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“You inherited my sensitive baby-skin, so don’t forget sunscreen. How about a hat to protect your face? Oh, look! Your old ‘All Might’ beach towel!”
Katsuki’s mother toggles between the closet and the bathroom drawers, grabbing things for him and making a fuss. As soon as he informed her he was headed to the beach, she activated her ‘Mother Hen’ mode and immediately started babying him.
“Ma! quit naggin’ me. I’ve been to the beach alone before, ya know. And I’m not using that thing. It’s like a million years old.” He swipes the towel from her with every intention of destroying it or dropping it in the trash. He brings it to his nose to give it a sniff, expecting it to be gross, even though it’s obviously clean and has just been living on the shelf for ages. He can’t recall the last time he used it. The edges are frayed and it’s definitely worn, but it’s still surprisingly soft, and it smells faintly of lavender laundry soap.
“So what? If you run into Izuku, it’ll be a good conversation starter.” She shrugs then nudges him with an elbow, giving him a teasing look that makes his face hot.
"Pfft. I doubt it. He’s probably outgrown this kiddie shit. What makes you think I want to run into De-Izuku?” His mother doesn't understand the nuances of the once cruel nickname and how the man himself had come to embrace it.
“Well, for one thing, you never come to visit; but as soon as I send a text that I saw him at the store with Inko, you’re on the first train!”
Katsuki exhales sharply through his nostrils, then takes a beat. “It wasn’t the first train.”
“Ha!!!” She points an accusatory finger in his face and smiles broadly.
“If you give me grief, I’ll take the first train back .”
“Fair,” she says.
“I’m just curious about what he’s been up to, is all. I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“Oh, is that all?! ”
“Where’s my phone? Let me check that train schedule.”
“Hush, you. He seemed sweet and polite as ever. And Inko looked well. But then, her son visits her.”
“Interesting, there’s a train at two. If I leave now, I can still make it.”
She whacks him playfully on the shoulder and pinches his cheek. “All right, I’m done teasing you—for now. I’m glad you’re here and you deserve a fun day at the beach.”
“Thank you,” he says, leaning down to plant a small kiss on her cheek. “I should be home for dinner.”
“You could bring Izuku…”
Katsuki flips the bird (affectionately) as he turns on his heel and he hears her cackling as he retreats to his room to change.
Katsuki does end up with the ‘All Might’ beach towel in tow. His mother must have stuffed it in his bag when he wasn’t looking. But when he rolls it out on the warm sand, a fondness rises in him. Yeah, it’s a tad juvenile, but a cursory glance around the shore is enough to show him he’s not the only adult sporting nostalgia-based gear. A group of people down the beach are tossing a big beach ball with the superhero’s face on it and another has a huge sippy cup with the signature catchphrase, ‘I AM HERE!’ in gold letters emblazoned across his red and blue emblem.
Part of him wants to roll his eyes, but he doesn’t. It feels too damn nice to be back in his hometown, on his home turf, even with the stupid beach towel. When he thinks about it, he has to admit growing up in Musutafu wasn’t all bad.
Yeah, it’s a boring suburb, just outside the excitement of Tokyo—excitement Katsuki thought he couldn’t live without—but the place has some charm. And it’s quiet and peaceful in a way the city could never be. And it has Deku. Wait. Did he just...is that Deku?! Katsuki squints, raising his sunglasses to his head to get a better look. He feels it all happen in slow motion as his eyes settle on the well-toned, lightly tanned man with a smattering of freckles across his body and face, wavy green hair atop his head. Naaah. That can’t be Deku. There’s no fucking way. This Adonis cannot be the same nerd he grew up with and tormented all those years ago, the same kid who followed him around like a lost puppy; always small and wiry, no matter the fitness tips Katsuki hurled at him.
But Katsuki knows better and he knows how aging works. It’s definitely Deku.
“Shit, he got hot,” he hears himself say. A few people snicker around him, but fuck it, he doesn’t care what strangers think. They all have eyes too, they must notice as well.
“You know that lifeguard?” One of the extras leans in to ask.
