Archive of Our Own

“Deku…”

Katsuki stared up at the building, the sight of green hair blowing in the wind tightening the evergrowing knot in his stomach. 

“I didn’t mean it. Get down.” He tried to scream. To yell at the green head and get him to come down but all that escaped from his throat was a pathetic whisper.

“Deku, please. Don’t jump.” 

One foot left the ledge, the bottom of Midoriya’s red shoe visible to the world below. His body began to lean forward, slowly followed by the sight of his bright yellow backpack. 

Katsuki tried to move. To run forward and catch him, to use his explosions to propel himself in the air and grab Midoriya’s falling body, to do fucking something , but he was stuck. His feet seemed to be glued to the ground and he couldn’t move.

Why couldn’t he fucking move?

Green hair, a yellow backpack, and a scorched notebook, all covered in crimson. Covered in blood. Midoriya’s blood. 

“No…”

“NO!”

Katsuki bolted upright, his quirk setting off a loud boom in his room. His heart felt like it was beating out of his chest and he could feel the adrenaline flowing through his veins. His eyes darted across the room, trying to find the source of his anxiety but as expected he came up empty-handed. It was always like this. 

Katsuki closed his eyes, lowering his hands into his lap and trying to steady his breathing. 

In. Hold for a few seconds. And out.

Rinse repeat. 

Over and over until he didn’t feel like he was actively being chased.

In a sense, it was like that though. He was being chased, hunted, haunted, call it whatever you want. He was actively being plagued by the nightmares of Midoriya’s death.

His suicide. 

And it was all Katsuki’s fault.

If he could go back to that day, 6 months ago when he told Midoriya to ‘take a swan dive off the roof’, Katsuki would take back everything he had said.

But of course, he couldn’t. He was stuck in the present, haunted by the vision of Midoriya’s bloody body on the pavement. Haunted by the regret and the guilt.

If he wasn’t so tired right now, he’d probably cry. 

Katsuki brought his hands up to drag them down his face, turning his head to look at the alarm clock on his bedside table. 4 am. Great.

With a sigh, he threw his covers to the side and got out of bed, intent on going for an early morning jog. It usually helped to clear his mind for a while. 

His bare feet padded on the floor as he crossed the room to turn his bedroom light on. As he reached for the switch a voice stopped him.

“Kacchan, leave it.”

…

No…

No way.

There was only one person on this godforsaken earth that called him that.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Katsuki turned around, hand still hovering mid-air as he turned to face the source of the voice. 

And sure enough, there he was. In all his glory, with his messy green hair, and his freckles, and his stupid T-shirt that read ‘T-shirt’, and a pair of All Might shorts. 

“Deku?” Katsuki's voice came out strained.

“Hi Kacchan,” Midoriya said, tilting his head to the side with a smile. 

Katsuki was frozen, unable to move as he stared blankly at the sight in front of him. This could be a dream, he thought. It has to be…

“You look tired,” Midoriya pointed out, his smile dimming a little.

“What–” Katsuki started, his breath catching in his throat. 

This is just some sick and twisted dream.

“What am I doing here?” Midoriya guessed, turning away from Katsuki and walking over to the open window. He leaned on the window sill, a gentle breeze blowing in and ruffling his hair. 

Katsuki stood and watched, words forming in his mind but never leaving his lips. 

“To be honest…I’m not entirely sure,” Midoriya said, turning back around to face the blonde. He had a solemn look on his face. “But I do have a guess.”

Katsuki opened his mouth to talk, stopping when something odd caught his eye. 4 am was early, but still late enough for the moon to be out. 

A ray of moonlight shone in through the window, landing on Midoriya’s form. It didn’t look right though, in the sense that his body didn’t catch onto the light like a normal person’s body would. Instead, the light seemed to shine right through him, causing him to look almost…transparent.

“You’re not real…are you?” Katsuki finally managed to utter, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

And Midoriya’s sad smile was enough to answer his question.

♡

The next night, Katsuki stayed up. Or rather…he tried to.

School that day was hell. The teachers kept nagging them about the upcoming exams and they were assigned a shit ton of homework that Katsuki hadn’t even touched yet. But the worst part of the day was looking back at Midoriya’s empty desk, plagued by the previous night’s memories. 

So, he tried to stay up in the hopes of seeing Midoriya again because fuck , he needed answers. 

“I’ll be back…I think,” the green head had said, and before Katsuki even had time to register the words, Midoriya was gone.

He’ll be back he thinks?? What the fuck did that even mean?!

After that disappearing act, Katsuki was so torn between what to feel. Happy and relieved to see Midoriya’s stupid face again, or guilty because it wasn’t real and never would be. 

He had lost the battle to stay conscious a while ago. His eyes had drifted shut on their own and he was flung into the same nightmare from the night before. 

Staring up as Midoriya fell, unable to move and unable to save him. Watching as the grey pavement was painted red, his heart clenching with guilt and regret.

“Fuck!” 

Katsuki awoke with a start, bolting upright as adrenaline filled his body once more. His eyes darted around the room. Same old routine, actively searching, but finding nothing in the darkness as he panted and heaved.

Breathe, he thought, counting as he steadied his breathing. In, hold, out. In, hold, out.

Would he cry tonight? 

When was the last time he cried?

“You’re having nightmares?” 

Katsuki whipped his head in the direction of the voice, his eyes landing on the edge of his bed where Midoriya sat.

“You’re back,” Katsuki noted, his body growing noticeably less tense at the sight of Midoriya. 

“I told you I would be,” he answered with a smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

The two sat in silence after that, time passing as Katsuki stared at Midoriya, trying to sort through the emotions he was feeling. 

Staring at the green head was like a roller coaster. He was happy to see his smile. The smile he hadn’t seen in so long. But then his stomach would drop as the roller coaster went down, and the nasty feeling of regret would sink in, making him feel nauseous and ashamed. 

Why did he say it back then?

“I’m going to turn the light on,” Katsuki said after a while, already moving to get out from under the covers. 

“No.”

Katsuki felt a hand grasp onto his wrist, stopping him from moving any further. Midoriya’s skin was as cold as ice, sending a shiver down Katsuki’s spine. 

“Huh?”

“Leave the lights off. If you turn them on I’ll…” Midoriya trailed off, shifting his gaze to the side. 

“You’ll what?” Katsuki inquired, looking down at the green head. He stayed quiet, tightening his grip on the blonde’s wrist. The cold of his touch was unnerving.

