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Deku was such a piece of freaking sunshine. Always laughing with that annoying as hell laugh with his friends and smiling with those freckles and dimples that made Katsuki want to scream. Always encouraging one of their classmates or helping an old lady cross the road. He was the perfect image of a hero, a prepossessing young man.
But, he wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows.
Only Katsuki knew what kept Izuku up at night, and it wasn’t the many cups of caffeine the teen usually consumed when he worked through long hours. No, it was nightmares, the kind that tear blood-curdling screams from one’s terrified, sleeping body and leave lasting impressions on the day.
So, how did Katsuki get here, petting the green-haired teen’s head soothingly when Izuku woke up with a scream half-leaving his lips, when what they usually did was argue and fight? Why did Katsuki care so much for a loser like him?
Well, that was probably a thought for another time, he dismissed in his head, tucking Izuku closer to his body, Izuku’s head tiredly snuggling into Katsuki’s shoulder. He smiled; a genuine, private one.
“It’s alright, Deku,” he murmured, tucking his arms closer to the smaller body on top of his and shifted slightly, getting comfortable again.
Just for a bit, his mind excused, as his eyes drifted shut peacefully.