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Chapter Text

If the past few weeks have told Katsuki anything, it's that he should be used to his whole world turning on its head. Maybe he should have learned that the moment he and Deku entered UA, but Katsuki can admit that he was up his own ass back then. It's hardly been a year since they started high school, but so much has changed.

It's just funny now that instead of games of 'catch-a-Kacchan' to train Deku's ever growing repertoire of OFA quirks, it's now a game of 'catch-a-Deku' just to keep up with the damned nerd. With Deku disappearing from UA without much more than a handful of letters to his classmates, Katsuki has been the only student wholly in the know. Not that Deku hadn't tried to sneak away without telling him as well, but Katsuki's always had a sixth sense when Deku's about to do something stupid.

“Where do you think you're going?”

Deku startles when he sees Katsuki in his hospital room. “Kacchan! How did you get in here? You should still be resting!”

“Tch,” Katsuki clicks his tongue as he rolls his eyes. “Don't tell me what to do. What's with the bag, nerd?”

That beat up, yellow backpack looks suspiciously full as Deku freezes, clearly having been caught packing. “It's nothing, Kacchan,” he lies, and Katsuki knows that fake smile anywhere. “I'm being released tomorrow-”

“Cut the bullshit,” Katsuki interrupts as he stalks towards Deku, looking him in the eye; Deku stares back defiantly. “Don't lie to me. You're clearly leaving tonight. What did I fucking say about not doing shit alone, hah?”

“I'm not alone, Kacchan,” Deku replies softly then sighs. “We have a plan to handle the villain outbreak, but I can't go back to the dorms. You know they can track me.”

Katsuki hates that Deku's right, so he won't argue that point. “Fine, but if you think you're leaving me in the dust while you play hide and seek with Hand Freak, you've got another thing coming.”

“You can't-”

“Don't tell me what to do,” he repeats, interrupting and flicking Deku's forehead. “I ain't leaving UA. These idiots would get themselves killed without me.”

Deku ducks his head to hide a smile as he rubs his forehead. “I'd feel better with you watching their backs,” he says quietly.

Katsuki lifts Deku's chin, forcing him to lock eyes with him again. “I win to save, right? So you damn well go out there and save to win. Just remember I ain't taking my eyes off you, Deku. Don't be fucking stupid out there.”

Deku gives him a brilliant smile, and it's nothing like his pitiful one earlier. “Wouldn't dream of it, Kacchan.”

The first thing that tips him off is the media coverage of Muscular's quick capture. None of their classmates figure out what's happening from the smoky footage, but Katsuki knows it's Deku in a heartbeat. Not that he'd let the nerd know, but Katsuki memorized that notebook of the past One For All users' quirks. He knows the Sixth User had a smokescreen quirk.

It's clearly an unmastered quirk, with the amount of smoke everywhere, but Katsuki grudgingly calls that a win for Deku. Their classmates are none the wiser as they watch a hidden figure moving in the smoke that they actually all know very well. Though, Kirishima does notice Katsuki's intensity towards the broadcast.

“Bakugou, what's up?” Kirishima asks quietly, pulling Katsuki's attention away from Deku's messy capture. “Something catch your eye?”

Katsuki knows he calls his friend stupid on a regular basis, but it tends to be in book smarts, not emotional intelligence. Even though it's not his forte, Katsuki can tell that the past few weeks since the war have been particularly tough on his friend. Kirishima hasn't fixed his roots since the big fight (really since the beginning of a war), and it's not the only evidence Katsuki can see with a glance.

It takes a moment to answer Kirishima. Katsuki knows his friend isn't stupid in this regard, and that blowing Kirishima off will only hurt him. But it's not just something to just drop on someone's lap, and Katsuki knows that the class knowing about OFA doesn't mean they really know. Weighing his choices, Katsuki decides saying nothing is not an option, not if he's actually trying to be a better friend.

“You keep this to yourself, all right? Not a damn word to anyone else,” Katsuki states, under his breath and just loud enough for only Kirishima to hear.

His brows furrow, but Kirishima nods slowly. “Of course,” he agrees. “What is it?'”

Katsuki subtly gestures with his head at the TV, still broadcasting the smokescreen and trying to parse what exactly happened. “That's Deku.”

Kirishima's eyes widen as he glances at the TV then away quickly, looking a bit confused. “How could you know that?” he whispers.

“That's one of his quirks,” Katsuki replies then holds up a hand to stop Kirishima's next question. “I know more than those letters told all of you, and for now, it's better if you just trust me on that.”

“I trust you. Of course, I trust you,” Kirishima says, without a shred of doubt in his tone. “But what are you going to do about this?”

“Nothing.”

“No offense, but that sounds like bullshit.”

“...nothing yet,” Katsuki corrects.

Kirishima doesn't seem completely satisfied with his answer, but when Katsuki doesn't elaborate, Kirishima sighs. “Just don't leave without a word, okay? Whatever the plan is, don't just bounce without telling anyone,” he warns. “We've got your back, but I can't exactly do that if you disappear too.”

Katsuki punches Kirishima's shoulder giving him a cocky smirk. “Even if I could disappear without a word, I ain't gonna,” he promises as Kirishima rubs his now sore shoulder. “And if you think Deku went without help, I'd just ask you, have you seen All Might at all lately?”

“Oh,” Kirishima murmurs in response, having not connected those two dots. “That makes a lot of sense, actually. Then Midoriya's not completely alone?”

“If you call a washed up skeleton back up,” Katsuki states a bit too venomously, and Kirishima's deepening frown asks for him to explain his sudden ire with their teacher. “Look, All Might has avoided being alone with me for a reason, and it's because I'd knock his fucking lights out.”

“Bakugou!”

Katsuki shrugs. “He's kept his mouth shut about too many things. I don't give a fuck.” After a long pause, Katsuki breathes out his nose in a huff. “Maybe I give too many fucks, and that's the problem. Don't have a conniption; I probably won't punch a feeble old man.”

“It's the 'probably' part of that sentence I'm not jiving with,” Kirishima points out, shaking his head. “Just don't be stupid. You're supposed to be the smart one in our group.”

“I have a plan. It does not involve actually punching All Might for answers,” Katsuki replies, rolling his eyes. “Satisfied, Shitty Hair?”

With a nod, Kirishima puts a firm hand on Katsuki's shoulder. “For now. You'll keep me posted if something changes?”

Katsuki hates how desperate his friend sounds, and he can't help but nod. “Yeah,” he agrees, and it's not a promise he plans to break.

After a few weeks of keeping track of Deku's movement through glimpses on various news channels as well as a few clues he pieced together from working with Best Jeanist again, Katsuki has a pretty solid idea of where he can intercept Deku. The fact that he's found a pattern is unsettling, and Katsuki just hopes it's not as obvious to any escaped villains that Deku's pissed off the past few weeks.

Now, he just has to leave UA. At first, Katsuki thinks he could get Best Jeanist to help, but it's clear he's in on it as well. The top three heroes are probably all working together, and they seem to have Deku's back while playing dumb. It's a good plan, but it makes Katsuki's life all the more difficult, even though part of him is glad the idiot isn't completely on his own out there.

With his plan to use Best Jeanist to get access to the danger zones out of commission, Katsuki has a backup plan. Aizawa might not be receptive, but Katsuki's going to make sure he gets his point across. He has a feeling he'll hate every moment of it, but he owes Aizawa this much before even thinking about a plan that would just be actually breaking out of the school.

“Bakugou, it's late, especially for you,” Aizawa says when he answers his door.

Katsuki keeps a straight face. “Sensei, I got something I want to talk to you about. Privately.”

Aizawa's eyes narrow, and Katsuki can feel the suspicion radiating off him as he allows Katsuki into his UA apartment. “I believe I'm not going to like whatever you're about to ask me,” he states blandly. “We will be keeping this civil. Eri-chan is asleep in the other room.”

“Probably,” Katsuki agrees as he takes the seat at the kitchen table Aizawa motions him over to. “And I don't have any plans to blow up. Pretty much the opposite.”

Aizawa tilts his head, silent permission for Katsuki to continue. Katsuki takes a deep breath before relaying his plan to his teacher. He rehearsed this in his room to himself, not that Katsuki will ever let anyone know that, and he's pretty sure his delivery is flawless. That doesn't matter much if Aizawa doesn't agree with it, however.

“Not the stupidest idea I have heard about attempting to make contact with the problem child,” Aizawa replies, holding up a hand when Katsuki tries to talk. “Still not great, Bakugou. I assume if I shoot this down, you'll just try to enact it on your own.”

“Yes,” Katsuki tells him bluntly.

Raising an eyebrow, Aizawa leans forward on the table. “Stupid move to tell me that. It would be making your life more difficult.”

Katsuki stares Aizawa down stubbornly. “You'd already know, and I don't care. I'll overcome it.”

Aizawa leans back in his chair slowly, his hand reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Problem children,” he mutters under his breath before narrowing his eyes, staring at Katsuki. “Your plan only works if you don't deviate from it and make yourself a target, do I make myself clear? Your quirk is not suitable for stealth work.”

“Neither is my temperament, right?” Katsuki adds, shrugging. “I think I've at least proven something tonight. I can keep my temper for the right reasons.”

“Those reasons tend to fall apart around Midoriya,” Aizawa points out. “Your worst outbursts have been centered around him. Can you tell me if you can find him-”

“I will find him,” Katsuki interrupts, completely sure in his words.

“-that you'll keep your cool?” Aizawa continues, as if he'd never been interrupted.

“To make sure he stays safe? I've already done more,” Katsuki says quietly with his head bowed, having never said those words out loud, let alone in front of someone else.

Silence comes over the room. Katsuki's not sure if that's good or bad, and part of him is almost scared to look up and find an answer he doesn't want. Before Aizawa can give his final verdict, a small yawn pulls both of their attentions from the matter at hand.

“Aizawa-san...” Eri murmurs sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she takes in their guest. “Oh. Umm... Is this another student?”

“Eri-chan, did you have a nightmare?” Aizawa asks gently as the girl shakes her head and shyly stands next to his chair. “This is Bakugou Katsuki. He is one of my students.”

Eri blinks up, a small hand gripping the side of Aizawa's chair. “Baku...gou Katc..” she fumbles over his name, frowning.

Katsuki swears he can see a much younger Deku standing in front of him right now, so pushing his pride aside, he gets up from his chair to kneel next to her. He reaches out a hand to her, and Katsuki tries to soften his tone, so as not to scare her.

“You can call me Kacchan if you can't say Katsuki,” he offers as her big eyes light up in some sort of recognition he wasn't prepared for.

“Kacchan! Are you Deku-san's Kacchan?” she asks in a flurry of emotion, her cheeks turning pink with the sudden excitement as she takes his hand happily. “Deku-san says Kacchan's the best hero, and Deku-san is very smart. I believe him.”

Katsuki can feel his face heating up, and it's impossible not to feel the weight of Aizawa's eyes on him. “Yeah, Deku calls me that too,” he tells her then smirks. “He couldn't say 'Katsuki' at your age either, so the nickname stuck.”

Eri soaks up the information like a sponge. “You knew Deku-san when he was little? Kacchan-san, what was he like?”

Before Katsuki can think of what embarrassing Deku story he should share, Aizawa stands up carefully and places a gentle hand on Eri's head. “Don't get too worked up, Eri-chan. You still need to go back to sleep,” he reprimands gently. “What woke you up?”

“I was thirsty,” Eri replies, pulling her hands away from Katsuki's. “Then I heard you talking, and I wanted to see...”

“Let's get you that drink then,” Aizawa says as he scoops her up into his arms. “Bakugou, we'll talk more about this after class tomorrow. I'll share my decision then.”

Katsuki wants to protest; the wait for a response isn't what he wanted, but he can tell he's disrupted Eri's night enough. “Fine. See you tomorrow, sensei. Good night, Bitty Deku.”

Eri gasps, staring at Kacchan with wide eyes. “Bitty Deku...?”

“It's a nickname. Like it?” he asks her as he ruffles her hair.

She beams in response. “Yes! I wanna be like Deku-san!”

“Be better than him instead. Go to sleep early. It's already past my bedtime,” he exaggerates with a yawn as she watches him intently.

“Yes, Kacchan-san!”

Katsuki doesn't bother to correct her before leaving. He won't ever admit that the kid is kind of cute out loud, but his mind's stuck on waiting for an answer. Hopefully, his work will pay off. It has to; there's no other option for him.

Chapter Text

Aizawa does pull Katsuki aside after class, and Katsuki's not sure if he likes the answer he got. It puts a crimp in doing anything immediately, so it grinds Katsuki's gears a bit. He knows exploding about it won't help, but it's so tempting. Maybe waiting a little longer isn't the worst idea in the world.

Katsuki spends the time getting more intel from news feeds. As a class, they haven't been allowed to leave to help with recovery efforts outside. Their teachers tell them that helping with the refugees coming to stay at their school is part of hero work too. Katsuki knows it's not his strong suit, so he manages to get Eri watching duties instead.

“Dude, are you sure watching a small child is better than dealing with the evacuees?” Kaminari asks, not being the first of his classmates to say something, but he is the first to say it to his face. “Maybe one of the girls-”

“Bakugou can handle one child,” Todoroki says as he walks by, heading towards where they've gathered new evacuees.