“Fine,” Katsuki gave in if only to get Midoriya to stop touching him. He moved to sit down on the bed next to Midoriya shaking off his hand and making sure there was enough space between them. “But you owe me some answers, dipshit.”

“Of course. I’ll answer all of your questions,” Midoriya started, a smile contrasting his previous silence. “But first…”

“First what?” Katsuki asked, growing slightly irritated as he waited for Midoriya’s answer.

“First I want you to answer my question.”

Oh god no. No, no, no. Katsuki had a feeling he knew where this was heading, and he sure as shit was not ready to answer that question. What the hell would he even say? Sorry sure as hell wasn’t going to cut it.

Sorry wouldn’t bring Midoriya back.

“Are you…” Midoriya worried his lip, his eyes trailing to the side again. Katsuki felt his stomach churn in anticipation.

“Are you still going to UA?”

…

Well, that wasn’t what he was expecting.

“I…uh…yeah,” Katsuki stuttered out, his brows furrowing in confusion. 

Midoriya’s smile widened and he looked back up at the blonde. “Good. I’m glad.”

After a small silence, Midoriya spoke up again. 

“Alright Kacchan, ask away.”

God, where did he even start?

“How are you here?” he asked, brows drawn together in a frown. “I mean, if you’re not real how…”

“Ah, yes. I had a theory about that,” Midoriya quipped, getting up from the bed to pace around. 

“See, at first I thought maybe it was just some kind of weird situation where I turned into a ghost, you know? Kind of like in stories where someone can’t pass on into the afterlife because they have unfinished business on Earth. The only thing wrong with that theory is that I only ever show up in your room…” 

Katsuki sat and listened patiently, which surprised even him. Usually, when Midoriya started muttering like this he’d grow annoyed and tell him to shut up, but now…he guessed he kind of missed the muttering. 

How did that saying go? You never know how much you’d miss something until it’s gone? Something like that.

He listened as Midoriya paced around the room, his previous irritation fading away as he watched the green head. Katsuki memorised it all. His wild green curls, the way his brow furrowed and unfurrowed with each passing thought, the freckles that covered his face and arms, his voice. Everything.

“So, anyway, that leaves me to believe that I only exist to you,” Midoriya finished, stopping in front of Katsuki and hitting his palm with a fist to solidify his statement.

“Wait…huh?” Katsuki had not been paying attention.

“I have one final question Kacchan.” Midoriya suddenly hunched down in front of him, looking up at him with big green eyes. “Do you miss me?”

Yes, Katsuki thought without hesitation. He opened his mouth, the word on the tip of his tongue. He closed his mouth again, clutching the covers of his bed and screwing his eyes shut.

I’m not allowed to miss him, Katsuki thought to himself, his heart clenching with guilt. After all the shit he’s said and done. He was simply not allowed to.

“School’s quiet without you,” he said instead, pushing down his feelings.

Midoriya hummed, getting up from the ground to pace again. 

“Well, in that case, my final theory is solid.”

“What theory?” Katsuki asked, eyes still screwed shut. 

When Midoriya didn’t answer, he opened his eyes and looked up only to find that his room was empty.

♡

“Just pray that you’ll be born with a quirk in your next life, and take a swan dive off the roof.”

You idiot. Why would you say that?

Katsuki stood a few feet behind Midoriya, watching as the situation played out, just like it had 6 months ago. He silently seethed as all he was able to do was stand and watch as his younger self fucked everything over. 

He clenched his fist by his side, desperately wanting to set off an explosion. Maybe he could blow up this feeling of regret. Most of his problems could be solved by an explosion.

Katsuki woke up in less of a panic that night, though his body still surged with the familiar feeling of adrenaline.

He brought a hand up to run through his hair, swallowing down the lump that was forming in his throat. 

You’re not allowed to cry. Not allowed to mourn. Not allowed to miss him.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. He ran the words through his head like a mantra, clutching at his hair in frustration as the lump only worsened.

“Hey Kacchan.”

Katsuki’s head snapped up at Midoriya’s voice, his heart skipping a beat at the nickname.

Finally.

“Where the hell have you been?” Katsuki asked, his tone edging on annoyance. Midoriya had been absent for about a week now, never showing up to answer the blonde’s questions. 

“Did you have a nightmare tonight?” Midoriya asked, moving to sit at the foot of the bed.

“W- what?” Katsuki sputtered out, taken aback by the sudden question. “What does that have to do with anything? You’re supposed to be answering my questions here.”

Midoriya gave a sheepish smile. “I know, sorry. But it's relevant I promise.”

Katsuki huffed, closing his eyes and taking a moment to calm down. 

“Yes, I had a nightmare,” he answered through gritted teeth, avoiding eye contact with the green head. 

“Okay.”

“Okay what, nerd? Are you going to tell me where the fuck you've been?” Katsuki pressed, sending a half-hearted glare in Midoriya’s direction.

“Mm,” Midoriya hummed. “So, remember my theory? Yeah, basically what I've gathered is that I'll only appear here if you've had a nightmare.”

“That doesn't make sense? It doesn't tell me why you're actually here!” Katsuki grunted in frustration. The whole situation was starting to really piss him off.

“There's more,” Midoriya assured, bringing up a finger to shush the blonde. He seemed to ponder on his next words, his voice softening. “I won't ask what your nightmares are about, though, I'm sure I have a solid guess-”

“Fuck off,” Katsuki spat, narrowing his eyes at Midoriya. The last thing he needed was to hear about it from the source themselves.

“Hmm. Anyway,” Midoriya continued. “My best guess is that I'm a materialization of your regret.”

Oh. Katsuki’s stomach sank, his heart clenching. Oh god. He was not ready.

“I don't know what you mean,” he said, clenching his jaw and looking down at the covers of his bed.

“Kacchan–”

“Fuck off.”

“I know it's hard to talk about, but you can't exactly live like this and avoid the issue forever.”

Katsuki didn't dare look up. 

“I said fuck off, nerd.” His voice came out strained due to the lump that was forming in his throat again.

Midoriya stayed silent, watching as Katsuki only stared down at his lap, taking short, rapid breaths.

Don’t you dare cry.

A freckled hand came resting atop Katsuki’s, that same unnerving cold causing him to tense up. 

“It's okay.”

No. No, it's not. 

♡

“So, you don't want to talk about it?”

Katsuki shook his head, stubbornly staring at his covers.

Midoriya heaved a sigh. “Well, I guess there's nothing I can do about it then.” 

