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The last thing Izuku remembers is being knocked out by someone.

 It happened fastly, and he barely had to defend himself before his world turned into darkness with him and this unknown place. This stranger knew what he was doing, and Izuku let his guard off. It was his first mistake because now he was separated from him . 

 He didn’t know how or why, but when Izuku opened his eyes, he found himself in an empty room. Glancing at the cells that kept him inside, making realize how it was impossible to escape, at least it was what the things he could understand from this situation. 

The first thing he could notice was the sheet was supposed to be a bed, but it hurt his back more than anything, which might explain why he suddenly had the impression of being old when he was in his twenties. 

The grey color on the wall and the white, reminding him of the old hospital room where he used to go, were the first things that caught his eye. The first impression Izuku had of this room was how it seemed empty, out of life, and abandoned for years. 

From here, he could feel the cold air reaching his face, barely moving his curls and feeling the awkward atmosphere this room was detached from. His heart froze when he saw blood, it was dry blood, but there were some in the walls, on the floor, and on the sheet. He woke up earlier.

Izuku stood back, looking around, when he saw how he was stuck in this room and couldn’t have any contact with the outside. He needed to think. He needed to use his brain and find a way to get out of there before anything happened to him and Katsuki.

Talking about him, his first instinct was to call his boyfriend, hoping the walls would be enough to let his loud voice transpierced them, but he was wrong. 

His green eyes were filled with worries, wondering about where he was and how he needed to get out of there as soon as possible before one of them could get hurt.

 Katsuki was missing. 

His last memory before coming here was on a date with him. It was supposed to be a rest day where the blond promised to give him the best date of his life, even if they’d been together for years, and Izuku didn’t need any of that.

He still played his boyfriend’s game, letting the blond surprise him until smoke filled the room and hearing everyone asking for help around them. Without thinking twice, Katsuki rushed toward Izuku, and the freckled man did the same…and the last thing they knew where how they were in each other’s arms, trying to protect the other before falling asleep.

Izuku heard a sudden sound, breaking the previous cold and empty silence. His heart beat faster, trying to reach the closest object to defend himself and feeling his instinct telling him something was wrong and someone was watching him. It was never a good sign, and Izuku hated this odd feeling in his gut. 

“Hello,” a voice suddenly said, cutting the freckled man out of his thoughts. “You’re awake. I thought you would never wake up.”

“Where’s Kacchan?” Izuku immediately argued, holding the small object in his hands like it’ll be enough to defend himself. He knew it’ll never be enough to defend himself, but he could still count on his quirk.“Who are you? Why am I here? Where am I?”

“Calm down, hero.” The modified voice Pprotested behind the speakers with an annoyed tone. “Each time for a question, will you? You’ll have your answer, but before, I want to play a little game with you.”

Silence filled the room.

Strangely, his danger sense wasn’t activated, but he trusted his instinct, and they would never lie to him. Izuku had so many questions to ask, wondering what this thing was and where they were, but none of them would be enough to cover the main worries: His boyfriend’s state and to know if he was safe.

“I don’t want to play anything, you better tell me where’s Kacchan. I won’t ask twice. You heard me ?” 

The man laughed, giving chills to the freckled man still standing in the room, facing a stranger who was determined about what he wanted. “I see. They didn’t lie when they explained your devotion to Dynamight. Calm down, sweetheart, he’s here.”

“Don’t call me that.” He growled coldly, knowing he was watched for hours. 

He hated how this situation was going, and it got worst when he recognized the familiar face on the screen.

It revealed the blond, sharing the same empty and old room, punching the walls and yelling something Izuku couldn’t hear, but he guessed it was his name. The red ruby eyes found the camera and started to show his middle finger, making the villain understand how he also discovered the villain’s existence. 

“What did you do to him? Where is he ?” 

Izuku was about to activate his quirk but realized he was blocked by something on his wrist. It was a metallic chain, blocking him from any actions he could do, including defending himself and using his last hope, his quirk.

Izuku made a sudden realization. He couldn’t use OFA because the villain blocked his quirk.

Shit.

“He’s fine.” The voice grumbled on the line, almost as if he was already bored by the hero’s behavior. “Your lover is fine, don’t kill me for separating both of you. I’ll be unfair…especially so early in this game.”

Izuku’s blood stopped. He knew something was wrong, and he hated that. 

“Who are you, bastard ?” His voice made sure to spill each word coldly as if he was spitting his venom at the villain watching him. He found himself giving them a death glare to the camera. 

“My name is Magistro.” The stranger finally revealed. “You might know me for my work of art, right ?”

Magitro.

 He knew this name too well because it’s been months since the villain acted in secret, being out of reach and making their mission more complicated than she already was. 

No one knew anything about how to face or his voice…the heroes just knew how he was playing with innocent victims, and some of them would come be found, but “nothing would ever be the same.” It was the words the victims described themself to explain how surviving in Magistro’s trap was worse than living as if nothing happened. 

“Work of art? All you did was kill innocent people. We found the bodies of your victims with unhealed injuries, and the ones who survived are traumatized.”

“Don’t play with my words that way.” The villain threatened him, acting on the defensive when he saw how the green eyes were filled with hate. “Or something will happen to him.”

To justify his words, he didn’t hesitate to show the hero who pretended to know anything how he could act anytime. With one threat, Katsuki stepped back and watched the blood on the floor.

“Don’t you dare touch him” It was Izuku’s turn to threaten him, and his face darkened. If a gaze could kill, Magistro would be already dead.

“I think you should watch your words the next time, hero Deku. How can you call me a killer when all I did was give people what they wanted? They wanted blood, betrayal, and pain. So I had to show them the real face of humanity.”

Izuku made a bitter laugh “The real face of humanity? You destroyed life and traumatized people. You’re right, people call you a killer, but they’re wrong…you’re a psychopath.”

“I wouldn’t describe my art that way, but I can’t change your mind. See, you've lost track of me with your lover so many times that you ignored the clues under your eyes the whole time.” Magistro laughed. “It was easier than I thought to catch you both. Once we find your weaknesses, you cannot defend yourself.

“Stop this bullshit. If you think you’ll win and let us act like the puppets of your show, you’re wrong.” He didn’t know how, but he’ll find a way to get out of there and leave with Katsuki as soon as possible. “Trust me, the moment we catch you, you’re dead.”

“Well…we’ll see how the game goes.” Magistro smiled. “I always waited for the perfect puppet to play with. Dynamight and you are perfect for my experiments, and you’ll understand. Humans could pretend as they want, but there’s one thing they can’t ignore…their fear and insecurities.”

Izuku was trying his best to hold his fist and control himself. He could punch, scream or even call for help, but this would only worsen because Magistro knew what he was doing. Falling into his trap wasn’t a part of his plan, and the hero will never give him a chance to see him vulnerable.

The sudden sound of an open door cut him off from his thoughts. The door slowly opened, revealing a dark and cold atmosphere from outside. 

“You can go, I don’t see any interest in keeping you in this room. The show just started.” 

The funny tone in the villain's voice was enough to make Izuku understand how it was more serious than he thought, and he needed to play the Magistro’s game if he wanted to get out of there, expecting the worst. 

He glanced at the screen, revealing the same sight as him, seeing Katsuki glancing around and facing an open door. It didn’t surprise him how Katsuki was hesitant to reach this unknown room.

“If you truly care about him…then try to catch Dynamight. The first one to catch him win, good luck.” 

It was the last thing Izuku heard before his face turned pale. His body shook, realizing that Magistro wasn’t here to play, he was here to kill. Without thinking, Izuku’s legs left the room, his figure fading in the dark atmosphere.

—-

Katsuki glanced around the unknown room. He remembered waking up in this odd room with no explication and searching for Izuku, realizing he was on his own, facing a villain stronger than it seemed. 

Before being here, he remembered holding Izuku’s waist, telling him it would be fine before seeing a figure reaching them in the smoke. 

He didn’t know where he was and why he was here, lost in the last place on Earth. At first sight, it looked like an old bunker, but the wall and the water leak revealed basements. It was dark, and the cold atmosphere started to play with his nerves.

This place gave him the impression of being haunted by the old ghost who never found peace, and seeing this place would explain why they were still stuck there. He had a bad feeling, and he needed to find Izuku and leave this place.

“Hello, Dynamight.” The sudden voice cut him off his thoughts, making him jump at the sudden sound coming from the speaker. 

“Where am I?” He asked loudly, hoping someone could hear him from outside.

“You don’t need to yell. Here no one can hear you. I made sure to soundproof this place only for my experiment.” The villain laughed. “Sorry for the delay. I had an…interesting conversation with your lover.”

“What did you do to him? Tell me where Deku is before I kill you first.” The blond’s voice turned into something darker, giving enough hint to the villain. Maybe this game would be more interesting than he thought.

“Oh, Dynamight…” Magistro chuckled. “Did you know that revealing your weaknesses could lead you to death? I can’t complain, this makes things easier for me, but it would be a sad thing if this game ended now. After all, the show is still going on.”

Katsuki Bakugo was known for being stubborn, but Dynamight might be everything except patient and understanding, especially when someone was attacking his loved one. In a fight, he could’ve already put the villain on the floor and ended this fight, but now he was stuck.

In this place, he couldn’t use his quirk due to the metallic chain around his wrist, this villain was smarter than it seemed.

“Who are you, bastard ?” Katsuki argued with an irritated tone. “If you have the balls to catch us both, you can have the audacity to introduce yourself, to know which name I should ray from my list of people I’ve killed in my life."

“I’m glad you asked.” Magistro announced,  “I was too occupied by hero deku, and I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Magistro, but you might know me, right?”

 “You…” Katsuki’s eyes widened at the name. “You thought you were smarter than us? Because if it’s the case, you’re wrong. You signed your death arrest by bringing us here. I don’t know what you said to Izuku, but I'll make you regret it. You better let us go before you’ll face what it feels to see the life fading in front of your shitty eyes.” 

“Your treats won’t make things better. You’re just wasting your saliva for the show and making it more entertaining. Did your mom never tell you about politeness? I’m disappointed Mitsuki failed.” 

The blond’s face turned when he heard his mom’s name. She had nothing to do here, especially in a trap like Magistro’s. After all, he would never forgive himself if something happened to her. Who knows what could happen to her, and even worst, if she will survive?

“How do you know her? Did you do something to her? Is she here ?”

“Calm down. She’s not here. She’s not interesting enough for my art. Playing with her son is funnier, especially if he’s the number one hero. Dynamight is fearless? We’ll see if it’s true.”

Katsuki glared around the room, trying to find the voice's origin. His blood was blooding. He needed to escape, trying to save himself and Izuku first. As much as he hated to admit it, he was stuck in this place, away from the public’s eyes, and forced to play Magistro’s games if he needed to survive. 