Katsuki is never thankful for Todoroki, but maybe he'll make an exception today. Kaminari doesn't always think before he speaks, and while Katsuki has learned it's not usually a purposeful slight, it doesn't make it any less irritating. Katsuki's training to be a hero, just the same as the rest. He just knows where his strengths lie; they do not lie with making people who have lost their whole worlds feel better, especially not when his world has started fraying at the seams.

“We dealt with worse in our remedial courses,” Todoroki adds, and Katsuki's eyes narrow. “Bakugou can be good with children if he puts his mind to it.”

Never mind, Todoroki cannot be trusted to not ruin a moment. “Why don't you both fuck off? You got some whiny civilians to deal with,” he waves them both off.

Kaminari looks like he's about to say something else, but Iida comes into the room to tell them they're running late. The chopping motions steal Kaminari's attention, and the three leave without saying much else to Katsuki. He prefers it that way when he notices Aizawa and Eri walking his way.

“Kacchan-san!” Eri shouts excitedly, and Katsuki can't help the small smile that graces his lips.

“Hey, Bitty Deku,” he greets in reply, and her grin widens as she lets go of Aizawa's hand. “Aizawa-sensei.”

“Bakugou. Just don't teach her any new words that shouldn't be in a seven year old's vocabulary,” he warns, and it's a fair enough warning, really. “With Togata having graduated, there haven't been too many people that can keep an eye on her.”

Katsuki understands what Aizawa hasn't said. UA hadn't stayed untouched from the chaos outside, even if it didn't get destroyed or ransacked like the cities around it. The loss of Midnight in battle had to hit the teaching staff hard, not to mention those injured in the battle that kicked off everything, even Aizawa being among that number. They're not running a hundred percent, so things are slowly starting to crack.

“Not a problem. Bitty Deku is easier to deal with than all those extras moving into the dorms.”

Aizawa looks a moment away from sighing, but he pinches the bridge of his nose instead. “I won't let you use this to avoid dealing with the civilian part of hero work, Bakugou. These special circumstances won't last forever, and your weak point is working with civilians respectfully.”

Trying not to roll his eyes, Katsuki has to grit his teeth to not curse. “Yes, Aizawa-sensei.”

The grin on Aizawa's face tells Katsuki all he needs to know; his teacher is enjoying the fact Katsuki has to bite his tongue. “That's what I like to hear. Eri-chan, I'll be back in a few hours.”

Eri nods as she waves. “Bye, Aizawa-san!”

Once Aizawa's completely out of sight, Katsuki crouches down to Eri's eye level. “So, what do you want to do today, kid?”

“I heard of something called a omamori...?” Eri starts off thoughtfully, unsure of her words. “Uraraka-san mentioned them. Asui-san explained they're charms for different things, like good luck...”

“You want some good luck?”

Eri shakes her head. “I know Deku-san isn't here. I want to give him a good luck charm! He might need it! ...but before Lemillion-san left, he said outside is scary right now.”

Katsuki thinks about her idea, his own idea forming around it. “Not a bad plan, Bitty Deku. That nerd needs all the luck to counter his stupid.”

“Deku-san isn't stupid!” Eri says in a huff, and Katsuki bites back a snort.

“No, he isn't stupid,” Katsuki admits, “but he does act stupid some times. And we can't exactly go to a shrine right now and get one...”

Eri's face falls; she hadn't connected the fact they'd have to leave to get the charms. “Oh, I thought we could just make them...” she says quietly, hiding her face in her hair.

Scrunching his nose, Katsuki pulls out his phone to do a quick online search. “Don't get upset yet. I think I've already solved this problem,” he tells her confidently as he shows her an official website on making omamori out of paper at home with the blessing of a shrine.

“I can't read that good, Kacchan-san...” Eri admits as Katsuki flicks the screen to the designs available for the paper. “Oh, those are pretty!”

“We can print these out and fold paper omamori,” he explains before shooting off a quick text then pocketing his phone. “When we're done practicing on these, I think we can make a better one later. How about that?”

The smile returns to Eri's face with a vengeance. “I'm going to make the best one to keep Deku-san safe!” she announces proudly.

Katsuki pushes her hair from her face before offering her his hand. “Let's get our supplies and get started then.”

It doesn't take long to sign up and get the patterns from the website. The printer in the dorms does just fine for their needs, and Katsuki gets started on learning to fold the omamori, so he can teach Eri how to do the best she can. They end up with a small pile of green, red, and orange omamori on the table, but there's a blank sheet of paper that could go inside of any one of them.

“I want to write a message, but what if it's bad?” Eri asks, biting her lip. “What if no one can read it?”

“Doesn't matter. Omamori messages are never meant to be read,” Katsuki points out as he takes a clean sheet of paper and writes the kanji for good luck. “Like this. You can just copy what I wrote.”

Eri stares at the kanji, her face scrunched up in concentration. “I want to write more. Is that okay...? I feel better that no one can read it...” she whispers.

Katsuki shrugs, leaning back in his chair. “Won't stop you. Practice it as much as you want, and I'll help you fold it up.”

“Thank you, Kacchan-san!”

“Oh, Bakugou-san, I didn't know you were watching Eri-chan today,” Yaoyorozu says as she enters the common room, looking a bit exhausted.

Eri looks up and waves shyly, her face pink. “Hello, Yaomomo-san,” she greets quietly.

Yaoyorozu smiles sweetly back at her. “Hello to you too, Eri-chan.”

Katsuki stands up from his seat, pulling the gaze of both girls. “I gotta talk to Ponytail about something. Keep writing your message, yeah?”

“Okay, Kacchan-san!”

Tilting his head to gesture to Yaoyorozu that he wants to talk in the kitchen, Katsuki walks off. Yaoyorozu follows in suit, because when he turns around to lean against the kitchen counter, she's eyeing him curiously.

“Her name for you is very cute,” Yaoyorozu says, smiling.

Katsuki levels a glare at her. “Tell anyone about that, and you're dead,” he states bluntly.

“I would never,” she replies, placing a hand over her heart. “Did what you texted me about earlier have to do with Eri-chan, perhaps?”

“Got it in one,” Katsuki replies, looking her over. “They've been making you use your quirk for the evacuees?”

Yaoyorozu nods, not bothering to hide her small slump from exhaustion. “I volunteered, but Aizawa-sensei sent me back to the dorms to rest, so I don't overuse my quirk,” she explains, sighing. “I want to eat a meal and return, but Lunch Rush is catering first and foremost to the civilians for now. Ah, and well, my kitchen skills leave much to be desired.”

This makes a small kink in Katsuki's plan to ask Yaoyorozu for a favor, but he immediately gets the perfect idea that will solve both their problems. “All right, out of the kitchen.”

“What...? Bakugou-san, what about your-”

“I ain't asking you for anything when you need to eat,” he cuts her off easily. “I can cook; you can't. Easy solution. Gotta make lunch for the kid anyways. Then you owe me.”

Yaoyorozu thinks over his words, and Katsuki sees the moment she sees there's no reason to fight him. “I'll keep an eye on Eri-chan while you prepare lunch. Thank you so much, Bakugou-san. I can return to helping the civilians faster than if I had taken a nap to recover or eaten something processed.”

Katsuki makes a face at the idea of processed food and gives Yaoyorozu a shove. “Get out, and let the kid know I'm making stir fry. It'll be quick and filling.”

With a nod, Yaoyorozu leaves the kitchen to Katsuki.

Making lunch doesn't take long, but somehow, when he gets back, he sees Eri and Yaoyorozu chatting excitedly. They're looking at something on the couch, and Katsuki can't tell what it is from his angle. He places the dishes on an empty table before stalking over to find two Eri-sized hero costumes splayed out on the couch.

Katsuki stares at the near replica of his own hero costume with the soft gauntlets before his eyes narrows on the cute, dress version of Deku's hero costume. “Didn't you say you needed to replenish yourself before you used your quirk again, Ponytail?”

Yaoyorozu jumps a bit, having not noticed Katsuki's entrance. “Oh, Bakugou-san! While that is true, the idea wouldn't leave my head. Eri-chan gushes about you and Midoriya-san so much...” she trails off, then covers her mouth. “Ah, maybe I shouldn't have brought him up...”

“It's fine,” Katsuki states then notices that Eri's already put on the mini Deku cowl and one of the soft, plush gauntlets. “Hey, you can play dress up later. Time to eat.”

Eri frowns for a moment. “You don't want to get your new outfits dirty, Eri-chan,” Yaoyorozu tells her gently.

“Oh, that's true,” Eri agrees as she takes off the cowl and gauntlet. “Can I try one on after lunch?”

“Yeah, sure, but you better pick the best hero!” Katsuki warns teasingly.

“Deku-san!” she cheers, and Katsuki has to bite his cheek, so he doesn't scowl.

Yaoyorozu doesn't bother to hide her little chuckle as she puts a gentle hand on Eri's shoulder. “We don't want lunch to get cold, right?”

Eri nods as she rushes away from the couch and over to the table with the food, Yaoyorozu close behind her. Katsuki follows, trying not to dwell on not being the kid's favorite hero. He'll just have to change her mind while the nerd is away.

Once they finish lunch, Eri gets back to work on writing her message as Yaoyorozu helps Katsuki clean up. “I know you don't want me thank you again, so I will get to the point,” she says as puts away clean dishes they've washed up together. “I assume you had a favor in mind?”

“You saw the kid's making paper omamori. Figured you could make better ones than some printer paper fakes,” Katsuki tells her plainly as Yaoyorozu's eyes light up.

“That wouldn't take much effort,” she tells him as she takes her phone to look up some charms. “I already know the components for this type of material. Eri-chan seems to prefer green, orange, and red... I'll have a few ready for you soon.”

“One more thing, Ponytail,” Katsuki adds as her arm starts to sparkle. “If you could add something extra? Shouldn't be hard, since you've made it before...for Kamino.”

Yaoyorozu blinks for a moment, her mouth falling into a soft 'o' when she catches onto his idea. “Of course, not a problem,” she says as she takes a few moments to make a few cloth charms. “These should suffice. I made the material sturdier than usual omamori. They can withstand even your quirk, for a short period of time.”

Katsuki takes the charms, impressed by Yaoyorzu's but not surprised; they have a little heft to them that normal, empty charms wouldn't have. “That should do it. Thanks for this, Ponytail.”

“Of course,” Yaoyorozu replies, pulling one more item from her arm, but she hesitates handing it to him. “Tell me you're not doing anything reckless with this. I will tell Aizawa-sensei immediately if I find out you have.”

“He already knows,” Katsuki assures her, and she places the device into his hand. “If my plan works, I'll let you in on what happens. Guess I'll owe you that much.”

“I would appreciate it,” she says wryly, stretching her arms over her head. “I should return to the class. Thank you for the meal.”

Katsuki rolls his eyes. “Means to an end, Ponytail. Stop thanking me,” he points out.

“Maybe that was part of it,” Yaoyorozu agrees as she smiles at him. “I believe in you, Bakugou-san. Whatever special operation you have planned will go smoothly, I am sure of it.”

When she leaves, Katsuki breathes in deeply, holds it, and then lets it out. Actual, real compliments like the one Yaoyorozu just paid him rankle him, and it takes a few moments longer than he'd like to compose himself. Maybe he can blow something up later in the gym. He can't let his skills get rusty while waiting for the perfect moment to go after Deku.

Time passes slowly, at least for Katsuki. Mostly, he's become Eri's default babysitter when Aizawa is busy, which is a lot for someone who is still getting used to a prosthetic leg. It's the days Katsuki's scheduled to spar with other hero students, Monoma takes over as Eri's babysitter. At least, he does once Eri warms up to him, and Katsuki doesn't have to glare him into submission.

Sparring ends up the only time when time feels like it's moving forward. Katsuki loses himself in it, and he'll admit even just to himself that he's glad some of them are still proving to be a challenge. The war isn't over, no matter how sheltered they are from it right now.

The day comes that Aizawa tells him he can meet him after class, and it gets him a curious look from Kirishima. “About to see if something's changed,” Katsuki tells him, deliberately using Kirishima's own words to remind him of their previous conversation.

Kirishima's eyes widen when he catches on and nods. “Stay safe,” he says quietly, his voice more serious than usual.

“Tch,” Katsuki clicks his tongue as he shoulder checks Kirishima on his way to find Aizawa. “Tell Ponytail I'll be using that lucky charm soon, if all goes well.”

“What does that even mean?” he asks with a confused look, but when no response comes, Kirishima just shakes his head instead. “I'll tell her, but be less cryptic in the future, will you?”

Katsuki just grins and gives his friend a dismissive little wave. He trusts that Kirishima and Yaoyorozu will put their two halves of the full picture together. It's best if no one else finds out, especially if Katsuki is about to get the answer he wants as he walks over to Aizawa.

“Sensei, got something to tell me?” Katsuki asks as Aizawa turns toward him, his teacher's face impassive and impossible to read.

Aizawa tells Iida to take over escorting the class back to the dorms. “Bakugou, let's speak somewhere privately.”

