Archive of Our Own

Izuku knew he had nothing to worry about.

This was a routine case briefing. He worked with heroes all the time. Just because he hadn’t worked with this particular hero didn’t mean it would be any different.

Izuku only had to explain the case and discuss what he’d observed about this villain’s behavioral patterns. Easy. All his documents were ready, and he’d reviewed the slideshow at least twice.

But each hero had their own preferences for briefings, and this was Dynamight.

Izuku sighed and forced himself to set his pen down on the podium. He didn’t need to make more notes. He was ready.

Things wouldn’t be the same.

DynaMight was… different.

He wasn’t Kacchan anymore. He’d changed while he was at UA. Izuku could tell that even while watching from afar.

He’d always been watching from afar.

Kacchan had been a blazing sun that would scorch anyone who got too close, and he still could be, but at UA he’d learned to provide the sun’s gentle warmth, as well.

Not that DynaMight was ever really gentle…

More like the summer sun, scorching you even while it embraced you.

Izuku bit his lip.

DynaMight would be coming here. He would be walking into Izuku’s precinct and listening to Izuku give a debrief on the villain he’d been tracking for the past month.

Izuku knew Kacchan had changed. He knew that.

But would Kacchan actually listen to him? To quirkless Deku?

Kacchan had gone to UA to become the greatest hero. DynaMight was well on his way to achieving that.

Why would he need Izuku?

The door banged open.

Izuku’s eyes darted upward, and he refused to look back down when he saw Kacchan’s–no, DynaMight’s–angry scowl. “So it really is you. Figures that you’d aim for being a detective once you finally realized you couldn’t become a damn hero.”

Isuku refused to flinch. “Welcome, DynaMight. Thank you for coming on such a short notice. We’re happy to have your help on this case.”

Red Riot was entering the room now, along with Izuku’s assistant, who was holding the case packet that should have been given to Dynamight. Izuku sighed. “If you’d refer to the packet I compiled–”

DynaMight scoffed, cutting Izuku off before he dropped himself into the closest chair. “Yeah, I know you found a way to foist your nerdy mumblings on people, but I ain’t got time to read that shit. Give me the summary.”

“Bakugou!” Red Riot groaned, then took DynaMight’s packet and slid it across the table to him before sitting down and looking through his own. “These notes are really detailed, man! They’re amazing! You’ve even included how everyone in our agency would be best suited for the mission, thanks! That’ll save us a lot of time.”

“As if.” DynaMight still wasn’t looking away from Izuku. “We know that shit the second we hear a mission. We don’t need someone else to tell us.” Izuku tilted his head to the side. Was DynaMight… defensive? Not of his team, Izuku hadn’t said anything bad about them, and DynaMight hadn’t even looked at the packet, anyway. But the way his jaw was set right now… and the line of his shoulders… Izuku knew that posture.

Izuku put on his brightest smile.

DynaMight’s eyebrow twitched.

“Of course! Your team is amazing and you always make great decisions in action, so it’s obvious that you know each other’s skill sets. I mostly include that information to show why we’ve requested a specific agency like yours instead of asking someone else to do the mission.”

DynaMight’s eyes narrowed, but he did finally pick up the packet.

Izuku took that as permission to start the meeting, so he thanked his assistant for showing the two heroes the way to the meeting room, then dismissed him and launched into his spiel regarding everything they’d need to know in order to capture this particular villain.

DynaMight didn’t speak.

Red Riot asked a few questions, sure, but even when he nudged the other hero, DynaMight just shook his head.

Izuku didn’t understand. First DynaMight was aggressive, then defensive, then completely silent.

Why?

Izuku always knew what DynaMight was thinking. Even after all these years, he’d watched so many of his fights that Izuku could still predict every single move DynaMight made in a fight. Watching DynaMight was amazing. Even if Izuku didn’t always know how he would accomplish something, DynaMight always did.

But now Izuku didn’t know what he was thinking.

