Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It all started with a phone call.

Izuku Midoriya had changed a lot since the war. With the embers of One For All leaving him for good and his career trajectory shifting from pro-hero to…well, to whatever came next, he couldn’t afford to wallow for long. Izuku was the type to persevere through any challenge, and this was no exception.

So when Katsuki’s name flashed on Izuku’s phone screen, he couldn’t help but answer.

“Kacchan?”

“Shitty nerd—”

“I thought we were past that now?”

“—I have an idea.”

Izuku paused, his interest rising with every passing word. Although he and Katsuki were on way better terms compared to their first year at UA, it was still a shock to see his childhood friend reach out so casually. Something had to be going on, and Izuku was determined to find out what.

“Is this like the time when you told me that sneaking out after hours to train was the best way to settle—”

“No! Goddamnit, stupid nerd, would you just let me finish?”

Izuku huffed but let Katsuki continue, intrigued by the abruptness of the call.

“I heard you talking to Round Face. I know you’re worried about what to do now that you no longer have a quirk.” Harsh, Izuku thought, but true.

“Yeah, and?”

“And I think you should become like a trainer or something. Or a teacher.”

Izuku blinked, taken aback. Whoa, was that genuine concern? Coming from the Katsuki Bakugo? It was a surprising twist, and Izuku couldn’t help but let a small, pleased smile form on his lips. It wasn’t as if Katsuki could see him anyway.

But his words rang true, echoing curiously in Izuku’s brain. Hmm, now that wasn’t a bad idea after all. He had learned so many things during his time as 'Deku' and not just 'Izuku,' but would he be able to translate his knowledge from the books to the classroom?

Well, he didn't know. But it sure was good to have a new dream, a new ambition to bring him back to life.

Katsuki’s voice continued, oblivious to Izuku’s turmoil of thoughts. “I figured, since you have all those notebooks about us, you'd be good at helping someone with their quirks and stuff.”

“You’re right, Kacchan!” Izuku replied excitedly, his tone betraying his rising emotions. Leave it to Katsuki to cheer him up when no one else could, to help him get through this rut he had been stuck in since the war. He could use everything that he had gained and lost, for all the friends who suffered and endured—he could help by doing this.

He was quirkless. Completely and utterly. But…he wasn't useless. Katuski had shown him that, with just a phone call, and a bit of faith.

“Gotta go Kacchan! Thanks for the advice!” he called, speaking faster now, the mumblings only just beginning.

“Wait—” Katsuki tried to cut in, but Izuku had already ended the call.

Now, there was work he needed to do.

Chapter Text

There were many things that you could say about Izuku Midoriya, but determined was definitely one of them.

With Katsuki’s advice echoing in his mind, Izuku embarked on the long journey toward becoming a teacher. He navigated through university, worked as a teaching assistant, and eventually, with his network and relentless perseverance, secured a position at UA High School.

Standing at the entrance of UA once again, Izuku felt a surge of excitement. He was back in the same hallowed halls where legends like All Might and Aizawa-sensei had walked. The very place where he had been trained, shaped, and inspired was now his stage for guiding the next generation of heroes. It felt like destiny had come full circle.

It was only right, only just that he was here too, helping young heroes in their path to victory.

Hah, Izuku thought. I almost sound like Kacchan.

With their diverting careers, it had been hard for Izuku to keep up with his former classmates. He missed them dearly—the late-night study sessions, the terrible meals in the dorms, the unspoken understanding they shared from the memories bonded between them. But now, they were all established pro heroes, and Izuku found himself on a different journey. Standing on the sidelines had been tough, especially at first, but he had come to realize that this new path was where he was meant to be. It was his chance to give back, to use everything he had learned and experienced to help others.

But, he still wished they called once in a while.

Izuku missed Katsuki the most, though he would never admit it. They had been inseparable since childhood, always competing and making each other strong. But without Izuku’s quirk, their once-rekindled friendship had now fizzled into nothing. Izuku hadn’t expected anything, truly. The two of them barely talked when they were in the same vicinity. Even so, he couldn’t help but wonder about how Katsuki was faring now.

Izuku shook his head out of his thoughts. Today is my first day at UA…again…for heaven’s sake!

And nothing was going to stand in his way of making a difference.

____

Okay, maybe this would be harder than anticipated.

Izuku leaned over his desk, his head resting dejectedly on his arms, as Aizawa-sensei—wait, just Aizawa, at his insistence, since they were coworkers now—laid a comforting hand on Izuku’s shoulder.

“You need to be harsher on your students,” Aizawa scolded gently, his tone carrying the weight of experience. Despite the change in their relationship from teacher and student to colleagues, Aizawa remained a guiding presence.

“I know, I know,” Izuku replied with a sigh, lifting his head to reveal his furrowed brow. “I just thought they would respect me right away! Is that too much to ask?” He let his head fall back into his arms, feeling disheartened.

It took everything in Aizawa not to smile at the weepy form in front of him. “It’s because they know you weren’t a pro hero. They’ll respect you in time. Especially when you start making those infamous notebooks of yours,” he said, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. His voice remained monotonous, but the intention behind it was clear—he was trying to lighten Izuku's mood.

