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Izuku thought Kacchan was the coolest person he’d ever met. Of course, he was 3, so he hadn’t really met many people but he knew: Kacchan was it. He was loud and confident and brave and had all the qualities necessary to be a hero. When Izuku’s mom said that Mr. Bakugo would be Izuku’s new after school babysitter, Izuku was excited! Now, he got to play with Kacchan every day!
“Izuku, be good now”
“Okay, mommy!”
Izuku ran upstairs, following Kacchan to his bedroom. Kacchan’s All Might collection was the best in the whole school.
“Wow! You’re so lucky Kacchan!!”
“Tch..no big deal. You can play with these ones!”
Wow. Kacchan was holding a real golden era action figure- stamped on the foot and all!! And Kacchan let Izuku play with it. Izuku felt like the luckiest kid in the world.
Kacchan let Izuku play with him everyday. Izuku was allowed to tag along with Kacchan and his friends and go on adventures at the creek or on the jungle gym.
Kacchan was the absolute best.
“Kacchan, you’re amazing!!”
“It’s no big deal, Izuku! It’s just climbing a tree! Just put your foot in that little spot! Now grab my hand- I’ll pull you up!”
“But I’ll fall!!”
“You really think I’d let go of you?!”
“No…of course not, Kacchan!”
“Tch. Obviously. Now gimme your hand!”
Kacchan helped Izuku climb a his first tree. Kacchan helped teach Izuku how to ride a bike without training wheels. Kacchan wasn’t afraid of anything, and Izuku felt like he could do anything by his side. He was always there looking out for him, even at school.
“No one else wants to play with you, Izuku. So I have to!”
“Okay, Kacchan!”
"Izuku’s on my team cause no one else will want him!”
“Okay Kacchan!”
Izuku was happy ‘cause that meant he was always with Kacchan.
On weekends they had sleepovers and look through Kacchan’s telescope, wishing on shooting stars that they’d get their quirks soon.
And then…Kacchan got his quirk!!
“Wow! Kacchan! You’re so lucky!! You’re so cool!!”
Izuku waited. He would be a hero just like Kacchan! They would go on missions and rescue people with a smile….but for now, he’d have to play the princess that hero Lord Explosion needed to rescue with his sidekicks.
Still…Izuku would get to be a hero when it was just the two of them. Kacchan and Izuku would test out different quirks Izuku might have, and they spent hours designing their hero agency. More and more of their classmates got quirks. And then..it was only Izuku who didn’t have one.
“Look! You can read Izuku’s name as Deku!”
“Woah! Kacchan, you can read Kanji?!”
“Of course! And look..Deku means someone who can’t do anything”
Kacchan smiled at him and it hurt.
Why was Kacchan calling him a Deku? Izuku wasn’t useless! The two of them still made hero plans on the weekend…Izuku would still get his quirk…..right?
“Your my Deku, okay?!”
His Deku. Izuku’s heart fluttered. The name was mean…but Izuku was the only one with a nickname…and he was Kacchan’s.
Kacchan was smart, athletic, funny…he made friends so easily. Izuku was constantly in awe. All of Kacchan’s friends were also so confident and brave..even if they were mean. And they still sometimes invited Izuku out to play with them…even if he was quirkless!
They invited him out until the day Kacchan fell off a log…Kacchan got so angry and then Izuku wasn’t invited out to play anymore.
At school Kacchan got meaner and meaner, but he’d still come over during school breaks to watch hero marathons with Izuku.
“It’s just politics, Deku. You’re quirkless…and I gotta be cool if I wanna be the number one hero!”
“But…I’m gonna be number one too!”
“Deku, you’ll never be a hero without a quirk. You’ve got to think of something else. Now, watch this clip!”
Kacchan would sit close, leaning against Izuku’s shoulder and for some reason it would make Izuku’s head spin. If the movie got tense, Kacchan would always take Izuku’s hand or wrap an arm around him.
“I’ll protect you, my useless Deku.”
Maybe Izuku knew that 10 was a little too old to be holding your best friend’s hand under a blanket in the dim light of your bedroom, but it felt so good…so right. The way Izuku’s heart skipped a beat every time Kacchan would interlace their fingers together was worth the world. The warmth of Kacchan’s head on his shoulder felt like home, and Kacchan seemed to think so too.
Until middle school.
“Bakugou, why do you still hang out with Midoriya? He’s so weird.”
“Deku? Tch. The stupid wannabe hero just needs to be put in his place.”
