Chapter Text
Katsuki was released from the hospital this morning at 11:23 but Izuku had been there since before visiting hours began, 8:17, waiting outside the door to be let in at 8:30. He was pacing back and forth in the parking lot while mumbling about who knows what, as Katsuki watched from the window. His eyes rolled as the greenette ‘fumbled around like an idiot’ outside. Katsuki was annoyed with him because he did this everyday since Izuku himself was discharged from the hospital. He’d show up first thing in the morning and wouldn’t leave until visiting hours were over. Katsuki fought this of course but ‘that damn brat is too stubborn’. Izuku was supposed to be resting at home for a week before going back to class, doctor's orders, but instead he was here. Whenever Katsuki would point out that fact to him, Izuku would flash a fake smile and change the subject.
Which pissed Katsuki off more.
“I’m so glad you get to go back to home today, Kacchan!” Izuku cheered, as he walked out the automatic doors with the Bakugou family.
“He wouldn’t have made such a speedy recovery if it weren’t for you, Izuku!” Masaru Bakugou praised, as he patted Izuku on the back.
Katsuki detested this statement, his lungs filled with rage. He was about to shout at his old man for ‘saying something so stupid’, but before he could Izuku interrupted his thoughts.
“I’m just so relieved he’s okay!” The words quivered on his lips. He tried flashing another empty smile but the tears that burned the corner of his eyes told a different story.
At the sight of his tears Mitsuki and Masaru’s eyes filled with their own. Like a weight had finally lifted from the chests of the three people who loved Katsuki most.
“Us too, kid, us too..” Mitsuki agreed, as she wrapped her arms around Katsuki’s neck from behind him, pulling him into a hug.
The Bakugou’s offered Izuku a ride back home since they were headed that direction anyway. They have known the kid for a very long time, and yet Izuku still declined their offer, insisting he could take the subway like he had been.
“Inko has probably been worried to death about you these past few days! I can’t let her precious baby go home by himself! She’d be hurt if she knew!” Mitsuki argued, dragging Izuku to the car.
She was a fight Izuku couldn’t win. Not when she had his mother on speed dial.
“Okay. Thank you very much Auntie!” Izuku said while climbing into the backseat next to Katsuki.
“Tch. What’s he doing in here?” Katsuki spits out without thinking. Old habits die hard.
He was trying really hard to be nicer to Izuku after the conversation in the hospital that day about him losing his quirk. It’s not that he still wanted to be mean to Izuku. He just didn’t know how to be nice. The vulnerability of it all made his skin crawl.
“Don’t be rude, Katsuki!” Mitsuki scolds from the driver's seat, “We’re taking little Izu home!”
“Fine by me, Hag!” Katsuki shouts as he opens his phone to answer a text from Kirishima.
Izuku, without really meaning to, stares at Katsuki in disbelief as he continues to aggressively tap away.
“What is it nerd?” Katsuki asks without looking up from his phone.
Izuku fumbles at the question, realizing he’s been caught staring, “Hm? Oh it’s nothing Kacchan.”
“Liar! I can tell you’re thinking something! Your eyes are doing that twitchy thing. Now go ahead and spit it out already!” Katsuki demands.
“It’s just - I was wondering who you were texting is all!” Izuku lied.
“That it?” Kasuki pauses, turning a brow up at him as he examines Izuku’s expression, “I was texting back Shitty Hair. He was wondering if I’d been released or not.”
“Oh okay,” Izuku nods, “You know you should really learn our classmates' names Kacchan..”
“I know their damn names! I just don’t like saying 'em. Damn De- Izuku!” Katsuki admits, shifting his face back to his phone so he doesn’t have to look him in the eyes.
Calling the green eyed boy by his name while looking into that jade color was too much for him.
“Right!” Izuku agrees.
The boys sat quietly in the backseat for the rest of the car ride, besides the occasional questions Masaru would ask Izuku about school to try and seize the awkward tension.
It didn’t. If anything, it made it worse, but he was trying.