“Huh?” Oh yeah, Deku is wearing the signature red trunks and strolling the beach with a rescue buoy in tow. “We grew up together,” he says. It comes out more defensive than he means. There’s more giggling he’s only vaguely aware of. It doesn’t matter. Suddenly nothing else does. Everything aside from the vision-that is-Deku has become a blurr. He knows he’s moving towards the water, towards his childhood friend. What the hell? Does Katsuki think he can just walk right up to him and give a casual greeting as if it hasn’t been years? As if the last time they’d seen each other wasn’t a complete disaster?
“You sure are ogling him!”
“What?! I ain’t ogling anyone!”
But the extras merely giggle again. “We don’t blame you. Good luck!” One of them pats him on the shoulder and gives him a soft smile before they all run off down the beach.
Sighing, Katsuki kicks up the sand and returns to his towel to brainstorm. His mom is right; he doesn’t come visit all that often. And the extras are right too, though he hates to admit it. He can’t pass up this chance to reconnect with Deku. Not when it’s being presented to him in such an obvious way. Surely fate must be on his side, right? This is a golden opportunity, if ever he saw one. As golden as Deku’s abs rippling in the sunlight.
It’s amazing how quickly Katsuki’s denial melts away until it’s barely there at all. Sure, he’d pretended not to care or even consider the possibility of crossing paths with Deku while on the way here, but seeing him now in the flesh? Suddenly Katsuki realizes that he’s been such a fool. Deku’s a fucking catch! So Katsuki better go fishing.
Because his mom is unfortunately right about his baby skin, he lathers up in sunscreen, then strolls into the water. It’s unexpectedly cold as it washes over his feet. “Son of a…” he curses under his breath, then glances around for signs of Deku as he wades in deeper. Goosebumps form on his legs as his body works to get used to the temperature. When he gets far enough out, he takes the plunge, holding his nose and diving in, and when he emerges, he does start to feel a bit warmer.
Deku is off in the distance a bit, and Katsuki thinks he sees him turn back around to walk in his direction, towards the lifeguard stand and Katsuki has what’s either about to be the stupidest or the most brilliant idea he’s ever had. Okay, he thinks, here goes nothin.’ And he acts before he can truly consider the consequences.
He swims out into deeper waters, closer to the buoys that demarcate the swimming zone. Katsuki can easily make Deku out still, but he treads water, waiting for him to get a little closer. Then he allows himself to drift and bob, holding his breath when necessary as the waves come. It’s borderline dangerous; the undertow is quite strong. But Katsuki remains in control, enough to see when a few concerned heads start to turn his way.
“Help!” someone near him calls. “I think he’s drowning!” Katsuki allows his arms to flail a little. He ducks and pokes his head back up, throwing out his own distress call too.
“Help!” He calls in tandem with the extras, before letting himself be taken by another wave. He hears a whistle sounding from the distance just before it crashes over him, pushing him down a bit further than intended.
There’s muffled shouting and talking and then Katsuki feels a cool hand gripping his arm and dragging him out of the waves. “I’ve got you.” Deku’s voice is calm, though not without a trace of worry. Katsuki allows himself to be manhandled, draped over the rescue buoy with strong arms. He keeps his eyes shut tight, lets his head loll. Deku does indeed have him and he swims fast, even with Katsuki in tow.
When it’s shallow enough to stand, Deku scoops him up, carrying Katsuki in his arms bridal style. Katsuki focuses on the sensation, the contact of their bodies—tries hard not to smile—and listens to the sound of the water as Deku splashes through it and pads up onto the sand, setting him down gently on the hard-packed surface.
A hand lightly pats his face. “Can you hear me?”
Katsuki holds his breath and doesn’t respond. He feels hands over his heart beginning chest compressions and holy fuck! Ouch! Not pleasant.
“I’ll get the defibrillator,” someone says.
Deku’s fingers pry Katsuki’s lips apart and Katsuki nearly breaks into a grin. This is it. Warm lips cover his and it feels oh so…weird; not like a kiss at all. Because it’s not a kiss. Deku is blowing air into his lungs. Ugh, that does not feel good either. He starts coughing and it’s one hundred percent not acting. He hears people gasping and Deku backs off, helping him to sit up.