That turns a few heads their way, but Katsuki ignores them, his eyes fully watching Aizawa as they head out of the USJ. It's when they reach a particular room that stores extra hero suits for all current UA hero students, Katsuki has to stop himself from smirking. They stop in front of their class' wall, and Aizawa presses the button to release no. 17.

“Endeavor’s agency sent us your stealth suit before the March operation,” Aizawa states as the sleek dark case pops out of the wall. “This is one of the stipulations of allowing you to pull this stunt.”

Katsuki nods, and if he's honest, this costume is better suited for what he has in mind anyway. “I have the next stipulation covered, I bet,” he replies, taking two omamori charms from his pocket.

One is made of green brocade, lined with red trim, and the other is orange with gold trim; they're clearly not what Aizawa thought Katsuki would be showing him. “I need a bit more explanation here, Bakugou. You're not irrationally sentimental,” he points out with a raised eyebrow.

Out of his other pocket, Katsuki pulls out the device Yaoyorozu made him. “These charms have trackers in them. Ponytail made these at my request, and the kid wanted to make good luck charms,” Katsuki explains, passing the tracking device to Aizawa. “Deku can't say no to a little girl's good luck charm, now can he?”

Aizawa almost looks pleased by the plan, for a moment. “I'd rather you didn't involve Eri-chan in your schemes,” he states, staring Katsuki down. “But it's not something you would have come up with yourself, so your plan worked around what Eri-chan already wanted.”

Katsuki stares back, unfazed. “Got it in one, sensei. I didn't plan for her to want to make me one either, but I'd say you're going to want to have a tracking device on me as your second stipulation?”

“Don't be a smartass,” Aizawa reprimands, but it's clear Katsuki is right with his educated guess. “The moment this tracking device deviates from the coordinates you've provided, I will send someone to fetch you. Make sure that doesn't happen.”

It takes all of Katsuki's willpower to not bristle at the idea, but he knew this would likely be something Aizawa would make a condition of being allowed out. “It won't,” Katsuki swears as he pockets the charms again. “When can I head out?”

“As soon as you're ready,” he replies as he passes the sleek, black case to Katsuki. “I have an excuse prepared to account for your time. Be back before nightfall.”

Katsuki nods as he grips the handle on the briefcase. “Yaoyorozu and Kirishima can probably help with that. They both have most of the story by now,” Katsuki admits to his teacher.

Aizawa nods as he waves Katsuki off to the changing room. “I'll keep that in mind. Now, out of my sight, before I come to my senses about this.”

The grin is impossible to hide, and Katsuki can't help feeling a little cocky as he gets ready for his own personal solo stealth mission. It's a bit of a thrill, knowing his hard work is about to pay off, and maybe there's some relief too, because now he can finally catch up to Deku. He can't stay behind for long.

Chapter Text

Izuku takes a moment's rest on a high skyscraper. The Fourth's quirk has calmed down, and Izuku's stomach is demanding sustenance. Luckily, he still has All Might's homemade bento in his bag. It's tonkatsu and rice, and it's almost his favorite meal, so he takes the small pleasures where he can.

Those are few and far between, but Izuku likes to think he's managing well enough. “Your standards are fairly low, Izuku-kun,” Nana reprimands him gently.

En snorts. “That's putting it lightly, Shimura-kun.”

While Izuku appreciates that he's not alone during all this, the competing voices in his head can be a bit much when he's finally gotten a moment of peace. I'm just eating, Shimura-san. All Might made a delicious lunch. I didn't know he could cook.

Neither did Nana, from how she falls silent. Izuku takes it as a win; the quiet in his head feels nice. There's no stabbing pain, so either he's done his job well, or Izuku's taken care of only the escaped convicts within range of his quirk. Without thinking about it too much, Izuku starts to eat a little faster.

“That kind of thought will only drive you mad. I'd advise against overthinking it,” Hikage speaks up about his own quirk, but it's not like Izuku hadn't thought about that.

“Better listen to senpai, kid. He definitely knows all about overthinking,” Daigoro chimes in with a hardy laugh, and a small smile graces Izuku's lips in response. “There we go! Can't all be doom and gloom. Seven dead people in here is enough, ya know?”

Hikage sighs as Izuku silently wishes for that moment of quiet back. “Irreverent as usual, Daigoro,” he murmurs quietly, and the Fifth User seems almost sheepish in response. “...Izuku-kun, I believe we have company.”

Izuku jolts to his feet, almost sending his half eaten bento tumbling off the side of the building. He manages to salvage it as he spins around, looking around for the company Hikage had mentioned. The stabbing pain of danger sense didn't trigger, and Izuku panics twice over as someone in dark garb emerges from the shadows.

“Your shitty quirk didn't go off, hah?” Katsuki says, decked out in a familiar black and orange tactical suit as he pulls down the hood. “Am I not a threat, or is it because I wasn't thinking about killing you just now?”

“Kacchan! How are you-” Izuku begins then cuts himself as Katsuki steps into his personal space. “That's not-! Of course you're not a threat, not like the villains out there! Why would it go off? But how did you find me? Why are you here-”

“Shuddup, nerd!” Katsuki interrupts, clicking his tongue soon after. “I tracked you down using the news stories and just knowing your dumbass. Satisfied? And fuck you, I am a threat, because I'll kill you myself if you start getting too reckless!”

Izuku can't help but stare, still a bit dumbfounded by the fact that Katsuki's here in front of him. “News stories...” he trails off then tenses. “I made sure no one could see me! Do you think the villains could-”

“Hell no, calm your ass down,” Katsuki butts in before flicking his forehead. “I knew about your possible quirks from that notebook All Might put together. Smokescreen's the Sixth User's quirk, right?”

“Quite the memory,” En remarks quietly in Izuku's head as Izuku rubs his sore forehead with a pout. “Did he memorize the entire notebook, I wonder?”

The thought had never crossed Izuku's mind that Katsuki had given the notebook of quirks more than a cursory glance. It hadn't come up before everything went down, and it's not like Izuku got to talk to Katsuki for very long before he had to leave UA. He hadn't even planned for the short conversation they did have before he left.

“Did you memorize the whole notebook, Kacchan...?” Izuku asks quietly, and when Katsuki's eye twitches, he can't help but smile. “You did. Kacchan's amazing! I didn't even see you reading it for very long.”

Katsuki rolls his eyes. “Of course, I am! That's not the point! Point is you need a reminder to stop being so damned reckless.”

The words raise Izuku's hackles, and if there's one response Izuku has, it is not a flight response. “Kacchan, you said you'd stay at UA! This isn't UA, and I can take care of myself!”

“I said,” Katsuki begins, his voice low and menacing, “not to be fucking stupid out there. I had a feeling you were running yourself ragged with the amount of takedowns you've done, and seeing you up close? I can see you're exhausted, dumbass.”

“I was taking a break before you showed up,” Izuku points out, gesturing to his bag and bento. “I don't need you to remind me to take care of myself.”

“The boy has a point, Izuku-kun,” Yoichi speaks up softly, and Izuku mentally apologizes for tuning them out, because he's just not in the mood to hear that.

Not to mention, Katsuki's roundabout way of caring about Izuku's well being isn't necessarily new. Izuku had noticed that their training sessions didn't exactly do Katsuki much good. At least, they didn't do him as much good as they did Izuku.

Before he can get lost in those thoughts or Katsuki can say anything else, Izuku straightens up to his full height. “And who are you talking about taking care of myself, when you snuck out of UA? What the hell, Kacchan!”

Katsuki scoffs as he digs into a pocket. “I sure as fuck didn't. This is all Aizawa-sensei approved, so you can get off that damned high horse before I knock you off it,” he threatens, eyes narrowing. “I didn't come here to fucking fight you, so stop fucking spoiling for one. I came to give you a damned reason to watch out for yourself.”

The words don't make much sense to Izuku, not until Katsuki shoves something into his hand. When he sees what it is, Izuku can't help but stare. It's an omamori, and from the looks of it, it's handmade. The material is green brocade that matches his hero suit with gold embroidery. He turns it over carefully, and Izuku notices it's a charm for good luck. Still, none of it actually makes sense.

“Kacchan, what is this...?”

“Good luck charm from a kid that thinks you need all the luck you can get,” Katsuki explains, which doesn't explain much, actually. “She misses you, dumbass.”

Izuku takes a moment to process those words, and his eyes widen when he figures out who the 'she' could be. “Eri-chan made this for me...?” he murmurs.

“You're not special. She made me one too,” Katsuki sneers, holding up a near identical omamori in orange and black. “But since the kid can't exactly deliver it to you herself, I decided I'd do it.”

“You came all the way out here to deliver an omamori from Eri-chan...?” Izuku questions, still a bit dazed before he frowns. “Yeah, right, Kacchan. Aizawa-sensei wouldn't let you leave UA for something so illogical!”

Katsuki snorts then shrugs. “Yet here I am,” he replies cockily, but Izuku's incredulous stare won't leave him alone. “Fine, they have trackers made by Ponytail inside 'em. That make you happy?”

Izuku blinks, but that tidbit makes more sense than anything else. “So, you're giving me this, so you can track me...?” he asks slowly.

“I'm giving you this, so if you do something stupid, I can find you,” Katsuki admits, staring Izuku down with determination in his eyes. “Ain't gonna hurt, right? Some fucking peace of mind for those you left behind, shithead.”

The words hit their mark, and Izuku has to work very hard not to flinch at them. “It's not like I don't already have a tracker on me,” he tells Katsuki quietly, taking out his hero phone and holding it up. “Endeavor, Hawks, Best Jeanist, and All Might have eyes on me at all times.”

“Fucking knew it!” Katsuki exclaims with a scowl. “Knew Jeanist was holding out on me when I asked...!”

“Kacchan...” Izuku murmurs, biting the inside of his cheek as he tries not to laugh. “Look, you have to go back. You can't stay here.”

“Don't tell me what to do,” Katsuki replies automatically before pocketing his own omamori. “I'm going to pester him again, now that I know that phone exists.”

Izuku can't help but smile. “You might have better luck with Hawks,” he advises, absentmindedly running his fingers over the embroidered edges of his new good luck charm. “I'd say All Might, but...”

“He doesn't even bother coming back to UA now,” Katsuki states, and Izuku had a feeling that was the case. “...I think he lied about the Fourth User, in that notebook.”

“Oh, that,” Izuku murmurs, shaking his head. “I know what that's about now, Kacchan. All Might probably didn't want us to know he died young and of natural causes.”

Katsuki freezes, eyes wide. “What the hell does that mean?”

“This power...it's not really sustainable, I guess? That many quirks just burns through life force,” Izuku starts off, then rushes to keep talking when he sees Katsuki's eyes narrow. “It's fine, though! I've spoken to the other users, and we figured out why that didn't happen to All Might! Because he was quirkless when he received One For All, it didn't do that. So, that's the same with me...”

“That's why he didn't want to talk about it before,” Katsuki mutters under his breath as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “And you're sure about this shit? Because you are not dying for a fucking quirk, Deku. I won't let you.”

Katsuki's words make Izuku's whole world stand still. It's one thing that Katsuki cares about his well being because Izuku's carrying All Might's quirk. Of course Katsuki wouldn't want him to waste it. It's another thing saying it out loud like that. But maybe...

No, it's just Katsuki wouldn't want his rival to die before showing Izuku once and for all who's the best, right? That's all it is. It can't be anymore, because if Izuku let's himself think it is, it just going to bite him in the ass. Izuku is completely sure of that.

“That's a very passionate friend you have there,” Yoichi says wryly, interrupting Izuku's panicked thought process. “Reminds me of my very own hero.”

Izuku stumbles over his own words. Please, this is very distracting, he thinks as loudly as he can to the other users, and they mostly keep silent. Mostly, since some of the past users can't help but laugh at him a bit. Great.

“It's really fine, Kacchan,” Izuku assures him, showing off a bit of his black whip and smokescreen quirks simultaneously as he shoves his earlier thoughts about Katsuki's words to the back of his mind. “I'm getting the hang of them, and they're not taking that kind of toll on me. I promise.”

“Don't have much of a fucking choice, do I?”

With a bright smile that he's sure will piss off Katsuki, Izuku nods. “Nope,” he replies. “You should head back. Thank you for the charm. Tell Eri-chan I'll keep it close.”

“Fucking better. I'll know the moment you lose the damned thing,” Katsuki tells him, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I don't like any of this, and I fucking know you gotta do this. I'm not stupid, but it's just you out here playing bait, innit?”

“The others can't exactly stay close to me. It'd be too much of a giveaway,” Izuku states, his tone more dismissive than he'd have used in the past. “I have backup, so I'm not really alone. It's going to work out, and once I know where Shigaraki and All For One are, we can stop them for good.”

Katsuki's grin at the idea of finally taking down All For One and Shigaraki is absolutely feral, and Izuku's chest feels warm just seeing it again. “We'll fucking get an absolute victory,” he swears.

“There's no such thing as anything else with Kacchan,” Izuku agrees as Katsuki pulls his hood back on.

“Remember that, Deku,” Katsuki says before he disappears back into the shadows and completely out of sight.