Katsuki’s parents weren’t sure what happened between Katsuki and Izuku to tarnish their friendship, but they were sure of one thing. It was likely their son's fault. Maybe that is why they did what they’re about to do now…
“Izuku honey,” Mitsuku calls out, steering with one hand and texting in the other.
“Watch the road, Hag! Are you trying to kill us?!” Katsuki warns her as he points to the road.
She ignores him, “I texted Inko, and she said she would be delighted to come over for lunch, so we’ll be taking you home with us, okay?”
“Huh?! The hell are you saying?” Katsuki spits out, lighting up his palms, “You didn’t even give him a choice!”
“Oh common! It’s been forever since we had Izuku over! I’m sure he’d like to reminisce on all the memories you two have shared in that house. Right, Izuku?”
Before Izuku gets the chance to answer Mitsuki’s questions she interrupts him, “Besides, Inko is already on her way.”
“I’d be delighted to come. Thank you, Auntie!” Izuku agrees against his will. Once again swayed by Mitsuki’s iron will.
Katsuki was annoyed with the greenette for falling for his mom’s scheme so easily. ‘He always fell for her damn tricks’. He was even more annoyed that now he was anxious. The thought of Izuku ever going back in his house, back in his room, had never crossed his mind. His room was his refuge and Izuku, an invader trying to tear down the walls of the fortress that kept him safe.
Izuku wasn’t exactly pleased by this outcome either. In theory he would love to come inside and look around, but he was anxious too. ‘It’s always one step forward, two steps back with Kacchan’, and Izuku didn’t want this to cause another rift in their fractured friendship.
As they drew closer to the Bakugou house, the boys' chests twisted in knots, and as they pulled into the driveway everyone stepped out, everyone besides Izuku. He was in a daze as worries kept him from realizing that they were already there until the car door swung open.
Katsuki had opened the door when he noticed that Izuku wasn’t stepping out of the car. He reacted before he could even think. Annoyed at the obvious anxiousness that caused Izuku to be so distracted. When he opened the door, he saw Izuku’s eyes refocus and then widen in shock at the sight of Katsuki scowling at him.
“You forget how to open the damn door or something, Nerd?” Katsuki played it off so he wouldn’t have to deal with his own anxiety.
“Sorry Kacchan! I was just-” Izuku stopped mid sentence at the sight of Katsuki in full frame. It was rare to see the full view of his face for this long without him turning his head. Usually they were yelling at each other so much that he never got to take in the picture.
He sat there staring as he soaked up the rare luxury. ‘Kacchan really is amazing in so many ways’ he thought. The car bell was ringing, alerting passengers that the door was open, but Izuku couldn’t hear a thing over the thumping of his heart. ‘A thump? That can’t be right! No no my heart is just racing because I’m so nervous!’
“Oi, get out of the damn car already! I thought you’d be just dying to come inside.” Katsuki teases.
“Right!” Izuku said, finally stepping out of the car.
Immediately nostalgia hit like a blur of colors and sounds he can faintly remember but not quite make out as he walks up to the door. He puts his nerves to the side, nothing he can do about it now that he’s here so he might as well enjoy exploring his once cherished second home. Izuku often visited the Bakugou house when he was young, even after the friendship with Katsuki was beginning to fall through. His mom and Mitsuki were such great friends and he never wanted them to fight. Just because his friendship was in shambles didn’t mean his mom’s had to be too, so he kept going. Until he was about nine and Katsuki kept leaving every time he’d come over to hang out with the neighborhood kids without him. Before then, Katsuki would at least reluctantly play with ‘the quirkless loser’ while he was there, but one day he decided they needed more distance.
Katsuki sighed as he opened the door once again for Izuku who was lost in thought and they were greeted by Mitsuki who was waiting for them at the foye to come inside.
She waved at them with tiny slippers in her hands as she said, “Look what I found Izu! Your old guess slippers! I was surprised to see them while I was digging through to find you some to wear.”
“Oh wow, I’m surprised to see those too!” Izuku agrees as he looks over at them, wondering if he should be happy or sad to see how small they were. It was like physical evidence of how long it’s been since he was here.
“Don’t worry, I won’t make ya wear these ones! Here I got a pair that should fit.” Mitsuki says, handing over a different pair that were tucked under her arm.