“Let’s play a game.” The voice declared, enjoying the view of a thrilled blond. From here, he could watch each of his moves and how the eyes were filled with hate each second. “The first one to catch hero Deku win.”

The blond’s face turned pale when he realized how this situation was more than serious. Izuku’s life was in danger, and the first thing that crossed his mind was to catch him before this psychopath. The thought of this bastard seeing the freckled man before he made his blood freeze. This will not happen, not on his watch, as long as he breathes. 

The blond heard the villain whisper something, almost like he was wishing him good luck because he could fail his mission. His heart was beating faster, his fist was tight, and he could only walk to the unknown and dark place with the idea of saving the man he loved.

The room was too dark, and Katsuki ignored this strange feeling in his chest. He couldn’t authorize himself to be weak, not when this fucker was still here and playing with them.  He sighed when he saw how he couldn’t use his quirk. At this moment, the blond knew it wasn’t a classical villain, this one was stronger. To survive, they need to fight their fears and save each other. 

Giving up wasn’t an option.

A small lamp suddenly highlighted the first room. It was following him, and the odd feeling increased as he walked into the unfamiliar place. He almost fell and caught on to the first thing he found. Katsuki’s eyes widened when he saw a dummy of his younger self. 

The room suddenly turned on, revealing a familiar setting, a setting the blond knew too well. It was their class in middle school. He knew what this meant because he could never forget this exact moment, the one that haunted each of his nights for years. The exact moment when he told Izuku to jump off the roof and how those words sounded like venom to him.

Katsuki glimpsed around, noticing how it was the same setting, giving him chills. How the hell does this villain know about their past? Especially when Izuku never revealed it to the world. He might seem crazier than he lets on, which means things would turn bad soon.

“Dynamight, I see you reached the first room.” The voice cut him off his thoughts. “To be honest, it might be my favorite one. I never knew someone could be so heartless…, especially to his childhood friend.”

“You-”

“Did you like the wall? I didn’t know if I could put the writing bigger or not. So much to your reaction, it’s a perfect size.” The villain was mocking him, and this made this game worse.

Katsuki couldn’t take a look at the wall. All over them were written the words " take a swan-dive off the roof of the building. ”

His blood froze because whatever he was looking at, there was no way to escape them. This time, there was no one to comfort him, to tell him it’ll be fine because it was even worse than all his nightmares combined through the years.

“What is this shitty game ?! How the hell did you know about that ?” Katuski yelled, but he realized with fear that it was what the villain wanted. He wanted to control his anger and impulsiveness, not entering his show, but it was harder than the blond expected.

“Well, now you asked…I’m glad to introduce you to the first room. I called it “the place where it all started” because it’s the truth, right ?” 

Those words made the blond uncomfortable. His anger was almost taking control over his body, he was ready to destroy everything, but no matter where his red ruby eyes were looking, he couldn’t avoid it. He was stuck, much to his disappointment. Katsuki couldn’t even look away, the floor being the only safe place he could find because if he made the mistake of raising his head a few centimeters...the grey and old room would reveal the red words.

“You’re just a shitty stalker.” The blond growled. “I don’t know how you knew about that because you might have a boring life, but one thing is sure…the moment I see you, I’ll fucking kill you.”

“Don’t ruin the game. We still have a lot to deal with. It’s just the beginning.” Magistro sighed. “You have one rule: escape this place. The key is somewhere in this room, the real question is…are you ready to go deeper into your biggest regret? Think about it…in this room, you can be your own savior or your own enemy.”

It was the last words the blond heard before the room fell into complete silence. If he thought it’d be easy, he realized it would be more complicated than expected. The moment when silence and coldness came back, letting the hero hear his breathing, he knew he was fucked up.

“Oh, and one last thing,” Magistro added, “Each of your acts is timed, it’ll be disappointing if something happens to your lover. So check the time, one mistake can kill him.”

Katsuki’s face went pale. He didn’t realize he was shaking until now, his eyes couldn’t glance back to the wall because the words constantly reminded him of his mistakes. The timer slowly advances, revealing how each second matters.

His body wanted to move.

He needed to carry at least one foot and start searching, but he couldn’t. Katsuki knew he had a life in the line, he only had 15 minutes, and before realizing it, I’ll be over. Katsuki had the impression that someone was holding the string of his own life like a master would make the perfect puppet for his show. 

Katsuki Bakugo hated being commanded and following orders, but he had a bad feeling that something could happen anytime if he didn’t move. He couldn’t forgive himself if something were happening to Izuku.

“It’s been 2 minutes already. Do you want me to hurt Izuku? It’ll break the fun I reserved for him later. If you’re truly his hero…why don’t you save him just like you promised ?”

Katsuki gave him a death glare to the speakers, knowing they were the only source of communication. Although the screen still indicates the freckled man in the same room as him, instead, on his wall, it was written: “useless.”

 It was the words Katsuki pronounced more than once during middle school but never meant. The regrets began to hurt him to the point where he felt weaker. He refused to leave the greenette alone, not when this asshole was still on his way. Katsuki wasn’t doubting Izuku at all. He knew the freckled man could succeed, but the hardest part was returning to his past, the same past they had talked about many times but still feared.

“Can you imagine it? Being the one who pushed their only friends to death because of their egoist feelings? I wonder how Inko would react if Deku followed your advice.” 

Katsuki’s blood boiled, and no matter where he glanced, he couldn’t find any escape. He tried to focus on something else, but Magistro’s voice kept cutting him, almost like he was trying to enter his mind.

“You can’t escape my words, and you know it. I’m wondering if your childhood friend forgave you or if he was lying to you the entire time. Sometimes lying seemed to be the right thing to do if we went to close a case, especially a boring one like yours.”

“Shut the fuck up.” He argued but knew that listening to the villain was a time-lapse. He needs to think, ignore the words from others and, if necessary, go into his mind to solve the problem.

“Is that the hero you truly wanted to be? The one people admire because I can only see a person bullying someone, wishing for their death.” 

The villain was surely using something on him, something the hero couldn’t name. Katsuki could barely think properly, focusing on his thoughts, but it wasn’t easy. They started to get mixed with his insecurities, the ones he tried to hide in darkness. The villain’s effect made him lose his mind, forcing the blond to cover his ears.

“What would you feel if Izuku jumped and he’ll be gone forever because of your mistakes? How would you feel to sit in front of his grave and know you were the one to blame here ?” 

“You little fucker-”

Magistro snickered, and the hero gave a cold glance at the speaker. He could spend his entire day insulting him, but it won’t be worth it, not when the villain didn’t have the audacity to show his face.

“When I researched a few things about you, I found interesting secrets. People say we should trust heroes, but why should we when they can’t save themselves ?” 

A light revealed another dummy, representing the slime monster and how he nearly died. Katsuki went pale, and the villain enjoyed the show. The hero tried to hide his fear and how he was shaking, even if the villain tried to brainwash him to make him fall on the floor, which meant he won. It would be an unacceptable truth.

“I don’t need to say anything because your eyes speak for themself. I wish I could record the fear in your eyes because nothing is temporary, even the secret we try to hide. You might remember this moment when number one came to save a stupid teenager like you, and because of what? Because you couldn’t even defend yourself on your own. What a shame.”

Katsuki ignored him, or at least tried, but his eyes found another spotlight. This time, it revealed a scene he knew too well because it was the Kamino accident. He never thought he would have to face that moment again. Until now, Katsuki thought he was healing, but seeing them in front of his eyes reminded him how he was lying to himself the entire time. The villain understood it from the beginning and was using it against him.

“It wasn’t the first time,” Magistro corrected. “You were the one who claimed he didn’t need anyone, and you let yourself capture again. Is that the hero everyone loves? The one selfish enough to let his friends sacrifice their life to save someone like you ?”

Katsuki bit his lips, unable to answer him. After all, he was right. The blond wasn’t the type to give up easily and fight for his rights, but right now, he could only let the villain’s words hit him and weaken him. Katsuki tried to be someone else all his life, letting his fears and insecurities afar and thinking they would fade away, yet…they were always coming back. 

Izuku comforted him about how he didn’t need to be someone else to be loved. Likewise, Katsuki didn’t need to be someone stronger than the others because being himself was enough. The truth was that the freckled man was right, and the hero was disappointed by his false hope.

“You’re not worth it, and you will never be,” He pointed out. This time, the tone of his voice got deep, and a dark smile appeared on his face. “In the end, you’ll always be alone because of your mistakes. So don’t be surprised if no one is looking for you…You might not be useful as you think, and maybe people don’t care about you.”

The blond tried to search for the key. He tried his best, but he could feel his chest arching at the villain’s words, trying to ignore them, but nothing was working. Magistro seemed to know more about them than he seemed, and it was the thing he feared the most. Who knows what he could do with their secrets and if they’ll get out alive one day. No matter if Katsuki was trying to fight for his life, the timer was still going, and he had already wasted too much time with the shitty villain. 

Moreover, the blond couldn’t lie to himself. Magitro revealed his insecurities loudly and seemed to have fun bringing him down. All those years, denying those moments and acting like they didn’t impact him turned back against him, making him tear up because maybe he was right. Maybe he shouldn’t have been saved that day during the slime monster accident. Maybe everyone’s life, including Izuku’s, would be easier if the blond wasn’t here.

/”Do you think one day we’ll be able to have our agency ?” Izuku asked, glancing at the homework on the desk. His green eyes were looking at the red ruby one with curiosity. 

“What do you mean, freckles ?” He answered, knowing the nerd was asking this question for a reason. 

Izuku rolled his eyes, smiling. He moved closer and put his scarred hands around the blond’s neck, putting his head on his shoulder. Katsuki didn’t push him back, knowing how everything was still new to them, and he enjoyed how natural it felt.

“I mean…I wouldn’t complain about seeing you kicking the villain’s butt every day. Listen, I know we’re graduating soon, and I would love to make things right this time, including spending more time with you if you accept.”

Katsuki sighed, turning to face the freckled man. His eyes were full of awe and something he couldn’t name, something the nerd always did when they were around each other. His hands came to ruffle the green curls, noticing the chubby cheeks and smirking.

“Are you sure you won’t be bored by this life, nerd ?” He asked with a confident tone, and some of him feared the answer. 

Izuku laughed, kissing his forehead and face revealing the brightest smile the blond had ever seen. “Why would I? The only thing I need is to be by your side. Is that selfish of me to show the world how my boyfriend is the strongest person I know ?”/

The past frame came into the hero’s mind. It was something he forgot, yet the sudden fear became softer. A smirk appeared on his face, and he returned to reality, realizing he wasn’t fighting for his life for Izuku’s.