Izuku lets out a sigh of relief as he drops to sit on the concrete roof beneath him. As with all things concerning Katsuki, it had been equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. His heart's pounding as he tucks his omamori into his suit, safely by his heart. It's a bit sentimental, but Izuku can't help feel calmer with it there. With his racing heart settled, Izuku picks up his bento, poking at the remnants of rice and pork cutlet with his chopsticks before eating again.

Chapter Text

He's asleep when everything goes wrong. Katsuki wakes up, and he just knows something's happened. Jolting awake, Katsuki looks around his room before heading out of his dorm. In the hall, he finds Aizawa waiting in front of his door. His heart sinks.

Katsuki swallows. “What happened to Deku?”

As Aizawa explains the situation, Katsuki feels momentary relief in the fact that the nerd is alive. Unfortunately, being captured by one of the assassins All For One sent after Deku may be one of the worst case scenarios Katsuki's had knocking around in his head.

“Bakugou, don't do anything rash,” Aizawa warns, trying to place a hand on Bakugou's shoulder only to get it knocked away. “Let the heroes-”

“Hell no,” Katsuki interrupts, his eyes feeling hot. “We already put our trust in the adults. No offense, but we haven't been out there, and we're not stupid. We know heroes are quitting, and now Deku's been kidnapped? We'll find him ourselves.”

Aizawa stares Katsuki down, but his resolve doesn't waver. “...we were wrong to keep all of you out of this, and it would be a lie to say the heroes don't need all the help they can get right now,” Aizawa states. “I won't pretend that I can keep you from rallying your classmates right now. I'll be waiting in the common room when you're ready.”

Katsuki nods curtly as he watches Aizawa walk away and disappear into the elevator. Once he's gone, Katsuki loudly bangs on Kirishima's door to start gathering his classmates.

It doesn't take long to round up the others. “Deku's been kidnapped,” Katsuki states, and anyone who had been only half awake snaps to attention as they all try to start asking questions. “Shut up! Don't got time to repeat the whole thing. Follow up with Aizawa-sensei if you really want to know all the idiotic details. All I care about is dragging that dumbass back here.”

“How do you propose we do that, Bakugou-kun?” Iida speaks up. “Do we have anything to go on? I am not a fan of Midoriya-kun gallivanting on his own, especially now that it's gone sideways, but what do we know?”

Yaoyorozu clears her throat, gaining the class' attention. “I believe Bakugou-san already has a solution for that.”

“Ponytail's right. I do,” Katsuki agrees, holding up the tracker he'd request she make for him. “Deku's got a tracker on him, and Ponytail makes high quality shit. It should have withstood whatever took Deku down in the first place.”

Uraraka stands up. “I'm glad we have a way to find Deku-kun, but how did he end up with a tracker on him? Yaomomo was in no shape to have made one before he left. To be honest, you were in no shape to request it then either,” she points out, and Katsuki's a bit impressed that she caught on that he'd requested the tracker so quickly.

“He went out to find Midoriya yesterday,” Kirishima adds quietly, and everyone breaks into an uproar.

“How?”

“Did you break out of UA!?”

“You can't possibly have found him in one day!”

Katsuki makes his hands crackle loudly, quieting the room but earning him a glare from Aizawa. “Look, I just know Deku, okay? I've been following his nonsense that got caught on the news, and I knew about his new quirks he'd be using. That satisfy ya to move on to finding him now?”

Todoroki nods, and other classmates follow suit as Katsuki slaps a notebook down on the coffee table. “You knew about One For All before the letters,” Todoroki states as a few others gasp, but Katsuki's glad this is one of the times Todoroki isn't slow on the uptake. “What's in the notebook?”

“The rest of the quirks, as outlined by what All Might could find out about dead people that didn't amount to much in life,” Katsuki tells them. “Smokescreen was the newest one to manifest, from what I could tell.”

The notebook gets passed around as the air in the room starts to get serious. “Whoa, Midoriya can do all of this?” Mineta mutters as Sero takes the book from him.

“Who could have taken him down with all this power?” Sero asks, sounding worried. “I mean, that's like quirks for half the class right there.”

“More quirks ain't mean shit if Deku wore himself out,” Katsuki says pointedly.

Uraraka frowns, skimming the pages over Sero's shoulder. “If he's never used half of these until recently, there's a lot of trial and error too. You guys remember the first drawbacks to your quirks, right?”

Most of the class still had some bad ones coming into UA, so it's not surprising the mood takes a somber turn. “Ochako-chan is right. Midoriya-chan could have easily overworked one or more quirks, kero,” Asui says quietly. “It would have made him an easy target then...”

“Then we can't reliably count on Midoriya-san being able to aid our escape once we've infiltrated,” Yaoyorozu says thoughtfully. “We should plan for the worst.”

Katsuki's jaw clenches at her words, but he can't fault her; she's not wrong. “We'll start by splitting up into teams, so we don't garner unwanted attention from nineteen of us storming what's probably the villains' stronghold.” He pauses, glances over to Aizawa. “Sensei, could you get in contact with Endeavor? We ain't gonna need his help, but I don't want them getting in the way.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Katsuki can see Todoroki not bothering to hide his small grin while Aizawa sighs. “I'll coordinate with the other heroes for you, since I can't join any ground mission,” he states, and it's the first time their teacher has made reference to his injuries from the war out loud to them. “Utilize back up as needed. I'll make sure you have a way to communicate with them as well.”

“Thank you, sensei!”

Katsuki dons his stealth costume again along with Todoroki. “You two match,” Uraraka points out, earning herself a glare she shamelessly ignores. “Kinda makes me wish Ingenium and I had stealth suits too.”

“If the other teams do their jobs, you won't need them,” Katsuki points out as he checks the tracker. “We're not far now.”

“Creati said it should be the ruins of the prison on the outskirts of Kamino Ward, correct?” Iida questions, taking in the wreckage of the city around them from the villains, looting, and mayhem that's been happening the past few weeks. “That's not a small facility.”

“We'll be able to get a more exact location when we get closer,” Katsuki replies, scowling at the vandalized All Might statue. “Todoroki, your quirk's quieter than mine. Get rid of that shit sign before we go.”

Uraraka opens her mouth to ask what Katsuki's even talking about, but Todoroki silently complies, the 'I AM NOT HERE' sign burning upon impact of his quirk. “Oh...” she mouths quietly.

Katsuki keeps moving, and his team follows suit.

The tray of food by Izuku's feet grows cold. Someone had brought the tray hours ago, trying to coax Izuku into eating, but he refused. It's the second meal he's refused, and Lady Nagant wouldn't even look him in the eye when he stared her down that first time. If they want him to eat, they're going to have to force him.

“Izuku-kun, I promise you they will if they need you alive that long,” Yoichi chides, reminding Izuku of the gravity of the situation. “We can only hope Shigaraki Tomura's body still needs time before it can withstand our quirk without destroying him. My brother wouldn't want that.”

Izuku wills the gnawing in the pit of his stomach to calm down. It's not really hunger that's making his stomach turn at this point. He knows his situation is a worst case scenario. There are quirk canceling manacles on Izuku's wrists and ankles, and no matter what he tries, he can't break them without his quirk.

“It's a step up in security since we last broke into this bastard’s stronghold,” the Second User comments, his eyes drift to Yoichi. “Breaking out isn't quite the same as breaking in.”

Inside his mind, Izuku can see the other users of One For All clearly; it's easier to let time pass this way as he tries to formulate a plan with the rest of them. “Technology has changed quite a lot since that era as well,” the Third User adds.

“I can't just sit here and do nothing,” Izuku speaks up, garnering the attention of all the users. “They took my backpack, so I don't have any useful tools on me.”

Nana looks pensive as Hikage shifts from one foot to another. “They didn't take anything from your suit itself?” the Fourth User asks, and Izuku frowns.

“No? But it's mostly in tatters. My gloves aren't even functioning as they should, even if I still had access to our quirk...” Izuku starts to mutter, but before he can get too far, he hears several sets of feet pounding outside his door before the sound fades out. “...what was that?”

Straining his ears and paying more attention to the outside world now, Izuku can hear the sounds of faraway fighting. His heart leaps in his chest as he tries to get to his feet. There's not going to be a better opportunity to escape than whatever is happening outside right now.

Izuku manages to stumble to his feet, but the manacles are heavy in a way that would require a strength quirk to maneuver easily. It's not easy, but Izuku gets enough leverage to drag himself forward and launch himself into the door.

He bounces off with a thud, and Izuku can feel Nana wincing in his head. “Izuku-kun-”

“I have to do this!” Izuku exclaims out loud, struggling to get back up. “There's not going to be another time to get out of here!”

“You're panicking, kid,” Daigoro chimes in, not nearly as soothing as Nana's attempt. “We think you have time.”

Izuku swallows down his panic, but it doesn't really help that he can't force himself to his feet once more. “I don't...”

“You do,” the Second User disagrees, tapping his chest. “You tucked something away in your suit, didn't you?”

Mimicking the Second User's gesture, Izuku brings a hand to his chest and finds something solid beneath the fraying material of his suit. It occurs to Izuku what it is, and all at once, the sounds outside get louder again. Clenching the omamori against his chest, Izuku looks up just as his cell's door is blasted then kicked down.

“Kacchan!” Izuku exclaims as he notices that Katsuki isn't alone. “Todoroki-kun, Iida-kun, Uraraka-san, you're all here!”

“Thanks to Baku-” Uraraka starts to say, but the glare from Katsuki makes her stop then sigh. “Thanks to Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight.”

“That's...quite the hero name,” Nana murmurs diplomatically as the users quiet down in his head.

“Kacchan has a hero name now?” Izuku questions as Todoroki kneels down to flash freeze and shatter the manacles. “Why didn't you tell me? You could have told me!”

“We have more pressing concerns, Midoriya-kun,” Iida points out. “With the commotion outside, we haven't been spotted, but the chances of getting caught only grow the longer we linger.”

Katsuki strides forward as Todoroki gets out of his way. “You heard Ingenium, Deku. Time to get moving,” he states, outstretching his hand for Izuku to take.

It's such an unfamiliar gesture from Katsuki that Izuku can't help but stare at Katsuki's hand. Izuku's sure he's stared too long, because rather than wait for Izuku to pull himself together, Katsuki takes the initiative. He takes Izuku's hand and pulls Izuku up himself. Suddenly pulled to already unsteady feet, Izuku can't help but fall forward.

“We've got you,” Katsuki murmurs, and Izuku barely believes he's heard him right. “Oi, Uravity, float him a bit.”

“I can-” Izuku starts to say, ready to activate float, but he can feel the weightlessness of Uraraka's quirk get him before he can activate his own.

“Let us take care of you, Deku-kun,” Uraraka says as Katsuki keeps Izuku from floating away with an arm around his waist. “Everyone's here to help.”

Izuku gives in and lets his friends manhandle him, but Uraraka's words make him curious. “Everyone...? It's not just you guys?”

“The rest of our class is outside creating a distraction with the pro heroes that can still fight,” Todoroki tells him, and Izuku feels his chest tighten.

“I'm sor-”

“Not taking any shit apologies,” Katsuki interrupts as they head back the way they came. “You can make apologies all you want back at UA.”

Izuku grips Katsuki's upper arm. “I can't go back, and if there's already a distraction happening-”

“No,” Katsuki interrupts. “You can't even stand up on your own, and you expect to take down Shigaraki and All For One in their stronghold? You've lost it, Deku.”

“Not that I agree with Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight's turn of phrase, but he's not wrong, Midoriya-kun,” Iida says, placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder. “You're in no shape to fight. This is a rescue mission.”

Pushing away from Katsuki and Iida, Izuku activates black whip to stand upright and keep himself from floating away because of Uraraka's quirk. “We won't have another chance like this, and time is not on our side. Once Shigaraki's got full control of All For One's quirks-”

“-we're screwed, is that what you're saying, hah?” Katsuki asks with a snarl, looking like he had just bitten into something sour. “I ain't running in there to my death, so you got a plan in that nerd head of yours?”

“We may have one, Izuku-kun,” Nana speaks up in Izuku's mind, and the knot in his stomach loosens.

“I do,” Izuku replies, and as Nana tells him the plan, he repeats her words to his friends.

Uraraka hums pensively. “We'd need to know exactly where Shigaraki's hiding in this maze to make this happen, Deku-kun...”

“I can help with that.”

The extra voice makes Izuku tense up as the others get ready to fight. “Easy, easy, I'm not here to fight you,” Lady Nagant says, holding her hands up as a sign of surrender. “Next block of cells over, there's a path to the warden's office. That's where the big boss is holed up.”

Izuku wants to take her words at face value, because for a moment before she managed to catch him off guard, Izuku really believed she had decided against siding with the villains. “It'd be really naive of us to take your words as truth, Lady Nagant,” Izuku replies carefully.

Lady Nagant shrugs. “Then get your little scouts outside to listen in at those coordinates. He hasn't joined the fight yet. Might still catch him.”

From the way the others tense, Izuku can tell the fact that Lady Nagant knew they had a scouting team rankled them. Katsuki reaches for a communicator and barks out the coordinates for the scouting team to check. Silence falls for a moment until a tinny sound comes from the communicator.