“Thank you, Auntie!” Izuku says as he grabs the slippers from her. Then he takes off his dorky red shoes and slips them on. “They’re a perfect fit!”
Mitsuki shines a smile at him, “Glad to hear it! Now you two can go on up while Masaru and I make lunch.”
“You mean as he makes lunch, and you distract him?” Katsuki jabs at her.
“Huh? You really want to fight today dontcha, brat?! Get upstairs!” She growls at him making an expression that closely resembles the sharp teeth snarl that Izuku has seen so many times on Katsuki’s face.
“Tch. Let’s go, Izuku.” Katsuki tells him as he tugs at the sleeve of Izuku’s blue t-shirt.
“Okay, Kacchan!”
As Izuku walks up the creaky stairs, his heart begins pounding again. He’s excited, nervous, and a mix of something else as he steps closer to Katsuki’s room. The door is painted black with an orange ‘x’ across it which Izuku is sure caused a huge ruckus at some point in the house. When he walks in, the room is tidy. Katsuki always kept his room neat and organized so it wasn’t anything shocking but still impressive.
He had a red drum set with black metal rims sitting in the corner which probably drove his mother crazy. Beside it, was an electric guitar to match. Trophies hung above, sitting on hanging shelves, shiny and gold. The top of the ceiling was lined with LED lights that were switched to an orange color. Posters were along the walls filled with rock bands and heroes. Izuku was especially fond of seeing the All Might one above the desk beside the bed, in the opposite corner of the drums. The desk had a notebook sitting out, opened to a page description of Katsuki’s hero costume design. It was also topped with writing utensils sitting in cups, easy to grab and books stuffed full of note tabs that made Izuku curious. The last thing of note was his black bed comforter with matching black pillows and a singular stuffed animal.
‘Kacchan? I didn’t expect this from you!” Izuku gasps as he holds up a green dino plushie.
Katsuki snatched it from his hands, “Gimme that! This was just a stupid gift that I should have thrown away forever ago!”
“Gift? From who?” Izuku asks as he sits on the bed.
“Ha! None of your fucking business! I’m taking a shower!” Katsuki tells him as he rummages through his dresser for clothes.
“What? But what am I supposed to do in here by myself while you do that?” Izuku whines.
“I don’t know and I don’t care! Just don’t touch my stuff! Hell even better, get out! Your mom is probably here by now. Go home.” Katsuki offers.
“Why are you being so mean, Kacchan?”
“Because you being here pisses me off!” At the sound of the words coming out of his mouth Katsuki’s eyes widened. The realization hit that he was doing it again, being a jerk when he promised himself he wouldn’t, at least not to Izuku.
Izuku is wide eyed too and unsure of what to say so he just waits for Katsuki. It wasn’t like this was an unusual way for Katsuki to speak to him but everything had been more or less calm since their conversation at the hospital. In his heart, he was hoping desperately that things would stay that way.
“I just- you being here isn’t normal. It’s freaking me out so I- I need to shower and cool my head. Just sit there and try not to make a mess!” Katsuki gathers himself.
“You got it, Kacchan! I’ll be mess free!” Deku assures him, as he salutes him,
The sight makes Katsuki want to roll his eyes but he reframes.’Damn nerd’.
He heads into the bathroom connected to his room and starts the water for his shower while thinking about why he lashed out this time. ‘Tch. I just can’t believe he forgot..’ Katsuki annoys himself with the thought he can’t shake.
As Katsuki showers, Izuku debates if he should take this opportunity to snoop through Katsuki’s things. It’s a moral battle with himself for about three minutes between the little angel and devil on his shoulder but ultimately the angel is victorious. Izuku hated the idea of betraying a friend too much in the end. So instead he splays out in the bed and reads an old volume of the manga Love is War that Katsuki had on his book shelf. This was one of Izuku’s favorite manga and by the look of how many volumes Katsuki had, he was wondering if it was one of his favorites too. Then a thought popped into his head and he tried to imagine Katsuki reading something like this and gushing over all the cute love scenes. The image was unsettling for him and ‘there was no way Kacchan would do that!’ Yet for some reason, Izuku was now dying to see it.
