buried his nose on his hair.
“But there’s something different though.” Izuku said then sniffed deeply. “I can smell something different”
“HAH?” Kacchan exclaimed, offended, struggling to disentangle himself from Izuku, but Izuku wouldn’t let him go, in fact he tightened his hold more.
“Now, now, Kacchan, you don’t smell bad, smelling you is comforting. You smell like..” Izuku trailed off.
“I smell like fucking what, nerd?” Kacchan challenged.
Izuku didn’t know he can smile wider than this, and sniffed Kacchan once again.
“You smell like home.”
Kacchan let out a sweet laugh.
“Fucking Nerd”
***
“why is she here?” Katsuki asked his best man.
Eijirou looked behind him and saw the queen of vampires in her regal beauty with her gold dress approaching them.
“Because she’s invited? She’s one of Izuku’s best-friends, remember?” He reminded him, and Katsuki painfully remembered. Five years after that fake news incident, Sophia was nothing but pain in the ass for Katsuki. She followed them back to Japan and immediately made a name for herself in the local show-business. Then she never miss a chance to rile him up, make him jealous and cock-block any of his attempts to be intimate with Izuku when she’s around, which is painfully too often. The only things that keep Katsuki from killing her is how good she can use her quirk in evading him and the knowledge that whatever she does, Izuku will always choose him over her.
“You look ugly Katsuki,” the bitch greeted.
“Bitch, i’m gorgeous. And what are you doing here? Aren’t you busy with your world tour fashion show or something?” Katsuki said spitefully, letting her know that he didn’t want her here.
“And miss the chance to stop the wedding?” She retaliates playfully, he and Eijirou were instantly alarmed.
The bitch had the audacity to laugh at their distress and wave her hand at them.
“Just joking, of course I won’t miss this wedding for the world.” The model’s face became solemn, there’s a genuine joy but also a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Izuku’s important for me, I want to be present in one of the happiest days of his life, even if it is not me on the altar with him.”
All of Katsuki’s anger melted. She is the biggest reminder of how lucky Katsuki is. His biggest rival for Izuku’s attention was the hailed supermodel of the world for three consecutive years. A talented and good person with also a powerful quirk, and most of all did nothing but care for Izuku in the almost decade of solid friendship. Sophia was nothing but a perfect match to Izuku, but Izuku still choose him.
“Sophia,” Katsuki called her, and maybe this the first time he called her by her name. This caught the model/actress by surprise but what surprised her more was Katsuki’s embrace.
“thank you for taking care of him when i’m not around.” Katsuki thanked her. Katsuki can feel her stiffened and trying to stop her crying. “I promised, I will take care of him for you.”
The promise opened the floodgates of the model’s tear ducts. She’s sobbing uncontrollably and returned the embrace. Katsuki also noticed Eijirou crying beside them. Then looking a bit further, he caught the nerd spying on them, also crying messily.
The wedding has not started yet, and people are already crying.
This is going to be a long day.