Work Text:
That night was just endless.
Izuku was not a one to complain often, but this was little too much even for him – sitting side to side with Kacchan, exhausted after fight and tense before another which would inevitably come that night. No backup and civilian – a woman in her late twenties - between two of them. Her name was Lee and she was nice enough, but her quirk, ability to not sleep at all for days, was no use in their situation.
“I am going to patrol. Stay with Lee,” Izuku murmured to Kacchan and stood up.
“Fucking no, nerd.”
“I am quicker on my feet, Kacchan,” he reminded him, “we need to keep them as far from us as possible.” Truly, he still could not use his hands in fight fully yet, so he was pushing his quirk in his legs – as fast as rabbit should be, huh? He was able to fight good enough but it was not so good as Kacchan´s explosions… at least not yet. Also, they need to keep some distance between them and his quirk is good only hand on hand fight… Izuku bared his teeth – he just did not have enough time to reach full conformity with his quirk. Kacchan had had his quirk of life long, of course he was better. More useful in everything.
But there was no place for stupid competition between them right now. And Kacchan knew as well because instead of bickering he only said,” but do it quickly.” He was glaring and him, feral as ever, but that red eyes of his were burning with intelligence and desire to protect and win and that was reason why Izuku believed him.
“Of course. Five minutes,” he said to both Kacchan and Lee who was practically sitting in Kacchan´s lab, shivering. Kacchan was murmuring something to her, playing with her long curly hair in attempt to calm her down and it was working. Uh, that classes about communication with civilians did him some good.
“Go.”
Izuku run around the building where they were hiding, looking for position of their enemy – three persons in total but it seemed they were not spotted yet – block was full of old buildings similar to theirs. He checked side streets and headed back. No reason to push their luck. Three minutes.
He was behind the corner when he caught end of a conversation between Lee and Kacchan.
“It will break her but I can´t let her pursue that dream. She would only hurt herself,” she cried softly. Izuku´s heart was heavy for her.
“Then do what´s needed to stop her. Better broken dreams than broken necks, woman,” Kacchan snapped then took a deep breath.
Izuku´s breath hitched.
No one would ever said that Kacchan is a soft person, not even Izuku. And although he still understood his childhood friend the best in their class he did not know why Kacchan is still so… angry at him all the time? He always know what to do to make Kacchan respond in certain way but he always needed someone, preferably Kirishima to do so instead of Izuku.
It always made Izuku angry to some extend because he still desired Kacchan´s approval and his friendship, even after years. Todoroki, his boyfriend for last two years, just gave up his effort to talk him out of it.
I am coming home to you as soon as possible, Shouto, he promised himself. Shouto was hurt yesterday during mission – he was not in danger but he was unable to accompany him and Kacchan today with broken arm and overused quirk (he still was not in full control of his fire). Izuku took a deep breath again, practically feeling Shouto´s feather like, no, snow-like touches on his skin, and reassuring hand on his knee, all small and careful even after all that time together. Todoroki Shouto was just soft teen under all of that pain he was through and Izuku would do everything to protect him.
You are really hopeless, Izuku, he could practically hear Todoroki saying and it talked a lot that his voice of reason sounded like his boyfriend.
This is changing everything. You know that.
Kacchan was always cruel to him. Bullying, calling names, pushing him away. All because he was quirkless.
Because he believed that it is better to break his dreams than to see him die, same advice he gave Lee right now. Kacchan cared in his own twisted way and all of that still hurt Izuku deep down but at least this had some logic. He could work with that.
Izuku grinned – so he only needed to work. To show Kacchan that he is already strong enough to stand by his side.
You should not been pushed to fight for his friendship. He should not done this to you. Todoroki-like voice in his mind reminded him. And Izuku knew, just, Kacchan and him were never normal. It just worked or not, that was all Izuku cared about.
It is time to fix this mess between them.