“Alright, you want to play? We’ll play bastard.” Katsuki answered. He couldn’t see it, but the villain smirked behind his screen.

The blond needed to figure out where he was supposed to search. 

The key could be everywhere, and he began to stress because time passed and there were no signs of her. Seeing how the villain processes, there was no way he hid it under an obvious hidden place. Katsuki started to push everything in his way, looking in the smallest and most hidden place in the room but nothing. The timer still indicated that he had less than 8 minutes to find it. 

At this rhythm, he could be sure the villain was laughing at him being desperate to get out of there. Even if he tries to convince himself, this isn’t enough. The room was small. The dummy was still here and standing on the floor, but there was no sign of this freaking key! She must be somewhere else, maybe the villain was playing with him the whole time-

“You can’t find it? I’m kinda disappointed, to be honest.” The voice cut him off his thoughts. “You don’t have much time…I’ll better find it before something happens to him.”

This was enough, and Katsuki started to lose patience. Did he have patience in the first place? He didn’t want to know.

“You better listen to me, bastard. I don’t know what game you’re playing or why having Deku as your toy is funny. Tell me where this fucking key is, and don’t you dare touch him.”

“I thought you were smarter for the number one hero….” Magistro droned. “The answer has been right under your eyes since the beginning; if you keep looking, maybe you’ll find it.”

It was the only clue the bastard gave him. This didn’t help him at all and only made things worse. The time was turning red, revealing he didn’t have much time left. At this point, it was a question of life or death…none of them knew what would happen if they failed to find the key. Katsuki’s nerves were about to explode, and he kicked the middle school’s dummy onto the floor. 

A sudden sound caught his attention. 

He walked closer and kicked again. He repeated the same process until a distinct sound confirmed his doubt. The key was inside the dummy since the beginning, and he never noticed it.

Katsuki realized how the solution to his questions where inside the fake scarred hands. His red ruby eyes looked at the countdown, only 2 minutes left. 

Even if the dummy refused to open, his eyes found a lost pair of scissors in the corner. Of course, it was the only way. His legs moved before thinking, and his hands took the pair of scissors, chasing the thought of his mind before putting it into the Izuku’s dummy.

The illusion of doing it to the real Izuku stayed in his mind. He wanted to throw up, starting to hate himself for doing this, but it was the only way.

There was foam everywhere, and his hands found the familiar sound. Without thinking and how he was disgusted by himself, he ran, twisted the door, and sank the key. After a few seconds, he reached the next room as the countdown counted the last seconds.

Katsuki’s eyes widened when he saw the sudden burning fire in the room. It was a disaster.

 The previous dummy burned as the wall with the writing started to fade and fall on the floor, revealing how it was a fake room. Katsuki realized that no matter what happened, they couldn’t scream and ask for help. It was them against this monster.

The blond watched the room burning as the familiar face of Izuku burned in the smoke. 

——

“Congratulation, you made it.” The voice said with a happy tone.

Izuku was standing here on his knees. There was no way to escape, he had already noticed how a wall covered the trap. The freckled man ignored the slight blood on his knees. In his falls, he ended up tearing his costume up and hurting himself.  

“What do you want? What’s so funny about tricking us, asshole ?” Izuku yelled, looking at the speakers.

“I don’t need anything. I already have enough to comfort my doubts. Why would I ask more when I can see the sadness and hate in your gaze when you look at me ?” 

Izuku couldn’t believe it. He saw how the previous room burned once he reached the door to save himself. It was hard because he had many questions but ignored them, already knowing the answers. He sighed and touched the injury in his knees, it was bleeding, and he needed to stop it before losing too much blood. 

“I can’t believe you truly did it. I thought you would beg me to know about the key.” 

“Never,” Izuku grumbled with a cold tone, taking a part of the first tissue he could find to stop the bleeding injury.

“You see, that’s surprising because Dynamight begged me for the clue. He was so desperate to save you that he didn’t see the dummy.” 

“Why is he involved in your stupid games? He did nothing wrong, and I’ll kill you if you touch one of his hair.” His face turned into something darker. 

“Why am I always the villain? Why can’t heroes admit their weaknesses? Look what you did. How can you still stand and want to take revenge ?” 

Izuku didn’t answer. He hated this game. He wanted to leave as soon as possible and find Katsuki. They had to stop it before it was too late, but for that, they needed to play the game. 

The first room was difficult for him. He went back to the past where he was bullied, and when the blond told him to kill himself, advice the freckled man never took. Today, Izuku knew how much his partner regretted those words, how he wished he had never said them loud and begged for his pardon.

 Izuku didn’t hate him.

They were young and looking for themselves, even if this meant hurting others. He reassured him many times about how he forgave him. Today katsuki was a better person, and he’ll never be the one he was in the past.

The hardest part was to take the key out. Izuku hesitated and realized it was the only way to escape. He tried to ignore the pain as his hands came to take the keys out of Katsuki’s chest. Magistro didn’t make things by coincidence. The place where the keys were…. was the same place where Katsuki’s scar was on his chest.

Izuku couldn’t look at himself.

 It was just a dummy, but knowing this was kacchan was hurting him. He could cry and express his anger, yell, and promise to do anything to find the blond’s back…but he wouldn’t do it. This will only give a free show to the villain looking for them the whole time.

—-

Katsuki sighed, taking a look at the stupid room in the dark. 

A part of him was anxious about how this one could be resolved. The previous one gave him a bitter taste, and he knew this time he had to face something different, another one of his hidden fears.

When the light turned on, it revealed a familiar room. Indeed, it was the same as the first one with a dummy of Izuku…with someone else. Someone he could recognize too easily because how could he forget this idiot’s face?

The room was full of both dummies, revealing moments between them, intimate or domestic, with a paper for each. Katsuki said nothing, unable to move as he found himself locked in this room, he knew where Magistro was coming from, and he hated that.

“Dynamight! You’re finally here, I never thought you could reach this one, but you always surprised me,” the other pleaded, “Let me guess, with your face, you might know why you’re here and what this means, right ?”

Katsuki didn’t answer. He ignored the pain in his chest when he looked around, there were dummies of Izuku and this extra everywhere in the room. It was another part of his past he wanted to forget, this time, forever.

“What a lovely sight. I wonder who made him smile that way…what was his name already? I forgot, was it something like-.” 

Katsuki hated the innocent tone the other was taking. He didn’t know how or when Magistro got all their personal information, but one thing was sure, he was a fucking psychopath.

“Rody,” the blond whispered in a low voice, unable to say his name loudly. It was a name he wanted to take away from his mouth, and he forgot. Every single time, it reminded him of a period of his life he tried to forget because of his stupid behavior. “Rody soul”

“Oh,” the villain added, playing the surprise. “You might remember this name better than me. After all, you were here when this happened.”

Katsuki glanced at the first dummy standing in front of him. His heart missed a beat when he recognized how familiar it was when he saw Izuku and Rody holding each other’s hands. The exact reconstitution scared him more than anything.

/“Kacchan !! You’ll never guess what happened” Izuku smiled happily, reaching his way and putting his hands around the blond’s shoulder to stop him in the corridor.

“Spill the bean, nerd,” the blond smirked, noticing how the freckled man seemed happier. He was not ready to hear who would change the nature of their relationship.

“Well…you know today Rody came as a surprise? He asked me on a date !”/

Katsuki closed his eyes, ignoring the frame of the specific moment when the extra came to take his childhood friend on a date and hold his hands. Katsuki noticed how the nerd’s cheeks got red, and he smiled at him...Katsuki hid his pain that day, just like the others, after discovering he had feelings for his childhood friend. 

It was a sensitive subject at this time because the blond didn’t know if he had the right to feel that way or even if his feelings would be mutual, but seeing this scene that day confirmed his doubt.

 Izuku deserved better than him, and it would never be mutual.

“I don’t remember why hero deku was so attached to him ?” Magistro cut him from his thoughts. “There was a rumor around them, tell me…How does it feel to have this place taken by someone else just because we were too weak ?”

Katsuki held his fist and tried to contain himself. He won’t let himself do, but simultaneously, he can’t take his eyes away from the following dummy, revealing the both of them kissing.

/ That day, Katsuki was exhausted and only wanted to go home. Class 2A kept speaking about how Izuku and his new boyfriend seemed perfect. The blond ignored how often he contained himself, hiding between his “´fine” when his friends asked him if he was alright.

If that day started as a bad one, this ended up being his biggest nightmare.

Katsuki would never forget the pain that crossed his chest and soul when he saw the freckled man walking toward the dorms with /him/. Although Izuku seems to smile and be happy by his side, maybe it was better this way, and no one could make the nerd happy just like this extra.

The blond sighed, denying his pain, and glanced one second too late qt what would become his new nightmare. In the following seconds, Katsuki saw Rody putting his hands on Izuku’s cheeks, cupping them before kissing him. The worst thing was how Izuku was surprised before letting himself do it, and it was the last thing the blond saw.

He only knew how he spent all night crying about being stupid, thinking he could have a chance./

Katsuki didn’t answer, ignoring the tears falling down his cheeks. They had a bitter taste, mixing with the regrets and remorse, something he didn’t feel for years. 

However, today it was different; they finally were together and solved their problem, crying on each other’s shoulder during the most difficult time or after a mission that turned wrong. Being a pro hero wasn’t the easiest thing, and they were facing some fights where unfortunately, some lives couldn’t be saved, but in their misfortune, they were here to support each other. 

Some nights, the ghost of their previous mission hunted Izuku, some full of nightmares, and Katsuki would always be here to listen to him, whether it was midnight or 3 am. Izuku confessed after a few tears how he was grateful for everything, even if sometimes their relationship was complicated. 

Katsuki might know his boyfriend would do anything for him…but he would never know how broken he was. It took him years to finally accept his mistakes and how it was alright. Izuku said no one was perfect, but people can change, which was his strength until now. Building his confidence again wasn’t easy, but he learned to accept himself…only to fall apart on the first occasion.

“How does it feel to know you’ve come too late? To know how you weren’t his first as you expected ?” Magistro reprimanded, enjoying the sight of his puppets falling into his trap.

“Are you done with this shit ?” The blond shouted, “What do you want from us, and why everything in this place is so fucking creepy ?”

“Because I want you to remember where you came from. Isn’t it sad? To see how the one you loved found somebody else, someone nicer and who never turned him down, unlike you ?”

Katsuki ignored him and glanced at the other dummy. This time it was Izuku with Kirishima, and the blond knew what this scene meant.

/ “Kacchan,” Izuku whispered to the blond’s dorms, trying to speak In a low voice. “Are you alright? You’ve been ignoring me for weeks, and I…I need your help.”

“Why do you ever come to my dorms? Don’t you have a boyfriend or something like that ?” 