Katsuki clicks his tongue as he pockets it, annoyance clear on his face. “She ain't lying. Tentacole and Earphone Jack confirmed it.”

“We must take the fight to them,” Yoichi says firmly with the rest of the vestiges standing with him. “It's time to end this, Izuku-kun.”

Izuku believes in the other users' resolve and takes a deep breath. “Then I should thank you, Lady Nagant.”

With an unladylike snort, Lady Nagant waves away his thanks. “Kid, I gave you information that you're gonna use to get yourself killed. Don't thank me. Just figured if you're so determined to find a way, might as well tell you the shortest route.”

“I don't think that's what you really think,” Izuku tells her.

“Doesn't really matter either way, does it?” she replies, looking at Izuku then back at his friends. “You better get going.”

They let her go, and Izuku can tell Katsuki and the others have mixed feelings about it. “You're okay with just letting the woman who kidnapped you go?” Uraraka asks quietly, voicing the question they all had.

“She's not the same woman who kidnapped me,” Izuku points out as he uses black whip to turn in the direction Lady Nagant had told them to go in. “I don't know what she's going to do now, but I don't think she's going to cause any problems.”

“You have a bleeding heart,” Katsuki states as he knocks Izuku's shoulder as he moves to lead them down the hallway. “It's going to bite you in the ass someday.”

Izuku smiles fondly as he follows Katsuki. “Midoriya has internal bleeding...?” Todoroki asks, and Uraraka doesn't manage to cover up her choked laughter.

Iida explains the idiom to Todoroki, soothing his worry that Izuku might be dying from internal injuries. “Icy- Ugh, Shouto, you can't possibly be that dense,” Katsuki says, not even turning around to look at the others.

Izuku catches Todoroki smiling to himself, and he can't help smiling a bit too. His closest friends are here with him, and it helps ease the worry of what's to come. He puts his hand over the omamori for a moment before pulling up his cowl and mask, and as they go headlong into danger, Izuku believes they can win.

Chapter Text

Eri knows Deku and Kacchan are coming back today. She knows a lot of things have happened that no one really wants to tell her, but Eri hears the whispers anyway. It all really started when Kacchan suddenly left, and soon, almost everyone she really knew had left her too.

Aizawa told her to stay with Deku's mom, and meeting the small, round woman is like seeing Deku again. She even meets Kacchan's mom and dad, and Eri misses the boys less when she can see their parents, if only a little.

“Eri-chan? Are you okay, dear?” Inko asks her as Eri puts down her crayons.

She fiddles with her drawing paper. “I'm okay, Inko-san,” she says as she decides to be brave and holds up her drawing. “Do you think Deku-san and Kacchan-san will like it?”

Inko takes the drawing and smiles, tears welling in her eyes. “Oh, I think they'll like it very much, Eri-chan,” she replies as she pets Eri's hair, a light touch. “I can keep it safe until you get a moment to hand it to them, if you want? I have a feeling those boys are going to come back to quite a warm welcome from their classmates.”

Eri thinks about Inko's words before nodding. “Yes! I want to give it to them together, but...”

“Without too many prying eyes?”

“...what does that mean, Inko-san?”

Inko laughs as she carefully places the drawing safely in a drawer. “You want to see their reactions without everyone else seeing them,” she explains softly, and Eri nods as she starts to put her crayons back in their box.

“Yes! Prying eyes...means Kacchan-san won't say what he means.”

“That sounds like Katsuki-kun,” Inko replies fondly, shaking her head. “Mitsuki, Masaru, and I will be picking up the boys from the hospital with Aizawa-san. Yagi-san said he could watch you while we're out. Will that be okay with you, Eri-chan?”

Eri stops putting away her crayons and looks at Inko, confused. “Yagi-san...?”

“Oh, you wouldn't know him by his name if Izuku or any of the other kids told you about him, would you,” Inko murmurs before giving Eri a reassuring smile. “That's All Might's name, sweetie.”

Eyes widening, Eri stares at Inko with awe. “That's Deku-san and Kacchan-san's favorite hero!” she announces happily as she jumps down from her chair. “I want to meet All Might-san! Deku-san has lots of All Might-sans all over his room!”

Her excitement makes it impossible for Eri to stay still. “Eri-chan, did Izuku tell you he doesn't look like those figurines anymore...? I don't want you to be too shocked when you meet him.”

“Yes!” Eri says with a little nod. “He showed me a picture of All Might-san and Deku-san! I thought he looked a little scary, but if Deku-san says he's not, I believe Deku-san.”

“Don't tell All Might he looks scary,” Inko warns gently. “You would hurt his feelings.”

Eri shakes her head, her hair a fluffy mess. “I'd never want to hurt All Might-san! That would make All Might-san, Deku-san, and Kacchan-san sad.”

Inko smiles at her as she hears a knock on the front door of her UA dorm room. “You are such a good girl, Eri-chan,” she compliments as she moves to open the door. “Ah, Yagi-san, come in! We were just talking about you.”

“Only good things, I hope,” All Might says as Eri turns to stare at him. “Ah, this must be young Eri. Nice to meet you.”

She beams up at him with bright eyes. “It's nice to meet you, All Might-san! Deku-san told me a lot about you!”

All Might's smile falters, and Eri thinks he looks very tired. “Ahh, did he? That sounds like young Midoriya...” he trails off as Inko claps her hands together, pulling their attention to her.

“Speaking of my son, I better go pick him up from the hospital. Will you be at the welcome back get-together, Yagi-san?” Inko asks as she grabs her purse.

“I'll have to pass on it, I think,” he says carefully. “I don't want to intrude.”

“Intrude?” Eri questions quietly, but they don't hear her.

Inko frowns, gripping her purse fretfully. “That's your choice, but I don't think you'd be intruding,” she states firmly. “I'll be back in an hour, as long as we don't get too caught up at the hospital. You'll be fine?”

“We'll be fine, Midoriya-san. No need to fret.”

Inko laughs as she pats All Might's arm. “Us Midoriyas only know how to fret, you know,” she replies before turning to Eri. “Do you need anything from me before I go, Eri-chan?”

Eri shakes her head, thinking for a moment. “Everything will be okay,” she says solemnly before grinning widely. “Why? Because All Might-san is here!”

All Might's smile returns, a bit smaller than before, but Eri smiles even bigger to make up for it. Inko smiles as she pets Eri's hair, bidding her goodbye. When the door closes, Eri turns her full attention to All Might. Deku told her All Might always saved people with a smile, so she wants to make him really smile.

But first, Eri wants to know why All Might doesn't want to go to the party. “All Might-san, don't you want to see Deku-san and Kacchan-san at the party?”

“Ahh, it's not that, young Eri,” he replies, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don't believe they'd want to see me. Let them have a happy reunion with their classmates and family.”

Eri frowns as she thinks about his words. “I'm not a classmate or family. Does that mean I shouldn't go either...?” she wonders.

“I'm sure young Midoriya—and from what I hear, young Bakugou as well—think of you as their family,” All Might tells her firmly. “They will be happy to see you.”

“They've known you longer, and they love you so much, All Might-san! You must be family if I am!” Eri announces with a sure nod. “That means you have to go too!”

All Might crouches down to her level, placing a hand on her head. “Why do I have a feeling you won't let up? You're almost as stubborn as those young men.”

Eri beams at him as she takes his hand off her head to hold it tightly. “Kacchan-san says to always learn from the best,” she states as she tugs on All Might's hand. “We have to get ready! I think I need help with my costume.”

“Costume...?” All Might questions as Eri pulls him along to her room, and it doesn't take long for him to see the Eri-sized costume replicas on her bed. “Where did you get such well made replicas...? Ahh, I do hope young Bakugou didn't give you live grenades...”

Eri's nose scrunches up in confusion as she grabs the grenadier bracers, squishing one in a hug. “No, they're soft! Momo-san made them this way, and Kacchan-san said this is safer,” she explains, and All Might lets out a sigh of relief.

“Are you going to choose to wear young Bakugou's uniform then...?” All Might asks as he looks over the mini Deku dress. “Are you sure...?”

“I'm going to wear both!” Eri announces proudly as she starts to pick pieces from both outfits.

The Deku dress makes the cut with the plush Dynamight grenadier bracers. She keeps the pants and knee pads from the Dynamight outfit and the red shoes from Deku's, but Eri frowns as she looks at Deku's cowl versus Dynamight's headband-face mask combo. She holds them both up to show All Might for help.

“Which one, All Might-san?” she asks, pulling on the cowl and mouth piece that fully covers her face. “Deku-san? Or Kacchan-san?”

All Might slowly pulls the cowl off her head, and she can see his eyes are a bit wet. “Ahh, I think we can see more of your cute face with young Bakugou's mask, young Eri,” he points out softly.

“All right!” Eri agrees as she adds the headband-face mask to the mix and match outfit on her bed. “This'll be great! Thank you for your help, All Might-san!”

“That's quite all right. Do you need help putting it on? There's still some time until Midoriya-san and the Bakugous return with the boys.”

Eri shakes her head. “I want to get dressed by myself and go downstairs soon! I want to help with the party!”

“That's admirable of you. I'll wait in the kitchen for you, young Eri.”

Eri doesn't expect all the attention she gets when she arrives in the common room with All Might. “Eri-chan, you look so cute!” Ochako exclaims from the couch, half attempting to stand as Tsuyu stops her movements to keep her sitting.

Since everyone came back, Eri's seen a lot of different injuries. Most of the heroes in the room have been injured by everything that's been happening. She knows a lot of people called it a war, but Eri's not sure what that means, exactly. All she knows is her friends have been hurt, and Eri wants them to be okay.

Ochako smiles reassuringly when she notices Eri's worry, making a muscle and using her other arm to smack it. “Eri-chan, don't worry! We're strong and just healing now.”

Tsuyu nods. “Exactly, kero. Ochako-chan just needs to stay sitting to let her leg heal,” she states, more to Ochako than to Eri.

“Okay...” Eri says, trying not to fidget. “...Ochako-san, can I hug you?”

Ochako covers her mouth, a small squeaking noise still making its way through as she nods. Eri carefully climbs onto the couch beside her and gives her the best Deku hug she can, even with her plush grenades clumsily getting in the way.

“Tsuyu, can you...?” Ochako whispers above Eri's head as she clings to the other girl, but Eri doesn't know what she's asking for until she hears the shudder of a camera phone taking a picture.

“I'll share it in the group chat later, kero.”

Eri looks up to see Ochako smiling, so she smiles widely in return. “What's a group chat?”

Ochako bites back as a laugh as she pets Eri's head. “I'll show you after the party,” she promises, then mutters under her breath. “After I make sure it's safe for kids.”

Before Eri can ask what that means, her attention is pulled away by a squeal. She looks up to see a few other of Deku and Kacchan's classmates. The very pink one—she remembers Ochako calling her Mina—is smiling brightly, even with a chunk of her hair a bit lopsided and a scar peeking out from her t-shirt on her collarbone.

“Eri-chan, are you dressed as Deku and Dynamight?” Mina asks, leaning on the back of the couch and still smiling. “Did Yaomomo make this? The designs are so detailed!”

Eri nods happily. “Yaomomo-san made them for me before everyone left! This is the first time I got to wear them! I wanted Deku-san and Kacchan-san to see me wear them when they come home today!”

“That's so manly,” Eijirou says, a hand over his heart.

“Aww, did you hear that? She calls him Kacchan-san!”

With a frown and furrowed brows, Eri stares up at Mina. “Should I not call him Kacchan-san...? He said I could call him Kacchan, because I can't say his name properly...” she trails off then smiles again. “Just like Deku-san couldn't say it when they were little!”

“That's so precious,” Ochako chokes out, and Eri turns to look at her with confusion. “Don't worry, Eri-chan. You can keep calling Bakugou-kun that. I just never thought he'd tell someone they could call him something so...cute.”

“You talking about me behind my back, Round Face?”

Everyone's attention pulls away to see that Kacchan has shown up behind them. “Kacchan-san!” Eri exclaims, launching herself off the couch and wrapping her arms around his legs.

Kacchan almost falls over, but Eijirou steadies him with a firm hand on his back. “Hey, Bitty Deku,” Kacchan says, ruffling her hair. “I think your omamori worked. Good job.”

Eri can't help but beam from the praise. “Where is Deku-san?” she questions, looking around before looking back at Kacchan only to notice some of his bandages. “Kacchan-san's hurt!”

She tries to step away, but Kacchan keeps her from pulling away. “I'm fine. Just got more healing to do. We won against the villains,” he tells her with a smirk. “Deku's just taking his sweet ass time.”

“Bakugou-kun!”

“Bakugou!”

“Didn't sensei tell you not to teach her inappropriate language, kero?”

Kacchan shrugs, giving Eri a grin. “Oi, Bitty Deku. What do you say when I cuss?”

Eri grins back, matching Kacchan's. “Don't repeat any of it, because I'm not Kacchan-san!”

“See? It's not a problem.”

There's a camera flash, and Eri lets go of Kacchan, having to blink hard and rub her eyes. “Sorry, you guys just had matching grins, and it was so cute and kinda creepy-!” Ochako explains in a rush, waving her arms placatingly as Eri blinks her eyes open to see Kacchan scowling. “Eri-chan, don't you want to find Deku-kun? I bet he's around now, and I think Bakugou-kun should probably sit down.”