Izuku slowly sat up in his chair, running a hand through his hair to move it from his eyes. “Thanks, Aizawa-sensei—I mean, Aizawa,” he said, managing a small, grateful smile. It wasn’t often that the usually reserved teacher tried to cheer him up, and Izuku genuinely appreciated the gesture.

With one last nod and a squeeze on his shoulder, Aizawa left, presumably to head home for the day.

The students were no longer required to live on campus as they had during Izuku’s time at UA. With the decrease in villain activity, many students opted to live off-campus, while the extra dormitories were repurposed to house displaced families, the homeless, and others in need.

Izuku sighed and glanced at the clock. It was time for him to head home as well. There was only so much he could prepare for while his students remained uninterested in his lectures. But Aizawa was right—they would come around in time.

All he had to do was be patient and wait.

…

…But Izuku had never been good at waiting.

He picked up his phone and, before he could second-guess himself, dialed a familiar number.

____

“Izuku?”

“Kacchan?”

“What the fuck are you calling me for?”

“Kacchan! Is that how you greet an old friend?”

“Whatever. What do you want?”

“I…um…”

“Spit it out, nerd—”

“—I have a favor to ask.”

Chapter Text

The next day, Izuku waited impatiently at the front of his classroom before homeroom, his nerves on edge. The students were already milling about, chatting among themselves and paying little attention to their new quirkless homeroom teacher. Izuku wasn’t particularly bothered by their initial disregard; it was the disinterest during class that set his teeth on edge.

But today, his second day, would be different, he assured himself. Today, he was determined to assert his authority and show his class that he deserved their respect.

He clapped his hands twice, the sharp sound cutting through the hum of conversation. The students looked up, their chatter dying down as they noticed their teacher's serious expression. Izuku took that as a good sign.

“Everyone! So today, I’d like to introduce a special guest,” Izuku announced, hoping to capture their attention with the promise of something intriguing. “Please give him your utmost—”

“Is it a quirkless loser?” a voice called out, dripping with mockery, but Izuku couldn’t see from where. The class laughed at their teacher’s frown.

“No, although there’s nothing wrong with being quirkless—” Izuku began, trying to maintain his composure despite the growing frustration.

“So someone irrelevant then?” another student interrupted, the laughter growing louder and more insistent. Izuku's patience was wearing thin.

“No, just—please, quiet down so I can—”

The classroom door swung open with a dramatic bang, and a familiar, powerful voice cut through the room.

“Who dares to call Dynamight irrelevant?” 

All Izuku could do was stop in the middle of his damn sentence, whipping his head toward the sound, like a moth drawn to a flame.

And there he was, the most handsome man Izuku had ever seen.

…Wait, what?!

The room fell silent, the students' laughter dying away as they took in the sight of the pro hero. Katsuki didn’t even spare Izuku a glance as he paraded to the front of the room, crossing his broad arms across his chest as he stared down the students of class 1-A. More like death glared but hey, after the way his students had been acting towards him, Izuku wasn’t about to save them from the wrath of Dynamight.

“That’s what I thought,” Katsuki said after a minute of a straight silent staredown. Izuku could admire his students for that at least—they were tough. None balked from Dynamight’s mean demeanor, but none spoke up anymore either.

This might actually work.

With all the weird thoughts of Katsuki’s initial arrival forgotten, Izuku made his way in front of the desk to stand next to his childhood friend. He gestured a hand toward him and smiled at the class.

“Everyone, as I was trying to say earlier, we have a guest visiting us today,” Izuku began again, ever perseverant. No little troublemakers of a class would be able to stop him from winning them over.

“Please be respectful. Now, you can ask Dynamight any questions for the next—”

“So which one of you brats is making trouble for Dek—Midoriya-sensei?” Katsuki asked the room, cutting Izuku off completely.

Fantastic, Izuku thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Kacchan is already setting a great example for the students.

The room was silent at his question, but eyes shifted guiltily. So the class did realize they were being rude and disruptive. Good to know.

“Hah? Anyone gonna fess up?” Dynamight said as he stalked the room with predatory intent, looking for any sign of weakness.

“Fine, brats. But just know that if you keep at it, you’re gonna have to answer to me,” Katsuki scolded with another dark glare at the group, pointing a menacing finger back at his chest.

Izuku wanted to tell him this was overkill, but he truly appreciated the sentiment. This favor was going better than he ever intended. But…accidentally scaring students was definitely something Dynamight would do, and then UA would have to take the blame for it.

“I think what Dynamight is trying to say…” Izuku redirected, ignoring Katsuki’s glare, “...is that we all should work together to become the best heroes. That includes with me, with your other teachers, and with your classmates. Kacch—Dynamight, wouldn’t you agree?”

A silent plead directed his way.

Katsuki gave Izuku a long look before clearing his throat, lifting his head a bit higher as his fiery gaze receded. “Yeah,” was all he replied, but it was enough for the class.

They spent the next half hour asking questions and learning from the number one hero, Dynamight. Katsuki was a good sport about it, well, Izuku thought so at least. He answered every question sincerely, with no curses or insults, and even gave some pretty good advice. Katsuki truly had changed from the volatile, aggressive boy into a slightly less aggressive, serious man. It warmed Izuku’s heart for some reason.

When it was time to change classes and for Katsuki to leave, Izuku followed him out into the hall.

“Thanks, Kacchan.”