He answered, trying to hide how hurt he was. It’s been weeks since the class started talking about how Izuku and his new boyfriend were the cutest couples, yet no one noticed how the freckled man’s face changed with time. Katsuki knew something was up and seemed to be the only one to see it, but they didn’t make a move because it would be useless. 

“Well…Rody and I broke up.” Izuku said, holding his tears back. “We both agreed about staying friends and how this isn’t what we wanted, but I’m unsure if I can do this alone. Can I talk to you, please? I have nowhere to go, and you’re the only one I trust.”

Katsuki didn’t answer. He knew he should do it and open his door, he always promised to be there when the nerd needed help, but this time, he couldn’t. Maybe he was selfish and thinking about himself, but at this time, it was the right thing to do if he didn’t want to make things worse.

“No,” he answered, knowing he hurt himself too because he missed their interaction. Staying away from his childhood friend was harder than he expected, he wanted to see those stupid smiles and bright green eyes looking at him with awe. Katsuki missed how the two of them used to be close, even if they were in their first, and second years, but the thought of never being enough stopped him from everything. In the end, they were both sufferings, and none knew it. 

 “I’m sorry for your break up, but I don’t see how I can help you. Go find somebody else, Izuku.”

Izuku could feel the tears falling down his cheeks. “You-you’re a jerk, I hope you know that, Katsuki Bakugo. Where’s your promise of always being here for me when I need it? Where is the friendship we tried to save the entire time? Does it mean nothing to you ?”

“Deku, please go-”

“I hate you,” Izuku added with a shaking tone. “I hate you so much, Katsuki Bakugo. I will leave and give you the space you need, you won’t hear about me anymore if that’s what you want so bad.”

It was the last thing Katsuki heard before the freckled man left his dorms. None dared to sleep that night because they were too occupied with crying. Crying because of their mistakes and their regrets, Katsuki knew he fucked up and wanted to disappear from this place.

A few weeks later, the class noticed how the two childhood friends were ignoring each other. It was unusual, and everyone was worried about them. The only thing the blond would answer would be, “I don’t want to talk about it.”. Katsuki and Izuku still shared a stolen glance when the other wasn’t looking, but it was full of sadness. 

The blond realized he had messed up when he found the freckled man crying one day. He wanted to apologize, but Izuku rejected him, telling him he didn’t need him before watching Kirishima by his side. 

Without thinking, Izuku put his head on the other’s shoulder and was led to the class with his friends. The class was here for him, but the most important person to Izuku was standing far away and watching his missed chance and the consequences of his words. /

Katsuki knew he was crying. How could he forget this moment when it was another one of his regrets, how he stayed aside the rest of the year and couldn’t look at himself in the mirror?

“What a shame, watching the world fall apart because of your jealousy,” Magistro bragged. “I can’t imagine what hero deku must have felt at this moment. You were the one he needed the most, and you pushed him away again.”

Katsuki gave them a death glare to the camera with his teary eyes. “You-You don’t know shit about me. You don’t know anything about my feelings but turn them against me? Just like the other you tortured.” He made a bitter laugh, wiping his tears away. “Each of your games is fucked up, just like your mental health, and I swear if I learn about how you hurt Deku, I’ll-”

“Calm down, Dynamight.” Magistro ordered, “You two make me sick, always worried for each other and never enjoying the game and what it could teach you. Trust me, you two will meet sooner than you think.”

Katsuki gave him a cold glare, looking around, and found nothing. “What’s the trick? There are no any shitty keys here.”

“I know, and this time, you don’t have to search for one.” He answered, “Because I still have to play with you a little before letting you go to the other game, Dynamight.”

“If I found you, I’ll make sure to make you regret every word from your shorty mouth.” There was darkness in his voice, mixing with the previous red, teary eyes and the pain in his chest.

“Enough talk and tell me…” the villain sighed, revealing another spot with a dummy of Izuku and his other love interest until now. The last one was oddly specific…because it was Izuku and him, but a red line underlined his face.

“How does it feel to be the last? To know you messed up, you break and bring the man you love down just because of your stupid feelings? To know you didn’t have the chance they had because you were too slow…what does it feel to be the last option ?”

Katsuki started to punch everything around him, putting the dummy down and his head on the wall. The tears kept falling down his cheeks, and he hated himself.

“What a shame I couldn’t face you,” He explained. “Regrets look amazing on you and your lover, but I’m here to prove how some things never change. You were and will always stay the same person who hurt him the most…how do I know it? Well, I saw how he looked at you with disgust.”

“Shut the fuck” The blond shouted. “This is bullshit, and I know you’re fucking lying.”

The villain laughed. “You don’t trust me…or you don’t trust your true self? Maybe things are great between you two, but if this side of you came out twice, this could come back and this time, leading to the no return point.”

The door suddenly opened, revealing a green light. Katsuki stared at it without moving, if he was in this state after a few trials, he couldn’t even imagine the nerd’s state. He whipped his tears, trying to ignore the previous words of the villain, and knew he had to do something. He couldn’t let this bastard control this game and destroy them piece by piece.

If this game started as a funny game, it’d become revenge. It was a question of time before finding Izuku and releasing them from this trap.

At least, it was what he thought until he was knocked out.

——

Izuku had one wish: to leave there as soon as possible.

 Each room was harder than the previous one, and his mental health was degrading slowly. Reaching his feet in the next room was like taking another breath before knowing death was waiting for you…it was harder to breathe each second.

The lights turned on, revealing a similar room where dummies were all around him. This time, the physical traits became realistic, almost like they were standing in front of a natural scene. Izuku’s blood froze when he recognized it. 

It was when All might tell him he couldn’t be a hero.

That day, Izuku was destroyed. How could he forget this pain, the one he was trying to hide the whole time, thinking I’ll go away? The sad truth was that no matter how much you try to hide them, your insecurities always come back in another form, stronger than ever. 

Years later, Izuku proudly wore his number two rank and couldn’t be more grateful for everything he experienced. The last years taught him more about how being a hero was more important to the civilians than he expected, even if some fights would’ve always stayed in his mind because of his inability to react right in time, taking people’s life away. His eyes caught the slide of picture projecting on the wall, it was some records and moments marked in history, but they didn’t feel right.

Izuku said nothing. The only thing he could do was watch the previous record of his mentor, someone he had idolized his entire life, and be anxious. It was just beginning, yet Izuku knew how long this game could be if he didn’t catch the villain first. 

“You must recognize it, right ?” A voice said, followed by a laugh. “I’m sure you remember that day when your hope died with you.”

Izuku tried his best to control himself, not reveal his anger. He won’t enter this game, he couldn’t…it would mean that Magitro won, and it was a reality he wanted to avoid. 

“What’s so funny to you? Why did you bring me here, Magistro ?”

“You see, this one is special. It reflected on how humans can’t control their feelings and how breaking them is easy.” The cold man answered, “There’s no key here, only you and the mirror. It’s simple, you must break this mirror by revealing your biggest weakness."

Izuku made a bitter laugh. “Seriously? Isn’t it too easy? There’s something else you’re not telling me.”

“You’re perspicacious, but no.., I’ll sit there and watch my puppet losing their mind. I watched Dynamight and you for many years, and seeing both of you struggling is a blessing in my eyes.”

“I don’t know what you did to kacchan, but I swear I’m gonna-”

“Calm down, sweetheart. Your lover is safe…at least for now. Stop talking, and you know the game, there’s no limited time, and you have to break the mirror.” The villain’s smirk could be seen in his voice’s tone, giving chills to the freckled man.

Izuku sighed, glancing around and trying to look around. There was nothing else except a mirror and a constant projector with All Might, including old reportage he used to watch when he was young.

He took a deep breath and started to punch the mirror, but he whined in pain. There was something wrong with this object, and he now understands it won’t be easy. Izuku’s hands were red due to the previous punch, and he kept trying. Nothing was working. He could ruin himself and his hands…20 minutes later, he still stood here. 

The room had a low light enough to reveal the two objects and the feeling of being alone. He was on his own, and he might’ve tried to search for everything, but nothing else happened. Only he and his mind were stuck in a small and unfamiliar room.

“Don’t you get it? It won’t be enough, and you’ll have to hurt yourself at this point.” Magistro said, “I’m sad for you, so I’m gonna help you.”

“I don’t need your help.” Izuku gave a death glare at the camera. “I don’t see what you’re looking for, I’m honest with myself, and this is all bullshit.”

“You’re such a naive hero, deku,” he sighed. “You’re just like the others, denying everything until there’s no return point or often when it’s too late. Society wanted me to believe in heroes like you, but they were wrong.”

Izuku glanced around, trying to think about another way to get out of there while the villain talked. He needed to think fast and smart, but unfortunately, his only option was to listen to what the other had to say.

“I was rejected just like you were, and I found my way to make people remember me,” Magistro smirked. “Tell me, what did you feel that day ?”

Izuku stopped, his blood froze, and his eyes found the old records. Children called All Might their hero, smiling and telling him he was their model. The freckled man used to be like them…until that day.

“How does it feel to watch the other have the chance you never had?” 

Izuku holds his fist tighter, ignoring the old feeling coming to his chest. He wanted to forget it, to ignore those thoughts that hunted him for years.

“How does it feel to see younger people having the luck to be by their mentor side, someone who believed in them at first sight ?”

“Shut up,” Izuku whimpered, trying to stay out of this game, even if it was impossible.

“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. You seem to forget how the one you always believed in thought you were useless, just like Dynamight. Maybe the people supporting you aren’t worth it.”

“But they changed !” Izuku yelled, trying to look away from the projector, and found himself in the mirror. During a short moment, he saw his younger self and remembered how hard it was.

“The past never dies. The people you care about now were the first to bring you down. You think they changed, but they could turn against you anytime, they could leave you because they would realize his right they were.”

Izuku felt his chest arch, his hands were shaking, and the project was the only background noise he could hear during break moments. He refused to enter this game, he needed to fight and survive for Katsuki. 

“Your dear Katsuki and mentor could leave you because you’re a nobody. You don’t stand a chance against the other people who might be a better hero than you.” Magistro said, his voice taking a dark tone. He knew he was touching a sensitive point, and Izuku’s face was enough to reveal how the pain was too hard to handle.

“You’re lying,” the hero shrieked, hiding the tears falling down his cheeks. “You’re just tricking me into one of your games, you think playing with our mental health and weaknesses is funny, but you’re just a bastard.”

“Maybe I am one, but at least I didn’t need someone to teach me how to use quirks. I built myself independently without the shadow of the person I admired the most. What a shame, even All might know you were a lost case at first.”

Izuku tried to stand up, to ignore the frame of his memory coming back to him, mixing with the villain’s voice. At some point, it became impossible.