He is absorbed into a daydream of Katsuki blushing, gasping and kicking his feet as he reads when all of a sudden he hears a loud crash from Katsuki’s bathroom and then shortly after was bang and then a groan out in pain. Immediately Izuku’s heart falls to the floor as he springs up from the bed and dashes to the door in seconds.
“KACCHAN?! Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Izuku pauses to listen for an answer and when he doesn’t hear one, his panic rapidly multiplies. He feels a sharp pain in his stomach as his head gets dizzy and then a flash of an unsightly scene creeps into his mind. Something he's been trying so hard everyday to forget. The image of Katsuki lying dead on the ground, cut and bruised and lifeless.
The reminder was so upsetting that it almost made him throw up but he choked it down with the vomit in the back of his throat so he could focus on what was important.
Bang bang Izuku slammed his fist on the door. “Kacchan!” Still no answer so he rattles the door knob. “I will break this door down! Answer me please!” Izuku pleads, his voice cracking. “Let me in Kacchan!”
Katsuki swings the door open frantically with just a towel wrapped around his waist. “What the hell is it, Deku?!”
Without thinking Izuku jumps in and hugs him getting his shirt wet from Katsuki’s undried torso, “I thought- I thought you got hurt I heard a crash and I was worried so I-”
“I just freaking slipped as I got out of the shower! Damn! Now get off me!” Katsuki orders him as he tries prying Izuku’s ‘grubby hands’ off of him.
Izuku releases him and then asks him, “Then why didn’t you answer me when I yelled for you?”
“Because I was annoyed that I hit my elbow so damn hard, and pissed that someone like me slips in the fucking shower!” Katsuki huffs as he rubs his sore red elbow.
Izuku grabs onto his arm and looks closely at it as tears begin filling eyes, “You did get hurt! What should I do? Should I bandage it? Should we go to the hospital?” The tears roll from his eyes as he looks up at Katsuki for an answer.
“DAMMIT NO!” Katsuki takes a breath and then tries again, “I’m- I’m okay Izuku, I’m okay. So stop babying me alright? It’s just a damn scratch! You really think I can’t handle something like that?”
“But- But what if you-” Izuku is interrupted by Katsuki before he can finish his sentence.
“Here!” Katsuki grabs Izuku’s hand and places it on his chest above his heart. “Now you tell me! Is my heart still beating? I still got a pulse don’t I?”
The sudden contact flushes Izuku’s cheeks a bit, calming him down in a sense but not really in another,“You do.” He answers him.
“Kay good. Can I get fucking dressed now?!”
It hadn’t hit Izuku until then that his childhood friend was essentially butt naked with only a towel covering him as he stood two feet away. ‘So close! Too close!’ But it shouldn’t bother him! He had been in public baths with Katsuki before. So why was he so flustered now?
“Right! Sorry Kacchan..”
Soon after, the boys were called down by Mitsuki to eat. As they ascended the stairs they first greeted by Inko who was dying to see the son she was so worried about all the time.
“Izuku! Thank goodness you’re okay! You had me worried sick, sneaking off everyday and being gone for hours! Why didn’t you tell me you were visiting Katsuki in the hospital?” Inko reprimands him as she squeezes him in a hug.
“Sorry mom, but you were too persistent about me staying home so I had too..” Izuku pleads as he pulls away from her. A bit embarrassed to be hugged so tightly by his mom in front of Katsuki.
Inko ignores him, not wanting to fight now and holding the argument for later when they have left the Bakugou house. “How are you, Katsuki? I was so worried about you too! Mitsuki kept updating me everyday about how you were doing. I wish I’d had more time to visit you than just that one afternoon but the office has been a mess these last few weeks after the war..”
“It’s okay auntie, I appreciate your concern but I’m doing great. Barely a scratch left on me!” Katsuki assures, acting tough.
“That’s so great to hear!” Inko cheers as she grabs him into a hug.
Katsuki is stiff at the contact. Every part of him wants to yell at her but he respected her too much to do that. He also wasn’t sure who he would have to hear more shit from if he did, Izuku or Mitsuki.