DynaMight’s forehead furrowed. “Why the fuck did you want me on this mission? This guy’s quirk will make mine practically useless. If I use an explosion, the whole place will blow up because of all the nitric oxide this asshole produces.”

“Yes, but the rest of your team’s quirks will work great against his supporter crew.”

“So what? Are you expecting me to fight quirkless?” DynaMight’s voice had a dangerous edge to it. If this were middle school, Izuku would be dodging an explosion set off right in front of his face.

But DynaMight just sat there, waiting for Izuku to answer.

He really had changed.

He was waiting. He was willing to listen.

Izuku’s shoulders relaxed. “Your quirk isn’t just explosions. Your skin is also resistant to the chemicals within your sweat, otherwise you would have chemical rashes that developed with excessive use. This villain exudes nitric oxide, meaning that you have a natural resistance to his quirk. You’ll be wearing a gas mask, of course, but you’ll be in far less danger facing him than anyone else would be, and you’re DynaMight. You can easily capture him using only hand-to-hand combat.”

Wide red eyes stared back at him.

“Huh. I never thought about your quirk that way, man, but it makes sense! Sounds like you’re actually the perfect match-up.” Red Riot was grinning at DynaMight, now, and DynaMight sighed, rubbing at his forehead.

“How long have you known that, nerd?”

“I suspected it when you were five. You were always using your quirk, but never had any problems with it. Plus, your mom’s quirk actually helps her skin, so it would make sense if your quirk had beneficial skin properties, as well. As your hero career has continued, you’ve never had any reactions on your hands no matter how long the fight, so that confirmed my theory.”

“Wait. Since he was five?! You two know each other?!” Red Riot frantically looked between them, but then his eyes widened. “Oh. But that would mean that you’re–”

“Shut. Up.”

Ah. There was the ‘I’m so pissed I’m going to throw your journal off the rooftop’ growl.

It had been a long time since Izuku had heard that.

But that meant Red Riot knew about Deku. DynaMight had talked about him?

“Uh…” Red Riot was alarmed now, and giving his fellow hero a wary look. “So this is why you’ve been so prickly this week.” The cheerful hero frowned for a second at the two of them, then grinned and nodded to himself before standing up. “Well, I’ve heard everything I need, I think, so I’m going to head back. You don’t mind giving the final info to just DynaMight, do you, Midoriya-san?”

What?

Izuku stared at the hero.

Alone?

With DynaMight?

“Riot, don’t you fucking dare--”

A hardened hand clamped down hard on DynaMight’s shoulder, forcing him back down into his chair. “You two haven’t seen each other in a long time, right? I’m sure you have loads to catch up on. Actually, Bakugou, you should take the rest of the day off. You have all those vacation hours that you never use, and we can handle it for the day.”

“Riot–”

“Chargebolt owes you a patrol, anyway. We’ll be fine. In fact, if I see you again at work today, I’m gonna sign you up as the next victim of Pinky’s shopping sprees.”

DynaMight was seething, but he didn’t move when Red Riot lifted his hand to give Izuku a cheerful wave. “Nice meeting you man!”

The door closed behind him with a thud.

Well.

This was awkward.

DynaMight was seething in his chair, and if it had been anyone else, even his other agency members, Izuku bet they would’ve ended up with an explosion to the face just now.

But Red Riot had always been special to Kacchan. Izuku was pretty sure that Kirishima Eijirou was a big reason for why Kacchan had started to change. Izuku would always be his fan for that reason alone, but this current situation was one of the downsides to Red Riot’s meddling.

Izuku ran a hand through his hair. “You don’t have to stay, DynaMight-san. I’ve already given you the important information, and everything else is in the packet.”

DynaMight took a deep breath. Izuku watched as he closed his eyes, his shoulders slowly relaxing as he exhaled. When those red eyes opened again, he was still annoyed, but his voice wasn’t nearly as close to blowing up as it had been a few seconds earlier. “Riot’s just being a meddling dick. It’s fine, Midoriya. Finish up doing your mumbling thing.”

Oh.

That was new.