“Oh! You know what?” Midoriya quipped, causing Katsuki to lift his gaze and grumble in question.

“I could help you study!” Midoriya said enthusiastically, a wide smile on his face.

Katsuki merely lifted a skeptical brow. 

“Oh come on! I've been taking notes my whole life. I might not have my notebooks with me but all the knowledge is still up here,” he said, pointing a finger to his head.

Katsuki would have tried to argue had it not been for the homework still actively piling on his desk. He loathed to admit it but…he could use the help, even if it was from Midoriya.

“Fine,” he gritted out, getting to his feet and moving to the light switch.

“Kacchan–”

“We kind of need the light to see, dumbass,” he pointed out, shooting a look over his shoulder.

“I don’t. And if you put the light on, I’ll kind of…disappear,” Midoriya answered, looking off to the side. 

“You don’t know that for sure,” Katsuki said, adamant about turning on the light. He sure as hell was not about to fuck up his eyesight just based on Midoriya’s guesses. And he sure as hell was not about to let the nerd do all his work.

“It’s happened before though,” Midoriya mumbled, picking at his fingers. “Before you noticed me that one night, you’d put the light on before I could stop you and then I’d disappear.”

What?! He’s been here before?! 

“How long have you…” Katsuki started, failing to finish the question. How long has he been a materialization of his regret? Yeah, no. Katsuki would rather not finish that question.

“Well, I guess I started showing up here about 2 months ago,” Midoriya said, abandoning his fingers and instead finding interest in Katsuki’s wall. 

2 months. Holy hell.

“But anyway, I don’t need a light to see and the moonlight should be enough for you,” Midoriya said again, getting up from the bed and moving over to Katsuki’s desk. 

Katsuki gave one final look at the light switch, then with a huff, the blonde joined Midoriya by the desk, plopping down on his chair and grabbing the math workbook at the top of the pile. 

They sat and worked in silence for some time, Midoriya working through Katsuki’s Japanese Literature homework, and Katsuki finishing up his math and English. By 4 am, most of the work was complete and only History remained. 

Katsuki leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms above his head, relishing in the satisfying tug of his muscles. With a yawn, the blonde looked over to his left where Midoriya sat. The green head was looking outside the window, a gentle smile on his lips. The light of the moon shone inside the room, illuminating Midoriya’s face and giving his skin that translucent glow.

Katsuki watched him, a knot forming in his stomach. The more he saw Midoriya, the worse the regret started to get. In a world where quirks exist, ghosts probably wouldn’t be a stretch. Still, the whole situation felt off. If what Midoriya had said was true, it would make a lot more sense. Surely, if the green head were to dwell on earth for the rest of his life, he’d rather dwell around his mother, right?

Why was he here? With Katsuki.

“Hey, nerd.”

Midoriya turned his attention to Katsuki. As he looked at the blonde his smile never fell. It just made Katsuki feel worse. The way Midoriya never stopped smiling at him, always coming back despite everything Katsuki had done. 

He swallowed down the lump forming in his throat. “How…” he stumbled on his words, thinking of how to best phrase the question and walk away with his pride intact. “How confident are you about your theory? The one about how you’re here.”

Midoriya tilted his head to the side, causing him to look like a confused puppy. Despite looking uncertain, he still explained. “I’m fairly confident.”

And in Deku language, it meant he was 100% certain. 

Katsuki let out a shuddering breath, looking down at his lap and squeezing his eyes shut. The lump in his throat was starting to feel unbearable and the knot in his stomach was so tight. It felt like someone had punched a hole straight through him. He brought a hand up to grab at his shirt, hoping it would alleviate some of the pain in his chest. 

When was the last time Katsuki had cried? 

“Sorry kid. We can’t let you through here.”

Katsuki gritted his teeth, glaring at the police officer with narrowed eyes. The man paid his glare no mind as he continued to try and divert the gathering crowd’s attention. 

Katsuki tried to look past the officer, standing on his toes and craning his neck to get a glimpse over the man’s shoulder. He had to know damn it. This was all just some sick joke. There was no way that idiot would do something this dumb.

The officer’s body shifted as he reached to stop someone on his left, and in that split-second window when Katsuki’s eyes landed on the sight, getting a split-second view of bloody green hair… In that split-second, his heart was ripped in two. 

The tears flowed on their own, no lump in his throat to warn him. Just his stomach dropping and his chest beginning to ache. Katsuki couldn’t even breathe. It was as though someone had knocked the air straight from his lungs.

The officer shifted back to his original position, blocking Katsuki’s view once more. “You really should go home kid,” the officer prompted, saying nothing about the tears running down Katsuki’s cheeks. 

He can’t remember when he turned around and left. All he remembers is the painful walk home, with every step feeling like another blow to his already aching chest. The tears would eventually dry up and the aching would die down, he knew that. But that’s when the regret would sink in. 

And regret is an ugly thing.

“Kacchan?”

Katsuki looked up, catching sight of Midoriya’s concerned green eyes. His one hand was hovering close to the blonde, pale skin illuminated by the moonlight, reminding Katsuki that he wasn’t real. 

Katsuki’s heart was beating faster, breaths coming out short and staggered.

“Are you…crying?”

Katsuki moved his hand from his shirt to his face, softly touching the tears that rolled down his cheek. Oh. Guess he was.

And that was all it took for the blonde to break down. He let out a strangled sob, doubling over and bringing his other hand up to cover his face. His eyes burned and his chest hurt. With each sob racking his body he felt his heart shattering all over again. 

Midoriya. That day. The way his bloody body lay on the pavement. And then he was left to think about all the ‘if only's.’

If only Katsuki had been there. If only he hadn’t gone to the arcade that day. If he had been there he would have been able to save him.

This was all his fault. If only he hadn’t said anything. None of this would have happened if Katsuki had just left Midoriya and his unrealistic dreams alone. 

It was his fault that Midoriya did something as stupid as jumping from a building. 

All his fault.

Regret was an ugly thing. Dwell on it too much and it can consume you, killing your soul bit by bit. Regret made you see the harsh reality, the consequences of your actions. 

“I- I-” Katsuki sobbed, squeezing his eyes shut so tight he saw stars. He pulled his body in on itself, trying to make himself smaller. God, he was pathetic. 

“Kacchan,” Midoriya whispered, moving closer and wrapping his body around Katsuki’s in a hug. His body was as cold as his hands, sending an unnerving chill through Katsuki. There was no heat radiating off him. Nothing.