Katsuki scoffed, already turning away from Izuku. “Don’t worry about it, nerd. All in a day’s work for a pro.”

Izuku’s expression dropped a bit at the remark. That could’ve been him, in another lifetime, another universe. He could’ve been coming into classrooms, teaching through experience instead of through education. But alas—this was his life now.

He swallowed hard, gazing at Katsuki’s back. For a moment, he hesitated before reaching out and gently grabbing Katsuki's arm. Katsuki turned slowly, his confusion meeting Izuku's earnest eyes.

“No, seriously—thank you,” Izuku said, his voice softer. “For what you said back there. And coming today. You didn’t have to do that. You really, uh…you really saved me.”

The silence between them grew heavy, filled with unspoken emotions.

“You're welcome,” Katsuki murmured, and Izuku’s eyes widened at his soft tone. But Izuku’s change in expression broke the spell, and Katsuki twisted away to turn around once more. He raised a hand up in farewell as he walked away.

“See ya around, nerd.”

He didn’t turn around again, but Izuku watched him go.

____

Later that night, back in his apartment, Izuku lay under the covers, unable to rest. His mind replayed the events of the day in a loop, the echoes of Katsuki’s presence filling the space where sleep should have been.

Class had gone better after Katsuki’s intervention. The students had settled down, the threat of pro hero Dynamight looming large enough to keep them in line. Izuku's plan had actually worked, much to his happiness and disbelief. 

It also gave the new teacher some street cred with the students too. A few had shyly come up to him after class, asking how he knew the pro. Of course, this led to Izuku explaining how he attended UA, as well as his part in the war, and with a few online searches, the students began to view Midoriya-sensei with a little bit more admiration.

But Izuku couldn’t shake the memory of his conversation with Katsuki. That intense, alluring stare, the surprising gentleness in his voice—when had Katsuki become so irresistibly attractive? Izuku tossed and turned, unable to push the thoughts from his mind.

The last thing he saw before sleep claimed him was a pair of red eyes, watching over him carefully in his dreams.

Chapter Text

Katsuki Bakugo did not realize just how dull the life of a hero could be.

Wake up, patrol, train, repeat.

Wake up, patrol, train, repeat.

Urgh.

He almost missed violent crime. All for One, the League of Villains, basically dying, and all that shit…

Okay, maybe not that much.

Life since the war was relatively peaceful. Many of the villains that had roamed the streets were either put away by heroes or went into hiding, forever. Japan was safe, and happily so.

But he supposed he missed the chance to prove himself. The chance to make an epic save, to rescue a civilian, to become victorious. He was the number one hero, after all. And he wanted to prove it.

Something was missing. Something that would give him purpose, drive him in a way he hadn’t yet experienced. He searched inside himself for the answer but came up with nothing at all.

He was lucky, Katsuki knew. He had made it to pro hero, the number one hero at that. He was alive, safe and well. Excelling, even.

But sometimes, just sometimes, Katsuki wished that peace didn’t equate to boredom.

It was one of those days on patrol with Shitty Hair that the boredom really had Katsuki in a foul mood. It wasn’t Kirishima’s fault, but someone had to be on the receiving end of Katsuki’s complaints, and the pro hero Red Riot had practically volunteered.

“—And then, Mina was flipped in a keg stand, with Sero holding—"

“—Aren’t you bored of this shit?” Katsuki interrupted rudely, but Kirishima didn’t seem to mind, used to Bakugo’s antics.

“Bored of what? Patrolling?” He laughed loudly, punching his rock-solid fists together. “Just part of the job, man.”

“Yeah, I know Shitty Hair. But nothing is going on around here. We’re heroes for fucks sake! I’m tired of doing jackshit.”

Kirishima just patted Katsuki twice on the back with a smack that would’ve sent any normal person flying across the sidewalk. Katsuki gritted his teeth as Kirishima gave him an understanding nod.

“I get you, bro. I really do. But the people will feel safest if they see the number one hero in the streets.” Katsuki rolled his eyes but nodded. Of course, he knew that—the safety of the people came first over his absurd introspective emotions. Yuck. He shoved any doubt he had deep, deep down.

He could deal with whatever this weird feeling was later.

____

Later that night, he was halfway through his set of reps when Katsuki received a phone call.

“Izuku, calling,” his phone rang in his earbuds.

…What the fuck?

He stopped everything and sat up, flipping his phone over in his hand. He debated ending the call right then and there, but curiosity wore out. He sighed and pressed the answer button.

“Izuku?”

____

“Why the fuck would you ask me? Go ask Round Face. Or Icy-Hot. Or—”

“No, Kacchan! It has to be you. You’re the number one hero!”

“So?”

“So, they’ll respect you. More so than the others. Plus you can be a bit scary sometimes…”

“Fuck off, you damn nerd!”

“Wait! No! I’m just kidding, well…not really, but—”

“One more word and I’m hanging up—”

“—Okay fine! But just…please.”

Katsuki paused for a moment and actually considered it. He badly needed a break from patrol. Like, very badly. And Izuku was lucky he had called at such a vulnerable time. And it had been quite a while since he’d last seen the nerd…

“Hello? Kacchan?”

“Yeah, whatever, I’ll do it.”

“Wait, really? Wow, thanks so much Kacchan! I owe you!”

“You don’t owe me shit,” Katsuki finished before he hung up.