“Inko dear? Will you come in here for a sec?” Mitsuki calls out from the kitchen.
“On my way!” Inko responds, releasing Katsuki and scurrying off.
Izuku and Katsuki are still at the bottom of the stairs. Izuku checks to make sure his mom is out of ear shot and then snickers at the sight he’d just seen.
“Oh yeah? You think that's funny, do ya?” Katsuki sneers at him.
“A little bit.” Izuku admits, covering his smile with a curled hand.
“When’d you get so damn cocky huh? Laughing at me and sneaking out? Are you trying to go from nerd to bad boy?” Katsuki questions sarcastically.
“Kacchan I had to do that! She wouldn’t let me go-”
“And you just had to see me so damn bad, yeah yeah. You obsessed or somethin’?” Katsuki snickers back at him.
Izuku doesn’t answer him but instead stomps Katsuki’s foot with his own and darts off to the kitchen. Pouty about Katsuki’s rude tone.
Katsuki is unphased by the childish act and instead continues to tease the greenette as he follows him, “Ah come on! I thought you were so worried for my safety? Gosh to think the bad boy just wanted to do all the hurting himself.”
Izuku huffs and ignores him as he takes a seat at the table, Katsuki sits down next to him and they wait for their parents to join.
They come in together carrying bowls of Katsudon to the table and Izuku lights up as he sees what's on the menu.
“You made my favorite!” Izuku cheers as he grabs his chopsticks, “Did my mom ask you to make this?”
“Ah no, actually I texted Katsuki what you might like and he told me to make Katsudon so I did.” Masaru explains, setting a bowl down in front of Izuku.
“Oh? Thank you! That’s so generous of you!” Izuku praises the old man for being so considerate.
“Oh course kid! We couldn’t disappoint our guests!” Mitsuki answers for her husband who just shoots Izuku a smile. He’s always been a timid man.
“We’re very grateful you would have us as guests, Suki!” Inko gleams across the table.
“It has been way too long since we were all together. It was about time! Now tell me, how has work been?” Mitsuki opens up a conversation that goes on endlessly between them during lunch as the men sit and listen to the gossip.
As they are chattering about, Izuku grabs Katsuki’s ear and whispers with his cheek next to the blondes, “You remembered, are you obsessed of somethin’?”
Fury fills Katsuki’s eyes as a fuzzy feeling plays with his heart. ‘Damn brat!’
“Don’t get cocky!” Katsuki strikes back like his words are a weapon, and then he pulls his face away.
The attitude amuses Izuku, he’s proud of himself for getting one over on him but that’s not why he’s grinning ear to ear right now as he scarfs down his Katsudon.
After they finished lunch everyone brought their bowls into the kitchen and Katsuki got started on the dishes out of habit. Izuku matches his energy and begins drying the dishes.
“Where do the bowls go again?” Izuku asks as he finishes drying the last bowl.
“Right up here!” Katsuki answers as he opens the cabinet above Izuku’s head, leaning right in front of him. Instead of moving, he reaches out his hand for the bowls, “Give ‘em here.”
“Huh?,” Izuku is too caught up in the physical contact to comprehend Katsuki’s words.
“The damn bowls ya idiot!” Katsuki barks at him.
“Right!” Izuku squeaks out as he places the bowls in Katsuki’s hands.
After they're done cleaning up in the kitchen, they join their parents in the living room who are wrapping up their conversation.
“Well I guess Izuku and I should get going so you can have some much needed family time you’ve been missing out on. The boys need their rest after everything they’ve been through. Come on Izuku, you should get Katsuki a break.” Inko announces as she gathers herself.
“Okay mom.” Izuku obeys.
“Don’t look so gloomy sweety! You can come over anytime hun! I’m sure Katsuki would love to have you back.” Mitsuki offers as she pats Izuku on the back.
“Don’t talk like you know anything!” Katsuki spits at her.
“Thanks auntie! I’ll take you up on that!” Izuku says with a smile as he walks out the door with Inko, “Thanks again, for having us!”