“Not Deku?” Izuku felt like he couldn’t breathe. Why would Kacchan call him by his last name?

“Heroes don’t give people insulting nicknames. Not unless it’s a joke and they’re ok with it or some shit like that.”

Huh?

Kacchan was looking away now, and his cheeks were… was Kacchan really embarrassed?

“I was always fine with it.” That was Kacchan’s way of saying he cared about you. If he didn’t care, then the nickname would change and he’d never call you the same thing. If he only used one name for you, that meant you were important to him. “DynaMight, you can call me Deku. I wouldn’t want anyone else to, sure, but if it’s you, it’s fine.”

Kacchan was looking at Izuku again, studying him. Having that intense gaze focused on him after so many years… one thing was for sure, Kacchan hadn’t lost his ability to make you feel like he was picking you apart with his gaze alone.

“Why?”

Why? Izuku tilted his head to the side, confused. “Because it means you never forgot me. Even if the word means useless, I knew you didn’t mean it. If you really thought of me as useless, you wouldn’t have given me a nickname.”

Red eyes widened.

Kacchan burst out laughing, and it was just like when they were young: his head thrown back and his shoulders shaking as he cackled. The other preschoolers had always said it made him sound like a villain, but Izuku had never agreed. No villain could laugh with that much joy, he was sure of it.

“You’re really something.” Kacchan was smiling now, and it made Izuku’s stomach twist to have that smile directed at him without a single hint of malice. It had been so many years…

“Come on, let’s finish this over some lunch, since Shitty Hair decided I have the day off.”

Lunch.

With Kacchan.

They’d been sitting at the table for ten minutes, and Izuku still felt like it had to be a dream.

He had been to Kacchan’s apartment. Well, technically he’d just stood outside while Kacchan had changed into more casual clothes, but still! He knew where Kacchan lived!!!

Of course, after that, neither one of them had said a word the entire walk here, and Kacchan’s shoulders were starting to stiffen.

He was annoyed.

Izuku bit his lip. “Um… Did you have any questions about the mission?”

“Huh?” Red eyes glanced up from the menu, but then Kacchan scoffed and tossed the thin plastic sheet onto the table. “Nah. That shit sounds pretty straightforward. We go in, for once my damn quirk helps me with defense, and we catch the asshole and his followers.”

Izuku nodded. It really shouldn’t be an issue for Kacchan and his team. With the gas quirk it might be difficult for anyone else, though.

“How long have you been doing this shit?”

Kacchan wanted to know about him? Another new trait to file away. “Ever since I graduated from Shiketsu’s general course. I’ve worked my way up the ranks thanks to a few successful cases and compliments from heroes we’ve partnered with in the past.”

“So you really have found a use for all those notebooks of yours.” Kacchan’s eyes were neutral. Contemplative. Izuku fought not to fidget underneath his gaze.

He nodded. “One of my highschool teachers saw them and suggested that I become an analyst detective. She recommended me as a transfer student to Shiketsu. I owe everything to her, really.”

“I’m glad someone finally fucking paid attention to you.”

Izuku snorted. “You always paid attention to me, Kacchan.”

“Not that kind of attention, you moron.”

Ooops. Kacchan’s eyebrow was twitching again. The blond closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. “Shiketsu, huh? Do you know baldy and the others, then?”

“Baldy?” Izuku couldn’t think of any Shiketsu hero students who had been bald.

“The wind asshole.”

“Oh! Gale Force? He’s not actually bald, Kacchan.” Izuku rolled his eyes. “But yes, I occasionally worked with the hero students when they wanted advice on developing new moves.”

Kacchan grimaced. “I did the supplemental courses for the licensure exam with that asshole.”

“I know.” Izuku knew everything about DynaMight’s hero career. “I was shocked that you didn’t pass the first time, honestly.”

“Tch.” Kacchan scowled for a second, then sighed. “I was a precocious brat. Orca saw that someone needed to slam some humility into me and he decided to take on the job.”