Well, that was that. One less boring thing on his agenda for tomorrow.

____

Izuku's eyes always unnerved him.

They were large, for starters. And they took up most of his face in a way that some people might find endearing.

But the scariest part about them was that they always appeared calculated—like Izuku already knew everything about Katsuki even though he was pretty sure Izuku didn't have a mind-reading quirk. Those green eyes always searched his own red ones, scouring like he could find the secrets of the universe within them.

Yeah, it fuckin terrified the shit out of him.

So when Izuku pulled him aside, and green met red, Katsuki’s first instinct was to pull away. But he didn’t and then he was staring…and then he noticed how much older Izuku looked in his brown suit jacket and matching tie. He noticed how his rounder cheeks had slimmed, freckles glowing gently against pale skin. He noticed and noticed until it was all too much.

“You're welcome,” he said simply, not thinking twice. Normally, it would’ve been a gruff Yeah, whatever, or a blunt Fuck off, extra. But something about the way those green eyes locked onto his made it different—made him soften, just a little.

But Izuku's expression shifted and Katsuki knew he had to go. Leave, before he said or did anything more.

He didn’t look back.

____

A few months later, Katsuki was on patrol when the call came.

He picked it up immediately, happy for something to do. “Dynamight, reporting,” he announced.

“Dynamight, get to UA, stat.”

Katsuki was already moving, blasts trailing behind him.

“There’s been a villain attack.”

Chapter Text

“Cheap shot not even letting the kid get on school grounds,” Izuku muttered angrily, taking a fighting stand as he faced the gigantic criminal in front of him. 

“And it’s not even seven thirty in the morning!”

The villain did not seem to care.

They had been too relaxed—six years after the war and things were calming down. Letting the students live off campus, allowing the teachers to as well…all changes designed for a safer, more secure city.

And yet it had bit them right in the ass, Izuku mused as he dodged an attack, a giant slimy fist that soaked the area he had just escaped from with brown liquid. 

This criminal looked a bit too much like the sludge villain for Izuku’s liking, but somehow worse—brown muck oozing off of it in droves, smelling like absolute garbage, eyes barely visible beneath the filth. 

It was currently taking one of his students hostage, her limbs flailing as she gasped for air. She turned big, scared eyes to Izuku and in that moment, he knew exactly what he needed to do.

A person, a child needed saving, and Izuku didn’t think twice before assessing his surroundings, calculating the best course, and taking immediate action.

He had been a UA student too, after all. Responding to dangerous situations was second nature to him. 

Not having a quirk can’t stop me from being a hero.

Izuku couldn’t second guess his thoughts before running toward a nearby fire hydrant. The villain smelled too much like a damn sewer for it not to be a coincidence. Quickly, Izuku unscrewed the cap, twisted the nozzle, and let loose a giant jet stream of water—aimed directly at the huge monster of effluent with beady eyes across from him. 

The villain screamed, well, as much as a sack of sewage could scream, before slowly diluting, down, down into the sidewalk below. The student, forgotten, was dropped like a sack of burning coals. At her matching yelp, Izuku raced to meet her, catching the girl and setting her down with a gentle pat.

The teacher scoured the ground beneath them, searching for the remains of the villain before it could get swept away, and ah—there! Izuku sadly dumped out the contents of his expensive water bottle before scooping the remnants of the villain inside. He shook the bottle once, mouth turned upward in triumph.

“I still got it,” he whispered to himself, smile turning a bit sad. 

And that was about when he heard the familiar crackle of explosives on the horizon.

____

“What do you mean there’s no villain?!”

“I told you, I took care of it already. See?” Izuku explained as he held up his water bottle full of swimming brown liquid. 

“I don’t believe it.”

“Well, I’d hope you’d believe that I wouldn’t bring sewage to school to ah, quench my thirst between lessons?”

“You idiot,” Katsuki replied with a huff of annoyance. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

No, Izuku thought, he meant, I don’t believe you took down a villain with no quirk. He gave the pro hero an impressive glower. How dare Katsuki not believe that he could—

“No, shitty nerd, really, I’m not thinking whatever you think I’m thinking.” Katsuki sighed and leaned against one of the towering walls of UA behind them. 

They waited patiently in the front of school, listening to the police sirens approaching from a distance. Izuku would need to give a statement, Katsuki too, so they could explain what transpired, and how a quirkless teacher had managed to stuff a dangerous villain into his Mt. Fuji water bottle and save the damn day.

“It’s just that…,” Katsuki started, and Izuku leaned in to listen. It wasn't often that Katuski made a point to tell him something. “I wanted to do it. Save the day, or whatever.” 

Izuku quirked an eyebrow up, staring at Katsuki in confusion. Was the number one hero really…bored?

The thought almost made him laugh, considering pro-hero Dynamight was called to almost every mission and emergency. But knowing Katsuki…Izuku’s laughter died in his throat. 

Katsuki always wanted to push himself to the limit, become number one based on his own merit and drive. He trained excessively, never giving up or taking shortcuts. That was what he always did, and he always emerged victorious. But when there was no crime to fight… 

Well, even Izuku could see how that could make someone feel insignificant.

He grimaced, turning his face up to stare at the rising sun. He was definitely going to be late for his homeroom class. 

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, you not saving the day made my day.” 