Even if he smiled and laughed like he was still alive, the cold of his body indicated otherwise. Icy like a corpse. Pale and lifeless. 

Katsuki pushed Midoriya’s body off of him, jumping from his chair and backing away. He wiped the tears from his eyes and he tried to get his erratic breathing under control. 

Midoriya stared at him with furrowed brows. He looked so concerned, eyes filled with nothing but kindness and care. 

“Are you okay?” Midoriya asked, voice portraying the worry on his face. 

When Katsuki stood unmoving, Midoriya got up from where he had been pushed onto the ground, moving closer to the blonde again. 

“Stop it! Damn it, Deku just– Stop.” Katsuki backed away further, holding up a hand to stop the green head from approaching. Midoriya came to a halt, brows drawing together into an even deeper frown. So damn kind. It was too much for him to look at.

He tore his gaze away from Midoriya’s, instead opting to look down at his hands. His hands that were now sporting tiny crackling explosions. The result of his emotions becoming too much for him. 

Whatever control Katsuki had regained flew out the window at the sight of the explosions. How many times had he used these hands to harm Midoriya? How many times had he sent an explosion to his freckled face? 

“Kacchan,” Midoriya tried again, snapping the blonde back from his trance.

Kacchan, Kacchan, Kacchan. His voice held no sign of malice, not a single trace of blame when he had every single fucking right to blame Katsuki. Hell, Midoriya should be screaming at him right now. 

“It’s alright.”

Why wasn’t he fucking screaming?

Katsuki pushed past Midoriya, making a B-line for the light switch. This was too much. He needed to calm down, and the green head being here was not helping. So, even with Midoriya’s protests, Katsuki flipped the light switch and the lights flickered on, leaving the blonde to stand alone. 

♡

Katsuki staved off sleep for as long as humanly possible. He drank an absurd amount of energy drinks, distracted himself with homework and studying, went on way more jogs than he usually did. Anything to keep his mind and body occupied. 

His plan fell apart on day 3. For someone who had always gone to bed at strictly 8 pm for pretty much his entire life, 72 hours was way past his limit. It was an achievement, really. Point was, Katsuki fell asleep and got launched knee-deep into one of his nastiest nightmares yet. 

“Hi Kacchan.”

Midoriya stood in front of him, green curls blowing in the wind. They were on a roof, the sight of tall buildings surrounding the two of them. Katsuki paid no mind to the sounds of cars below them, only staring ahead at Midoriya. 

He wore their middle school uniform, yellow backpack tossed to the side and lying on the ground next to his red shoes. His face still had all its freckles, although his skin seemed much less pale, warmer with a soft pink coating his cheeks. It was probably due to the cold of the wind blowing around them. 

“What are you doing?” Katsuki asked, surprised at how subdued he sounded. He was usually a little louder than this. 

Midoriya cocked his head to the side, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “Silly. I’m here to do what you told me to.”

Oh god. It was only then that Katsuki realized how close to the edge of the roof Midoriya was standing. When did he get up on the ledge?

“Deku–”

“No, no. Listen.” Midoriya put a finger up to silence the blonde. Katsuki shut his mouth, eyes trained on the way Midoriya’s feet were shuffling around near the edge. 

“I thought about what you said and I actually think it’s a great idea.” Midoriya let out another soft chuckle, spinning around so he was facing away from Katsuki. “See, if quirks are passed on from generation to generation, then the likelihood of me getting a quirk in the next generation should be pretty much guaranteed.” 

He spun around again, and Katsuki sucked in a sharp breath at how close he was getting to the edge. Midoriya lifted one foot off the ledge so he was balancing on one leg, reaching up his arms in a T-pose to center his body and help with balance.

“I guess I just got unlucky in this life, huh?”

Katsuki swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. Midoriya was swaying, body jerking to the side every time he got close to losing his balance. Every time he did, Katsuki would jerk forward as well, aiming to catch him. His heart was racing and his body surged with adrenaline. This time, he was given an opportunity.

Don’t fuck this up, he thought to himself.

“Deku, listen to me.” Katsuki shuffled one foot forward, lifting a hand to show he meant no harm. He approached Midoriya as if he were a scared animal and any sudden move would cause him to run away– or in this case, jump.

His mouth moved as fast as his mind, words tumbling out before he could hope to stop them. “I shouldn’t have said that shit. I was being dumb.” 

Midoriya stopped swaying, dropping his arms and placing his foot back down. He tilted his head to the side again, this time in confusion instead of amusement. “You weren’t being dumb,” Midoriya said, brows knitting together. “You’re the smartest person I know Kacchan.”

God, even in a dream the nickname held so much fondness. Katsuki was about a foot away from Midoriya by now, and he reached a hand up to the green head. “Please come down,” Katsuki all but begged. 

Midoriya shook his head, lips quirked up into a tiny smile. “I can’t do that.”

“What–”

“You told me to do this, Kacchan.” Midoriya glanced down, green eyes hardening. “This is your fault.”

And just like that, Midoriya leaned back. His feet left the ledge as his body tumbled backward off the roof. Katsuki blasted himself upward onto the ledge with his quirk, adrenaline rushing through his system. He looked down, convinced he’d see Midoriya’s body still falling. But when he reached the ledge, the green head had already reached the ground, painting the pavement red. 

He didn’t bolt up this time. Instead, Katsuki remained lying down in his bed, blinking away the tears that were already threatening to fall. He knew that if he looked around the room, he would find a head of green curls waiting somewhere. He’d see the moon shining down on pale skin, paired with an undeserved kind smile. 

“You’re awake.”

With a soft sigh, Katsuki sat up, covers falling down and gathering in his lap. Midoriya sat by the desk with a notebook open in front of him. And yep, there it was. That stupid, kind smile. 

“Go away.” 

He didn’t really mean it. It was just the quickest way to avoid his emotions. 

There was a short moment of silence in which Katsuki was sure the green head would actually listen to him and disappear but then, Midoriya laughed. A sweet sound compared to all the sad chuckles the blonde had been getting over the last few weeks.

Katsuki would have joined in on the laughter had it not been for the images flashing through his mind of the nightmare he just come out of. Dream Deku’s words replayed in his mind. “This is your fault.” Pair that with the way he had looked at him… Yeah. Katsuki didn’t feel like laughing right now.

Midoriya’s laugh died down into soft giggles before he let out a final breathless huff. He wiped away the tears in his eyes, looking at Katsuki from where he sat at the desk. 

