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Katsuki, on his way to get an afternoon coffee, sees someone standing with a blind fold over his eyes in a public place with a sign at his feet. His arms are wide open and the sign says “If you’re feeling heartbroken or empty, hug me. <3”. He watches as some lady walks up to the blind folded idiot and hug them tight. He sneers as he takes in the sight. What a fucking joke. He thinks and continues on his way.
This spectacle continues for several weeks. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the green haired dumbass is there, just standing and hugging random ass strangers. It’s fucking weird but Katsuki just rolls his eyes at the losers, who the fuck wants to hug a random dude? What if he smells like shit? It pisses him off as he watches strangers hold each other close, sometimes a sniffle or sob can be heard. Fucking pushovers.
It’s around month two of walking by that green mother fucker that Katsuki’s life starts turning south. No. That’s not right. It’s been going south for a while. First his car broke down on the way to work and his fucker of a boss wouldn’t hear any excuses, fired him on the spot. Bastard had had it out for him for a long time. Got into a huge fight with his mom when she found out he lost his one chance at a big break in his career. Telling him it was his fault for not taking his car in for check ups. He’d been busy for fucks sake! Had to take a shitty position that doesn’t have fuck all to do with his career just to pay his bills. There had been a smattering of minor inconveniences and annoyances as well. Pushing him to be more and more snarly and snappy.
Then his best friend finally having enough of his shit and walking out of his life until he can ‘figure his shit out’. Katsuki hadn’t been the best to be around lately but so fucking what? Fuck that guy he doesn’t need him. “Can’t take the heat? Get out of my fucking kitchen” as he likes to say and did say….right before shitty hair slammed his door on the way out. His other friends have all kept their distance too, knowing he’d probably bite their heads off over useless shit like always. He doesn’t need anyone. Never has never will. Katsuki fucking Bakugo will always come out on top. They’ll all come crawling back eventually.
Or so he’d thought. But it’s been weeks now since he’s gotten a stupid cat meme or pathetic whining about ‘come on bakubro! It’s movie night join us for once will ya?’. Assholes don’t want him around anymore is that it? Fine. He doesn’t need anyone anyway. And he’d been fine with that. Just fucking peachy.
Until yesterday.
Old hag had gotten impatient and decided to take his car into the shop for him. Calling him fucking useless of all things. She’d gotten it started and didn’t listen when he’d told her they should have it towed. Fucking thing died in the middle of an intersection and she got T-Boned.
He’d spent most of the day and all night in the hospital pacing and pulling on his own hair until his old man forced him to sit down. He’d held his phone in his shaking hand finger poised to hit ‘call’ over Kirishimas number but…he wouldn’t answer anyway. Not after how much of a jackass he’d been lately. Katsuki doesn’t deserve his pity. He sat there unmoving for hours cursing himself until the doctors told him she was stable. He slumped down in his seat clenching and unclenching his jaw. He refused to cry. It’s been his fault he was in this mess. Katsuki should have handled his car ages ago. Wouldn’t have lost his job, his friends, and put his mom close to death if he’d just taken the fucking hour to take it down to the shop for an inspection. Instead he was too busy focusing on a shitty deadline and making sure to complete the job early because he’s Katsuki fucking Bakugo and can’t half ass shit. What a fucking piece of shit he was.
Who is he kidding. He’d have lost his friends eventually. Been a royal asshole to them for a long time now. Biting their heads off from his own self inflicted stress. Probably would have lost his cool on his boss soon anyway and lost that job all the same. The only that that wouldn’t be happening right now is his old hag in the hospital.
It was mid day before he decided he needed to take a walk. The doctors said they should go home and gets some rest but fuck that. He doesn’t deserve that. Instead, he leaves the building and walks a few blocks to his favorite coffee shop. Hospital coffee tastes like ass and he’s had enough of it.
As he gets closer to the shop he slows a stop. That dumbass is there. Blindfolded with his arms out looking like a fucking idiot. Katsuki reads the sign at his feet, the words still the same as when he’d first seen that little black board. And what the fuck are those red monstrosities he’s wearing on he feet? He scoffs and takes a step to continue on his way. But for some reason his feet are carrying him towards the nerd. And he is a nerd because that vintage super hero sweatshirt his is LOUD. Katsuki can’t believe he’s walking closer and almost stops himself. Almost. It’s not until he’s about a foot away that he finally freezes. Unsure of himself.