Katsuki whipped his head toward Izuku with a furrowed brow. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means that I had fun. Saving the day and all. I haven’t…” Izuku swallowed once, “I haven’t gotten the chance to do that a lot these days.”

Because I don’t have a quirk and I’m not a pro hero, were the words left unsaid.

Katsuki seemed to understand that because he just nodded, an indicator that he wasn’t going to push it anymore. It was nice, Izuku thought, to talk to him without either wanting to blow the other’s head off. The competitive rivalry was still there, but the needless hatred wasn’t. It brought a small smile to Izuku’s features.

“So, thanks,” Izuku finished, watching the other wave him off. 

“None needed,” Katsuki replied, moving his mask off his face and into his hair. There was no point wearing it now with no villain around. 

“Keep your skills sharp, Izuku,” he continued as the sirens finally came rounding the corner. 

“You never know when you might need ‘em.”

____

Later that day in Principal Nezu’s office, Izuku explained his recounting of the events.

“—And then Kacchan showed up, and the rest you know,” Izuku finished with a deep breath, waiting for the scolding he was surely to get.

But Principal Nezu just sighed, turning to Aizawa with a knowing look. Whatever that meant. 

“I can’t say I’m happy that you risked your life,” Nezu started, his calming voice filling the windowed office, skyscrapers dancing across the skyline behind them. Izuku nodded.

“But I’m thankful that you were able to stop the villain.” The principal hopped off his chair, the black seat swiveling in his wake. He rounded the tall table, happy to stare up at Izuku with kind eyes. 

“However, we have more important matters to discuss.”

Nezu and Aizawa shared another one of those knowing looks, which left Izuku to tilt his head in confusion. 

“What happened, Principal Nezu?”

“We wanted to be the first to inform you that pro-hero Dynamight will be taking up a semi-permanent position at UA starting tomorrow.”

Izuku’s mind processed the information. Once. Then twice.

Then his brain short-circuited completely. 

“Huh?!” he exclaimed, perhaps a bit too loudly in the quiet office. 

“Kacchan is working here?"

“Not working here, exactly,” Aizawa jumped in, coming around to lean on the side of the desk. 

“Just protecting the students for a short while after that villain scare. It was you who gave us the idea actually, after bringing him in to speak with your students earlier in the year.” 

Izuku could not believe what he was hearing. 

“And considering your long history with Bakugo,” Aizawa continued, “we wanted to make sure you were in the loop.”

All the new teacher could do was nod. Aizawa walked over and placed a comforting hand on Izuku’s shoulder, trying to ease his troubled mind. 

“He’ll just be here until the media calms down. The worried parents of the on-campus students were in an uproar—so who better to protect their kids than the number one hero?” Aizawa patted his shoulder once before heading out the door. 

“You’ll hear all about it at the faculty meeting tomorrow.”

Well, Izuku thought, turning to leave the office after his mentor.

This sure was going to be an…explosive semester. 

Chapter Text

Izuku almost didn’t believe it was true—that was, until he saw Katsuki’s grumpy face the next day, staring at him as he crossed the sidewalk on the way to UA. 

The number one hero was standing almost in the same spot Izuku had left him yesterday, arms folded across his broad chest, leaning menacingly against the wall next to the UA entrance, glaring narrowed eyes at anyone who wasn’t clearly a student passing by. 

It might have been a long shot, but Dynamight was looking to be quite an effective guard dog. No villains would dare get so close with the pro around. But even so…

Izuku chuckled as he approached the gate, quickly covering his mouth with the back of his hand to hide his laughter.

Katsuki looked like a damn Pomeranian. 

“What the fuck is so funny, nerd?” Katsuki asked meanly, coming off the wall to approach Izuku. 

“Kacchan! No cursing in front of the students!”

“Ah, whatever. They all do it behind your back anyway. Might as well show them how it’s done.”

“Kacchan!”

“Okay, fine! No cursing! I get it!” he snapped, eyes rolling, but he complied, continuing the conversation by complaining instead.

“Ugh, I can’t believe they put me on protection duty. Me! I’m the number one damn hero!” Katsuki moved back to his position on the wall, keeping all focus on the street in front of him. If there was one thing that Izuku knew about Katsuki, it was that he would always put one hundred percent into the job, no matter how annoyed he felt about it.

“Maybe that’s just how important this job is?” Izuku offered, but he knew it was to no avail. 

“Yeah, right. They could’ve put anyone on babysitting duty and yet they chose me. I’m being punished for something—but who knows what…well, wait…I did yell at some brat in that interview last week…” he trailed off, eyes turning toward Izuku for a moment, who definitely had a knowing look on his face, a singular eyebrow raised and the beginnings of a grin twitching at his lips.

“Urgh,” Katsuki groaned, dragging a palm across his cheek for emphasis. “Yep. This is absolutely because of that.”

“Cheer up, Kacchan!” Izuku tried to soothe, moving the wisps of his green curls out of his eyes. 

“You just have to play nice with the students for a bit, save us from impending doom, and then boom! You’re back to your boring, hero life.” It sounded crazy when Izuku said it, but it was partially true. Enduring a few months of UA couldn’t possibly be that bad.

Katsuki seemed to reluctantly agree, grunting once before finally turning his gaze to Izuku. 