“I ain't gotta do nothing-”

“I think those bandages covering most of your torso disagree, bro,” Eijirou interrupts as he steers Kacchan to the couch.

Eri feels torn as she watches Kacchan begrudgingly sit down. She can't find Deku and stay by Kacchan's side. Biting her lip, Eri tries to peek around the couch to see if she can spot Deku. It's not working well, and she can feel Kacchan watching her.

“Oi, Bitty Deku, I'm fine. Go find the nerd,” Kacchan tells her then gestures to Ochako and Eijirou sitting on either side of them. “These two won't let me move, so I ain't going anywhere.”

His words alleviate some of her anxiety, and Eri smiles. “I'll bring Deku-san over here!” she promises before leaving Kacchan and his friends to hopefully find Deku in the ever growing party.

Chapter Text

“Why are we sneaking away from our victory celebration, kid?”

Izuku makes a face to himself as he finally manages to get himself locked away into his dorm room without being followed. After everything that happened, there's plenty of reasons to celebrate; Izuku won't begrudge his classmates or anyone else that. ...but that doesn't mean Izuku feels much up for celebrating.

“You can't save everyone, Izuku-kun,” Nana reminds him gently as Daigoro pouts about being ignored. “Your team and family survived with limited casualties to the remaining pro heroes. It was the best possible outcome.”

Even though Izuku knows Nana is right, he doesn't feel like her words ring true. “How can you say that when I couldn't save your grandson, Shimura-san?” he mutters to himself as he flops onto his bed.

“He was beyond saving,” the Second User states before Yoichi elbows him. “I won't sugar coat it just because it's over.”

Yoichi sighs, but before he can say anything himself, Nana holds a hand up. “Izuku-kun, you may not have saved my grandson to your satisfaction, but I truly believe that Tenko saved himself to his,” she explains as Yoichi nods in agreement.

“He ended it all in the only way that would truly satisfy him,” Yoichi adds, and Izuku can't help but close his eyes and remember those final, unsatisfying moments of that final fight.

Izuku freezes as All For One laughs at them. They've all fought their way here, and in the end, it's just Izuku and Katsuki in front of the nearly complete body of Shigaraki Tomura. Cut off from the others, Izuku saw no other way to win except to share OFA with Katsuki.

It's not the same as Nabu Island. Neither of them have any open wounds, because one touch from Shigaraki now would be fatal, no matter the quirk. Izuku thinks fast, and he can see the moment Katsuki catches on to what Izuku's about to do. Katsuki's not quick enough to stop him, so Izuku pulls him into an open mouth kiss.

Their saliva mixes, and it's over as soon as it happens because Katsuki shoves him away. “No fucking way,” he says, but Izuku can see that power of OFA flowing through Katsuki now too. “Why-”

“How quaint,” All For One taunts through Shigaraki's mouth, as irksome as it is frightening. “Final goodbyes? At least you know your fate is sealed.”

Katsuki turns his ire towards All For One as his body starts to crackle with his newfound powers. “Ain't saying any goodbyes except to you, nutsack face,” he says as he prepares a blast with his gauntlet.

The resulting Howitzer Impact can melt mountains, but Shigaraki's body endures it as the fight really begins as Izuku follows up with Detroit Smash. The two of them work in sync, and it's really the only reason Izuku could find his moment.

Everything tilts on its axis as the world disappears around them, and Izuku opens his eyes to see both Shigaraki and All For One standing in front of him in a world of dark wisps. He can feel Katsuki and the vestiges of One For All standing behind him. Izuku can feel their strength behind him as he steps forward.

“I believe this is a more level playing field,” Nana says as All For One sneers at her.

“You think I'm not just as powerful here? You have signed your death warrants, all of you.”

Izuku shakes his head. “Maybe, but is Shigaraki stronger here? We all have the same access here. Is there anything you might not want him to know?”

In this vestige form, Izuku can see All For One's eyes glare at him through the darkness. “All this boy knows is hatred. There's nothing for you to try and save,” he points out maliciously.

“I don't believe that,” Izuku retorts, his genuine words seemingly throwing Shigaraki for a moment. “Shigaraki... No, Shimura Tenko, has All For One told you everything?”

Shigaraki scowls the moment Izuku says his birth name, and Nana steps forward. “You didn't know who I was, not exactly,” she points out. “You could easily find out what else this man has kept from you. Don't you deserve that much, Tenko?”

“Don't call me that!” Shigaraki screams as the world around them shakes.

Katsuki snorts, catching on to the plan. “Oh yeah? Sounds like you're scared to find out what your master's been hiding. Sounds like a chickenshit move,” he taunts, and Izuku has to stop himself from cringing.

But it works, and before AFO can stop it, the world shifts into a small Japanese home. Izuku doesn't know why he knows, but it must be the place Shimura Tenko grew up. There's a man bringing a young Tenko home.

They don't touch at all until the man places a hand on young Tenko's head, and everyone witnessing it can feel the vibration in the air of a power transferring. It leaves Izuku a little shell shocked as the moment the man leaves, everyone takes in the unmistakable grin of All For One.

“You were quirkless like me,” Izuku says, unable to stop the words from tumbling out of his mouth.

Shig- no, Shimura Tenko seems frozen in time as the scene fades, and All For One sneers. “You wouldn't have made it as a quirkless child in this world,” he says with no remorse. “Without a quirk, you'd be nothing.”

“You're fucking wrong,” Katsuki says as Izuku feels his heart squeeze from the emotion in those few words. “The person makes the quirk, not the other way around. You're a shithead with all the quirks ever, and it doesn't make you something.”

All For One's full attention turns to Katsuki, but the vestiges step forward to shield him, much to Katsuki's protests. “You think the ghosts of people I've already killed scare me? I fear nothing.”

“Maybe you should fear one thing.”

Tenko's words just make All For One laugh. “You? All you have is hatred. Be a good boy and destroy them with it, will you?”

“All I have is hatred. You're right,” Tenko says coldly as his hands easily wrap around All For One's throat. “A hatred you cultivated, but it's mine, and this is what I choose to do with it.”

In that moment, the hands of Tenko's dead family members grasp at All For One's limbs, tightening around them one by one. “You-”

“Yes, me,” Tenko replies as all of the hands begin to amplify the first quirk All For One had gifted him with.

Izuku can't move, watching both All For One and Tenko begin to turn to dust right before their eyes. In those final moments, All For One stops smiling, and Izuku thinks he sees the first genuine smile he's ever seen from Tenko before he turns to dust.

“I don't think I'd ever seen Shig- Tenko ever truly smile,” Izuku says to himself as he shakes thoughts of the final battle from his head. “He could have...”

“He couldn't have,” Yoichi reminds him. “Don't take his decision to end this in his own way lightly. All we can do is respect that and continue to live.”

There's a long moment of silence before Daigoro cracks up. “We ain't exactly alive, Yoichi-san,” he points out, pulling a chuckle or two from his other fellow vestiges. “The kid though? He should go live it up! Maybe kiss that blond firecracker again without an ulterior motive!”

Izuku's face heats up immediately, and he wishes Daigoro had a physical form to throw a pillow at. That's not-! Banjo-san-! Izuku trips over his words, even in his thoughts.

“...that seems ill-advised, Banjo,” Hikage states with a frown.

Daigoro snorts. “Senpai, what's you got against it? It's not like the kid sets off Danger Sense,” he points out with a shrug. “And he didn't keep our quirk. He gave it back with style!”

Izuku buries his face into his pillow, not wanting to think about how Katsuki gave One For All back. It's Izuku's fault for not thinking of a different way to share his quirk with Katsuki in the moment, but in the end, nothing went as planned. Now Izuku's cursed with the phantom sensation of Katsuki's tongue in his mouth, and he can't stop thinking about it.

The world of the vestiges fades away, and Izuku feels himself collapse to the ground next to Katsuki. There's two piles of dust slowly blowing away where All For One and Shimura Tenko once stood, and Izuku can feel One For All starting to ebb away. It's no longer his, but everything's over. Being quirkless again to save the world isn't the worst trade off.

“Oi, dumbass.”

It's the only warning Izuku gets as he turns to look at Katsuki, whose eyes are burning with determination. He gets yanked forward, and Katsuki painfully smashes their mouths together. Izuku can't help but gasp at the sudden jolt of pain, and Katsuki takes full advantage of that moment of weakness.

This kiss feels like it lasts longer than the one Izuku sprang on Katsuki, but Izuku knows he has to be imagining it. He can feel the power of One For All flowing through him properly again; it's almost as surprising as the look in Katsuki's eyes when the kiss breaks.

“Kacchan-”

“Shut up,” Katsuki interrupts, shoving Izuku away with a flush high on his cheeks. “Don't overthink it.”

Before he can tell Katsuki that overthinking is all Izuku does, their friends and classmates make their way to them. “Deku! Bakugou!”

Katsuki clicks his tongue. “It's Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight, dammit!” he shouts back as he moves to get up.

Todoroki has to catch Katsuki before he falls unconscious while Izuku forces himself to his feet in a panic. He doesn't get far, but Iida's there to catch him before he falls unconscious as well.

“Banjo-san, I don't know if I'd call what Katsuki-kun did as anything 'with style'.” En points out. “I'm surprised that he didn't knock them both unconscious with a headbutt.”

“I wish I was unconscious right now,” Izuku mutters as the voices in his head continue to bicker.

“Perhaps we should respect Izuku-kun's wishes, and give him some space?” Nana asks, though the other vestiges do quickly catch on that it's not a request.

Daigoro huffs. “Fine, miss out on your own victory party. You gotta live it up someday, kid. You've got all the time in the world now.”

The voices all fall silent, and Izuku feels alone in his head for maybe the first time in weeks. It's almost lonely, but Izuku's too exhausted even after his short stint in the hospital. The silence makes falling asleep easy, and Izuku's out like a light in seconds.

While Izuku sleeps, the long dead vestiges in the back of his head make plans. “I didn't really think we'd continue to exist once my brother was defeated, to be perfectly honest,” Yoichi breaks the silence of the group, and Nana tries not to wince from his bluntness. “I'm at a bit of a loss now that it's over...”

Nana agrees with the First User of this unbelievable quirk, but her mind can't help but wander to their current vessel. Midoriya Izuku leaves an impression on everyone he meets, and even as a vestige, Nana feels that impression keenly.

“Maybe we can provide some guidance,” En speaks up from the seat he's curled up in, resting his chin on his knees. “Nine's idea of solving his current 'problem' is avoiding it until it goes away.”

Daigoro guffaws as he grins widely. “En's spot on there. Gotta say, ain't no avoiding that firecracker kid,” he points out then pauses thoughtfully. “We should help him get over this bullshit idea.”

With narrowed eyes, En looks at his senpai skeptically. “I don't trust that grin on your face.”

“You shouldn't,” Hikage agrees as he crosses his arms. “Interfering with the living at this point... We have accomplished our goal. There's no need to interfere anymore.”

With a disgusted click of his tongue, Daigoro turns to his mentor. “C'mon, this kid's more awkward than you, hermit-senpai,” he points, and Hikage's face sours. “Nothing against ya, but this kid ain't a hermit that lived in seclusion for the last years of his life. It's his teenage years! He should be living them up!”

Before Hikage can retort, Yoichi stands suddenly and even startles the Second User sitting quietly beside him. “Daigoro-kun is right,” he says with such confidence that Daigoro grins at gaining an ally. “Perhaps we haven't faded away because there's more for us to do. Izuku-kun clearly needs someone's help...”

The Second User groans from his seat. “There's no stopping Yoichi onces he puts his mind to it,” he mutters as the Third User nods in solemn agreement.

“We have no business to meddle in Midoriya-kun's affairs,” Hikage says, sticking to his guns. “Count me out of your scheming.”

Nana hums as she watches the others take sides in Daigoro's schemes to 'help' Izuku. Daigoro has Yoichi full on his side. The Second and Third Users seem content enough to let things play out without interfering either way. En seems neutral but curious, while Hikage is fully against any of it.

She's loath to take sides, but... “While I'm not sure I'll condone your methods, Daigoro-kun, I do agree with you. Izuku-kun will wallow without outside intervention.”

“See? Even Nana-san agrees with me!” Daigoro announces as he waves her over to where he and Yoichi have already started scheming.

Resigned to her fate of schemes that will likely go awry, Nana just tells herself that she can at least mitigate the chaos. Maybe they'll even actually be able to help Izuku if she tempers the well-meaning but inherently poorly planned schemes Yoichi and Daigoro have started to make.

Chapter Text

Izuku feels bad for skipping the party the moment Eri finds him. He's a bit groggy from his nap, and she smiles so widely before tackling him in a hug. It makes his heart clench at the cuteness but also at the guilt of inadvertently hiding from her while avoiding Katsuki.

“I missed you, Deku-san!” Eri tells him as Izuku can't help but pick her up and hug her back tightly. “I saw Ochako-san and Kacchan-san were hurt, so I gave them the best Deku hugs I could.”

