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Izuku will admit that he doesn’t exactly think what he’s doing is the most productive of methods to deal with the aftermath of the war. But frankly, his mental state couldn’t take it anymore.
Because here he was, skipping classes due to the simple fact that he can’t get out of bed. It was like a heavy fog had settled in his head, saying and repeating the cruelest words. Izuku knew it was all true. How could he ever become a hero now? He lost his quirk, the embers he feels living inside him feel insulting at times. He couldn’t even bring himself to get out of bed. He was never cut out to be a hero to begin with.
He was still the same quirkless kid. After all this time, nothing had changed.
A loud bang at his door interrupted his decline into self pity.
“Oi! Izuku! Open this fucking door right now!” Katsuki yelled, the sound muffled from the distance between them. Izuku still couldn’t bring himself to move. Honestly, he’s a pathetic excuse for a hero.
“Izuku! I swear to God, I’m going to break this goddamn door down if you don’t answer!”
A pause, then the familiar boom of Katsuki’s explosions filled the room. Izuku turned his head to face Katsuki from his place of lying down on the bed face up.
Katsuki sneered at him. “The fuck do you think you’re doing? Think you’re too good for classes now that you saved the world?” Izuku scoffed, a dry laugh leaving him.
“Don’t give me that attitude crap, Izuku. You’ve got your shitty friends worried about you. What, you think you can stay locked in your room till graduation?” Izuku met his gaze. Katsuki was definitely pissed, if his body language was saying anything. Izuku sighed, finally deciding to sit up after hours of lying down. He swung his feet over his bed and stretched his arms over his head with a grunt.
“So what'd you want to talk about Kacchan?” Izuku said, forcing himself to put on any kind of smile he could muster in his state. Katsuki somehow glared at him even more, clearly seeing right through him. Damn, Katsuki was always good at reading him.
“You think you can save people with that weak ass smile on your face? Fucking put your money where your mouth is!” Katsuki stomped over to where Izuku was and threw an accusing finger in his face.
Izuku laughed harshly, “I don’t think being a hero is possible after all the shit I went through.”
There was a lingering silence that filled the room suddenly, making Izuku almost regret his words for leaving Katsuki speechless until..
“You’re not the only one who went through shit during the war. Katsuki spoke quietly, almost hesitantly, choosing his words. “You have a whole class here supporting you. All the civilians here root for you, Izuku. Running away and locking yourself in your room ain’t going to stop any problems.”
“You don’t understand, Katsuki!” Izuku roared, standing so abruptly that Katsuki took a step back. The look on Izuku’s face must be one of conflicted rage, representing the raging storm of emotions he’s currently feeling.
“Being a hero was my life. My whole life! I had nothing else going for me!” Izuku sniffled, suddenly feeling a tightness in his throat and moist eyes. “You’ve had everything ever since we were little kids. I don’t expect you to know what it feels like to have the one thing that made you who you are get ripped from your hands.”
Katsuki took another step back, brows raising, clearly not expecting the violent outburst Izuku just had. Izuku pursed his lips and moved past Katsuki to leave his room when he felt a rough hand tighten around his wrist, gripping harshly as if Izuku was going to slip from his grasp.
“Katsuki?” He scoffed. “Don’t play that shit with me Izuku. You know this war changed everything.” Katsuki changed his grip on Izuku to be more soft and his tone in turn, softened. “Yea, you might not have your quirk now, and you might not feel like a hero right now… but you saved the goddamn world.” Katsuki put his head down as Izuku’s eyes widened. What was Katsuki saying?
“You.. are the most amazing, most selfless, and most heroic person I’ve met in my whole life.” Katsuki snapped his head with a fierce determination. He locked eyes with Izuku. As if Izuku needed to grasp these words like a lifeline.
“So, don’t start that shit. Whether you have a quirk or not , you’re still a hero, through and through. The world's greatest hero at that...” Katsuki started moving in closer, grabbing both of Izuku’s hands and cradling them to his chest. Izuku’s breath quickened, eyes going wider than he even knew to be possible. Izuku knew logically that Katsuki was right. But, for some reason, his fucked up brain wouldn’t let it get through his thick skull.
“..my hero.” Katsuki whispered.
Izuku sniffled, letting tears run down his cheek. Katsuki brings his hands up to cradle Izuku’s face. The heartache of losing his quirk caused a storm of emotion going through him. He didn’t know how to feel while simultaneously feeling everything at once. But he knew the gentle touch on his cheek belonged to his Kacchan. The one he knew since they were children, hell, even babies. He met Katsuki’s fiery red eyes. They were now an inch apart, Izuku was practically in Katsuki’s arms.
“Kacchan…” Izuku whined, the tears going a mile a minute. Katsuki is still working hard to wipe every one. “It’s just.. It’s so hard.. I don’t know if I can still be the hero I was.” Izuku admitted, shame coursing through his body for feeling so utterly weak.
Katsuki smiled softly, bringing a hand up to the back of his neck, gently playing with the curls he had on the left side of his head. “And that’s okay. We’ll figure this out together. I’ll always be here. You won't ever get rid of me, Izuku.”
Izuku keened, tears not stopping after he heard those words. The kindest words from the boy he loved his whole life. He knew, no matter what came next, Kacchan would be there for him. Always.
Katsuki leaned in, his eyes going half lidded as he zoned in on Izuku’s lips. Izuku started moving in closer. His eyes, as lidded as they were, caught Katsuki’s and that’s when he knew. They were always going to be Katsuki and Izuku. Nothing could ever go between them because they were just them. That’s all they ever needed. Katsuki was all Izuku ever needed in this life.
“Kiss me.” Izuku whispered, finally closing his eyes, waiting to feel the lips of the boy he’s wanted and chased after his whole life.
Katsuki moved in and it felt like Izuku’s world was finally complete. Like a puzzle piece he’s been missing his whole life was found. Katsuki’s lips were dry but soft. And he kissed Izuku like he had been waiting his whole life to do so.
Izuku could die right here and now and be content. Because this is all he needed. His Kacchan was his. And for a moment, Izuku let the entire world go. He didn’t care about the stupid war or the fact he lost his quirk or even his worry about being a hero. He was caught up in the moment.
Izuku didn’t care about what happened next, as long as he had Kacchan, he would be okay.