They didn’t really hang out much after that, but Izuku would still stay after school to cheer Katsuki on in track meets. It was just politics right?
Kacchan was just doing what he needed to be cool. It wasn’t personal-it was for his career! Soon, he’d be back on Izuku’s bed, hanging out, laughing…making hero comics…
And then the sludge villain happened.
And then All Might.
And then Izuku had a quirk.
A quirk that needed a lot of training, but he would be able to compete with Kacchan! He could be a hero too! When Izuku got into UA, he thought Kacchan would be happy- happy that they could be publicly friends again..but he wasn’t.
Kacchan was upset and angry.
Izuku hadn’t wanted to make Katsuki angry…he wanted his friendship back.He wanted those nights stargazing, talking about quirks…training together.So it made sense that Katsuki should know about One for All.It made sense that they should train together.
The fight at ground beta changed everything. All the pent up emotions, the things unsaid came out in that fight and…they were inseparable again.
Everything made sense.
Training for hours at the school gym.
Sleeping in each other’s dorm rooms because they stayed up too late studying.
Wrestling with each other and pillow fights, playing video games, sharing music and comic books.
It made sense that tiny hand grazes would make Izuku’s breath stop.
It made sense to massage each other’s shoulders when they worked too hard at the gym.
It really wasn’t long before Izuku realized he was bisexual.
It made sense that Katsuki was the first one he’d tell.
They were walking back to the dorms after a late night extra training. Izuku had been distracted by Kacchan’s tight shirt and had missed a new combo several times.
“What’s up with you? You seem off"
“Yeah…I’ve been in my mind a lot.”
“What else is new, nerd?”
“Yeah…I guess.”
“What are you thinking about?”
Izuku’s heart was beating in his throat. It was now or never.
“I think….I think I’m bisexual.”
Kacchan was silent.
Oh shit. Had Izuku messed up? His heart was racing. Should he have kept quiet? Did he just mess up his friendship again?
“Tch…Obviously.”
Katsuki pulled Izuku into a headlock that made his head spin. Kacchan’s deodorant always smelled amazing.
And that was all that was said. Kacchan didn’t bring it up again, but it seemed like massages lasted longer, they wrestled more, hands lingered longer on shoulders..But Kirishima was always around.
Izuku honestly liked Kirishima: he was always so kind and fun and was an amazing hero but he would compete for Kacchan’s attention and Izuku didn’t know why.
He would always join them when they wanted to play video games or train. And it was kinda weird, but it was fine because Izuku still got to spend time with Kacchan.
And then the war came, and there wasn’t any time to think about feelings or massages.
It wasn’t until third year when Izuku had time to figure out how he felt, but Kirishima and Kacchan were always together….and then third year Kacchan started dating a girl from another high school he met during a summer program.
She was nice, but she took up a lot of Kacchan’s time. Izuku tried hard to remember her name, but he always forgot it. She was just…some girl. Some girl who took his Kacchan away. There were no more sleepovers to finish homework, no more wrestling, no more of much besides training together.
It hurt.
Izuku always thought it would be Kacchan and him together. He hadn’t thought about it, but it was obvious: girls would come between them. That was normal, right? Kacchan liked girls, not guys. He wasn’t bisexual…he wasn’t gay. There was no way.
One night Kacchan invited Izuku to a small party his girlfriend was having. Izuku didn’t really know why he was invited, he didn’t know anyone else, but he ended up going cause it was Kacchan. When Izuku arrived, Kacchan greeted him with a big hug. He smelled of beer. Izuku was nervous- he’d never really been to this kind of party, but he walked in and was handed a beer before sitting down on the couch. Kacchan sat next to him, leaning against him as he talked. Kacchan was so warm and smelled so good it made Izuku’s mind hazy. Or maybe it was the beer? The girl’s friends were nice, but Izuku was nervous and had three beers a little too quickly. Soon, he was laughing and dancing around the basement. It was nice to make Kacchan laugh.
“Let’s go upstairs to make some food!”
“Yeah, I’m hungry”
The party got up and made their way upstairs to the kitchen, leaving Izuku and Kacchan alone downstairs. Suddenly nervous, Izuku took a pillow from the couch and whacked Kacchan in the head.
“You little nerd!”
Kacchan lunged and the two ended up wrestling on the carpeted floor. It felt like old times. Laugher, and soft grazes..and Kacchan’s warm hands on Izuku’s arms. They rolled around and suddenly Izuku was pinned underneath Kacchan and the laughter stopped. The air was heavy as Kacchan leaned down and whispered
“I don’t think she’d like this very much.”