“What is a hero if he can’t help the other? You’re the first one saying it, but you seem to forget how you were one of his victims too.” Magistro teased, “Tell me, how does it feel to watch the hero you admire breaking you down and reminding you how quirkless you were.”

Izuku gave up. He tried to look at the floor, but the only thing he could see was the tears, the way his knees found the floor and his scarred hands holding his shirt as if it was the only thing to keep in this room. How many times did he try to ignore this feeling? This constant pain to know that one-day katsuki could leave him and how All might never believe in him at first. 

“Look at you,” the villain commented. “And you call this a society where everyone has his chance…bullshit.”

Silence filled the room, the freckled man tried to cover his sob, but nothing worked. He couldn’t even start at himself in the mirror, too ashamed of his past and how he was useless. After all, when he saved Katsuki that day, he acted naturally, but it was the only moment when All might notice it.

“Heroes play with our hope, making young people think they have a chance when they should remind their place.” The villain’s voice got darker. “Out of this world where they didn’t belong.”

Izuku screamed. At this point, he couldn’t stand it anymore, and he glanced at himself in the mirror. His eyes were red from the tears, and he was shaking. Then, without thinking, he punched the mirror and whined in pain.

“You pretend to be a good hero, to be the new symbol of hope when all you can do is fail everything you did until now.” Magistro added, this time with hate in his voice, “You have your stupid smile on your face, but you can’t even save Dynamight when LOV captured him when you could not save those civilians years ago. Is that what we call a hero ?”

Silence filled the room.

“You, as the others, watch your loved one and innocent life be taken away and couldn’t fight them. You promised to protect each of them, but you couldn’t handle them. Seeing the fear and tears in their eyes, watching them begging you to help them or realizing too late how the things you care about the most are gone by *your* fault.” Magistro smiled. “I don’t call this a hero…I call this being weak."

“Shut the fuck up,” he said with a shaking voice. “You want me to admit it? Do you want to break me? Then do it but don’t you dare touch or hurt Kacchan.”

“Trust me, your lover is giving me a great show on the other side. My part in this game is done, try to find the answer yourself.” Was the last thing he said before cutting his mic down and leaving Izuku alone.

The freckled man couldn’t help but think about what the other said. He knew he should ignore them and think about his progress, but his chest arched when he thought about how All might choose him when someone could have more potential. His mentor made a mistake by choosing him and created the lousy hero he is now.

His hands repeatedly punched the mirror and ignored the blood, followed by the new injuries. He was sobbing and swearing between his whine of pain, thinking he couldn’t get out of there. It’s how he wanted to die? In this stupid room and crying? With no more fight and smile toward his lover? He was lost with himself.

In one last much, he finally breaks the mirror. The piece of glass going the floor, and when he glanced at his scarred hands, they were full of blood and open injuries. If he wasn’t stopping them, he could lose too much blood for his weak body.

Even the tears falling down his cheeks, the salty tears tasted bitter. The door opened, revealing a green light and the next door. Izuku stayed here for long minutes, hours if he didn’t count, as his mind slowly fell apart.

—— 

When Izuku walked into the next room, he knew something was wrong. He hated how this fear was taking advantage of him without reason.

His biggest wish was to get out of there and kick this villain’s ass as soon as possible. Magistro had already given him too much pain, but the worst was about to come. Izuku wanted to talk with Katsuki; he wanted to be here for him to support him in this hell because if Izuku barely survived…Katsuki’s state might be worse than his. The simple idea of the blond being hurt, mentally or physically, was making him feral, knowing Magistro, the villain, won’t hesitate to do anything to bring his victims down…even the worst ones.

“You see, this room has only one rule: Be honest with yourself. ”

“If you weren’t a psychopath, I’ll say you should see your ethics techniques as a bad therapist, Magistro.” Izuku made a bitter laugh.

The villain didn’t laugh at the joke, leaving an empty silence. Izuku couldn’t help but smirk, if Magistro wanted to play, Izuku would play, but he’ll think to *his* rules.

“I could let you solve this problem yourself, but I decided otherwise. I didn’t plan to use them so early, but I had no choice.” The villain enunciated, “This time, you’ll have to watch your lover and make a choice for him.”

“What do you mean ?” 

“I was always the one who watched you play. But, this time, you’re the master of the game. You see, on your right, you have a button…you’re the only one able to save his life. So, choose wisely, hero deku.” Magistro finished, leaving Izuku speechless with a stunned face.

This couldn’t be real.

 He couldn’t do it. 

The screen was before him, revealing Katsuki and how lost he seemed. There was no countdown, all Izuku had to do was press a button and seek Katsuki’s fate. 

He refused. He stayed away as long as he could. It was the worst thing he could do, not to someone he cherished and loved more than his own life. By luck, his green eyes found another button, revealing the label “call.” The villain wasn’t so naive. He let it here for a reason.

His eyes never left the screen, feeling relieved to know that Katsuki was still alive after all of this. They barely had to talk to each other, they knew they needed to find the other before things worsened. The other rooms were about Izuku himself, his past, and the most challenging moment of his life, but it was different this time.

This time, Magistro was the one to ruin his life. But, with the things he saw, the villain was smart enough to understand how they were each other’s weaknesses since the beginning. No matter how far they were, Katsuki always looked for Izuku, and the freckled man promised to save him. 

Magistro took the words too seriously. He watched the number two trying his best to save the man he loved, without knowing how he’ll be the one destroying it. It was a part of the game.

“You knew since the beginning.” Izuku laughed bitterly, looking at the speakers and noticing the camera beside them. “You knew I would be the one to betray my promise, you’re just a bastard.”

“I told you. It’s part of the game, you have to choose: you’re killing him, or I’m the one.” The villain pointed out.

“Your twisted psychopath game will be turned against you one day. I hope you know that once we leave this place, I will find you…I won’t hesitate to kill you.” 

If a glare could kill, the villain would be dead multiple times.

“If I were you, I won’t lose my last time. You only have 10 minutes, be sure to use them good use.”

Those were the last words Izuku heard before the room fell into a dead silence. The anger slowly rose inside his chest, and he screamed. He screamed his whole chest and put his fit on the command table without notice.

“You fucker-” Izuku wailed, unable to hold his tears.

“Deku ?” The familiar voice cut him from his thoughts. His green emerald eyes found the screen, only to meet the worried red ruby eyes. “Oi, Can you hear me ?”

Izuku nodded, seeing the blond’s reaction. He didn’t know that on the other side, Katsuki was seeing him. The blond caught everything when he screamed and accidentally used the “call” button. He also noticed the tears falling down his freckled cheeks, and his heart stopped. 

Something was wrong.

“I…” the freckled man tried to take his breath back, even if the constant sound of the countdown reminded him of his choice. “I can hear you, kacchan.”

“Shit, are you hurt? What did this bastard do to you? Why are you crying?” Katsuki’s voice asked worriedly, noticing how the freckled man was shaking.

“I’m fine, kacchan.” He whipped his tears. “I’m just hurt from the previous rooms, but nothing to worry ab-”

“Fuck, I told him not to hurt you. I swear to god, if he dares show himself, I’ll kill and hurt him as he did to us.” Katsuki glanced around, knowing he was watched. “Do you hear me? I’ll make sure to.”

“He can’t hear you.” Izuku declared. “There’s only us in the room.”

Katsuki stopped. His eyes went wide when he saw the emerald eyes red from the tears and the countdown behind him. He knew something was wrong, he needed to know it.

“Izuku,” he called his first name, catching the hero’s attention. “What did he do this time ?”

Izuku didn’t answer. His body was shaking, and he wasn’t good at hiding it. The only thing he could feel was the pain coming into his chest and destroying him piece by piece each second. His time was limited, and he needed to give the answers Katsuki needed. 

“He…” the freckled man wished he would stop crying to make a proper sentence, but it was impossible. Not when he had so much responsibility on his shoulders. “He…Shit, he asked me to press this button before the time was out.”

Katsuki glanced at him curiously, heartbreaking apart at seeing Izuku crying. He wished he could be close to him, to comfort the freckled man and tell him everything will be alright. The blond knew he couldn’t, not after everything they had experienced until now.

“There’s something you don’t tell me, nerd.” He mumbled, looking straight at the screen.

“If I press this button, you’ll…” the freckled man stopped, unable to finish his sentence.

“I’ll what? Say it louder, freckles. I can’t hear you.”

“You’ll die !” Izuku screamed louder than he thought. ”If I press this button, you’ll die by my hands. I don’t want to, I don’t want to be the one responsible for your death, but I have no choice. It’s him or me.”

“Then do it.” 

Izuku’s eyes went wide. What did he say? There was no way Katsuki answered /this/.

“Wha…what did you say ?” His voice was shaking, and his face was pale. All he could do was admire the familiar blond making a soft expression.

“I said do it,” Katsuki answered, smirking like the whole thing was a joke. “I rather die by your hands than this asshole’s one.”

“But…” Izuku’s eyes found the countdown and saw how half of the time was already gone. He wished he could stop time forever and keep talking with Katsuki. “Are you insane? Do you know what this means? I’m not going to kill you. I promised to save you, and I will, I won’t let you down, Kacchan.”

Katsuki made a soft laugh that warmed the freckled man’s heart on the other side. “And I promised to save you too. The entire time, I fought for you and let you leave this shitty trap. I won’t give up on you, but if this means keeping you alive and safe, I’ll do it.”

“We don’t even know if there’s another way! Maybe we can find something else and leave together, I refuse to let go of you.” Izuku answered, his vision blurry because of the tears falling down his cheeks.

“We’ve been here since the beginning, nerd. We know if there were another way, this bastard would tell us. For him, we’re just another puppet of his experiments, but this doesn’t mean I will let him win so easily.”

“Kacchan,” Izuku blurted but noticed the slight smile on the blond’s face—the one he reserved for Izuku and only him.

“I know this is a no-return point, and my words sound crazy. I should be afraid, but I’m not because I know it’s you. I would rather have my last breath and know it’s you instead of a fucking psychopath.” Katsuki stuttered, “Izuku Midoriya, you and I both know this is your only way to escape this place and find help. I promised to save you, no matter what happened, even if this meant sacrificing myself again.”

Izuku didn’t answer. He wanted to say so many things, so many “I love you” he never shared because he was scared it wasn’t the right time, so many hugs he missed because of their missions. All of this wouldn’t be enough for the last 5 minutes they have. After all, Izuku’s love was endless for the blond, and they both knew it.

“You know I can’t imagine a world without you,” Izuku sobbed, seeing Katsuki tearing up. “I refuse to lose you, not a third time. There are so many things I want to say.”