Izuku tilted his head to the side. He doubted that was the only thing that had happened, but if Kacchan didn’t want to go into it, Izuku wouldn’t push. “Red Riot seems like a good friend.”

“That idiot never listens to me when I tell him to leave.”

Izuku laughed. “It would take someone like that to break through to you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it off.” Katsuki turned and flagged down the waitress, ordering some ramen, and Izuku quickly gave his own order, as well.

And then Kacchan started talking about his friends. About how they’d knocked down his walls (literally, apparently–Red Riot’s dorm had been right next to his and he’d once punched through the walls when Kacchan tried to ignore him about something) and dragged him into their gatherings.

No one had been able to talk back to Kacchan in middle school, but Izuku had seen his sidekicks tease DynaMight incessantly without receiving any explosions in return. The first time he’d witnessed it had been Kacchan’s second year sports festival, and Izuku had practically gone into shock.

“You’ve changed.” The words fell from his mouth without thought, and Izuku winced, rubbing at the back of his neck apologetically. “Sorry. I um, I mean it’s a good thing? Not that I didn’t like you before but–”

“You shouldn’t have. I was a dick then. Especially to you.”

Izuku blushed as Kacchan studied him for a second, but then their food arrived, and that set off another rant about how Kacchan was looking forward to eating a meal without idiots trying to steal his food.

Kacchan had never shared food before. Izuku hadn’t known that he did now, either. It’s not like television stations televised DynaMight eating meals with his sidekicks.

Izuku wanted so badly to know everything about this new version of Kacchan.

But Kacchan had become even more amazing than before, so why would he want to spend time with him? He was just a detective.

Kacchan was probably only eating lunch with him right now because Red Riot was forcing him to. Otherwise DynaMight would be doing hero work.

Izuku was being selfish.

People needed DynaMight as their hero.

The walk back toward Izuku’s office was much slower. Izuku hadn’t known that DynaMight could walk slowly, but he was learning all kinds of new things today. Maybe he’d start a new page in his notebook?

No. That was for DynaMight info. This info was special. It was just about Kacchan.

Kacchan’s loud, barking laugh interrupted Izuku’s thoughts, and he turned to see a delighted grin on Kacchan’s face as he nodded toward a small Gaccha store. “C’mon. We used to always beg Auntie and the Old Hag to let us stop at these shitty places.”

Izuku stared at him. “But don’t you have to go back to work?”

“Nah, Riot’ll kill me if I show up.” DynaMight grabbed Izuku’s wrist, pulling him toward the store, but then he paused, his excitement dimming. “Do you have some shit to do? I didn’t ask.”

Izuku shook his head. He did, but nothing that couldn’t wait. Nothing that was worth seeing that light dim in Kacchan’s eyes. Izuku’s stomach twisted as Kacchan grinned back at him. “Then come on!”

Izuku stumbled behind Kacchan, a small burst of laughter escaping as they entered a gacha store together for the first time in over a decade.As if no time at all had passed, Kacchan went straight for the gacha machines with mini-hero figurines. “I forgot they made some of this shit with my brand.”

Izuku hadn’t. He had at least one of every single DynaMight brand item. He had most of DynaMight’s sidekicks’ things, as well. And he definitely had one of every item in this particular gacha store, but he still wanted to get something. He was here with Kacchan. Whatever toy he pulled, Izuku would cherish it.

Izuku glanced around, grateful that no one else was in the small store since the machines were all self-operated and didn’t need a clerk.

Kacchan was fishing in his pocket for some yen, and he predictably inserted it into the machine that had a keychain with his ‘x’ logo in it.

A capsule rattled down the machine, and Izuku laughed when Kacchan opened it and Chargebolt’s logo stared back at him.

“Damn it. Fucking Pikachu.” Kacchan thrust the keychain at Izuku. “Here, you take it. If I keep it, Pikachu would never let me forget about it, and he would find it, no matter where I put it. That bastard is nosey as hell.”