“Aren’t you gonna be late?” he asked after a moment, smirking as he pointed down to Izuku’s watch. 

“Aw, shit!” Izuku called, racing off into the entranceway.

“Now what did we say about cursing?” Katsuki teased.

Izuku’s laughter rang through the courtyard as he left.

____

Watching Katsuki struggle to remain calm under the eyes of the teachers at the faculty meeting was almost comical. 

He was a pro hero, for heaven’s sake! He should be used to being all calm and hero-like by now. But seeing him squirm, unable to speak his mind, reminded Izuku of the young boy he once knew, keeping his mouth shut in fear of Mitsuki raining down all hell on them.

Ah, good times.

But this new Katsuki he was getting to meet was someone else entirely, yet somehow still the same Kacchan he grew up with.

He was still the same, raging boy who craved victory more than life itself. Who never balked from danger, never was or could be anything but the best. It was comforting, in a way, for Izuku to know that despite the war, despite everything that had happened to uproot his own life, Katsuki was still as inspiring as ever.

But Izuku didn’t quite know how he felt about the differences.

For one, Katsuki had grown handsome as all hell. With his sharp jawline, broad shoulders, and rippling muscle—it was no surprise that both he and Todoroki had tied for the past three years as the “Most Handsome Heroes!” But, if you asked Izuku, Katsuki took the cake.

Literally.

The only other difference that unnerved him was Katsuki’s demeanor. Gone was the wild, aggressive boy who only had eyes for victory. Well, that much hadn’t changed, but his tone was now mature, more serious than rambunctious. You could hold a conversation with him and not expect to be blasted off a rooftop. You could tease him, and he would tease back, and not in the usual boyish way that would have him biting your head off. No, Katsuki’s insults were less…spiteful now, and more charming. It was a good change, a welcome change. 

A change that did nothing good for Izuku’s gentle heart.

His cheeks tinted red as he caught himself thinking about Katsuki, at a faculty meeting no less! He cleared his own throat in embarrassment, twirling his ballpoint pen and turning his attention back to his notepad where he had written nothing but one bullet:

• Kacchan is here

Urgh!

Come on, Izuku, focus!

But his eyes couldn’t help but wander back to the pro hero at the front of the room, looking wholly serious, yet uncomfortable. Katsuki must have felt his gaze because he turned slightly, and red eyes met green in the crowd of teachers. 

Katsuki made a quick gesture, his thumb dragging across his neck with his usual disgruntled expression. But immediately it was gone, replaced by his fingers scratching his hair as he looked busily neutral. Just Dynamight, weirdly itching a scratch, to some. But a sign, to someone watching, about how much he hated this whole formal thing.

Because Izuku knew.

His green curls tumbled forth as he hid his laughter behind a hand, looking away before he could fall into snickers. 

But when he did so, Izuku just barely missed Katsuki’s subtle grin, flashing once before he turned serious once more. 

_____

“When’d you know you liked boys?” Inko asked him one night when he stopped by for a visit.

“Mom. I’m not telling you that, it’s embarrassing,” Izuku grumbled in response, eating a big mouthful of katsudon to hide his face. 

“What? Can’t a mother ask these things?” She took a seat at the kitchen table next to Izuku, placing her own bowl down and ruffling his hair as she went. 

“Definitely not.”

“What about when you knew you liked…girls?”

“Mooom.”

“Okay, okay. I’m done.”

“Good.”

They ate in silence for a moment, enjoying Inko’s cooking.

“But I just wanted to know more—”

“—Okay, so you’re not done—”

“—about you, Izuku. I feel like you never tell me anything about your love life!”

“That’s because I don’t have one, Mom.”

“Sure, sure.”

“It’s the truth!”

“Okay, Izuku, I won’t push.”

“Good.”

They continued eating for a minute, contented in the silence that only came with family, enjoying a moment of peace together.

“...So, no cuties working at UA?”

“Mom! Seriously!”

Chapter Text

The second day with Dynamight around was even more chaotic than the first.

“What? They’re making you patrol in here now too?” Izuku asked Katsuki after morning lecture, spotting the pro hero wandering around aimlessly through the corridors.

The students began to file out of their classrooms, ready for lunch and chattering excitedly, sneaking curious looks at Katsuki. It wasn’t every day the number one hero roamed the halls of UA. But pro hero Dynamight wasn’t exactly friendly, either, so most kept their distance. 

“I thought it was just the entrance and perimeter?” Izuku continued, biting the skin of an apple and chomping through his sentence.

“No, shitty nerd. Apparently, I have to walk around here too and uh, ‘make nice with the students.’”

Izuku cringed at the double meaning. Not only was Katsuki protecting the school, but he was also trying to, well, increase his reputation which had gone down a few ratings since his last major interview. More like his management was trying to up his ratings, but it meant the same thing in the end, considering Katsuki was still here and willing to try. 

“Huh. And uh…how’s that going for you?”

Katsuki looked around at the masses of students actively avoiding his gaze.

“Uhh, I’d say not well.”

Izuku stifled a chuckle, chewing thoughtfully.

“Have you tried…smiling at them?”

“Hell no.”

“Giving them hero advice?”

“Too much work.”

“Not glaring at every student that looks at you?”

“What’s the fun in that?” 

Izuku rolled his eyes.

“I have no idea how you became the number one hero.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Katsuki retorted, giving Izuku a mean glower.