Burying his face in Eri's hair, trying not to cry. He feels stupid, wanting to cry about hugs; his friends might be injured, but they're safe. Unfortunately, if there's one thing Izuku's bad at, it's controlling his tears.

“Deku-san...?” Eri questions, and Izuku sniffs hard to try to clear up his tears. “Deku-san is crying! I'm sorry! I didn't want to make Deku-san cry!”

Izuku pulls away, wiping at his face as he holds Eri with one arm. “It's not your fault, Eri-chan,” he promises. “I think...a lot's happened, and I was due for a good cry. It wasn't even all sad tears! I'm glad you gave Uraraka-san and Kacchan such good hugs. I bet...it made them feel loads better!”

Not that Izuku thinks 'Deku hugs' are exactly a thing that Katsuki wants, but from Eri, he's sure no one minds them. “Are you sure...?” Eri questions, unsure as she reaches up to wipe a stray tear from Izuku's face. “I can be better. I don't want to make anyone cry.”

Shaking his head, Izuku doesn't have to fake his smile. “Eri-chan, you're already the best. You don't have to worry about making anyone cry like that,” he tells her, and Eri smiles brightly in return.

“But Kacchan-san is the best! He says so,” Eri points out, thinking about her words. “He did help bring Deku-san home, so maybe he's right!”

Izuku can't help but laugh as his tears completely ebb away. “Kacchan would say that,” Izuku agrees, but before he says anything, he finally notices Eri's unique outfit.

“Oh! What are you wearing...? Is that Kacchan's...?” he starts to mutter, but before Izuku can get too deep in his analysis, Eri pats at his arm to be let down.

SOnce her little feet hit the floor, Izuku takes in her mismatched outfit in awe. Those are definitely replicas of his shoes and a dress version of the base of his costume, but everything else is definitely Dynamight. A tiny version of his mask and headband is hanging around her neck, her knees have his pointy knee pads, and she has soft, little grenadier bracers on her arms that he really should have noticed sooner.

After giving a little spin to show off her whole outfit, Eri raises her little arm in the air with a very familiar Kacchan-like smile. “I am here to give good hugs and blow bad people up!” she exclaims, and Izuku can't help but smile.

It's impossible to say no to Eri, and Izuku braces himself to face his family and friends. He lucks out, given the party has mostly dispersed, but not enough to not be spotted by Ashido and Hagakure. From there, Izuku's fate is sealed.

“Midoriya! You're late to your own party, you know!” Ashido exclaims as Hagakure's comfy clothes bounce next to her.

“Aww, Eri-chan, did you fetch Mido for us? Great job!” Hagakure praises.

Eri smiles widely. “Mina-san, Tooru-san, have you seen Kacchan-san?” she asks excitedly, and Izuku feels his heart drop to his stomach.

Ashido looks thoughtful before snapping her fingers. “I think he's in the kitchen. Something about extras not doing anything right?” she offers with a fond eye roll.

Izuku frowns, because he's sure he remembers hearing Katsuki's doctors telling him to take it easy until he has enough energy to get more fully healed by Recovery Girl. “Shouldn't he be resting...?” Izuku asks, and Ashido's sigh more or less answers his question.

“Let's get Kacchan-san to rest then, Deku-san,” Eri decides, taking his hand and marching towards the kitchen.

Izuku feels his heart in his throat, unable to deny Eri anything while dreading a confrontation with Katsuki. Once in the kitchen, the scene is a familiar one. Katsuki has his back turned to them while he's stirring something at the stove. Kirishima looks exasperated, and Satou is just stirring a bowl full of batter, biting his tongue.

“I am here!” Eri announces their entrance, and Izuku can feel his face heating up as everyone turns their way except Katsuki. “Kacchan-san, I found Deku-san!”

Satou is clearly trying not to laugh while Kirishima smiles down at Eri before placing a hand on Katsuki's shoulder. “Aren't you going to greet Eri-chan and Midoriya, 'Kacchan-san'?”

Izuku swears he can hear Katsuki curse out Kirishima before stopping himself and turning around to stare straight at Izuku. “He sure does like getting lost, huh?”

Eri giggles, but Izuku can feel those barbed words hit their target. “It's okay! Because Kacchan-san and I can always find him, right?” she says happily.

A rare smile forms on Katsuki's lips as he tilts his head down to look at Eri, and Izuku feels his heart beat faster. “Yeah, you're right,” he agrees softly as steps away from the stove to ruffle Eri's hair. “That's quite a look you're sporting. You get dressed in the dark, kid?”

“Kacchan!” Izuku exclaims with a huff, stepping forward. “She looks great.”

“All Might helped me get dressed!” Eri says proudly, the slight going straight over her head. “I wanted to dress up like my two favorite heroes!”

Izuku feels like his heart might burst, and he can't help but crouch down to hug Eri. “Ahh, you're the sweetest, Eri-chan!”

Katsuki clicks his tongue before lightly bringing his fist down on Izuku's head. “Oi, nerd. We've gotta talk,” he states as Izuku's whole body tenses up.

This is exactly what Izuku wanted to avoid. “About what?” he asks, playing dumb. “You should be resting, Kacchan.”

It's the absolutely wrong thing to say, and Izuku lets go of Eri once he feels Katsuki's hand yank the back of his shirt. He's on his feet again, and Katsuki's glaring at him like Izuku's committed a crime. Maybe he did, in Katsuki's eyes.

“You know exactly what I want to talk about,” Katsuki states firmly, between gritted teeth, and Izuku can already see Kirishima stepping forward in case he needs to intervene.

The intervention doesn't come because Izuku's smokescreen quirk suddenly starts to fill the room. Izuku knows he didn't activate it himself, but he knows a good escape route when he sees one. It's only going to make Katsuki angrier, but Izuku doesn't want to be yelled at about his choice in the heat of battle. Especially not when he wouldn't trade that one and only kiss with Katsuki for anything.

“En, what the hell!”

En looks up at Daigoro, a smile hiding behind his high collar. “Oops?” he offers with a shrug. “Nine looked like he needed an escape route.”

Nana sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Katsuki stands in the kitchen, ready to explode the closest person, but that closest person is Eri, so he tamps down on that urge. She looks up at him with wide, confused eyes, and he takes her hand into his. She shouldn't have to deal with Deku's bullshit or Katsuki's shitty response to the avoidance.

“Looks like we have to find Deku again, huh, kid?” he offers her, and she giggles in response.

He can feel Kirishima's stare burning a hole in his back as Eri bounces on her feet, grasping Katsuki's hand tightly. “Yes! Good thing we're the best at it, right, Kacchan-san?”

“Oi, you started making food, and you're just going to leave?” Satou asks, sounding annoyed, but Katsuki's not in the mood.

“Yep,” he replies, glancing at Kirishima. “Kirishima can help you out. I have a Deku to find for the kid.”

Katsuki's sure that actually using Kirishima's would be enough to distract his friend, so he can just ditch. Apparently, he underestimated him because he doesn't falter because Kirishima's hand squeezes his shoulder before letting go.

“Oh? I thought Eri-chan was helping you find your 'Deku.' Isn't that right, Eri-chan?”

“It is!” Eri exclaims before Katsuki can refute the claim. “Deku-san is fast. We better get going, Kacchan-san!”

Katsuki gives Kirishima a glare that would at least make someone think twice about messing with him, but Kirishima just gives him a thumbs up in response. “Don't worry, Satou. I'll help with whatever there is to do.”

Not bothering to listen to them anymore, Katsuki leaves the kitchen with Eri to find Deku. “So, Bitty Deku, you got any ideas?”

Eri's face scrunches up as she thinks about Katsuki's question. It's adorable, though Katsuki will never admit that outloud. While he said it looks like she got dressed in the dark—because it did—Katsuki does like her mish-mash outfit of his and Deku's hero costumes.

“Maybe he's hiding in his room!” Eri decides, and Katsuki notices a trail of smoke leading towards the boys' side of the dorms.

“Good idea,” Katsuki agrees as he swallows down his pride and leads Eri to the elevator; he's not sure he could climb the stairs even to the second floor without getting winded.

The short elevator ride is filled with Eri babbling about something Katsuki doesn't quite catch. He can't focus when his mind's filled with Deku's idiocy. What kind of idiot runs away from talking about something so important?

...at least, Katsuki thinks it's important, and he tamps down the thought that maybe it wasn't as important to Deku. Deku has to know that Katsuki didn't have to give One For All back the same way Deku gave it to him, right? Katsuki doesn't do things he doesn't want to do, if there's a choice, and this was an obvious choice.

So why is Deku running away?

It's a question that won't leave Katsuki alone as he and Eri approach Deku's door. Eri gets ready to knock, but Katsuki doesn't bother. The nerd didn't even have the forethought to lock the door, so he deserves them barging in, Katsuki thinks as he shoves the door open.

Deku tumbles out of his shitty hiding spot on his bed, and Katsuki crosses his arm as Eri bolts over to hug Deku. “We found you again, Deku-san!” she exclaims happily before pouting. “Kacchan-san was trying to talk to you. You shouldn't leave when people are talking to you. It's not...not polite!”

Katsuki has to keep from laughing as Deku's face falls at the admonishment. “You're right, Eri-chan,” he agrees quietly as he looks up at Katsuki. “Maybe...we should talk.”

Clicking his tongue, Katsuki moves to stride forward. “That's what I was trying to do-” he starts to say before the world starts to shift, and his balance falters.

He has no control as he stumbles forward, but Katsuki notices the end of the fall never comes. He feels familiar tendrils holding him upright. If he could, Katsuki would knock them away, but the wooziness is beating any of those instincts.

“Kacchan!”

“Kacchan-san!”

Katsuki can barely hear Deku and Eri as he feels Deku's black whip maneuver him into Deku's bed. “Eri-chan, can you get a teacher? We might need Recovery Girl, and I don't know if she's in her office or not...”

Eri must reply, but Katsuki can't hear it as his world fades to black.

“Nice save,” Yoichi says appreciatively as Daigoro laughs boisterously.

“It was mostly the kid, but my quirk definitely did the heavy lifting!” Daigoro admits, still looking proud of himself despite that. “Romantic to catch your future partner in your arms, right?”

The Second User snorts as Hikage stares him down. “He's passed out,” Hikage points out. “There's nothing romantic about one of them being unconscious.”

Daigoro's face falls as Nana winces. “Perhaps when he wakes up, Izuku-kun will be more forthright with his feelings?” she offers optimistically.

En snorts as he folds his arms on his knees. “Depends what your successor thinks of this. Looks like that's who the young girl fetched.”

Nana watches on pensively. “Oh, Toshinori...”

Toshinori isn't exactly sure what to think when young Eri drags him up to young Midoriya's room, half in tears and hardly comprehensible. What he finds isn't what he expects: young Midoriya kneeling beside his bed with young Bakugou passed out on it.

“Young Midoriya, what's happened? Young Eri was quite upset, and she could only bring me here.”

When Young Midoriya looks up to see him, Toshinori can see that he's upset. “Kacchan's been pushing himself. He came up here with Eri-chan to talk, and I had to catch him before he passed out!”

Toshinori frowns as he takes out his cell phone. “I'll find out where Recovery Girl is. She should still be on campus...” he trails off as his call connects.

The brief call with Chiyo goes as well as Toshinori expects; it's clear young Bakugou should have been on bedrest, but he'd talked his way out of it. Toshinori understands, as someone who also never much liked being put on bedrest, but sometimes it's necessary.

Closing his phone, Toshinori looks back to young Midoriya and young Eri. “She'll be here shortly,” he replies, and the relief in the room is palpable. “If he wakes before she arrives, do make sure he stays in bed, young Midoriya.”

Young Midoriya nods as young Eri sniffles. “I hurt Kacchan-san,” she says quietly.

“You did nothing of the sort,” Toshinori states firmly, ready to strike that thought down before it fully takes root as he carefully crouches down to her level. “Young Bakugou makes his own choices, and he'd be the first to tell you that, I'm sure.”

“He's right, Eri-chan,” young Midoriya says as he places a hand on young Eri's head. “Kacchan doesn't do...anything he doesn't want to do.”

Toshinori notices curiously that young Midoriya seems to have had some sort of important epiphany, and he tells himself he'll ask him later. Young Eri sniffles as her tears taper off, drying on her cheeks. Toshinori pulls a large hanky from his pocket and wipes her face gently.

“Do you want to wait here, young Eri? We can wait downstairs with young Midoriya's classmates,” Toshinori tells her, trying to coax her into taking the second option. “I hear young Satou has a cake baking in the oven.”

Young Eri looks conflicted, biting her lip as she looks at young Bakugou. “It's okay if you go downstairs,” young Midoriya tells her, ruffling her hair. “Kacchan just needs to see Recovery Girl and have some rest.”

Young Eri doesn't look like she wants to leave, but she puts on a brave face and nods. “I'll make a gift for when Kacchan-san wakes up,” she replies with determination.

“I'm sure he'll be glad for anything you give him, young Eri,” Toshinori says softly, offering her his hand. “Let's head downstairs. Recovery Girl should be here shortly.”

“Thanks, All Might,” young Midoriya murmurs as they head for the door, and Toshinori replies with a smile.