“How terrible it must be to be seen with a piece of your friend’s merchandise.” Izuku grinned as he took the keychain, and Kacchan’s eyes widened, red dusting his cheeks.

Was… was Kacchan actually embarrassed?

“Shut up. They’re nosey assholes, that’s all.” Kacchan looked away, but he didn’t back up from the machine.

Izuku rolled his eyes, but pulled some yen out from his own pocket and inserted it into the same machine. There was the familiar rattle of capsules, and Izuku opened the slot to grab his prize. As he popped open the capsule, Izuku grinned in victory and held up the familiar logo. “Looks like I still have better luck, Kacchan.”

“Asshole.” Kacchan scowled, but then he held out his hand. “Give it. I gave you mine and you probably have every single one of these, anyway.”

“No way!” Izuku stuck out his tongue and pulled the keychain closer to him. “You have it already, too! Companies always provide the heroes with samples before they release the product.”

“That doesn’t mean I actually see that shit! My publicist deals with all that crap. And you aren’t denying that you have it already, De–”

Kacchan froze.

His hand dropped back down to his side.

Izuku stared at him, confused. “I told you it was fine.”

“It’s not. I’m not that kid anymore, and neither are you. You’re not useless, Izuku.”

Red eyes met his.

Izuku swallowed. “That.. um. That works, too.” Oh gosh, his face had to be turning red. Great. Um. “And thank you. It’s… well, it’s always nice to hear that.” Izuku looked down at the ground, afraid that if he looked up at Kacchan then his whole face would erupt into flames.

“Do you still deal with that shit?” Kacchan’s voice was quiet. Angry. Izuku didn’t understand. “People calling you useless just because you don’t have a quirk.”

Oh.

Izuku bit his lip, then slowly looked back up. “Not as much. Most of the detectives and heroes are all great, but there are–”

“Names. Now.”

Izuku’s eyes widened. “What? No, I couldn’t–”

“If they’re discriminatory bastards then they deserve to lose their jobs. Now give me their names.”

“Kacchan, it’s fine! I don’t remember their names, anyway.” Great, Kacchan’s jaw was set in a firm line, which meant he was about to be stubborn. “Please, I’m fine.”

Kacchan stared at Izuku for a few seconds, not moving an inch, but then he sighed and reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. Izuku watched in confusion as Kacchan navigated to a new screen then turned his phone around and held it out to Izuku.

A new contact page.

“Here. Put your info in. I’ll text you my number and then you can tell me if anyone’s being a dick.”

Izuku stared at the phone. His whole brain felt numb. This couldn’t be happening. “You want my number?”

“Yes, Izuku, I want your damn number.” Kacchan pushed his phone forward further, but Izuku’s whole body felt frozen.

“I thought this was just a one time thing. That you only wanted to catch up because Red Riot was making you.”

“Huh?” Oh no. Kacchan was angry. Izuku’s eyes darted from the phone screen to Kacchan’s face. “As if I’d let those dumbasses tell me what to do! I do what I want. I always have.”

Oh.

That… that was true. Izuku looked back down at Kacchan’s phone, then slowly reached out to take it, his hands trembling as he typed in his contact info. The second he finished, Kacchan took his phone back. “Fucking finally.”

Izuku’s phone pinged as Kacchan slipped his phone back into his pocket.

Kacchan’s number.

He had Kacchan’s number!

Izuku swallowed. “Do you, um. Do you want to hang out again sometime?” Izuku gave Kacchan a small hopeful smile, but blinked in surprise when Kacchan’s cheeks turned red.

Was he embarrassed again? “If you want to do something private, we can, of course. You probably don’t want to be seen–”

“What the hell?” Kacchan growled, a small explosion bursting from his palm for the first time that day. “Why wouldn’t I want to be seen with you? I told you, I don’t care about that shit any more!”

“I know!” He shouldn’t have said anything. Izuku looked down. “I’m just a detective. You’re one of the top ten heroes. I didn’t mean because I was quirkless, Kacchan. Promise.”