“Are you alright, sir? Kacchan?!” His bright green eyes go wide.
“Hey, Deku,” Katsuki says, giving a small smile. Then he lets himself cough again, maybe laying it on just a little too thick. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Oh my god! I haven’t seen you in so long and you just…you could have—” he cuts himself off, clearly too horrified to say anything more. He stands, looking distraught and pushes his damp bangs off of his forehead.
“S’fine,” Katsuki says, pushing himself up too. Deku gives him a concerned look and puts a hand out to steady him, in case he needs it. “I wasn’t really in trouble.”
Deku’s face goes dark. “Whadda you mean?” His eyebrows lower and Katsuki realizes his mistake a second too late—not that he could have expected to keep the secret forever. Katsuki’s face must go as red as Deku’s swim shorts.
“I, uh…I was pretending,” he mutters.
“What did you just say?”
“I said I was pretending!”
A teenager runs up with the defibrillator in hand, stopping short as she sees it’s no longer needed.
“Come with me. Now.” Deku grabs his wrist and pulls him hard up the beach to the lifeguard stand. Ooh is he about to get lucky or— “You asshole!” A hard push propels Katsuki backward. “Faking an emergency is serious, Kacchan! What if you took my attention away from someone who actually needed me?”
Oh. Well, Katsuki hadn’t thought of that. “I—”
“You put other people in danger, including me! Seriously, Kacchan, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“I just wanted to talk to you.”
Deku’s eyes pop out of his head. “So then you come up to me while I’m off duty and say, “hey Izuku, long time no see, how ya doin?’ like a normal person!”
“I’m sorry…”
“Or you come visit once and I while! Or actually answer some of the texts I’ve sent over the years.”
“I answer!” He knows he hasn’t. He felt too shitty about how things had ended between them.
“Bullshit,” Deku says. “Why now all of a sudden? You can’t just come here and make some big gesture for my attention after ignoring me for so long.”
Okay, so they’re doing this, huh?
“I wanted to reach out before, really, I did. But I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me.”
“Why not?”
“Because you were so mad when I left. After I told you my plans, you gave me the cold shoulder for weeks!” You stopped looking at me like I was made of sunshine.
Deku deflates, rubs at his temples. Katsuki holds his breath, unsure of his fate. But then he sees that Deku’s expression has softened.
“I was mad, yes. And I’m sorry for icing you out. The truth is, I was hurt and sad too. I didn’t want you to go. I thought we’d made such strides, ya know.”
“I know. We had.”
“I don’t know why I expected you to stay here with me. Of course you wanted to go to the city. I guess a part of me just hoped…”
“Hoped for what?”
“Never mind,” Deku huffs, looking anywhere but at Katsuki. Now it’s his turn to grab Deku by the wrist.
“Deku. Do you know why I made such a stupid ass decision for your attention just now?”
He shakes his head, his lips in an adorable pout that should be a fucking crime; this guy’s got some nerve looking all innocent. It’s an expression that brings back so many memories from their youth—not all of them pleasant. Katsuki could be anything but pleasant sometimes.
“Take a guess,” Katsuki says softly, closing the space between them. The air between them is electric, and Katsuki’s almost afraid of getting shocked as he reaches out to tuck a curl behind Deku’s ear. He visibly shivers at the touch. “I noticed you. Made me think—well…made me kinda regret leaving in the first place. Definitely made me want to get to know you again…pick up where we left off?”
Katsuki nearly bails, wondering if he’s made a grave error. He didn’t plan on saying all that, not until the words were tumbling out of his foolish mouth. Still, he meant every word. Suddenly Deku’s arms are around him, crushing him in an enthusiastic hug, his head pressing against Katsuki’s chest.
“Kacchan. I missed you so much.”
He wraps his arms around Deku’s back; his lips break into a small smile. “I missed you too, nerd.”
There’s silence for a long while. Then Deku says, “I need to get back to my shift. But I get off in an hour. Would you…wanna hang out after? Catch up?”
Would he ever!