“Sorry Kacchan. I don’t think I could leave even if I wanted to.” 

Katsuki stayed silent, his eyes flitting down to his lap. Did he want to leave? Katsuki wouldn’t blame him. 

There was the sound of the chair moving across the carpet, and socked feet padding in the blonde’s direction. He felt the mattress sink with Midoriya’s added weight. He shuffled along until he was sat in front of Katuski. The green head’s cold hand on his forced his gaze upward. The kindness in his eyes contrasted the hardened look he had held in Katsuki’s dream. 

“Feeling better?” Midoriya asked. 

Katsuki shrugged his shoulders, his throat too tight to speak. If he spoke now he’d probably end up crying again. 

Midoriya hummed, a small reassuring smile on his lips. He stayed silent, waiting for the blonde to steer the direction of their conversation. 

After some time, Katsuki dared to speak, his voice coming out hoarse. “Why did you do it?”

There was a heavy pause before Midoriya finally answered. “Well, I guess it all just felt sort of hopeless.”

Katsuki was about to ask Midoriya what he meant when the green head continued speaking. “I met All Might that day.”

The blonde’s eyes widened in surprise. “What?”

Midoriya let out a small breathless laugh. “Yeah, after I left school. I ended up running into some sludge villain. I almost suffocated but All Might ended up being in the area and he saved me. To put it in short, All Might ended up telling me that there was no way I could hope to become a hero if I was quirkless.”

“I’d been keeping up hope for so many years, so to hear my favorite hero tell me that it was hopeless… In that moment your words rang through my mind. And it just stuck on my way home. The thoughts got so bad… I think I ended up jumping just to finally shut them up.”

Katsuki was speechless, eyes blown wide and mouth hanging open at Midoriya’s confession. It was probably then that the realization of what he had done finally sunk in. Hearing Midoriya’s gentle voice admitting that he jumped because of Katsuki’s words. 

This time, he didn’t bother fighting the tears, letting them roll down his cheeks freely. He looked down to his lap, bringing his hands up to hide his face. 

“I didn’t–” Katsuki started, cut off by a sob escaping his lips. There were so many things he needed to say. 

“I’m so sorry.” The words came out easier than he expected them to. And once they were out, they wouldn’t stop.

“Deku, I am so fucking sorry. I never should have said that shit. It was stupid of me. I–” he sobbed again, lowering his hands away from his face. He lifted his teary gaze to Midoriya. “I didn’t mean it.”

Midoriya smiled. A soft gentle smile filled with his neverending supply of kindness. He brought a pale hand up to Katsuki’s face. The blonde welcomed the cold of his skin, using the touch to try and ground himself. 

“I know,” Midoriya whispered. 

Katsuki brought a hand up to place on top of Midoriya’s, closing his eyes and leaning into the touch. They sat like that for a while, Katsuki appreciating Midoriya’s icy skin rather than trying to get away from it.  

If someone told him a few months ago that he’d let Midoriya freely touch him and that he would actually be appreciative of it, he would have yelled in their face and set off an explosion at their sorry ass. Yet, here he was. With Midoriya’s hand on his cheek, willingly leaning into the touch. 

The silence allowed thoughts to flow through Katsuki’s mind. Memories of when Midoriya used to comfort him as kids, with the same gentle touches. Although his skin used to be warmer, the care and kindness behind his touches never faded. Even now, Katsuki could still feel the compassion behind the chilly, pale skin.

Memories of how Midoriya just never stopped caring. Through all their years as friends, even after Katsuki developed his quirk and became an asshole of a kid. Midoriya stayed stuck to his side like glue. Always there to praise him and tell him how amazing he was. 

“I miss you,” Katsuki whispered before he could stop himself. It seemed as though his feelings were getting easier to voice after the apology fell from his lips. 

“I miss you too Kacchan.”

Katsuki opened his eyes, allowing them to readjust to the darkness of his room. He skimmed around the room, his gaze falling on the desk where Midoriya had been writing in a notebook.

“What are you working on?” he asked softly, gesturing to the desk with his eyes. 

Midoriya followed his gaze, dropping his hand from Katsuki’s face and walking over to retrieve the notebook. His socked feet padded back over the carpet and he sat back on the bed, handing the book over to the blonde. 

Katsuki’s eyes caught on the cover. It was the same brand of notebook he always used for his notes. The words ‘Hero Analysis for the future’ were written in Midoriya’s handwriting on the front. Katsuki’s heart jolted in pain at the sight. 

“I thought I’d write down everything I can remember. Hopefully it helps for when you study for UA, though I’m sure you’re smart enough to pass on your own.” 

‘On your own’ The words echoed in Katsuki’s mind, causing an uncomfortable knot to form in his stomach. Why did those words make him feel so sick?

“Anyway, you still have four months to prepare. So I’m sure you’ll be alright,” Midoriya said again, his tone filled with reassurance. 

“Why are you talking like you’re leaving?” Katsuki interjected, shifting his attention from the notebook to the green head sitting in front of him. 

Midoriya stopped his rambling to give Katsuki a confused look. 

“You said you were going to help me study,” the blonde reminded him. 

Midoriya’s confused look gave way to a smile and an affirmative nod.

“Right.”

♡

The two spent the next few weeks making notes and pouring over any material they deemed necessary. Midoriya helped Katsuki with his homework while also giving him tips when he struggled with something hero-related.

They fell into a comfortable routine, Katsuki finding that he didn't have to have a nightmare in order for Midoriya to show up. 

He found that out one late night when he stayed up to try and figure out the new notes Midoriya had made for him. There was a particular set of scribbles that made zero sense to him and he had practically driven himself crazy to try and decipher them. 

“Damn it. Where's that idiot when I need him?” Katsuki had grunted out in frustration, when Midoriya's soft giggles reached his ears.

From then on, it was as easy as calling on the green head and he would show up in Katsuki's room.

As comfortable as their little routine was, something always nagged in the back of Katsuki's mind. Like an annoying little fly whispering the same three words in his ear. 

On your own. Over and over.

Katsuki found he didn't want to do it on his own. In fact, nothing felt as right as it usually did without Midoriya by his side. 

He couldn't do any work on his own. He couldn't sleep without Midoriya sitting on the edge of the bed. He couldn't enjoy sitting in silence without missing Midoriya's mumbling or his quiet humming. 

He hated being alone. The last few months with Midoriya taught him that much. Being alone sucked. 