“Of course, young Midoriya. Now, make sure young Bakugou doesn't make an escape before Recovery Girl arrives.”

When young Midoriya chuckles in response, it warms Toshinori's heart before he leaves with young Eri.

Nana smiles fondly as she watches Toshinori leave with the young girl. “Toshinori approves too,” she states, giving the detractors an almost smug look. “There's an opportunity for Izuku-kun to confess while he helps Bakugou-kun recover.”

“This is a scenario I'm familiar with,” Yoichi chimes in, sounding a bit wistful as he takes the Second User's hand into his and lacing their fingers together. “Though, I was on the receiving end of care from my Hero.”

The Second User looks away, face turning pink. “You have a different recollection of events than I do, Yoichi.”

“No, I was there too. You were doting on him even though you'd just met,” the Third User points out, amusement lacing his voice.

“Aww, who knew Nii-san had a soft side,” Daigoro says with a wide grin. “You won your man. Better help the kid out with some tips!”

The Second User sighs as he rests his head on Yoichi's shoulder in defeat.

When Katsuki comes back to the waking world, it's the wet smack of a familiar kiss as his body tingles from the quirk used on him. “...eugh, who called the old lady,” he grumbles as he tries to sit up.

Katsuki's unceremoniously pushed back down by a strong, scarred hand, and he narrows his eyes, turning his head to glare at the offender. “Kacchan, All Might called her because you passed out in front of me and Eri-chan,” Deku explains.

A twinge of guilt for scaring Eri gets shoved down along with the embarrassment of passing out in front of Deku. “You were pushing yourself,” Recovery Girl interrupts before Katsuki can say anything. “You're officially on bedrest, and I have Midoriya-kun here to help enforce it. Don't make me have to use my quirk on both of you later, you hear me?”

Deku stiffens up. “Yes, ma'am!” he promises as Katsuki rolls his eyes. “There aren't going to be any problems, right, Kacchan?”

It's a weak threat from Deku, and Katsuki waves them off. “Fine, whatever. Means the nerd can't run away, and we have to talk,” he states, and Recovery Girl shakes her head.

“Only talking, boys,” she warns before she heads out, leaving the two of them alone.

Once the door closes behind the old lady, Katsuki grabs Deku's wrist to keep him from running. Deku looks at him like he's lost it as he sits back down on Katsuki's desk chair that had been pulled over next to the bed.

“I said I wasn't going anywhere,” Deku mutters as he pulls back his wrist from Katsuki's grasp, and Katsuki can't help but snort at how petulantly it sounded. “Hey, I'm not!”

“You've been proving otherwise for a while, Deku,” Katsuki points out quietly.

Deku falls quiet, rubbing his wrist absentmindedly. “I didn't know how you'd react if we talked about it,” he admits. “I wanted to pretend maybe we wanted the same thing for a little while longer.”

Katsuki's traitorous heart skips a beat at the admission, and he tries to sit up again only for Deku to stop him. “I don't want to be laid out on my back for this conversation,” he states, and while Katsuki's never been a fan of needing help, he lets Deku help him sit up. “Better. Now, why the hell are you such a coward?”

He can see Deku bristle at the insult, but Katsuki doesn't care because it's the truth. “I'm not!” he denies, but his resolve falters at the scathing look Katsuki gives him. “...it's hard, okay? I don't want to lose you.”

“You ain't going to lose me, dumbass,” Katsuki tells him easily. “We got through enough shit together. You're stuck with me.”

Deku's eyes start to well up at Katsuki's words, and he almost immediately regrets saying anything of the sort. “If you start bawling, I'm gonna take all that back,” he warns as Deku sniffs and wipes his eyes. “Now, you got something else to say?”

“I...” Deku trails off, but before he can say anything else, the door swings open to reveal Eri with All Might in tow. “Eri-chan, All Might! You're back!”

Katsuki grips his sheets as he tries to the aggravation on his face. It's not Eri's fault she's worried, but Katsuki's sure this has set back his attempt to coax a confession out of Deku. The thought that maybe he should just confess first, but to Katsuki, it feels like a loss. It's bad enough he's stuck on bedrest; he's not going to lose to Deku here.

Chapter Text

It's been almost a week since Katsuki's been put on bed rest, and he's getting antsy. Not to mention he hasn't been able to get Deku close to confessing that their shared kisses in the heat of battle and after meant something more. It's infuriating. When did Deku get so good at dodging a subject?

On top of all that, Katsuki hasn't been left alone by himself or even just with Deku in a week. “Don't you extras have other shit to do?” he complains as Yaoyorozu and Jirou make themselves comfortable in his room.

“Oh, is this new omamori Eri-chan made you?” Jirou asks, picking up the green and gold 'health' omamori laying on Katsuki's bedside table.

“Oh yes,” Yaoyorozu answers for him with a smile. “I helped her make it with some material I created for it.”

Jirou smiles as she holds the omamori. “It's so soft...”

Katsuki's done with all of this, and they've barely been in his room for five minutes. “I don't need so many damned babysitters!”

“Just doing our part, Bakugou,” Jirou replies, sounding a bit too amused for his liking as she puts the omamori back. “You wouldn't have been in this mess if you hadn't pushed yourself at the party, you know.”

Katsuki rolls his eyes as Yaoyorozu clears her throat. “You don't have to think of it as babysitting, Bakugou-san. We're friends paying another friend a visit to...hang out.”

He can see Jirou biting her lip not to laugh, but Katsuki has no such compulsion. “Ponytail, you know you're 'hanging out' in a guy's room? Two girls even. Scandalous,” he says in an absolute deadpan, and Jirou loses it when Yaoyorozu's face turns ashen.

“I would never-!” she begins to defend herself, but Yaoyorozu looks at Jirou in confusion. “...Jirou-san...?”

Jirou composes herself and places a hand on Yaoyorozu's shoulder. “Yaomomo, there's so many things wrong with what Bakugou just said, but don't you worry about it,” she tells her, and Katsuki has a feeling he's not going to like what she says next. “He's absolutely no threat, on so many levels.”

Yes, he definitely did not like that insinuation. “Hah? Excuse you, Ears!”

“Oh, don't bristle up like a cat,” Jirou replies, waving him off. “You gonna tell me you'd actually want to make out with Yaomomo if you were allowed out of that bed?”

Katsuki makes a face at the thought; Yaoyorozu may be one of the most beautiful girls in their class, but he just ain't interested. “See? That face you just made! I wouldn't make that face about Yaomomo!” Jirou exclaims then flushes when she figures out what she just said. “I mean...if I were you, ha ha...”

It's an interesting slip of the tongue, and Katsuki jumps on it. “Oh? Saying you want to make out with Ponytail, Ears? That's forward of you.”

Jirou looks up at him furiously before Yaoyorozu interrupts. “I believe... I had the wrong idea about some things,” she says, and Jirou's face falls. “Jirou-san, I... Bakugou-san can be left alone for a bit, so we can talk, privately?”

“Don't mind me. I ain't going anywhere,” Katsuki tells them smugly.

“I trust you as far as I can throw you right now,” Jirou replies as she stands up, face red as Yaoyorozu takes her hand. “Uhhh...”

“If we don't return promptly, I will arrange for someone else to keep you company,” Yaoyorozu says before she leads Jirou out of the room.

“Get it, Ponytail,” Katsuki mutters to himself as he enjoys the quiet in his room.

It's a short-lived quiet, but it's not the girls coming back. His door opens to show Eri and Deku. He hasn't seen Deku for at least a day, and now that he sees him with Eri, he can guess why. Even with the war over, it doesn't mean there's always an adult to watch Eri.

“Kacchan-san, we are here!” Eri announces proudly, and Katsuki can't help but smile at her new habit of announcing herself like All Might. “And I have a present for you and Deku-san!”

“Do you now?” Katsuki asks as he gestures for her to come closer as Deku closes the door behind them.

“First I'm hearing of this. Eri-chan, why didn't you tell me you had another present for Kacchan?” Deku asks.

Eri shakes her head. “No, it's a present for both of you,” she reiterates firmly as she digs through her big purse one of the girls must have given her. “Deku-san, sit next to Kacchan-san. I want you to see it at the same time!”

“Okay, okay,” Deku replies with a laugh as he sits in the chair next to Katsuki's bed. “Can we see now?”

“Yes!” Eri replies as she pulls out a piece of paper with a drawing on it.

Katsuki can tell immediately what she's drawn and why they needed to see it together. It's a crayon drawing of two figures that are clearly him and Deku. Their arms up in the air, like All Might's famous pose with one key difference: they're holding hands.

“Inko-san told me before you both came back from the hospital that you won the day together,” Eri explains quietly. “All Might held his arm up when he won, and when you want to stay together with someone, you hold hands! It's good, right?”

“It's really great, Eri-chan,” Deku tells her, sounding choked up already.

Katsuki decides she's right, and he takes Deku's hand into his without a word to him. “You did a great job, Bitty Deku,” he says, and she beams in response.

He can feel Deku staring at him, but Katsuki won't let it distract him. “I'm so happy!” Eri replies, not even noticing their hands. “Where should I put it?”

“How about the fridge downstairs, Eri-chan?” Deku speaks up, clearing his throat. “If Kacchan doesn't mind. I think it'd look great there.”

“Go for it,” Katsuki agrees, and Eri nods excitedly.

“I'll be right back! Deku-san, make sure Kacchan-san doesn't leave!”

Deku smiles. “Don't worry about that, Eri-chan. I think All Might is in the lounge. He can help you find some cute magnets to put it on the fridge.”

“Okay!” she replies, and in her excitement, Eri leaves without saying goodbye.

Silence falls over the room, and all the while, Katsuki doesn't let go of Deku's hand. Deku grips his hand tightly in return. Katsuki's unsure what to say now, having made his move without much thought, but Deku's not someone who knows how to stay quiet for very long.

“Do you mean it?”

“Do I mean what?” Katsuki shoots back.

“That you want to...stay together with me,” Deku replies, holding up their conjoined hands. “Because I want that more than anything, Kacchan.”

Katsuki turns to face Deku. “Then tell me why you kissed me before we went into battle.”

Deku's face turns bright red in an instant. “It was to share One For All!”

“And?” Katsuki adds, looking at Deku expectantly. “Coulda done that with blood or something. You didn't have to kiss me.”

“I wanted to, okay!” Deku blurts out, ducking his head. “I was selfish. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Yes,” he replies, point blank. “And what, you thought I was being altruistic when I returned your quirk, you damned nerd?”

Deku blinks at him like this information is new. “What?”

Katsuki just stares at Deku like he's an idiot, and in this case, Katsuki's pretty sure he is. “You really thought I kissed you just to return your quirk to you?” he asks incredulously. “The hell is wrong with you?!”

“Wrong with me!?” Deku exclaims in response, sounding offended. “You just told me to shut up afterwards! What about that made me think it meant anything else?”

“I also told you not to overthink it, and you went and over-thought it!”

“That's what I do, Kacchan!” he shouts in exasperation. “Just be upfront with me.”

Katsuki hesitates; he doesn't want to lose to Deku, but this is getting ridiculous. If Katsuki wants anything to really happen between the two of them, he's going to have to swallow his pride. It's getting in the way of something they both want, and Katsuki knows it.

“I kissed you because I wanted to kiss you. As simple as that,” Katsuki says, finally. “What do you say to that, Izuku?”

He's not sure what sets Izuku off, if it was the confession or the use of his first name for the first time since they were children. Katsuki doesn't really have time to think about it, because Izuku leaves his chair to climb onto the bed with him. Izuku's straddling him, but Katsuki doesn't have time to tease him for being so bold because now they're kissing.

It's so much more than their last two kisses, and Katsuki hadn't thought that was possible. He's feeling warm all over as he returns the kiss, hands resting on the small of Izuku's back. The only reason they stop is for air, and even that doesn't stop them for long.

Except Katsuki isn't exactly back to one hundred percent, and Izuku's weight shifts just the wrong way to pull a pained groan from him. Izuku scrambles off of him in an instant, and Katsuki is both grateful for the weight being gone and pissed that they're not kissing anymore.

“Kacchan, did I hurt you? Should I get-”

“Stop,” Katsuki interrupts, covering Izuku's mouth with his hand. “I just wasn't expecting an armful of nerd. Don't make a big deal.”

Izuku huffs as he pushes Katsuki's hand aside. “Okay, maybe I got a little excited...” he admits sheepishly before a thought clearly comes to him. “Are we boyfriends now?”

“If you want to be,” Katsuki says, trying to sound casual about it, but he knows he's failed as Izuku grins.

“Of course I want to be,” Izuku replies, grabbing Kacchan's hand as he sits on the bed next to him. “Budge over. I want to cuddle my boyfriend, since I almost crushed him to death.”

Katsuki rolls his eyes, but he does shift over in his bed to make room for Izuku. “You're overexaggerating,” he points out as Izuku pulls him close. “Don't get used to this.”

Izuku sees right through Katsuki's lie, though. He huffs a laugh as Katsuki doesn't bother to pretend he's not snuggling closer to Izuku, now that he's allowed. All of this felt like an eternity in the making, and Katsuki's not going to let Izuku go now that he's caught him.