Work Text:
Izuku woke up, rubbing their eyes and checking his phone, his eyes opened wide with fear when he read the content
“Izuku midoriya, you will die today”
Izuku collapses, and he starts to get lost in his thoughts
Why today?
Why him?
He’s only 24 yo and has so much potential, he wants to be number one and hasn’t reached his goal her; he still needs to enjoy his family, friends, classmates, mentor, and kacchan
Kacchan….
His childhood friend and the person he cares about the most
This can’t be real, Izuku can’t imagine a life without katsuki, and he always was beside him, still supported him, and they even had their agency
their relationship was better now, and they even were roommates
Everything was perfect between them, he couldn’t imagine a heartbreaking kacchan, not only because he would be here for his funeral but especially because Izuku recently realized his feelings for him
He never thought of that during high school, their rivalry was the main link between them, and Izuku knows kacchan is never emotional, except when he feels guilty
Today was his last day, he can die anytime, so he doesn't waste time
he is preparing a letter for him, where everything is explained, especially his feelings not reciprocal, and he doesn’t have to be sad about his death
Izuku felt empty, drying his fresh tears, and left his room pretending everything was okay
————
[Izuku Midoriya you will die today ]
Izuku can’t stop thinking about this, and katsuki's familiar voice fates her thoughts
« Are you okay Deku? »
« I’m fine, kacchan, don’t worry about me, just a bad dream, you know » he put his hand on the back of his neck and changed the topic
« You can’t lie to me, one day, you will necessarily tell me the truth, » with a smirk.
Izuku sighed and ate his breakfast, talking as usual with katsuki about his day and what he planned surprise, katsuki told him that he had taken a day off and he wanted to chill the whole day
Izuku, with a warm smile, told him that he’d be back later and wanted to hang out with katsuki.
"Why do you suddenly want to hang out?"
"Just prepare yourself," izuku said with a wink which puzzled katsuki.
Taking his things before crossing the door's threshold, he stops. "I will see my mother, and I will come back" he hears a small "Okay, nerd," and with one breath, he asks, "Hey kacchan…" their eyes meet. "How will you react if I tell you that it was my last day?" with a weak voice
Katsuki's face turns into surprise, and he curiously asks, "Why are you asking me this, nerd? Do you need to tell me something?" his normally hoarse voice becomes worried
"I don’t know, just an idea that crossed my mind recently, but please answer kacchan," Izuku insisted.
After a few seconds, katsuki finally answered, "Well… I don’t know, I might be sad but tell me what’s wrong. I’m worried, Deku." said katsuki looking away.
Izuku smile. "Thanks for your honesty, kacchan."
The door closed.
——————
Izuku was on his way to see his mother for the last time, the one who had always supported him, the one who raised him, and the one who would surely cry the most.
He was now in front of his house, took a deep breath, and hit the bell; he saw Inko’s face glowing and greeted him with a big smile
"izuku baby, what are or doing here?"
izuku smiles. "Nothing, I just want to see you," and enters the house.
he only came out a few hours later, giving a letter to his mother that he had written previously, and she had asked him to open it when the time came.
izuku could have peace of mind.
The next step was his friends.
He sends a message telling them to meet at a specific location, and they arrive quickly with bright smiles they all laugh, smile, and talk about Todoroki’s daddy issues and Ochaco’s baby and her marriage with Tenya.
Before leaving the place, izuku told them, "You know, if something bad happens to me, never forget that I’m grateful for everything and I had the best life with you around," with a smile that hides a hard truth.
With worried faces, they all asked if he was okay, and izuku did the same thing, just nodded and pretended everything was fine.
All might be unavailable that day, and izuku just asked Aizawa to give him the letter and left.
—————
Izuku still had time, he organized his day, and the plan unfolded as he wanted. Now there was only kacchan left.
the most difficult one.
Pretending to be okay around his mom and his friends is okay, but pretending everything’s fine around katsuki is another thing, the blond recognizes directly as soon as something is wrong.
Izuku changes his mind and asks Katsuki to find him to spend the afternoon together. when his answer came seconds later, izuku could sense the exasperation in his "Really today?"
izuku sighed and said, "Please, kacchan, it's important to me"
"I don't know what's going on with you, nerd, but it's clear that something is wrong" izuku makes a small laugh and puts his phone in his pocket while waiting for katsuki
A few minutes later, Katsukis as here with one of his best outfits, and izuku was speechless, beautiful as always, and he was going to miss this sight
"So…why this sudden messages ?" katsuki asks, frowning.
"I just wanted to spend time with you, Kacchan."
katsuki looks at him, puzzled, and the two starts hanging out in the town, exploring the surroundings discovering new places, and to Izuku's surprise, katsuki laughs before complaining about their agency.
It was as if the two had made up for lost time, and Izuku hadn't stopped giving his childhood friend glances of admiration, enjoying his company, iris-red eyes, and blond hair that looked so chaotic. Who hides a sensitive being; izuku was the only one to see this side, he had grown up with him, and even in high school, they supported each other, especially with OFA secret. When katsuki cries in front of him, all these precious moments will remain engraved in his memory.
As Izuku remembers important moments of his life with Katsuki, he doesn't notice the tear that starts to run down his cheek.