It was just like when they were kids. Spending practically all their time together. Staying up late, talking about this and that. Watching stupid All Might movies and making up hero names. Guessing what kind of quirks they would get and how they would be so cool and save so many people just like their favorite hero.

The time spent with Midoriya reminded Katsuki just how much he needed the green head in his life. How much he missed him.

How did that saying go? You never know how much you'd miss something until it's gone?

Yeah. Something like that.

One night, while Katsuki and Midoriya were sitting side by side on his bed, watching an All Might documentary, just like old times, Katsuki felt the need to voice his thoughts.

It had actually become surprisingly easy to talk about what was on his mind when it came to Midoriya. Just as easy as it had been to talk about hero stuff as kids.

“Hey,” Katsuki prompted, catching Midoriya’s attention.

“Hmm?” Midoriya hummed. 

“I've been thinking.” He hesitated for a second. “Maybe I…shouldn't go to UA.”

There was a pregnant pause, the sounds of the documentary filling what would have been silence before Midoriya burst out. 

“WHAT?!”

Katsuki flinched back at the sudden outburst, heart beating faster as Midoriya scrambled around until he was face to face with the blonde.

He hovered on his knees over Katsuki, green eyes filled with fear. The blonde felt a tight grip on his shoulders. Over time, he realized that Midoriya’s touch seemed to lack its usual iciness. Katsuki reckoned it was just because he'd gotten used to it.

“Absolutely not! Why would you even think that?!” Midoriya asked, voice laced with something akin to panic. 

“I–” Katsuki fumbled, trying to gather his wits. Midoriya was much too close for his brain to function.

Midoriya hovered over him expectantly, his eyes staring straight into Katsuki's own. He had an iron grip on the blonde’s shoulders that was starting to border on painful.

“I just–”

“You have to go Kacchan. You've wanted to be a hero since we were kids,” Midoriya interrupted, slightly shaking the blonde. His eyes were frantically darting back and forth, searching for something in Katsuki's eyes but never finding it.

“So did you!” Katsuki yelled, pulling Midoriya’s hands from his shoulders and gripping them tightly. He made sure to keep his explosions in check, having promised himself that he would never hurt the green head with his quirk again. 

“You wanted to be a hero just as badly as I did!” Katsuki tightened his grip, making sure to show his urgency. “So that's exactly why I can't go.”

Midoriya made a choked sound, whatever words he had wanted to say dying in his throat. His eyes were filled with tears by now, panic having given way to pain and betrayal.

“I can't go because it wouldn't be right,” Katsuki continued to explain, fighting back his own tears. “Going to UA without you would be like telling myself I was right.”

He bit down on the inside of his cheek, loosening his grip on Midoriya's hands and allowing him to sit back on his heels. Midoriya stared at him with tears rolling down his cheeks, accompanied by quiet sobs.

“What do you mean Kacchan?”

“Exactly what I said. Going to UA would be like telling myself I was right about your dreams being hopeless.” He bit down harder on his cheek, clenching his now empty hands into fists and feeling his nails dig into his palms. 

“But they weren't hopeless. They–” He screwed his eyes shut. “If anything, you would have been smart enough to find a way around it.”

He stayed quiet for a moment to steady himself. As he tried to gather his thoughts, Katsuki became acutely aware of the All Might documentary still playing in the background, and the hero's booming laughter struck a nerve in his body. 

“God– Can you shut that damn thing off?” Katsuki asked, gesturing blindly to where he thought his laptop was located on the bed. 

There were a few sounds of shuffling bed sheets before the documentary came to a stop and Katsuki heard the sound of his laptop being shut.

Silence enveloped them for another minute or two, Midoriya's quiet sniffles filling the air every few seconds while Katsuki sorted through his racing thoughts. 

It just wouldn't feel right to attend UA without Midoriya by his side. The green head was a genius little nerd. Surely he would have been able to find some way to attend UA and become a hero alongside the blonde. 

The thought that his dreams had to end because of something Katsuki had said still bugged him. It would probably haunt him till the moment he took his final breath. But now, saying he'd become a hero without Midoriya… It would be like admitting that All Might had been right in saying he had no hope of becoming a hero. 

And that was just bullshit.

“You’re the smartest person I know, Izuku.” His given name sounded foreign coming from Katsuki's mouth, but he pressed forward, eyes still closed so he wouldn't see Midoriya's teary face. “You’re ambitious, and strong. And even without a quirk, you’d find some way to become a hero. I know you would.”

Tears pricked the corners of Katsuki's eyes and he blinked quickly to stop them from falling. In the moments his eyes were open, he saw Midoriya’s surprised expression paired with another emotion the blonde couldn't quite make out.

“I can't go to UA,” Katsuki said again, eyes now open and trained on his hands. The crescent shapes of his nails still lingered on his palms. “I can't go without you.”

His palms were covered by two pale hands, adorned with tiny freckles that would be almost naked to the eye if not observed closely enough. Katsuki adored them though. The freckles that made up Midoriya as a whole.

His gaze trailed up from Midoriya's hands. He followed the arms attached to the hands (also littered with tiny freckles) until he reached the green head’s face. Midoriya’s brows were drawn together in a frown and his lips were quirked up in a soft smile. Katsuki recognized the earlier emotion now that it faced him head-on.

Sadness. 

“Kacchan. You're talking about me like I'm still here.” Midoriya's voice portrayed the sadness painted on his face. 

“But… You're right here, aren't you?” Katsuki asked, closing his palms around Midoriya's hands. He barely even felt the cold anymore. It was as if it had faded away completely, leaving only pale, freckled skin behind. 

“Not really. You just haven't moved on completely,” Midoriya answered, giving Katsuki's hands a light squeeze. 

The blonde shook his head, knowing that Midoriya was speaking the truth but not wanting to accept it. It bugged him, haunted him, knowing what was left and currently in Katsuki's room was only a materialization of his regret. 

Regret was a horrible thing. It made you see the consequences of your actions. Katsuki could see it clear as day as the moon shone into his room, illuminating pale, translucent skin that was once colored warm. Was once full of life.

He knew it wasn't real, but hell. It felt real enough.

“If I don't go to UA, I don't have to let you go,” Katsuki argued, voice cracking with the tears he held in.

Midoriya only smiled that sad smile at him, giving his hands yet another gentle squeeze before letting go and pulling away. 

“You have to move on,” Midoriya said, standing up from the bed and padding across the room.

“Don't–”

“Maybe not today, Kacchan. But I'm not coming back until you get your results from UA.” Midoriya reached a hand up to the light switch, hovering before speaking his final words. 