“Yep, that’s the one.”

“Hah?! That’s the one, what?”

“That’s the glare that keeps scaring away all the students you’re supposed to be winning over!”

Katuski kept it up for another moment before relenting, rolling his eyes. He looked away from Izuku, turning his attention back to the swarming students heading to the cafeteria. The hallways were almost empty now, save for a few stragglers running to catch up with their classmates.

“Where the fuck do I even eat lunch in here?” Katsuki muttered under his breath, watching the students mingle in the only place he had ever eaten at UA—the cafeteria. 

Izuku took another large bite of his apple, watching the other carefully. He kinda felt bad for the guy, Katsuki was an employee here, but also not. He didn’t quite fit in the faculty lounge, but also definitely not in the cafeteria with the students. Izuku sighed, motioning with his head toward the inside of his classroom. 

“Come on, you can eat with me.”

Katsuki just blinked owlishly back at him for a moment. 

“You can’t be serious.”

“Sure I am! Come on, I won’t bite.” Izuku started walking back inside toward his desk without even checking to see if Kasuki was following. 

“I’m not eating with you, nerd. That’s weird as fuck.”

“I thought we were over the bullying, like, six years ago?”

“It’s not bullying! That’s grade school shit—this is just the damn truth!”

“Sounds like bullying to me.”

“I just don’t wanna fuckin sit here! This classroom has too many damn memories.”

“Sooo…you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared of shit!”

“You sure? Because you just said you’re afraid of a classroom?”

“What? No! Ugh—goddamnit, Izuku.” Katuski stomped over and aggressively pulled over a seat from a desk in the front row, positioning it backward in front of the teacher’s desk. He sprawled across it, arms resting on the back of the chair, glaring narrowed eyes at Izuku.

“You happy now?” Katsuki asked, fingertips tapping across his arm.

“You’re the one who looked like a lost puppy earlier. Out in the hall. I was just trying to be nice—”

“—You just called me a bully and a scaredy cat—”

“—and help you find somewhere to sit down and eat! Even pros deserve a break.” 

Izuku finally sat down at his own desk, pulling out a container of katsudon, not bothering to give Katsuki a second glance. The delicious smell filled the small classroom, and even Katsuki couldn’t deny the allure of the aroma.

“Did you make that?” Katsuki asked after a moment, a skeptical eyebrow arching upward.

Izuku blushed, the tinge of red flooding his freckled cheeks. “Er, uh, no,” he confessed, digging down into his food with vigor. 

“Hah?!” Katsuki countered with a baffled expression, leaning forward with newfound curiosity. “Then who did? You got a girlfriend or something?”

Izuku almost spit his food right back out. 

“What?! No! It’s just leftovers, okay? I, um…I went to visit my mom last night.” He gestured sheepishly toward the bowl. “So, uh, leftovers from dinner.”

Katsuki grunted, leaning away again. “I can’t believe after all this time, you still can’t make your own katusdon. It’s literally been your favorite food since we were kids.”

“Who said I can’t?” Izuku replied boldly, expression way too innocent. 

“Oh please, you think I can’t tell when you’re lying?”

“I’m not lying!”

“Sure you’re not.”

“Kacchan! I’m really not!”

“Whatever you say, nerd.”

Izuku let out a frustrated noise in the back of his throat, relenting.

“Okay fine! But I’m not lying…I’ve tried to make katsudon,” Izuku admitted, scratching the back of his neck. 

“It’s just, whenever I try to make it…” he trailed off, embarrassed.

“It fuckin sucks ass?”

Izuku leveled Katsuki an impressive glower from across the desk. 

“For lack of a better expression…well, yeah. It’s bad.”

Katsuki huffed a laugh under his breath, a small grin quirking the corner of his lip upward.

“I’ll teach you sometime. For your own good.”

“Who said I needed help?”

“You did, when you practically admitted all your cooking is bad if you can’t even make your favorite dish. Are you really a functioning adult?”

“Kacchan!” Izuku complained, but he couldn’t help but smile too, laughing at the absurdity of it all. Katsuki Bakugo, offering him a cooking lesson? The Izuku of six years ago would have blanched at the sight. But now…

Well, it almost seemed like they were becoming friends. Izuku didn’t think anyone but Kirishima had that privilege, but times had changed. They had changed—Izuku was a grown, educated teacher doing his best to make a difference. And Katsuki was a pro hero, risking his life every day for the civilians of Japan. The years had stretched between them, making all their quarrels of the past seem childish and meaningless. It had just been the squabbles between two young boys, desperate to find their way.

But now they had found their way in life. They had matured, in more ways than others, and their rivalry was still brewing strong but—

Izuku was happy. 

Years ago, when his time at becoming a pro hero was cut short, Izuku had felt the divide between him and his classmates. It was an unspoken one, an invisible tether between what he once was, and what he never could be. No one had made him feel small, made him feel unseen. But it was there, nevertheless, because Izuku was missing what he needed most: a quirk. 

Time passed by quickly, and everyone moved on. His friends became the greatest heroes, figures that inspired the masses—but also too busy to reach out. Izuku never faulted them for it, he couldn’t. But…he missed them. And when they did reach out, calls few and far between, their conversations were different. 

