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Izuku feels a little bit nervous as he walks into the barbarian village after a couple of years; he's been there before, his mother and he used to live in a house close to it until they both had to move away when Izuku's stupid and horrible father came looking for him.
His mother lives in the middle of the woods now, safe, while Izuku travels around the kingdom to train and be as strong as his mentor All Might.
Sure, it was probably the best choice at the time, but Izuku still laments leaving his best friend behind then.
He's not sure if Katsuki would like to see him again after all those years or if he still remembers him. It's alright, Izuku still has things to do in the village.
He buys a couple of herbs and a dagger for protection and toys with his mother's letter for a while before knocking on the Bakugos' door.
Taking a deep breath, he prays to the gods they still live there.
But what if they don't remember him?
"Izuku!" Masaru greets him in the doorway before another hand appears behind him and pulls the green haired young man in.
"It's been a while, boy!" Mitsuki chuckles, pulling Izuku into a hug. "You have grown a lot!"
"Y-Yes!" He mumbles nervously, handing her Inko's letter.
"From my friend?" She asks with a grin. "Okay, we'll read it later and perhaps I even write something for her before you go."
"Katsuki lives in the center of the village now," Masaru tells him, noticing the way Izuku's eyes are constantly looking around. "He'll be happy to see you."
"Uhh..."
He's not so sure about that, maybe he should–
"Come on, the brat won't bite you..." Mitsuki smirks, only making Izuku more nervous than he already is.
"Mitsuki," her husband sighs, before offering a kind smile to Izuku. "Go pay him a visit."
"Is he... the leader now?"
"Not yet," Mitsuki replies, looking very amused for some reason. "But he will be."
"O-Okay."
Izuku gets out of the house after having lunch (Masaru insisted) thinking that maybe Katsuki won't be that excited to see him. He has more important things to do now.
However, he's not a coward, at least he has to try–
Suddenly, something strong collides with him, something that almost knocks him off his feet if it wasn't because the same "thing" put their arms around him and lifted him from the ground.
"You nerd!" Katsuki growls, looking directly at Izuku's eyes. "Did you think I wouldn't recognize that stupid green hair and those ridiculous freckles of yours?"
It seems his childhood friend has grown like a tower now and he's very strong judging by the way he keeps carrying Izuku in his arms like he weighs nothing.
"Hi, Kacchan," he mumbles nervously, feeling his cheeks turn slightly pink. "It's been a while..."
"SHUT UP!" Katsuki growls again, pulling Izuku even closer and that's when the green haired man notices the tears sliding down his cheeks.
"Kacchan, are you cryi–"
"NO!" The barbarian cuts him off, nuzzling against his cheek affectionately.
That's when Izuku bursts into tears. Katsuki puts him down, worried for a moment until he realizes Izuku is not hurt at all.
"I missed you too, Kacchan!" He sobs, feeling strong hands cradling his face as thumbs wipe off the tears from his freckled cheeks.
"You're such a crybaby," Katsuki huffs, although he's tearing up too. "I didn't say I missed you."
"But I know you missed me," Izuku giggles, hearing the moment Katsuki approaches again. The barbarian nuzzles against his cheek before biting the tip of his nose.
"I did miss you, nerd."
"Aren't you going to introduce us to that cutie?" A barbarian girl says, followed by two men, they're as young as Katsuki; one of them has yellow hair and the other one red.
"No," Katsuki growls, pressing Izuku's forehead against his, before rubbing their noses together.
"That's really manly, Bakubro!"
"We get it! But we just want to meet him!"
Reluctantly, Katsuki introduces Izuku to Kirishima, Ashido and Kaminari, although he doesn't move away from Izuku and keeps a hand on his waist the whole time.
"Spar with me, nerd!" Katsuki blurts out suddenly, prompting Ashido to chuckle and Kaminari and Kirishima to look at him like it's the first time they see him.
"Uhh..." Izuku hesitates. Yes, he's stronger now and has learned how to fight, but he's not sure if that's something he wants to–
"Please." Katsuki adds, almost like he can hear Izuku's thoughts.
Kirishima gasps and the others look equally shocked, but Katsuki doesn't tear his red eyes away from Izuku.
It seems like this is important to him.
"Okay, Kacchan."
The part Izuku doesn't enjoy is that they do that in the middle of the village, near the fountain; it's the same beautiful one Izuku and Katsuki used to play around when they were children, which means that everyone can see them. And the people do stop to watch them as if that's some sort of important event.
Izuku notices Masaru and Mitsuki in the crowd.
However, despite how nervous he feels, it also brings back good memories.
"Eyes on me, Izuku."
Fortunately, he actually forgets about everyone else as soon as their eyes connect and suddenly they're running against each other, trying to tackle the other to the ground.
It's weird, but they're really balanced in terms of fighting skills; Katsuki is stronger, but Izuku is faster.
In the end it's a tie and weirdly enough it doesn't make Katsuki upset (when they were kids, the blond was obsessed with winning) actually, it seems he's really happy about the result.
The people around are surprised, but happy; they even clap for them and Izuku finds himself being hugged by Masaru and Mitsuki at the same time, at least until Katsuki yanks him away.
He's blushing. His friends are already walking towards them when Katsuki takes Izuku's hand and intertwines their fingers together.
"Not a word!" He warns his friends. "I'll take Izuku home to feed him."
"Sure you will..."
"Shut up, Pinky!"
It's not that he doesn't enjoy being in Katsuki's house or that he doesn't like the idea of watching him make dinner for him, but Izuku has to know...
"What was that all about, Kacchan?" He asks, sitting at the table, as the barbarian moves around his kitchen.
"The sparring session was actually a compatibility test, it means we're compatible..." The barbarian says, still looking away, although Izuku notices his ears turning red.
"Compatible? But–"
Finally, Katsuki turns around before taking off one of his necklaces and handing it to Izuku. He looks nervous.
"As a couple," he says in a whisper, his red eyes finding Izuku's. There's no hesitation in his voice. "I'd like to start courting you, if you're okay with that."
His heart responds for him, even before Izuku can process what's going on. He feels warm and fuzzy inside.
"But, Kacchan... Isn't it a little bit too soon for that? I mean... We just saw each other again after a long time–"
"I always knew," the barbarian says quietly, getting closer to Izuku until he's in front of him; he kneels before taking Izuku's scarred hands in his. "I know. I'm sure... But if you don't want–"
"I want to," the green haired man finds himself saying to his own surprise. It feels right, it feels like they never stopped seeing each other. "But I still want to travel."
"You can still do that and I can go with you, at least for a year, the time that the courtship lasts and before I take my place as leader of my people," Katsuki says, blushing again. "If after that time you still want to be by my side, we'll go see auntie and maybe bring her here so she can be here for... the wedding."
Izuku, feeling a couple of tears forming in the corners of his eyes with each one of Katsuki's sweet words, nods because he doesn't trust his voice at the moment.
"You're such a crybaby," Katsuki says, tearing up too, before leaning to give Izuku a kiss that makes him forget all his doubts.
They'll be fine. It was meant to happen anyway.