“That's a promise.”

And with that, he flipped the switch and left Katsuki on his own.

♡

The next month was hell. There were no other words to describe it.

Katsuki tried desperately to call on Midoriya, trying to get him to come back so they could talk everything over. Even if they didn't talk, he just wanted him back. 

His room felt empty without the green head. Silences were heavy without his soft humming or quiet muttering filling the air. 

Katsuki spent the last month before the UA entrance exam stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, he was so against going to UA even if he did want to be a hero. There were plenty of other hero programs he could attend, but even then. It would still feel wrong to pursue hero work without Midoriya.

Then, on the other hand, he wanted Midoriya to keep his promise. Which meant he had to take the UA entrance exam and get his results so the stupid idiot would actually come back to him. 

He made the decision one night after a nasty nightmare. Katsuki had bolted up, fully prepared to see Midoriya sitting by the desk and making notes, or waiting for him on the edge of his bed. But to his dismay, Katsuki woke up to a brightly lit room with no Midoriya in sight.

So Katsuki got out of bed and sat down by his desk, flipping through Midoriya's notebooks with an aching heart to prepare himself for the upcoming entrance exam.

Countless nights of flipping through notes and countless days of jogging and training to make his body and quirk stronger all passed in the blink of an eye, and before Katsuki knew it, he was sat in the massive building with hordes of other potential heroes surrounding him. 

Everything went as smoothly as he had expected it to. Katsuki had been preparing for this almost his entire life. He got through the written exam with a heavy heart, answering questions using the knowledge of Midoriya's notes. And of course, he kicked absolute ass in the practical exam. He lost track of his points after about the fifteenth robot, but he was pretty sure it was well over 30.

Katsuki got home with heavy limbs and crashed onto his bed with a tired sigh. He vaguely remembered hoping Midoriya would be there waiting for him, but that hope quickly gave way to a wave of sadness at the thought of the green head.

The thought that if they hadn’t fought, Midoriya would be here and Katsuki would be telling him how the test had played out. The green head would listen intently, offering up praise with that bright smile of his. 

Katsuki fell asleep with an aching chest and quiet tears staining his pillow. 

♡

At last, the fateful day finally arrived. 

Katsuki sat on his bedroom floor, eyes trained on the white envelope with the bright red UA stamp sealing it shut. He’d been staring at it for the past 20 minutes or so, refusing to tear it open and accept the results. 

“Are you going to open it?” 

Katsuki lifted his gaze, heart skipping a beat at the familiar voice. He didn’t bother holding back the smile spreading across his face. 

Finally.

“Had to wait for your sorry ass to show up,” Katsuki replied, watching as Midoriya sat down next to him, shoulder to shoulder. Katsuki welcomed the touch. 

“Well, here I am. Go ahead.”

Katsuki looked down at the envelope again, taking a deep breath before he tore it open. Inside was a letter and a tiny black contraption. Well, too small to be called a contraption but it was something Katsuki hadn’t seen before. It was probably developed by the support class in UA, he thought idly while removing it from the envelope and setting it down on the floor in front of them. 

There was a soft beep before the contraption released a small screen. The screen hovered in the air, displaying a view that struck another nerve in Katsuki’s body. 

“Young Bakugo! I am here!” All Might’s voice boomed, paired with a hearty laugh.

“Oh my God! All Might!” Midoriya squealed next to the blonde.

Katsuki turned his gaze to the green head, lips curled in disgust and brows knitted together in confusion. As adorable as the sight of a gushing Midoriya was, just knowing what the hero had said to him a few months ago was enough to light a fire of hatred for the man. It was as much All Might’s fault as it was Katsuki’s that Midoriya had jumped. 

So seeing the green head’s eyes shine with admiration for the hero caused Katsuki’s gut to churn uncomfortably. 

“Why are you so happy to see him?” Katsuki asked, eyes narrowed at Midoriya. 

“Well, he just looks so cool!” Midoriya answered enthusiastically, eyes still sparkling at the floating screen. 

Not knowing how to respond, Katsuki turned his attention back to the screen, trying his best to ignore the way his stomach churned at the blonde hero. 

“Congratulations young Bakugo. I am glad to inform you that you have passed. Welcome to UA! Your hero academia.”

The words were like a punch to the gut, causing Katsuki’s breath to catch in his throat and his heart to clench painfully. There it was. Fate. He was now on his way to becoming a hero. He had always imagined himself being happier at getting the news, but here he sat, eyes tearing up in something other than happiness.

It was rather pathetic of him. He’d never cried this much in his life. Maybe Midoriya was starting to rub off on him. 

“Wait, what were your results?” Midoriya asked, turning to face Katsuki. He seemed to have come down from his high of seeing All Might. 

“I passed,” Katsuki answered simply.

He saw Midoriya’s eyes light up with excitement all over again before the green head pounced on top of him, wrapping his arms around the blonde and enveloping him in a bone-crushing hug. 

“That’s amazing Kacchan!” Midoriya exclaimed, arms gripping the blonde tightly. 

The security of Midoriya’s embrace caused the sickness brewing in Katsuki’s being to dissipate. A warmth blossomed in his chest, spreading through his body and burning away any of the negative feelings he may have felt for his results.

Katsuki brought his arms up to wrap them around Midoriya’s torso, burying his nose in the crook of the green head’s neck. His tears dried up, leaving behind nothing but a feeling of contentment and comfort. 

Katsuki focused on Midoriya’s steady heartbeat, something that remained even if he was just a ghost or materialization of regret. The blonde felt that regret fade away slowly, leaving nothing but warmth and acceptance in its wake. 

“Yeah. Amazing,” Katsuki answered genuinely, without a single trace of sarcasm. He smiled against the skin of Midoriya’s neck, basking in the warm feeling building in his chest.

In the comfortable air surrounding them, all his happy memories with Midoriya washed over him. All the wonderful times they had as childhood friends, paired with the new moments they had over the past few months Midoriya had spent in his room. 

What he had loathed at first became some of his most treasured moments. Late nights and early mornings spent together in the darkness of Katsuki’s room. Even if his sleep schedule was thrown completely off its course, Katsuki found himself unable to give a shit, given the time was spent with Midoriya. 

Midoriya, with his wild green curls. And his adorable freckles, and his kind green eyes. Midoriya, who had refused to leave Katsuki alone and remained by his side even after death. 

“Izuku,” Katsuki breathed, tightening his grip around Midoriya’s torso.

