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Something was up with Deku, Katsuki knew for a fact. With the title of childhood friends, classmates, and even hero partners for more than 20 years, no one could ever doubt the ability to read the green-eyed man as easily as Katsuki. However, said man was the most stubborn, thick-headed son of a bitch he had ever had the chance to know, so of course Deku wasn’t going to reveal what has been bugging him lately, unless Katsuki pried the matter out of his stupid broccoli head.
That was why when Izuku came home to their shared apartment at ass o’clock in the middle of the night, with a strained smile not fully reaching to his eyes, drained posture with debris still sticking to messy green curls, Katsuki mustered the most terrifying glare, eyebrows dipped to a signature pissed off Bakugou scowl, red orbs bored straight right to greens. Immediately, as if being able to sense the stiff atmosphere, Izuku straightened his back, only to make out a subtle wince and a small hiss.
He smiled sheepishly: “I’m home, Kacchan. Er… Good morning? What are you doing in the living room?”
Still glaring at the distressed man, Katsuki mulled the words at the tip of his tongue, then spat out. “What the fuck ‘s up with you, shitty nerd?”
Izuku was caught offhanded, his eyes widened, expressed a confused look towards his roommate.
“Huh… Wha…Nothing. Nothing, Kacchan! I’ve just finished some overtime for my shift, even though I know that you told me not to work too much because it’s bad for my sleeping and eating schedule but there was a nasty villain with poisonous gas so you know I gotta act fast and - ”
A normal (and smitten) Katsuki would listen to the end of the nerd’s ramble, but not sleep-deprived, worried Katsuki. Yeah. Not today.
“Oi. Stop muttering like a goddamn moron and let me rephrase.”
Izuku startled, shut his mouth and nodded.
“Okay. First thing first, don’t you self-sacrificing piece of shit dare deny that you haven’t had dinner, ‘cause you’re just shitty like that. So here’s the plan. Shut your yap and hit the shower. I’ll whip something up for you and you are going to eat like a good fucking child. Second, when you’re done eating, come to my room.”
“What…” The greenette was still processing the orders from the older man, mouth gapping but couldn’t bring out the words.
Walking away from the couch to the kitchen, Katsuki looked back at the still figure and growled: “What are you waiting for? A spank on the ass? Go!”
Hurriedly stripping the battered hero costume, Izuku spluttered. “Yo…You just ca…can’t talk like that Kacchan!!!” and bolted into the bathroom.
The blonde rolled his eyes, sneaked a glance at the man exposed back, proceeded to pull out some seasoned porks and began cooking, lips curled into a faint smile.
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When Izuku stepped out of the shower, a rich and familiar smell hit him. A smile bloomed on his face, he inhaled the air deeply and practically skipped to the kitchen counter. Eyeing the dish which was displayed neatly on the marble surface, the greenette turned to the person who was responsible for his awaiting happiness. Katsuki was scrolling something on his phone, eyebrows furrowed lightly. He noticed Izuku was radiating energy with damped hair, stupid All Might shirt and sparkling eyes. He narrowed his eyes at the sight and internally tried to calm a fluttering feeling, bristled slightly when the younger man gave him a light hug.
“Finally. I thought you drowned in there.”
“Don’t be mean, asshole.” Izuku giggled.“And Kacchan, you don’t have to spoil me this much, you know. Katsudon, really?”
Katsuki scoffed. “As if. It’s just leftover. Don’t let it get into your head. Hurry and do what I said.”
Remembered the second request, Izuku blushed and rushed to the cabinet to get utensils.
They enjoyed the companionable silence with the sound of chewing, clinking of chopsticks and occasionally complimentary humming filling the room.
Izuku rubbed his stomach contently. “That was really good, Kacchan. You’re sure it’s leftover?”
“Ugh. Shut up. Finish the dishes and bring your ass to my room.” The blonde glared at him, hands shoving into the sides of his low riding sweatpants and stomped toward his bedroom.
Waited for the loud door slam, Izuku slowly drifted down the floor, felt the blush creeping on his face, eyes widened with a manic glint.
What does Kacchan want to do with him? Murder him? Chain him for not listening to him? So the katsudon was just the meal before sweet sweet death for him. Oh the press is going to have a field day with this. Headline: Number One hero Deku was found dead. The culprit Number Two hero Dynamite declared Deku did not follow his carefully planned working schedule.
The greenette halted, scarred hand tugged his green wild curls.
No. No. Stop freaking out Izuku. Maybe Kacchan just wants to discuss some of his missions. But if that’s the case then why did he tell me to come to his room. His bedroom. Oh god. Oh god. Hngggh just…just do the dishes. Then go to his room so I can beg for the sec...I mean thir…fourth chance? Heh, I’m fucked.
The man sighed deeply, eyed solemnly at the empty bowl of katsudon.
Dishes. Okay.
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What the fuck am I freaking out for?
Katsuki paced hastily back and forth in his own room, eyes constantly darted to the door.