“And I refused too, but it’s the only thing we can do, freckles.” The blond smiled, knowing it’ll be his last conversation. “Then keep them in mind when we meet again in the afterlife, deku.”

Izuku knew his face was a mess. His green emerald eyes were red from the tears as his body shook. The pain in his chest increased each second as the countdown reached 2 minutes. 2 minutes weren’t enough to resume a lifetime of love and support.

“What if I don’t want to? What if I want to go with you, die with you? You know how the second I reach this door, you’ll be gone forever, and I’ll have your blood on my hands.” 

Katsuki felt the tears falling down his cheeks. Of course, he knew, he knew since the beginning.

“It’s the only way. One of us must survive, it should be you.” The blond wiped his tears, mesmerizing the teary eyes looking at him like he was the center of the world. “I can’t live with the fact that I hurt you. I’ll hurt you again, which is why I love you. Izuku midoriya, I love you because you forgave me when you shouldn’t. I love you for supporting me, and keep doing my best. There’s not enough. I love you to describe how I feel, a lifetime wouldn’t be enough, and I hope you know that, nerd.”

Izuku sobbed. He hated how things took another turn, they should leave together and escape. Now, there’s only one of them who would be able to run with regret on his shoulders.

“I love you too, kacchan.” He smiled, looking at the screen. “And will always. I wished things were different, I wished you’ll be by my side.”

“Don’t you know ?” Katsuki smirked, “Even when I am gone, my soul will always be with you.”

“I hate goodbye. I don’t know what I’ll do if you leave me. How I’m supposed to live ?”

“This isn’t goodbye, this is a see you later,” Katsuki whispered, seeing the countdown reaching the end soon. “We don’t have much time, you know what you need to do.”

Izuku nodded. He tried to ignore the pain in his chest that nearly consumed his body and destroyed him since he entered the room. 

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, knowing the blond could read in his lips, “I’m so sorry, kacchan.”

“This isn’t your fault, nerd.” Katsuki answered with the softest tone he had ever seen, “I accepted this choice, and I want to save you. Isn’t it egoistic of me ?”

Izuku smiled. “No, it’s not. I would do the same…I love you. I’m sorry, kacchan.”

The countdown reached the last second once the freckled man pressed the button. He could only see the circular saw moving closer to the blond’s body before the screen turned off. 

It was over. Katsuki was dead, and it was his fault. 

“I liked the show.” The villain announced, “I have never been a big fan of the sad ending, but this one is touching. What a shame no one will know about Dynamight’s sacrifice. See, this is what I mean when I talk about their biggest fear, seeing the pain in their eyes and their light of hope fading away….”

The door opened, revealing another room. Izuku didn’t move, his legs refused to make a single movement because he gave up. He gave up for the first time because the pain was too hard to deal with. It was eating him from the inside, and it was the limit.

The freckled man took a glare at the speakers. He gave what the villain wanted.

“Fuck you,” Izuku burst into tears, letting his pain express itself for the first time since the beginning. 

His knees found the floor, his hands were shaking, and his vision was blurry due to tears. His heart could leave him anytime. He didn’t care, nothing mattered now. Izuku glanced at his bloody hands, the ones who killed the man he lived. Katsuki said it was alright, but it wasn’t, not to him. None of this should’ve happened in the first place, this psychopath was playing with his victims, and they fell into his trap.

He couldn’t face himself. He would never be the same after this conversation, the last one he had with his lover. They could’ve so much more, more kisses, stupid comments, soft smiles, and “I love you.” All of this was gone by his fault.

Izuku put his hands around his knees, putting his head on them and hiding. He was too ashamed, the only thing he could feel was the salty tears falling down his freckled cheeks and the desperate sobs filling the room. The next space was open, but Izuku ignored it. Instead, the freckled man sobbed until there was no water in his body and kept apologizing. 

He was a monster, and he knew it.

—-

Katsuki felt the circular saw coming closer to him as he realized his time was up. He knew that day would happen. He never expected it to be *now*. 

“What a great show.” The villain's voice cut him off from his thoughts. “I’m impressed Deku was ready to do it. I decided to do things my way, and it’ll be more fun if you live.”

“Aren’t supposed to kill me?” Katsuki growled as his words spilled like venom. “Why did you do all this if you knew you’ll save me, bastard ?”

“Because I wanted to see the despair in his eyes.” Magistro commented, “I wanted him to suffer the way he made us suffer. Seeing you both crying was something unexpected but worth it.”

“You went too far.” Katsuki hissed, “You could’ve used me, hurt me, but I told you many times not to hurt Izuku. I’ll make sure to destroy and fucking kill you once this shit is over.”

The villain smirked...The final step was about to start

“Well…Let’s see if you can handle the next one, dynamight.”

——

Katsuki glanced at the room, the screen, and the speakers where his world had fallen apart a few minutes ago. He was sure Izuku was destroyed, and he’ll make Magistro pay, pay for this and all those stupid traps they both went through since the beginning.

The hate and anger in his chest increased, and a dark and cold glare replaced the previous tears. He was sure none of them would be able to get out of there if he wasn’t acting, and Katsuki smiled when he reached the other door.

“So…you’re finally showing up, bastard,” he commented, watching the villain’s figure by his side. 

“You two always threatened me the entire game. I decided to see if I could win this one or not.” Magistro declared. “I chose you because you’re the number one, and your lover is still crying, so…. a fight with him can’t be worth it.”

Katsuki’s blood froze, his body moving on its own, and his legs rushed toward the villain to put him against the wall. A slight feeling of satisfaction ran into his body when he saw the familiar fear in his eyes. “You better take Deku’s name out of your mouth. I told you…you had /one/ rule, and you broke it.”

Magitro snickered. Even if the confident look faded, he still had this stupid and funny gaze on his face. The villain was teasing the hero, and he knew it. It was a part of the game…the last fight. 

“Look, the roles are inverted now. You’re the master of the game, Dynamight.”

The blond heard a loud sound, catching his attention. His face turned pale when he recognized the bracelet on the floor, the one he had since he was kept captive in this trap. The villain smiled, enjoying how curiosity was on the other’s face when the red eyes found his, this time filled with rage.

Katsuki didn’t know when he started to lose his mind, probably when he was separated from the freckled man and tried to reach him. The only thing that mattered to him was how he was ready to do everything to get his lover, even if this meant sacrificing his life again.

“What did you expect? I can’t fight against someone quirkless. This is the final round, this time, the winner is the one who stays alive at the end of the fight and reaches Izuku Midoriya.”

Katsuki smirked, preparing himself and ignoring the mark on his waist. For the first time, he felt alive and had one goal: get out of there alive. 

 “I’m going to ruin you and make you pay, fucker.”

Magistro moved away from the previous hold, much to the blond’s surprise, and guided him to the unknown room. 

 “Only if I catch you first, Dynamight.” He laughed, teasing him and knowing his weaknesses now. “You know, I never thought that having you both as my puppets would be so interesting, especially to see the hope fading away every time you reached another room…and Midoriya’s tears. It was the highlight of the show.”

It was when the blond lost his temper.

Suddenly all the rage and anger he kept for himself released into the single movement of his palms reaching each other. The fucker was trying to break him down? What a shame because he was already broken and was about to make it his strength. His heart was beating faster, the heat in his palm getting stronger, and he was preparing himself for the first attack. Knowing his life was on the line, he didn’t want to waste any seconds.

Until now, Magistro never revealed his quirk, and for some reason, he wanted to talk. This bastard was still teasing him like the game was still going, and Katsuki hated it. 

“Did you ever wonder what could be my quirk? I feel disappointed. I’m sure Deku would’ve been better and would’ve known how to defeat me.” Magistro smiled, avoiding the first attack of the blond, leading his punch to the wall. The blond groaned due to the sudden pain, and he saw it…he saw the smile on the other’s face.

“Take his name away from your mouth, bastard,” Katsuki argued, wasting no time to distract the villain and hurt his waist, hearing a sudden noise of pain coming from him. “I don’t even want to know, you wasted enough time with your bullshit, and I’m going to make you regret it.”

“Well, if you don’t want to ask, I’ll say it myself.” Magistro stands up, avoiding the hero’s punch and distracting him with an illusion of himself. As expected, Katsuki fell for it and turned around, facing the villain and how his face darkened. “My quirk is based on people’s fears. The more I broke them, the stronger I got, and I have to admit it…you two gave me more power than I expected.” 

“That’s why you keep captivating innocents? Breaking them down to start again?”

“See, the main problem here is how no matter how great it is to watch people breaking down and making me stringer before their deaths… I’ll never feel satisfied. I want to watch them lose hope, cry until there’s no more energy in their bodies, and watch the life in their eyes fading away.”

Katsuki’s got chills. He knew this villain was fucked up, but this was something else. He wanted to destroy people’s lives, and even if his quirk were the first time for the blond, he wouldn’t let himself be distracted by his speech. At this moment, he thanked himself for being the one fighting him, even if Izuku would've gove him an analysis about how to beat him faster. His only choice was the fight, which was good because he had much to say.

“You’re crazy, even crazier than I expected, but at least I wouldn’t regret killing you and making you feel like your victims. You’ll see how this game needs a new master and stop this time, bastard.” Katsuki added between two punches and, by luck, hurt the villain’s knees. Magistro found himself trying to distract the blond with his illusions, but Katsuki realized one thing…It was only temporary if he was getting stronger by people’s fears. 

He had a plan, even if this meant losing time, but it was the best thing to do if he wanted to reserve the best for the end. 

“Are you sure? Because right now, I’m just seeing a stupid hero obsessed with his goal to save an innocent life. Where is the Dynamight full of rage who wanted to bring me down when he saw me?” 

Katsuki smirked and ignored the other’s comments.

 It was longer than he expected, but a smile appeared when his doubts came true. The previous illusion that trapped him earlier became weaker until Magisto couldn’t use them anymore, letting a change distract the other and give a push on the villain’s back. 

At this point, they both have each other’s blood, injuries open, and noises of pain coming from them, but they are fighting for their life. The talkative atmosphere became darker, and soon, Katsuki started to fight back.

Magistro groaned in pain, feeling his body arching from the previous pain and the burned part of his face, but he was still using his strength. Unfortunately for him, his attempts to reach the weakest spot of the hero were in vain, fighting in the air and seeing the smirk on Katsuki’s face.

“I guess you’re not so dumb as you might seem, Dynamight.” He said, avoiding a last hit but having no time to rest.

 Indeed, in the next few seconds, his legs weakened due to another hit, the hero’s hands grabbed his neck, and his back was on the wall. The sudden action made the villain groan in pain, spitting blood from his mouth. 

“What if you shut the fuck up for once ?” He gave another hit, his punch getting harder to avoid. 