“You better not have.” Kacchan’s voice was rough with agitation, but he seemed a lot calmer now. “But what the hell do you mean ‘just a detective?’ You’re in charge of your whole damn precinct!”

Kacchan wasn’t ashamed to be seen with him? Izuku looked back up. “If that’s not why you’re embarrassed, did I do something wrong?”

Oh.

Now Kacchan was bright red. “I’m not fucking embarrassed! I– shit, Izuku, just… ” He looked up at the ceiling, then ran a hand through his hair. “What the hell.”

Izuku watched, befuddled, as Kacchan squared his shoulders like he was about to face some battle, then looked back down at him. “I want to hang out with you again.”

Izuku felt like his whole body relaxed. Kacchan didn’t think he was beneath him. “I’d really like that. I had fun today.”

Kacchan closed his eyes, letting out a sharp exhale that made Izuku blink. Why couldn’t he understand Kacchan’s mannerisms right now?

“I was an idiot when I was a kid, ok? I thought the only way to protect you was to be mean to you because you were so damn stubborn and I didn’t know how else to stop you from being a hero, but I was so fucking worried you would hurt yourself.”

Was Kacchan trying to apologize?

“You don’t need to apologize. I wasn’t being realistic. Not really. I should have trained at a dojo or at least done something beyond analysis work.”

“That’s not—” Kacchan made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat. “Izuku. You’re the fucking smartest person I know. And I only settle for the best. So would you…” Kacchan paused, his face bright red, but then he finished, “would you go out to dinner with me? As a date?”

Izuku stared.

“What?”

Kacchan glared at him. “I know you heard me, dumbass, and I’m not going to repeat it.”

A date?

“Kacchan! You, um, I don’t, you can’t just!” Izuku buried his face in his hands. He felt like his whole body was on fire and all tingly, and oh gosh, what if this was a joke? But Kacchan wouldn’t do that. Not this Kacchan. Not the Kacchan who demanded Izuku’s number so that he could yell at anyone who was terrible to him.

Gaahhhhh.

How could this be real?

This couldn’t be happening.

Izuku was dreaming.

That had to be it. There was no other answer, really, because clearly Kacchan would never–

“Oi.” Izuku blinked, startled, as Kacchan’s warm hand reached forward and tilted Izuku’s chin up. “Stop overthinking shit and answer me, damn it.”

Oh.

“Yes! Of course my answer would be yes. Always.”

Kacchan smiled, and Izuku’s stomach twisted. His smile was so nice. And Kacchan was so close. His hand was on Izuku’s chin and he was only a few inches away and they were alone and—

“You’re a fucking idiot for saying yes. I treated you like hell.”

Izuku didn’t like the look in Kacchan’s eyes. Being apologetic was fine, appreciated, even, but… right now he looked like he hated himself. Kacchan should never hate himself. “You were a kid and the teachers encouraged it. You better not be asking me out as some kind of way to prove to yourself that you’re better now. I won’t forgive you if that’s what this is about.”

“Never.” Kacchan shook his head, and the small ball of lead that had grown in Izuku’s stomach began to dissipate just as quickly as it had formed. “I was an idiot back then. I didn’t know why I couldn’t look away from you. But I figured that shit out a few years ago. I’ve always liked you, I was just too damn stupid to see it.”

Oh.

Izuku’s eyes widened.

It felt like his stomach exploded into butterflies that were twisting eagerly around each other, and Izuku’s eyes drifted toward Kachhan’s mouth. “Really?”

“Yeah. Really. That’s why Riot left. He knew I was a dick to you before, sure, but he also knows I’m an insufferable idiot who’s never been able to move on. And now that you’ve said yes, there’s no way in hell I’m ever letting you go.”

Izuku swallowed.

Kacchan hadn’t forgotten him.

“Can I kiss you, Izuku?”

“Please.”

Kacchan’s fingers shifted, tracing along Izuku’s jaw, and then both his hands were at the back of his head, pulling him forward, and–

Fuck.

Izuku never wanted this moment to end.