He had a suspicion that Deku’s back had something to do with his fatigue. When he eyed the younger man’s back, not for personal mental image library of fucking course, there were faint bruises littering downward (nope, Katsuki is not going there)… So the bastard managed to hide his injuries from him, because the bruises looked like they were from days ago, and as roommate/rival/hero partner, that was totally unacceptable. And it was understandable that he wanted to help the nerd, to ease the pain or something like that, because if Deku’s injuries affected his performance, then it would not be a fair play when it came to the competition to the Number One position. Yeah. That’s the reason. Nothing shady. No ulterior motives. Nope.
The explosive blonde slowed down and sighed, wiped his sweaty palms full of flammable substance on his sweatpants. He calmly inhaled and exhaled, a small exercise his therapist told him to do whenever he felt wired.
Who am I kidding?
He did not want to admit, that Katsuki Bakugou was nervous. He was a bundle of nerves right fucking now. Who wouldn’t be on edge when you just invited your roommate/ex-bully victim/crush inside your bedroom at like what? Twelve fucking o’clock in the middle of the night.
Although Deku and he were living in the same vicinity, they have boundaries. They rarely entered other’s room because all of the necessary activities were always in the living room and also it was for privacy.
Everyone was surprised when they knew the pair moved in together considering their rough patch and rivalry. But both the greenette and Katsuki joined the same hero agency as the Wonder Duo, so they found it to be convenient, and at that time Katsuki had asked and begrudely confessed to the nerd he would rather be with him than anyone else.
His heart ached at the sight of viridian eyes full of joyful tears, with a blinding smile and a relief expression of Izuku saying. “Yes, of course. I wouldn’t be with anyone else, either. Thanks, Kacchan.”
Even though they were at UA graduation, with their friends cheerings and crying, with the flush hue of pink blossom drifting in the wind, the only color he saw was blinding emerald, the only sound he heard was the soft voice of the boy so sweet, so forgiving, so brave and a lingering whisper in his mind telling him he did not deserve any of this, especially for what he had had put the green boy through.
Katsuki winced at the memories, he needed to stop this stream of self-deprecating thoughts, when both Izuku and his therapist had helped him improve so goddamn far. He had apologized during the War at the end of their first year, with the goal of retrieving the green vigilante to UA. They had had a long talk after that, with a lot of tears and hugs, not that Katsuki would admit that half of the amount was from him, and had decided to mend their lifelong friendship.
“You hurt me, I’m not going to deny it.” Izuku had said. “But you don’t have to punish yourself over and over. You recognized your fault and you changed. You accept help. You have grown to be a wonderful hero and the Symbol of Victory, my Symbol of Victory. After all, I’ve forgiven you, Katsuki.”
No. He was not going to tear up right now just because of that. He had business to take care of.
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Izuku couldn’t help being a little jittery when he stood in front of the older man’s bedroom door. He took a deep breath and gingerly twisted the door handle, bracing himself for the upcoming impact.
Izuku had expected to see a fuming blond who was about to lunge a dictionary worth of profanity at him for being irresponsible or if he was lucky, just a pillow. So when he looked inside, saying Izuku was surprised was one hell of an understatement.
Standing at the center of the room was the explosive blond holding a bottle with ominous liquid sloshing dangerously under the warm light, with red eyes so fierce and smirk so sharp that made Izuku terrified, and confused. Katsuki looked like he was going to battle an A-class villain in a deserted city with no backup, and he was going to win, and oh my god he really wants to kill me.
The greenette stretched a wobbled smile. “Kacchan, what do you need me here for?”
Still wearing that predatory grin, Katsuki jerked his chin toward his bed.
“Strip.” What? “And lie face down. I have something for you.” What?
“What?” Izuku finally vocalized his thought.
“Just do it, nerd. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
After pulling his shirt off, Izuku hesitantly asked. “Do…Do I have to…um…my pants?”
Narrowed eyes sizing the younger man’s naked torso, darting toward the sharp v-cut leading down to a light happy trail, Katsuki shrugged and turned his head away, ears burning. “Whatever, Deku. Just hurry the fuck up.”
Leaving the sweatpants on for the sake of his own heart and sanity, Izuku faced down the dark comforter, inhaled softly the sweet scent of burnt sugar, a giddy warmth bubbling in his chest.
It’s been a while. The last time he sprawled out on Kacchan’s bed was during the time they were at the dorms, sometimes the blonde invited him to his room to study, or just to watch some old All Might movies that he loved and Kacchan secretly adored to the point both of them fell asleep next to each other. And waking up basking in the syrupy smell of caramel, with soft blond lock and soft snore was the best way to wake up in the morning, Izuku concluded.
But all of those peaceful feelings couldn’t calm the storm currently harbored in the man’s stomach right now. He began to ramble. “I know that you told me to take care of myself, Kacchan. I know you also told me not to take overtime shift because it could mess up my sleeping schedule and if I can’t sleep fully I can’t be at my best.” His mouth kept running on. “I know all of those and I’m sorry for not caring about your concern. I’m really sorry, Kacchan. So if you want to punish me please make it faAAAsst…What the fuck Katsuki?”