Katsuki’s hands are on his neck and squeezing harder until breathing becomes a matter of seconds and an ability harder to master. The villain who thought he had won was the victim of his trap. Katsuki smirked, seeing how Magistro was slowly losing strength and still fighting for his life.

More blood spilled on Magistro's mouth between two punches and successful hits, and breathing became harder than before. The blond was making sure to give him the same treatment he gave his victims.

“I got a new one for you, fuckers.” Katsuki confessed, wiping the blood on his face as Magistro’s eyes widened. “I won this game since the moment I reached this room.”

“What do you mean ?” Fear started to fill the villain’s eyes.

“See, your first mistake was to let this room fill with objects…including the one you used against us. Now it’s my turn to see the life fading away in your shitty eyes and admiring how you took too much life.” Katsuki moved away, holding the other’s neck tighter, and his face turned blue. It was a question of time before he would die, and he had a front-row seat.

Indeed, Katsuki wasn’t blind and noticed an unfamiliar setting in this room. He wondered what it could be, but, much to his surprise, he had his answer in the next seconds.

 The moment when the sudden hit of the hero’s ouch missed a part of the wall, a sudden trapdoor from the floor opened. 

From here, it was blurting, but the moment the red ruby eyes caught the villain’s, he knew it was something dark. Magistro’s eyes were filled with something deeper than fear, something way too dark to be expressed, as his face turned pale. The villain, who previously smiled about his victory, begged him to let him go, moving his legs and trying to escape.

The plan was simple from the beginning: trapping Magistro in his fear and being the reason for his death. This doesn’t mean the blond couldn’t take his revenge…to make sure Magistro understood, he gave another hit on the open injuries, 

“This one is for capturing us.” He gave a hit, watching the villain slowly losing conciseness and blood. “This one is for making me believe I wasn’t good enough and hurting Izuku.” Another hit, this time stronger than the previous one. 

Katsuki smirked at the sight. Now, he was stuck in his own game, and this time it’ll be his last show. The entire time, Magistro kept telling them they were his puppet, but he was wrong…because Magistro was the one who closed this game. 

“Huh,” Katsuki watched the other’s face turn paler each second. He knew what was expecting him, and it was nice to see how the blond was the one taking control now. “You thought you would escape, but I wish you could see your shitty face now. You’re begging me to let you go, but I’ll let you die in this trap, the one you initially put for one of us.”

“Maybe we’ll-”

Magistro didn’t have time to finish his sentence before he felt the string hands letting him go…only to find the room opened by the trap earlier. From here, Katsuki could see the content and realized how darker it was.

Indeed, in this room was standing the biggest amount of kindle he had ever seen. From here, they seemed to have special content, and something able to increase the pain, due to the villain’s noises. 

By luck, At least it was his thoughts when he saw Magistro stuck in his trap. He couldn’t avoid his fear and doubt as he let himself die piece by piece.

Katsuki watched from afar until silence filled the room. The only sound that mattered was Katsuki’s breathing and how his eyes found the dead body on the floor. Magistro left this world seconds ago, being stuck in his trap.

“What a shitty way to die, but you deserve it, bastard.” Katsuki spits on him with a dark and hateful gaze. His hands wiped the blood on his face, and he sighed at the disaster under his eyes…maybe he should have controlled himself. 

How would he explain this to the agency? 

—— 

With a last glance, Katsuki smirked and faced the dark, barely lightened path to the center room where all the cameras and traps could be commanded. In this room, he’ll have his answer and finally find Izuku.

“Wait for me, nerd. I’ll be here soon.” He whispered to himself, knowing he had won this fight for real this time.

There was blood everywhere. The previous scene was reduced to a massacre, but he didn’t care because, for the first time since he was closed here, Katsuki took his revenge and kept his promise. 

The only thing he was thinking was finding *him*. 

Blood was on his hands and clothes, and he had a few injuries, but this wonky stopped him from rushing to his lover’s place. The one he left behind against his will, the one he saw, saw cried because of this stupid game. Katsuki wasn’t afraid because the blood on his clothes wasn’t his, but the villain. It was the blood of this unbearable trap, innocent victims who never came back alive, and the blood of freedom.

He wiped the last sign on his lips, sharing a last glance at the dead body by his side, and he took the key. He knew it was a questioned time before finding him, but the seconds he wasted were too much. That’s why each second matters.

On the other side, it was different. 

Izuku watched everything fall apart in front of his eyes, seeing his world destroyed by his hands just because of a simple game. He could never forget how broke he was, how those games killed him mentally, and, in his despair, he won. 

How could he still stand up when he lacked the strength to walk? To speak without words tasted bitter, wasting tears on something he regretted.  The realization of how the two of them were ready to sacrifice each other to let them go, to keep the other alive, was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. They were idiots enough to glance into each other’s eyes for the last time and know it meant more than words. If he could have time, power, or even the ability to return in time, he would change everything.

Unfortunately, he was here. 

The freckled man could only stare at the empty room, watching the pale wall, the one that would haunt his nightmare from now with the frame of this moment. The regrets and the fear, mixing with the unbearable sadness in his chest, made him weak and vulnerable. At this point, if someone were walking and attacking him, he wouldn’t defend himself. The old Izuku, ready to take the world down for his lover, was disappointed because he couldn’t fight back anymore. 

Staying here would be the end, but it didn’t matter. He was walking away from this place, breathing the air and knowing how each day would constantly remind him of his betrayal. It was too hard to handle. It must explain why the tears fell on freckles cheeks; he was surprised because he thought there was no water in his body anymore.

It’s been a while since he was stuck in this room, confronted with his mistake. How long has it been? Minutes, hours, days? He didn’t want to know. At this point, Izuku had nothing to fight for, and letting himself die little by little was the only thing he could do. What’s worth living if the person we love the most is gone by our faults and mistakes?

A sudden shadow appeared in the corner of the room.

 The freckled man was too focused on his constant pain and regretted not trying to look who it was. Instead, he could see only how the shadow came closer, facing him, but the stranger didn’t speak. 

“You’re done playing with us ?” He laughed bitterly. “Congratulation, you won. You took me everything, and you still show up to pity me? You know what? Do whatever you want. If you want to kill, torture, or even fight me until death, you can because I won’t fight back.” His scarred hands wiped his tears, and his voice was shaking. “Why should I? Why should I deserve to live when he can’t? I only want to bring him back, and death doesn’t sound scary when you have nothing to hold on to.”

Silence filled the room. The stranger was supposed to be Magistro in the freckled man’s head, so he let him talk. It was the end, but he would rather die in this room than live with daily regrets.

The stranger’s hands moved toward him. The freckled man tried to step back, defending himself before letting the other do. He was supposed to fight back, but he wasn’t strong enough. Katsuki would be so disappointed in him if he could see him. 

The odd and awkward atmosphere suddenly became softer.

It was like time stopped when the other’s hands took the freckled man’s chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. Izuku’s heart melted at the sudden touch, reminding him of the familiar hands he used to love, the same hands he killed by his stupid choice a few times ago. He tried to fight back, refused how it could be another trap before the meeting /him/.

His face went pale.

He could not speak or say a single word as he saw the familiar red ruby eyes. How the strong hands came to cupped the freckled cheeks tenderly, and Izuku thought it was a fever dream for one moment. He might be dreaming. It was the only thing that could explain his hallucination. His mental health was already destroyed, and he saw things.

“Kacchan,” his voice whispered, losing itself in this illusion.

The touch gave him the warmth he used to feel, how he could almost fall for it again, and he did. In the following seconds, his hands moved toward the strong hands that held him tenderly until now, letting his guard down and saying nothing. 

“I finally found you, deku.” The other answered, catching the surprised eyes of Izuku.

His voice was still the same, and he lost himself again. His eyes teared up again, a smile appeared as he let the other bring him closer.

In the next second, his head found the blond’s chest. His scarred hands came to Katsuki’s back, holding him tighter like he was scared to let him go.

Izuku kept sobbing, saying he was sorry and wished things were different, breaking the blond’s heart on the same occasion. The two of them stayed in each other’s arms for a few minutes, barely speaking but letting themselves be vulnerable.

“If only I could bring you back,” Izuku confessed between his sobs. “Maybe you’ll be here instead of being an illusion. I’m such an idiot for letting you go. I’m so sorry.”

Katsuki’s face went pale. Of course, the nerd would think it was an illusion, he suffered the entire time, and knowing him, he must believe it was his way to cope with the trauma. That’s why the blond decided to do something.

He stepped back, revealing his teary eyes and how he was shaking, only to meet the broken face of his lover. 

“Because I’m real." He smirked, and before the freckled man would say anything, he guided his scarred hands slowly to his chest. "Do you think dead people would be able to feel heartbroken to see their lover breaking down ?”

Izuku laughed. “It’s only because it’s from my imagination. I know the real Kacchan could never say anything like that, but I like the effort.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes before a soft gaze appeared on his face. “Why would I ever lie to you, freckles? If you don’t trust my words, at least trust this.”

He noticed how the green eyes widened at the sound of the heartbeat. It was fast and accurate.

Izuku knew his imagination could trick him but could never imitate a human heartbeat, especially Katsuki’s. His face immediately meets the blond. His body was shaking, and he was unable to speak. Couldn’t it be real? How and when? He saw him die, and there was blood on his clothes. 

Oh.

Oh .

“Kacchan,” he could barely say a word, it was the only thing he could say. 

It was enough to lose himself in the red ruby eyes, the ones he loved to admire, and it was something he couldn’t imagine.

There was this slight gaze in Katsuki’s eyes, the one he knew by heart and could read like an open book. None of this could be fake, especially with his Katsuki looking at him as if he was his everything, something he had seen and known by heart for years.

“You’re….” 

Katsuki smiled, a smile he only kept for the freckles man, and he knew…they both knew . It might explain the tears in their eyes.

“Yes.” Was the only thing he could say before seeing the bright smile on the other’s face. 

Suddenly, the world started turning again, and his heart melted when he jumped into his arms. Izuku put his head on the blond’s chest, hearing his heartbeat as a melody he missed, knowing it was real and the man he loved was still there. 

Katsuki was still alive . He was still breathing .

The scarred hands found the blond’s neck, catching his attention and wiping the other’s tears. None dared to speak, knowing their gaze was enough to reveal how grateful they were to be by each other’s side, and there was so much to say. It was like time stopped again, leaving it to them, who had kept fighting for each other since the beginning. Being in each other’s arms reminded them how much they missed each other and could always find each other, even in the worst situation.

In the following seconds, Izuku smiled. Katsuki was wondering what was going on in the nerd’s brain before feeling his lips on his own. Izuku wanted to make sure all of this wasn’t a dream, knowing he could still taste the lips he loved, and yet, it felt like a new revival. The blond’s hands found the other’s waist, holding him closer and letting them enjoy this tender kiss. 

