Chapter Text
“We should break up.”
Izuku knew this day was coming, but hearing those words still tore his heart to pieces. Drawing in a shaky breath, he gave a small nod. “I know,” his voice was barely above a whisper.
“I do love you just-”
“I know.”
“It’s just-”
“Kacchan, I know.”
The blonde fell silent, fist clenched beside him as he looked everywhere but at Izuku who was seated on the couch in their living room. “I’ll get my things and move out.”
“I can go stay with my mom for a while to give you space to do that.”
“Deku, I’m not going to kick you out of our- your home,” Bakugo choked on the word, letting out a shaky sigh before carding his fingers through his hair. The two had been living together since they had graduated from UA, dating since the end of their second year.
“It's fine, I'm going to need space too anyway,” his voice was barely there. He was trying to hold himself together. Katsuki didn’t need to have him bawling about their breakup while he was standing in front of him.
“I’m going to make an overnight bag and head over to Kirishima's,” Katsuki ground out, heavy footsteps heading to their shared room and Izuku finally looked up to watch his boy- ex-boyfriend's back disappear into the bedroom.
Hearing the closet door open, the ruffle of clothes, it broke the fragile control and the tears started to flow, drawing out a small sob. It grew into louder ones and Izuku was deaf to everything going on around him until warm arms wrapped around him, a soft tone trying to soothe him. He couldn’t tell who it was cradling him, but he did know that it wasn’t Katsuki.
These weren’t the strong arms he had grown to love to feel around him. That he felt safe in, hiding from the hardships in the world. That he longed to come home to every day and missed when they had overnight trips for work.
7 years.
They were friends, to enemies, to friends again to boyfriends. Something that he had been wanting for so long. And now it was over. His foundation was destroyed and Izuku didn’t know if he would be strong enough to pick himself back up again.
Voices floated above him as he finished sobbing, leaning heavily against whoever was holding him. A new set of small hands carted through his curls, and he closed his eyes to feel the hurt ease away. “Thanks…” he rasped out and the chest he was leaning against hummed in response.
He came to with a massive headache, eyes heavy as he realized that he was bundled in too many blankets on the couch of all places. He didn’t remember falling asleep there, well falling asleep at all, but as he looked around, he saw all his friends spread throughout the living room.
Some were sleeping, others on their phones, not realizing that he was awake and there were several boxes taped together and empty. Why were there boxes?
Then the previous day came crashing back.
He was single.
His chest felt like it was caving in as he struggled to free himself from the cocoon. “Zuku,” a soft call from behind him and he looked over to see Shouto standing in his kitchen. “Water or tea?”
“Water,” he stammered out after a moment. “Why are you guys here?”
“He called us to come look after you.”
Oh, Bakugo was looking after him despite everything.
“Ah.” he looked at Uraraka who was sleeping at the other end of the couch. “Are you guys helping him pack too?”
“We’re just getting photos and a few other items into boxes so you don’t have to see them while you figure out what you want to do,” Iida offered softly from the arm chair and that eased some tension inside of him.
He wasn’t being rushed out.
“I appreciate it.”
He got out of the lease and moved in with Shouto and Inasa. Bakugo had already signed up to move to another Hero agency and it was still all too raw for Izuku to handle. Uraraka, Tsu and Iida were all trying desperately to distract him, but there was always something as they walked that reminded him of his childhood friend.
“I’m going to America.”
They froze and stared at him with wide eyes. “What do you-”
“I can’t take this. My work is suffering and I can name at least 10 things around us right now that remind me of him. I can’t take this anymore! I feel like I’m breaking every damn day and I can’t handle this guys,” his voice broke and the tears that were filling his eyes with every word spilled slowly over.
“Okay, okay. Do you know where you want to go?”
“I- I don’t know.”
“I hear Tamaki-senpais’ agency in America is hiring,” Iida offered and everyone turned to him with inquiring looks. “Mirio mentioned it when we teamed up a few days ago.”
“When did he even go over?”
“A few years ago. They convinced him he should strike out on his own and gain more experience.”
“Oh.”
“I have his contact info if you want to reach out to him,” his tone was far gentler than it had any right to be and it coaxed the smallest smile from Izuku.
“I would appreciate that, thank you.”
The weight that was lifted at the idea of getting a new beginning was astounding, he felt like he could finally breathe for the first time in weeks. “Alright, I’ll get it to you tonight.”
“Then we need to start planning a goodbye party! You know everyone will want to say bye and good luck to you!” Uraraka cheered and Izuku let out a strangled noise at the thought of everyone gathered around.
“Nothing big please,” he knew trying to get her to not do that would be impossible, but maybe it could be small and not overwhelming.
“Mmm, I’ll try but no promises.”
“You wouldn’t want to overwhelm him,” Tsu gently scolded and the brunette deflated some.
Their discussion turned into background babble as he gazed around again. He would be leaving all of this if things worked out. He thought he would be upset, he had never seriously considered traveling outside Japan for hero work, but here he was. Making a snap decision.
“This is Deku correct?” the light voice on the other end was the same as he remembered in high school, but there was an assurance there that hadn’t been there before.
“Yes that’s me, Suneater correct?” he agreed, a sound of shuffling papers could be heard in the emptiness.
“I got your email about joining our agency and just wanted to go over a few things with you. Why do you wish to come to America?” he inquired, the question that Izuku was dreading the most.
“Ah, yes, I was, um, I’m wanting to get more experience and thought going to America might help,” he offered up what was supposed to be a practiced lie, but his nerves at lying to Tamaki was getting the better of him.
There was a beat, and Izuku was sure that the elder knew he was lying about the situation and he just hoped that he would be merciful and not call him out on it.
“Whatever the situation might be, I know your ethic and I trust that you will give your all if you work here. We would love to have you. I did receive that you were slipping a bit recently, so maybe the change of scenery and pace will help. I’ll email the final papers to you and just let me know when you will be coming over. I’ll have a hotel room set up for you with a few apartment options so the transition will hopefully be painless.”
“That would be wonderful, thank you Tamaki-senpai,” he replied and there was a pause.
“You don’t have to call me senpai anymore. Tamaki is fine Midoriya,” he offered. “And in America, we use first names.”
That caused the green-haired male to take pause. “Then you can call me Izuku.”
“Okay, well I’ll hope to hear from you soon,” he replied. “Have a good night.”
“Good day Tamaki.”