The startled hero quickly turned his neck to see the man in question holding the bottle upside down, watery liquid pouring down onto his bare back, with leg straddling both sides of his hip, hand smearing the cool substance all over his skin.
“Ka…Kacchan, what is that?”
Katsuki averted his eyes, unwilling to receive the bewildered look on Izuku’s face. He grumbled. “It’s called oil, shitty Deku. Ever heard of one?”
“But what for? If you want to light me on fire there are many other ways, Kacchan.”
With an exasperated sigh, Katsuki gritted his teeth. “MASSAGE oil, Deku. I…” He sighed again. “I know there’s something up with you lately and…and I guess it’s because of your back. You scrunched your stupid face whenever you straighten up and I think a massage session will do you good.”
Izuku’s eyes widened as he shook his head. “Oh Kacchan you don’t have to. I’m fin-ffffmmm” Katuski muffled him by shoving his head down onto the comforter and chided. “I don’t do things I don’t want to, so shut the fuck up and let me do my job.”
Made sure the greenette had no other objection, Katsuki poured a little amount of oil onto his hands and rubbed them against each other to warm up. He slowly put his hand on the muscular back, let out a breath he did not know he hold. Calloused hands trailed down to the lower back, just right above the globes he dared to fondle, and carefully kneading around the area. He felt the tension beginning to leave the stiff figure, with a soft sigh from the other man. “Ummm.” The green hero hummed. “That’s nice.” Feeling more confident, Katsuki rub his palm upward on both sides of the spine, earning a faint shiver when he reached all the way to the broad shoulders. He repeated the action a few more times, massaged attentively and lightly when it came to the bruises. A satisfied rumble vibrating from the vigorous back sent an electric zap to his own spine, making the blonde’s breath become shallow.
“You like it, hah Deku?” He crooned.
“Yeah. Kacchan is really good at this.” Izuku praised. “It’s kind of unexpected…”
“Hah, shitty nerd. What the fuck do you mean by that?” The explosive blonde firmly pushed his thumb down the middle of the greenette’s back, making the man utter a spooked yelp. “Whaa…chan. Don’t do that!!!” He started to squirm, but his hip was pinned down tightly to the bed by Katsuki, whose hands keep kneading rhythmically up and down the glistening muscles.
“Then spew it out, Deku.”
“Ah well. It’s just… I assumed you were going to reprimand me and I know your hands are skillful considering your quirk, but you using them for massage is…um…surprising. Because you’re good. It’s like you have done this…for…others… many times before.” Izuku grimaced at his own words. What’s with that tone? You sound so petty, Izuku.
Katsuki snorted. “Nah. Just did it for the hag a few times.” He leaned down toward the greenette’s ear, whispered. “No extra has the chance, ya know.” and felt satisfied as a blush crept on Izuku’s cheekbone, burning his ears.
“Gr…Great.” His voice muffled. “Can you…uhm…keep going?”
Katsuki gave an affirmative push, circling his palms casually to ease the tense muscles. Then he used his thumbs to push down in a steady pattern vertically from the strong neck downward the dip on the small of the green-haired hero’s back. Katsuki put his hands to a set movement while his ears were strained to catch the unsteady pants, small sighs and occasional moans from the man beneath. Each rhythm burnt his body a little more and more, sweats began to collect on his forehead, and the friction between his clothed shaft and the plump globes was not helping. He did not want to make things weird here, he just wanted to help the nerd. Katsuki thought and prayed the last thing he needed was to pop a goddamn boner.
Curling his hands into fists, the explosive blonde rubbed his knuckles from the middle of the back gently, running down the narrowed hip with a firm force. He opened his hands and gently caressed the plush muscle, gained throughout years and years of training, budging beautifully under his own hands, the hands once destroyed and slapped away every saving attempt from the daring green hero, shattered every effort of mending their friendship and yet still had the chance to redeem, to save and to hold. An overwhelming feeling rushed from his hands into his chest and bloomed. There was like a snap in his mind, Katsuki bowed down, caved in from the sensation of gratitude, and dropped a kiss right on the middle of the mighty back. He immediately felt the figure go rigid at the sudden touch of his lips and everything went cold.
What the fuck? Why the fucking fuck did I do that? Now what? Just because of some shitty impulse and I ruin it all. What in the goddamn world is wrong with me?
The atmosphere was tense for a brief moment, only shallow breaths were heard. Then Katsuki sensed the body beneath becoming relaxed and something bold in him encouraged to continue. He fondly dropped a trail of warm kisses upward, ended at the crane of the neck and nipped playfully on the tip of the burning ear. The greenette slowly turned back, glassy emerald orbs bored straight into red ones, face blushing so gorgeously that made the freckles on his face become more apparent, like a constellation full of love and adoration. As if the younger man could feel the turmoil boiling inside the blonde’s eyes with uncertainty and anxiety, flush lips stretched out a soft smile and leaned in.
Right before their lips touched, Izuku halted, his eyes fluttered as he grinned amusedly. “We are definitely going to talk after this.”