He shifted his weight- grinding gently against Izuku’s groin before getting up and walking up the stairs. Izuku was stunned, and it took him a few minutes to calm himself down before joining the rest of the party upstairs. By the time Izuku got upstairs, Kacchan was in the corner sucking on his girlfriends face. He barely even notices Izuku for the rest of the night. Why was Izuku even invited?
After the party, Kacchan and Izuku started talking less and less. Kacchan was always too busy with other things to train with Izuku, and well…now that everyone knew about One for All, Izuku could ask other people to train.
After graduation, Izuku moved across the country. Kacchan visited him a few times, but they somehow lost touch. The life of a hero is hard and the two always were too busy.
Uraraka moved to the city and Izuku and her ended up getting closer, eventually starting to date. Uraraka was comfy- Uraraka was safe. She was caring, she was motivating. She was everything Izuku wanted in a partner.
Kacchan dated a lot of beautiful women- models and top heroes - or at least, that’s what Izuku saw in the news.
Years went by and Izuku decided to propose to Uraraka - they had been dating for so long, it just seemed right. They were best friends and had been through so much together. He waited for the perfect time, proposing to Uraraka in the same place where they had their first kiss and even had Todoroki take photos. The whole event was incredibly romantic, and everyone from UA kept messaging them saying how long everyone had waited for the two of them to get engaged.
Everyone was invited to their wedding. It was a huge affair, even it it was incredibly stressful. When choosing the wedding party, Izuku hesitated. Of course Todoroki would be a part of the party- they’d remained close since high school. But what about Kacchan? They were so close..for their whole childhood they were little they always would talk about how they’d be eachother’s best men. But now… they hadn’t really spoken in years. So no. Kacchan would be invited- The whole Bakugo family would be- but he wouldn’t be in the wedding party.
Izuku greeted their guests as they arrived. It was nice to see everyone again, and there was so much to talk about. Kaminari and Jirou were dating and -
“OI DEKU!!”
That voice.
Izuku turned his head and WHAM. Attacked from behind and pulled into the biggest bear hug. Kacchan. He still smelled the same, still sounded…Izuku’s stomach fluttered.
“Can’t believe you’re getting married! You nerd!”
Izuku let go of the hug.
“Yeah!..It’s wild”
“Makes me feel so grown up”
“Izuku! Katskuki, let’s a get a photo of you both”
Izuku turned around to see both of Kacchan’s parents smiling, cameras in hand. They looked so much older than he remembered.
An arm snaked around Izuku’s waist and a solid, warm hand held him at the hip. It made Izuku’s heart race. But it was fine…it’s just cause Kacchan’s an old friend…right?
The photo was taken, and Kacchan kept his arm around Izuku for a moment longer. Why did the closeness feel so right?
And then, suddenly, the warmth of the hand at his side disappeared.
“Deku, this is Emily.”
“Hi Emily.”
Kacchan put his arm around her.The girl seemed nice enough- strong. She was another hero…Stretchygirl or something. Deku should have known a lot about her already…but he didn’t. Kacchan looked happy with his date..his date to Izuku’s wedding.
Izuku didn’t understand the twinge in his chest. It must have just been nerves. Nerves for the day.
The Bakugos went inside and Deku took out his vows to practice. Him and Uraraka said their vows to each other the night before in secret- but he still didn’t want to mess them up in front of everyone.
The ceremony was beautiful, and everyone was crying by the end- including Izuku. He loved Uraraka so much. She was his closest friend, his support system, his confidante, his cheerleader. And now, his wife.
The honeymoon was long and beautiful, but before long the two were back to their busy lives. Izuku liked this new rhythm, he loved his life. He was married to such a strong, beautiful, caring woman. He was rising in the ranks, and he had close friends. Kacchan even reached out after the wedding and the two started talking more over the phone. Izuku couldn’t have asked for more.
It was a rest day when Uraraka came into their bedroom squealing.
“Izuku!! Izuku! Look! Have you seen?”
“Seen what?”
She turned her phone around.
Kacchan…and Emily.
“They’re engaged?”
“I KNOW!!!”
She squealed again. Izuku’s heart started racing. How exciting for Kacchan.
“I have to give him a call”
He dialled up Kacchan’s phone number. For some reason Izuku’s hands were shaking.
“Hello?”
“Kacchan!! Congratulations?! How amazing!!”