Katsuki approached Izuku and wiped away the tears. "Now, deku, tell me what's happening, you're a bad liar, and your behavior is suspicious," while frowning.
Izuku lifted his head, and their eyes met. He couldn't pretend anymore now that katsuki had to know the truth.
“Just go home, and I’ll tell you everything I promise”
————
When the two crossed the door's threshold, the atmosphere was heavy, and no one had spoken during the journey.
katsuki puts her things on the floor, crosses her arms, and stares at izuku.
"Now tell me-"
"I'm dying kacchan"
silence.
"I had a message this morning, and they told me that I will die today"
Katsuki's face fell apart.
"So I wanted to take my last day and pretend everything was fine so as not to worry others, but I failed, and I can't take it anymore" izuku was on the verge of tears but held back.
"What do you-" katsuki tries to speak, but izuku cuts him off with a weak voice.
"Why me, kacchan? Why today? All I wanted was to become number one by your side," izuku cracked and allowed himself to let go, hot tears falling down his cheeks. All those pent-up emotions since this morning had come out, and he allowed himself to be weak one last time.
Izuku collapsed on the floor, shaking, katsuki had never seen him like this, he knew his childhood friend could take it, but the scene in front of him was heartbreaking.
Happy and smiling izuku was now giving way to pessimistic and crying izuku.
Katsuki gets closer to him and tightens his arms around him, giving him the support and warmth he needs, tightening his embrace, he feels the hot tears on his arm.
Izuku's sobs were the worst thing katsuki could hear, and until today, it would be the sound that haunted him the most.
To see a person so strong, so positive, and who works so hard to the point of overloading himself at work and satisfying everyone breaking into a thousand pieces in front of him, and this time, katsuki could do nothing to fix the situation except the protect and hold him without his arms until he calms down
Still near him and seeking the comfort of katsuki, Izuku blurted out a small "I'm sorry, kacchan"
At these words, shivers ran through his body. Katsuki decided to take control of the situation and, with a soft voice, said, “Listen, deku, you did nothing wrong, and it's not your fault. Life is unfair and can be a bitch sometimes” he took Izuku's chin and wiped away his tears “don't take your head, you did your best, and you had a good day in the company of your loved ones, it's normal to be weak sometimes, no one is perfect, and that's what makes us unique, so even if you disappear in the next few minutes or hours I don't care you hear me ”
silence.
“ I don't care that life separates us and gets in our way because we will forever remain the wonder duo that everyone loves and will love; I will stay by your side until the end ”katsuki's gaze was filled with determination. As izuku gazes at him in awe, like on day one, their life might not be perfect, but Izuku feels safe by his side. Even if he hadn't had the chance to have feelings and wonder what their life would have been like if they were out ti together, Izuku was happy with this moment because he knew that katsuki's embrace made all the fears in him disappear.
After a few minutes, Izuku finds his breathing calm, his blades have dried, and he shakes katsuki's hand. “Thanks, kacchan, I am grateful for everything you have done so far, and I left you a letter that you will read when I am over. of this world, promise me that you will respect this rule ”
Katsuki had a slightly sad look but hid it so as not to worry her childhood friend as her heart pounded from their precisely close contact.
“I promise you Deku”
——————
They both got up, and to satisfy Deku's wish, katsuki pretended it was a normal day, once the meal was over, the two lay down on the couch against each other with a thick blanket, and everyone enjoyed the moment.
Katsuki's voice broke the silence. "So what do you wanna look, nerd?"
Izuku smiled slightly and said, " Our favorite movie, this one with the Maze Runner and the Teenager!”
While izuku explains why this movie was fantastic, Katuski watches him intently, noticing his freckles and the beauty of his eyes, his green strands fluttering in the wind as he moves side to side and that joy on his face that lights up as soon as he mentions the things he loves
Katsuki always admired Izuku and supported him until the end, and this promise that had come into place between them in kindergarten began to take a different turn when the feelings mingled, and yet their relationship 'was improved.
A little later in the evening, Izuku had fallen asleep, bundled up in the blanket and his head on Katsuki's lap, his little snores filled the room, and katsuki smiled, he ran his hand through Izuku's hair and the man. with green hair reacted with a small “kacchan” and the words that followed
broke katsuki's heart facing the reality of the situation. "I love you, I'm sorry," and everything stopped.
Katuski watched the pulse in the back of Izuku's neck, and his world fell apart.
Izuku was no longer breathing.
Izuku had left this world.
Katsuki had done everything to make him happy even in his last moments, had shown him affection where he had never done before, and said a soft kiss on Izuku's forehead while whispering to him, “Idiot, I love you too, but why, do you tell me when it's too late,” and he allowed himself to be weak too after losing Izuku.
The news made the roof of the city, and everyone was present at his funeral, showing his gratitude to Izuku and the joy he had brought them, that he was a happy man, and that he was at peace now.
On his way home, katsuki notices the letter on the table and remembers izuku's request.
[I left you a letter that you will read when I am gone, promise me that you will respect this rule]
Katsuki opens the letter and reads the first words, then the paragraphs and the contents of the letter, and he cries, knowing his life will never be the same without Izuku
[I promise you deku]