“I gotta have dinner with the hag,” he says automatically. Certainly, she’d let him off the hook if she knew he was going to hang out with Deku. Then, she’d definitely torment him about it upon his return. “Do you want to eat with us? I know she’d love to see you. The old man would love to have you too. And so would I.”
“Hmm.” Deku pulls on his bottom lip. Gods, he’s cute. “That sounds really nice, actually.”
“Cool.”
“Cool.”
They sort of just stare at each other for a moment before Deku waves and runs back down the beach. It’s awkward. It’s perfect. It’s more than he deserves after the stunt he pulled, but Deku’s a kind-hearted little shit and he’s always given Katsuki more than his due. He vows to make up for the past somehow, starting with dinner tonight.
With a renewed vigor and sense of purpose, he returns to his beach towel and splays himself out in the sun until his skin feels too warm. Then he runs out into the water and splashes around for a bit, catching Deku’s eye a handful of times; and each time, Deku blushes furiously and looks away. It’s cute as hell. Blush looks good on his freckled face.
Katsuki repeats the process of warming up in the sun and cooling off in the water until Deku’s shift ends.
“Oh my god! You still have that All Might beach towel?!” he says excitedly.
Katsuki shrugs it off. “Yeah. The old man convinces my mom to save everything.”
“I remember we had matching ones. I think mine totally disintegrated after a while. Used it way too much. I probably cried when I had to toss it.”
“That tracks,” says Katsuki. “You always were a cry baby.”
“Still am,” Deku says proudly. He sticks his tongue out, teasingly. They walk together for a bit and Katsuki discovers Deku has a little orange scooter. “I’m gonna stop at home, but then I’ll be over. Should I bring anything?”
Katsuki shakes his head. “Nah. You’re more than enough, just as you are.”
Deku beams at him. “Okay. See you soon.”
*****
“Ahhhhh! I knew it! I knew you’d run into him.”
"You knew he was working as a lifeguard didn't you," he asks.
She shrugs, but doesn't hide the twinkle in her eye, the goes right back to gushing about how happy she is. She pinches leans in and kisses him on the cheek like she did when he was five.
“Give it a rest, ma! Please behave yourself when Izuku’s here. Don’t embarrass me.”
“Oh, hush. Sounds like you already embarrassed yourself enough with your little drowning trick. You’re unbelievable. Don't you know how dangerous that is?”
“Let it go. I learned my lesson.”
“And yet, still you’re rewarded. Such a charmed life you lead.” She shakes her head at him, but it’s affectionate. It’s a testament to how close they are that he didn’t hesitate to tell her about his little scheme.
“I’m lucky. He’s good at giving me second chances.”
“Well, I’m glad you took a chance. Even if it was a bit stupid.”
“Izuku makes me a bit stupid,” he says, tugging at the bottom of his t-shirt. A shirt with sleeves is as dressy as he’s willing to go—in his own house, anyway. He wants to look good, but not too good.
“He still likes katsudon, I hope.”
“I think so, yeah.” Katsuki isn’t exactly sure. He still likes All Might though and, for some reason, he still likes Katsuki, so…odds are, it’s a yes.
“Good. Katsuki?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t fuck it up with him this time.”
****
“I can’t believe you still have these trading cards!” Deku beams his charming as hell megawatt smile as he looks through Katsuki’s very organized album of superhero cards.
“Course I still have ‘em. I paid good money for those.”
“Kacchan, most of these are from inside bags of potato chips,” Deku says brightly.
“Yeah. And some of those chips cost a hundred and fifty yen! That’s a lotta money to a brat.”
Deku snort-laughs and it’s infuriatingly adorable. Katsuki is overcome by the overwhelming urge to kiss him. But his mother’s words ring in his ears. He can’t fuck this up.
“Deku,” he says, lowering his voice. He reaches for the album on Deku’s lap and sets it aside, taking Deku’s hand in his. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
“I know,” he says. “ I think I made myself more than clear about the dangers, so I doubt you’ll do something so stupid again.”
“No, no, not that. I mean, yes, I’m sorry for that, but, I mean earlier with us.”
“Oh.”
“I shouldn’t have just decided to leave without at least letting you know what I was thinking.”
“We were kids…and it’s not like we were dating.”