“Thank you so much Deku! Emily and I are really happy’”
“How’d it happen? How’d you propose?”
Kacchan began to tell Izuku how it happened- in the middle of their shift, and how Emily was the one who did the proposing, and how surprised Kacchan was…Izuku felt a tightening in his chest. He guessed it was just because he was feeling so much emotion for Kacchan- They’ll both be married and happy…
“Let’s talk soon, okay Deku?”
“Sounds good Kacchan.”
But when he hung up the phone, the tightness in Izuku’s chest didn’t go away.
Kacchan started calling more often. The two talked for hours, but Izuku noticed that Kacchan never mentioned the wedding. Then, one day after a long shift- a text message.
Kacchan: Emily and I broke up. I’m in town. Want to go for a drink?
Izuku had to reread the message several times. They broke up? But why…
The two met in a bar two hours later. They talked about work over the first and second drink, and it was on the third that Kacchan finally opened up.
“So…yeah. I broke up with Emily.”
“What happened? I thought you two were so happy together..”
Why was Izuku shaking?
“Things just felt off…and I’ve been talking to Kirishima a lot lately. And… well, I’m pretty sure I’m gay.”
Izuku’s heart stopped.
“Really?”
“Yeah..I mean, I guess I’ve known for a long time, I just didn’t put two and two together.”
“Oh..”
Izuku felt dizzy. His childhood frien-crush-love of his life who he pushed down feelings for his entire life…was gay?
Izuku took another sip of his beer- emptying the glass completely.
“Yeah. I wish I could have been honest with myself- like you were in high school. God, you were so brave Deku, just coming out like that.”
Deku almost choked.He needed another drink.
“I mean, brave..or stupid. It wasn’t easy. And I mean, it’s not like I could act on any crushes I had.”
More drinks arrived.
“Yeah…thinking back, it’s wild to think about crushes back then. I mean, I always thought I just didn’t get crushes…”
Deku was not drunk enough for this conversation.
“…but looking back, I really did. Just not for girls. Did you have any crushes in high school?”
“..yeah, I guess.”
“Who?”
“Kacchan…who did you have crushes on?”
“Well….obviously, I developed a crush on Kirishima. I mean, how could I not? The kid was flaming and hot even in highschool…”
Izuku’s mouth was dry. The room was spinning. Kacchan was gay..but he still didn’t-
“…But the biggest realization was that for most of my childhood and teenage years I was so fucking in love with you.”
Wait.What? The world stopped turning. Everything was frozen.
Kacchan was in love with…
“You were?”
Izuku felt his voice squeak.
“I mean, Deku, you have to agree…our friendship wasn’t really a straight friendship, was it. I mean, all that handholding, all that cuddling, sleepovers…”
Izuku’s heart was racing. In all the possible worlds. Of all the possible things…how absurd was it that now- NOW Kacchan was confessing…and Izuku began to laugh.
Kacchan’s face changed.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I’m laughing…I’m laughing because…I was so fucking in love with you. I pined over you for years in high school.”
“Are you fucking serious?”
“We’re so stupid.”
The two of them laughed. And it was good laughter, but it also hurt Izuku’s chest…because, it doesn’t matter now. He’s happily married to an amazing woman with a supporting and loving family.
“Man…it’s nice to have friends who love you.”
“That’s true. So, what are you gonna do now?”
“Well, I think I’m going to start to go on dates with guys. I mean, I’ve never even kissed a guy..”
All the air in Izuku’s lungs seemed to disappear. The thought of Kacchan kissing another guy…
“So..it’ll be fun to see what happens.”
Izuku nodded.
After the two finished up their drinks, they promised to keep in touch.
Before Izuku headed upstairs to his apartment, he cried. He cried and cried more because he knew he had no right to. Kacchan will be happy…just like him and Uraraka.
Kacchan started dating and found a boyfriend pretty quickly.
A nerdy guy…who collected hero merch and rambled constantly, according to Kacchan.
One night, as Izuku lay in bed, Kacchan sent a text with a photo.
His boyfriend was sitting next to an AllMight shrine, and a pretty good one at that. His green hair was tied back in a bun.
Kacchan: “It’s like I found another you”
Izuku was frozen, a large ache radiated from his chest. He looked beside him, to where his wife was sleeping peacefully.
Izuku swallows. He shouldn’t feel bad. Kacchan’s happy. Izuku is happy. He loves Uraraka.
And It’s way too late for what ifs.