“You have to let go now,” Midoriya whispered, his breath– or rather lack thereof ghosting past Katsuki’s ear. 

Furrowing his brows, Katsuki pulled back from Midoriya, coming face to face with his gentle smile. A ray of moonlight shone in through Katsuki’s open window, painting a picture the blonde had become all too familiar with. 

Midoriya looked at him, pale skin painted translucent by the moonlight. 

“Izuku…”

“Katsuki.”

The arms that were still wrapped around the green head’s torso lost their grip, almost as if– No. This was really happening.

Katsuki tried to tighten his grip again, only to be met with absolutely nothing. Midoriya was becoming more translucent by the second, green eyes and green hair fading away bit by bit.

Katsuki opened his mouth, breath caught in his throat as the image of Midoriya faded away in front of his eyes. He tried to speak, to say the words that had been lingering on his mind but his voice was useless with no air to back up the words. 

“Goodbye,” Midoriya whispered as he finally disappeared from view, leaving Katsuki alone for the final time. 

In the deafening silence, Katsuki was left to face reality. With choked sobs, he finally remembered how the saying went. 

You never know how much you truly love something until it’s gone.

♡

Katsuki stared up at the old rusted fence, the familiar ‘No trespassing’ sign bringing back fond albeit sad memories. 

With a small huff, he stepped in through the opening, walking down the dirt road he’d traversed many times as a kid. He kicked at the loose pebbles on the road, letting his thoughts roam free. 

The scene of Midoriya fading away in front of his eyes still stuck by him, replaying in his mind like a broken record. The words he’d wanted to say still stuck on the tip of his tongue. 

As he walked down the winding dirt path, he cast occasional glances over his shoulder, half expecting Midoriya’s green hair to be following behind him. He was met with nothing but trees every time. 

Eventually, he came to the old tree trunk that served as a bridge. Katsuki took tentative steps across the bark, taking a seat in the middle and staring down at the water below. 

Why he had come here in the first place was a mystery to him. Still, he remained sat with his eyes trained on the rushing water. He smiled fondly as he remembered one of his most treasured memories.

The day he’d been an absolute asshole, yet it captured Midoriya’s personality perfectly. How he’d rushed down to the water, racing knee-deep into it without a second thought and offered his hand to Katsuki with that perpetually kind smile. 

“I hope you aren’t thinking of jumping.”

Katsuki’s eyes widened at the voice, heart beating faster in his chest as he lifted his gaze to his right. 

“Because I have to tell you, it’s not going to solve anything.” 

And there he was, in all his glory. Wild, messy green hair. Freckles dusting his cheeks with his kind, caring smile and green eyes filled with fondness. 

“Izuku.” Katsuki’s voice came out soft and gentle.

“Hi Kacchan.”

The blonde jumped to his feet, rushing over to where Midoriya stood. Without a moment’s hesitation, he wrapped his arms tightly around the green head’s torso and instinctively buried his nose in the crook of his neck. 

“Ah, Kacchan,” Midoriya rasped, bringing his arms up as well. He patted lightly with his hands. “You’re squeezing the life out of me.”

Katsuki immediately pulled away to scowl at the green head, placing his hands on Midoriya’s shoulders. “Don’t joke about stuff like that.”

Midoriya laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners. Katsuki’s scowl quickly fell away and gave way to a fond smile. He felt Midoriya’s hands on top of his, the green head pulling them down and cradling them gently in his own. As he calmed down he was hit with a stark realization.

“You’re hot,” the blonde mumbled, feeling the heat radiating off of Midoriya’s skin. 

Midoriya let out a small giggle. “You’re not so bad yourself, Kacchan.”

Katsuki felt his cheeks flush as the blood rushed to his face. “T- that’s not– Warm. You’re, warm,” he stuttered out, stumbling over his words in embarrassment. 

Midoriya continued to giggle softly, giving Katsuki’s hands a light squeeze. The blonde took the time to properly look at Midoriya, taking in the way his skin was no longer pale and icy, instead glowing with warmth and life. 

“How?”

Midoriya’s giggles died down and he looked at the blonde with a smile. “Same old theory Kacchan. I’m still a materialization of your–”

“You can’t be fucking serious.”

“Regr– hahaha,” Midoriya’s words broke off into yet another fit of laughter. Katsuki couldn’t help but join in, appreciating the warmth of Midoriya’s hands holding onto his own. 

“But seriously,” he said through his laughter. “How are you here?”

Midoriya only shrugged. “That’s a theory for another day. But I’m fairly certain it has to do with you.”

Katsuki hummed, letting his eyes fall to their hands. Now would be the perfect time to let those words fall from his lips. 

“I love you.” 

Katsuki felt his muscles tense, and he slowly lifted his gaze up again, his eyes meeting Midoriya’s green ones. Those were the words yes, and yet they came from the person they were meant for. 

“What?” Katsuki breathed, his heart practically beating out of his chest. 

“I love you,” Midoriya repeated, eyes filled to the brim with nothing but unbridled affection. 

Heat spread through Katsuki’s entire body, his heart skipping a beat at the words meant for him. His body moved on its own, one hand leaving Midoriya’s to reach up and cup his freckled cheek. 

His eyes flitted to the green head’s soft lips, the lips that always held a kind smile for him no matter the circumstances. He leaned forward, letting his eyes flutter shut before he finally met Midoriya’s lips in a soft and gentle kiss. 

And it was all so contrary to everything Katsuki had ever stood for. For as long as he can remember, Katsuki was a brash person. He was blunt and straightforward, barreling on through his life with no regard for people’s opinions about him. He was bold and harsh, saying whatever he wanted with a loud and proud voice. 

He was hot-headed, with a quirk made for a heated personality and raging emotions. And yet, with Midoriya, he found himself pushing it all to the side. The green head brought out his gentle, caring side. Bringing forth the emotions that fueled his desire to become a hero. 

The kiss they shared was short and sweet, yet Katsuki pulled away feeling stripped clean of air. He panted softly, gauging Midoriya’s reaction. The green head seemed stunned for all but a split second before his lips stretched into a wide smile and he recaptured Katsuki’s lips with his own. 

A feeling of happiness overtook the blonde, his heart beating with nothing but joy and love for the green head. He smiled into the kiss, stroking a thumb across Midoriya’s cheek and receiving a soft chuckle in return. 

When they pulled away from each other again, they were both breathing heavily and smiling like the two idiots they were. Still, Katsuki found enough breath to utter, “I love you too.”