“You’re real.” Izuku smiled, letting the blond wipe his tears and how they held each other like they were scared to let the other go. “You’re here.”

“Why are you so surprised? I told you I would fight until the end to find your stupid freckles.” 

Izuku laughed, cupping the other’s cheek and noticing the same warmth. His worries, fear, and regrets faded when he saw the red ruby one. He knew he was at home. 

“But how? You have blood, so this means I-”

“No, you didn’t do anything, nerd.” The blond reassured him, putting a stray curl behind his ears. “This shit stopped the second you pressed this button. It’s okay, it’s over, and I’m here.”

“He’s still here,” he whispered, afraid Magistro could hear them and break them again. “We need to find a way to fight him and-”

“Don’t worry. I decided to give him a good lesson he’ll never forget.” The blond answered, meeting the curious green eyes before seeing them widen when he understood what he meant. “We’re safe, as long as I’m here, you’ll be safe, love.”

Izuku said nothing. There were so many things he wanted to say, to express, and even confess. Many fears, regrets, and insecurities he needed to share with his other half, but something else reached his mind at this moment. When the light was about to fade, being replaced by darkness, someone saved him. It was the same person who saved him years ago, the same one inspiring him every day to be better and make him proud, and the same one with whom he fell in love. 

Never in his life Izuku Midoriya doubted his life’s choices, even at the worst moment. Being with Katsuki Bakugo wasn’t one of them. 

People commented on their relationship, being their past with the egoistic goal of breaking them apart many times…but none of them worked. Sure, the couple had been through a difficult phase where breaking up sounded like an option, but they asked themselves this question: would they break up for their relationship or the others? Who would win in the end …Them or the people who wanted to bring them down? 

They agreed to give each other a second chance, and since that day, nothing broke them apart. It wasn’t a stupid villain who thought that knowing everything about their life and insecurities but he wouldn’t win. 

Today, fate showed him how his doubts were right: Izuku couldn’t live in a world where his other half would be gone. Breathing the same air as the other, seeing them smiling every day without knowing the tragedy in his life would be his no-return point. 

Everything changed when he felt familiar hands around his cheeks and recognized the red ruby eyes. They were the same that confirmed him every night about his nightmares, the same looking at him with tenderness during their intimate moments when they would whisper sweet words to each other and the blond was his shoulder to cry on. 

That’s when he knew. He knew it was the right choice because he was blind to realize how he should’ve done this sooner instead of losing his lover.

 He didn’t want to ask how or even when, the only thing he wanted now was to spend the rest of his life with the man he loved, the man standing by his side, and suddenly his mouth spoke before realizing.

“Kacchan,” their eyes met, silence filling the room. “Will you marry me ?”

Katsuki’s eyes went wide. He was still holding the freckled man closer, feeling he was still shaking, but he was better than when he found him minutes ago. Their hands held each other in tender touch, and the blond’s heart beat faster. 

What was happening? A second ago, they met each other in tears, and now the nerd was proposing to him. They never talked about marriage in the past, this idea never bothered them but-

“Did you just propose in the middle of nowhere?” The blond joked, and the freckled man smiled back in answer.

“Yes, and I don’t see what’s the problem. I know it’s unusual, and I might be emotional, but I realized that you’re the one I want. I don’t want to lose you again. Katsuki Bakugo, would you accept someone broken like me until your last breath ?”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, but his answer said otherwise. He brings the other closer, seeking his speech with a kiss before whispering a low “Yes, I do, dumbass. We’re both broken, but we complete each other, right ?”

Izuku smiled, this time, it was happy tears. His head found the blond’s chest, “Now we have to find rings.”

“Let’s get out of here first,” Katsuki commented, stepping back and reaching the freckled man’s hands. During a few seconds, they both had a flash of when their story started the day at the lake. Izuku smiled, taking his boyfriend’s hands and facing the taller man.

“And get some therapy.” The greenette added. In his mind, it was funnier, but they both knew they needed years of therapy to heal from this experience.

“I would do anything to get out of this place.” The blond said, feeling the other man was hesitant to leave this place…maybe it was fear of the unknown. After all, Katsuki was the only one to know what was after this room, and Izuku thought it was another trap.

“It’s okay, you’re safe now. He’s gone, I promise, Izuku.” His face softened, noticing the doubt in the green eyes. “Do you trust me ?”

“More than anything.” Izuku’s scarred hands reached the blond’s, feeling the comforting touch.

Izuku still struggled to walk, and Katsuki immediately noticed the injuries on the other’s body. Even if the greenette said he was fine, the blond insisted on changing the tissue before it got more infected. Izuku agreed and let his boyfriend, soon-to-be fiancé, tear the fabric of his shirt and see his eyes widen at the other’s state. Hopefully, it stopped bleeding, but the injuries seemed deep enough to be important. He’ll ask later how the nerd got them…each thing in time.

“Hey, deku.” His hands left the freckled man’s knees, meeting curious green eyes. “Being here made me realize a few things. I faced my past, but my apologies would never be enough for the pain I gave you. No matter if it was in middle school or when we were messing with our feelings back in high school…I’m sorry for everything I’ve done until now.”

“Kacchan…” his voice was low, almost inaudible, but he let the other speak, watching the red eyes tearing up.

“Don’t get me wrong, you just proposed to me a few minutes ago, and I don’t regret anything, but I feel bad. I feel bad because I regret it every time I think about the past and when we started. I wished things were better.” Katsuki laughed bitterly, feeling how the scarred hands were holding him tightly. “Sometimes I wish you could find someone else, someone able to make you laugh or smile as I did…someone able to give you good memories about your relationship, not the pain we both know.”

“Kac-”

“Are you sure about your choice? I’ll understand if you don’t feel anything by the idea of being with someone stubborn like me.” Katsuki knew he was revealing his vulnerabilities, but he wasn’t scared when Izuku looked at him with soft eyes.

“Katsuki Bakugo.” The freckled man answered, smiling. “You need to take some breath and listen to me, alright ?”

Katsuki sighed, sat on the floor, and let the scarred hands cup his cheeks. It was the same tender touch he had each night before sleeping, the same hands holding him closer after each nightmare, and the hands of the same man traveling on his body he knew by heart now.

“You’re stupid, but you're lucky I love you,” Izuku confessed, comforting the blond. “Take a minute to think, why would I propose to someone I don’t love? Asking them to spend the rest of my days if I can’t stand the idea of them being around me ?“

“Because you’re too stubborn ?”

The comment made Izuku laugh. “Exactly. I’m too stubborn because I know what I want, and I need you. I need you more than anything, Katsuki Bakugo. I need to hear your voice making stupid comments, your mesmerizing eyes looking at me with this gaze, and so many things I could tell about you and why you’re the one I’ve been looking for my entire life.”

Katsuki said nothing, letting the silence fill the room. Izuku’s hand slowly slide behind the blond neck, bringing him closer. In the following seconds, Izuku was the one to sell their lips together into a living and soft kiss. It wasn’t like the other they used to do…this was the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship, where they’ll be each other’s last partners.

“I want to feel these lips until my last breath, to hear your laugh and see the small glance you give me in silence when no one’s looking. When you think about us, you immediately think about middle school, but there’s more. It’s not where everything strayed, kacchan.” 

Katsuki gave him a surprised glance.

“What about the small and hidden boy admiring his childhood friend from afar? Wondering if one day he’ll be amazing like him ?” Izuku confessed, a deep blush covering his face. “What about the freckled boy following someone he admired his entire life? The one saying how amazing his friend was and, without realizing it, slowly falling for him? Because that’s what I see. Our story didn’t start in middle school. It was only a chapter of our life, but we didn’t forget where we started that day at the river. I would never exchange what we had for something new because it’s our story, and I fell for it.”

Katsuki said nothing because what could he answer? Izuku already explained everything he wanted..no he needed to hear. The freckled man took his time to comfort him in a way only he knew, which might be why his green eyes looked at the red ruby one with so much love and tenderness. 

“So yes, it wasn’t perfect, and we both messed up, but I like it that way. I don’t need anymore else when I have you. You’re enough for me, and I’m sure about marrying you because it took me years to realize his obvious. After all, you were forgiven a long time ago.” He finished, taking the blond’s hands into his and kissing them. “I don’t care if you’re crazy… let’s be crazy together if you want.”

Katsuki smirked, and Izuku smiled, intertwining their hands in a soft touch. None of them dared to speak, but they knew. 

Katsuki’s gaze was enough to answer all the doubts and worries the freckled man had, and they cherished it more than anything. 

—-

After walking for hours and trying to think how to reach the outside, the two of them discovered the place. It was bigger than expected, with more rooms dedicated to their traumas and difficult life periods. 

Hopefully, Izuku and Katsuki didn’t have to face them…who knows if they would even find each other one day.

Izuku got chills, and he felt weaker. Katsuki noticed it and found a place to rest without wasting time. He was exhausted, but his priorities were on the nerd. They don’t even know how long they were stuck here, and hearing their stomach, they were hungry too. Much to their disappointment, there wasn’t any water bottle, and their only hope was to be found as quickly as possible. 

Katsuki found an old sheet and put it on the freckled man's small body. In the next few seconds, Izuku’s head fell on the blond’s chest, and he stayed close to him. They both knew they needed years of therapy before finally living again, but in their misfortune, Katsuki could keep his promise and save Izuku. 

Izuku smiled, feeling familiar hands ruffling his green curls. Katsuki smirked, realizing it was finally over and focusing on his lover and only him. 

“Kacchan, if no one finds us…do you think we could get married here ?” He joked, but the tone in his voice was half serious. 

Katsuki held him closer, feeling how the frecked man answered by hugging him back. “Don’t say bullshit. We’ll be fine. Try to rest, alright ?”

Izuku nodded, whispering a low “love you ” and closing his eyes. He didn’t know how to sleep in such a difficult place, but the blond was here, by his side, to comfort him. His scarred hands held Katsuki’s waist tighter, almost like he was scared to leave them, and he let himself comforted by the sound of his lover’s voice.

The rescuer found them hours later. 

 With a sound loud enough to wake Izuku, their eyes found the sudden light, and it felt like a dream. A creed started to fall from the plane, with familiar faces they recognized and voices they missed.

The two men’s bodies were weak enough to be transported by the rescue and their friends with many questions, but Katsuki only answered one of them.

“We thought we lost you both! We’ve spent hours looking for you after you both went missing…Are you alright?”

Katsuki made a bitter laugh, holding Izuku’s hands in his own. 

“No…and we’ll never be, but the sooner we leave this place, the faster we can heal.”

-end-