How the fuck do people do this? Does he just touch the guy? Where do his arms go? Should he say something first? Why the fuck is he here right now? As he’s debating the freckled fuck, yes Katsuki notices those little speckles splashed across the uncovered skin of the dumbasses cheeks, must take notice of his presence.
He tilts his head just a little. “Hello?” He asks.
Katsuki’s breath catches and fuck he can’t do this. It’s too much. Too strange. He doesn’t deserve it. He makes to turn around but then freckles speaks again.
“I know you’re there, please don’t be shy.” Freckles says warmly and Katsuki clenches his fists at his sides. “I’m here. Take your time. It’ll be okay. I’m not going anywhere. ” He smiles softly and Katsuki swallows, that’s exactly what he needed and he’s not sure what to feel about that.
He takes a few breaths before he closes the distance. He’s not shy okay? Slowly and tentatively Katsuki brings his arms around the nerds torso. Almost immediately arms are wrapped tightly around him pulling him in snug. It’s so fucking WARM. It’s….it hurts but not because of how tight it is. His chest feels likes it’s caving in and it’s PAINFUL.
Katsuki chokes out a sob as he can’t help himself but hold the other man just as tight, no tighter, with his fingers digging into the back of the nerds sweatshirt. Freckles hums and snuggles with his chin over Katsukis shoulder.
“Hey, it’s okay. Shh, I’ve got you. I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here. It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.” Is said and more. Katsuki presses his face hard into the other man’s shoulder and just breaks, sobs are wrenched from him almost painfully as the man’s reassuring words are mumbled into his ear.
He should feel pathetic for falling apart against some stranger. He does a bit. But just a bit. It’s too warm and holy fuck did he need this. Holy shit when was the last time he had a real hug? He can’t remember. It’s overwhelming how comfortable and just…warm this is. He’s never felt anything like it.
It could have been minutes or hours. Fuck if he knows. But hands gently rubbing his back and arms squeezing him tight have him fucked up. Ripped open and raw as he cries for the first time in years. A stray thought has him trying to pull away. He doesn’t deserve this….this warmth. This comfort. Not after how much of an asshole he has been. No IS. But as he tries to back up those arms yank him in tighter.
“No no, don’t go. It’s okay, you I’ve got you.” Is sniffled wetly against his ear and Katsuki realizes this stranger is crying too. Why is he crying? “I, sorry, you just sound so hurt and I want to make you feel better. You shouldn’t have to feel like t-that. Whatever it is, I just…” Freckles pauses and squeezes Katsuki harder.
He grips the nerd tightly back and his face pinches with the effort not to let anymore sounds out. “I don’t deserve this.” He grits out sounding wrecked.
Katsuki is glad when it seems the nerd gets what he means though, glad he doesn’t take it as if Katsuki is feeling sorry for himself and as if he didn’t deserve his own problems. Because he definitely does deserve those.
“Hey no, you deserve this! You deserve to be held okay? I’ve got you. You deserve nice things and I’m not going anywhere. I’m not letting go. Not until you understand that this, this right here,” Freckles squeezes hard. “Is everything you deserve.“
The sob that forces it’s way out of his throat is absolutely fucking pathetic but Katsuki doesn’t care anymore. He needs this. Whatever the fuck this is he needs it. It’s so damn warm and so damn good. Neither man let’s go for some time both crying in each other’s arms.
Later when they pull back Katsuki feels every ounce of embarrassment creep in. What the fuck did he, Katsuki Fucking Bakugo, just do in public? Before the shame sets in Freckles squeezes his forearm, his hand Katsuki notes is warm.
“C-can I take my blindfold off? I’d like to talk with you some more. I-if that’s okay of course!” And Katsuki almost says no except….except he kinda wants to talk to the nerd to.
Maybe get another hug.
What the fuck.
And that is how Katsuki Fucking Bakugo meets Izuku God Damn Nerd Midoriya the love of his life. Not that he’ll ever admit to how they met. To everyone else they bumped into each other at the coffee shop. No way in hell is anyone ever going to know Katsuki sobbed like a bitch in public, he doesn’t regret it. No, it earned him those amazing as fuck hugs for the rest of his life. But fuck no does anyone need to know how soft he is for them. At least until a drunken night and he all too willingly boasts about his boyfriends glorious hugs.