“Yeah, but I—I liked you. And I was scared. Because I knew I couldn’t stay here and I knew you weren’t ready to go, so where the hell did that leave us? I wanted to date you. But I didn’t know how to do long distance or if I could do that. I still could have included you in my plans. Let you know that I wanted to visit. And actually follow through…” Deku scoots closer and squeezes Katsuki’s hand. “So, it was just easier to pretend like we weren’t on the brink of something. To act like a free bird who didn’t need to consider anyone’s feelings but his own.”
“Kacchan. Like I said before, I didn’t have to be so cold to you. I didn’t exactly make it easy for you to want to come visit.”
“How would you have reacted if I had?”
“I don’t know.” He shakes his head. “But I know how I’m reacting now. And aren’t we here again? On the brink of something?”
Katsuki exhales. Deku’s leaning in closer than he was before. He still smells a little like the beach, mixed with almond shampoo and lavender soap. Before he knows it, their noses are touching, and then Katsuki tilts his head as their lips meet, parting his own to make room. The kiss is soft, sweet, chaste—but not too chaste, and surprisingly not at all hesitant. It’s perfect. They melt into each other, Katsuki grabbing Deku's face, holding onto him for dear life; like a life buoy.
When they part, Deku gives a little smile, pressing their foreheads together. Katsuki’s hands haven’t moved. He scratches gently through his soft hair.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”
“Me too.” And because he feels like he can, Katsuki kisses him again. There are a lot of other things he wants to do, but doesn’t want to rush. Well, okay, maybe he wants to—
A knock on the door pulls them apart faster than you can say All Might. It’s Katsuki’s dad asking if they’re ready to come down for dessert.
“Be right down,” Katsuki says, attempting to keep the harriedness from his voice, but unsure if he’s successful. His heart beats a frantic tattoo against his ribcage and it feels like it’s trying to claw its way out. Deku seems to sense this and he places a steadying hand on Katsuki’s chest, a small mischievous smile playing on his lips. Lips Katsuki just kissed!
“Guess we should go, huh?”
“It would be suspicious if we take too long. Though, I think my mom would explode from happiness; but not until she finished teasing me to death. Let’s just say, she’s been rooting for us.”
“Smart woman.”
Katsuki grunts, and they both hoist each other up to standing.
Dessert is homemade chestnut mochi; Katsuki recognizes it one hundred percent for the bribery it is. It’s a dish that says, ‘see son, this is what you miss out on when you don’t visit.’ A food-based guilt trip is an admirable tactic, he has to give her that. But looking across the table at Deku, he knows it won’t be necessary any more. He’s more than enough of a motivation for Katsuki to have the Tokyo—Musutafu train schedule memorized. Come to think of it, maybe that’s partly why the hag was so keen to get them together. Smart Woman.
****
They stand on the front stoop together, putting off saying goodbye for as long as they can. Katsuki feels like a teenager again and he’s reminded of countless nights like this where he could feel something palpable in the air before he deflected and pretended otherwise.
“You know, I’ll be in town a few more days,” Katsuki says hopefully.
“Oh yeah?”
“I’d like to see you again.”
“Me too.”
Like magnets, they’re drawn together again into a breathless kiss, right there under the stars. Katsuki could get used to this. Ya know what, maybe he’ll move back. The city’s overrated, anyhow…
“Kacchan. I’m thinking this will be my last summer in Musutafu. Mom’s in a good place now. She’s actually met someone recently and it’s going well. I don’t think she’d mind if I went off to the city to seek my fortune.”
The phrase makes Katsuki laugh. “That’s great for Auntie!” he says. It’s great for me, too.
“The truth is I’ve wanted to move for a while. And not just because of you , so don’t get a big head about it.” He pinches Katsuki in the side.
“Well, I’ll be there to show you the ropes. If you like.”
“I think I would like that. Very much. For now though,” Deku says, stretching his arms overhead, “I think I’ve got to get home.”
“Tell Auntie ‘hi’ for me.”
“I will. I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“You better.”
“Thanks for having me over, Kacchan.”
“Sure nerd.Thanks for rescuing me.”