Uraraka would tell him about the amazing new program she was starting up, planning to change the country and help millions. Iida would explain the new facets of his family’s business, and how many rescues he’d been able to carry out by running at the speed of light. Tsu would describe how many villains she’d been able to take down on the ocean waters, sailing across the world.

And when they would ask Izuku what he’d been doing, all he could say was…this.

Teaching. Learning, growing. But somehow, it always seemed to come out wrong.

It was important, this journey. Teaching the new students of the next generation. It was everything Izuku could have asked for and dreamed, especially with the embers of One For All long gone from his veins. 

Yet…he couldn’t help but yearn for what he didn’t have. 

But Katsuki being here was different. 

Unlike many of his other friends from UA, Katsuki still treated him almost exactly the same. Less tormenting insults, sure—but with the same fire he always held within his heart. Like Izuku was still a rival, a contender for his number one hero pedestal. 

Which was utterly ridiculous, considering Izuku had no quirk, no pro hero training, no following. 

But it made him happy, nevertheless. To still be considered an equal, by Katsuki, and…

To still be considered a hero. 

Katsuki must have sensed his shifting thoughts, reading Izuku’s joyful expression. “What?” he asked, tilting his head in confusion.

“Oh, nothing,” Izuku hummed happily, contented to take another bite of his katsudon. 

“What, nerd? Do I have something on my face?”

“Nope.”

“Then what is it?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Izuku replied teasingly. The hero across from him glowered in an expression that looked almost like a pout. Cute, Izuku thought, and relented, deciding to give Katsuki just a little insight into his thoughts. 

“I’m just happy you’re here,” Izuku told him honestly, not bothering to hide the radiant smile blossoming over his freckles. 

Katsuki watched him, his stare openly searching the depths of Izuku's green eyes. 

But it was only for a moment before the pro turned away, standing up out of his chair, and headed straight out the door. 

“Forgot my lunch in the faculty room,” he muttered quickly, hiding his face. “Don’t move until I get back.”

“Sure, Kacchan!” Izuku called in response.

And that was how their daily lunch breaks together began. 

Chapter Text

Over the next few months of the semester, Katsuki and Izuku ate lunch together every day. 

“Nuh-uh, you were insufferable back then, Kacchan!”

“No way, shitty nerd. You were the unsufferable one!”

“Was not!”

“Was too!”

They both scowled angrily at one another, but broke out of the tension almost immediately, with Izuku letting loose a joyful laugh, and Katsuki echoing it with his version of a smile, which looked more like a smirk. 

Students often came by to spy on the pair. Having heard boisterous insults being hurled at their teacher, of course the brats would be naturally curious. But Katsuki made sure to level a mean glare at any who dared peek too far into the doorway, which gave the two of them the illusion of privacy—not that Izuku even noticed the intruders. Or if he did, he hadn’t decided to say anything to Katsuki. 

It was weird, to say the least. Sitting, eating, bantering together. It was nostalgic, almost, except for the fact that Izuku’s teasing grin set a raging fire echoing dangerously through his veins. That part was definitely new. 

It wasn’t that Katsuki hadn’t noticed Izuku before. When he was young and dumb and just figuring out that he preferred boys, not girls, like almost everyone else he knew, it was hard not to look. Everyone in his class thought Izuku was cute anyway, all big eyes and freckled cheeks, so why would it be weird if he looked too? It would be just for a moment, just a glance to see for himself. But after considering the nerd for a short span of two seconds, Katsuki decided right then and there—hell, no. 

But things were different now. Times had changed. They had grown, and well…Katsuki wasn’t going to lie to himself and deny that Izuku wasn’t fuckin attractive. 

Alluring eyes that stripped him to his core, layers of soft green curls that fell gently around his freckled face, rounded cheeks turned slimmer now, his sharp jawline allowing him to actually look his age. Of course, he was still built as hell, all lean muscle and a long torso that was only accentuated by the white button-ups and fitted brown suits he always wore. 

And even more annoyingly, exactly Katsuki’s type.

But the worst of it was truly the banter. Had Izuku always been this brazen and bold, behind the worried mutterings and shy glances of a teenager? God, Katsuki didn’t know the last time he talked with someone who could actually dish it back. Trading insults was practically foreplay to him, and every conversation was a new tease that left him reeling. 

Most of his friends were used to his taunts, opting to brush him off instead of counter back. New people he met too, who often balked at his aggressive tone. But Izuku didn't, not at all. Izuku…

Well, Izuku met him halfway. For each and every turn of phrase. 

It was as infuriating as it was attractive. 

“Seriously,” Katsuki retorted, “I know I was a damn brat, but—” 

“I think ‘damn brat’ is putting it lightly, you were seriously a monster.”

“Hah?! If I was a monster, then you were a fuckin demon!”

“I kinda like the sound of that, actually.”

“Goddamnit! Shitty nerd, don’t appreciate my insults!” He turned away for a moment, ears burning red.

Yeah, Katsuki was completely, and utterly, screwed. 

“Seriously, you need to stop with the bad nicknames,” Izuku countered innocently. “Can’t you come up with anything more creative? I’ve always thought that, really.” 

“Fuck you. I think ‘shitty nerd’ has a nice ring to it, personally.”

“Does it really? At least the nerd part is true, even if the first part isn’t.”

“Well then, what nicknames would you prefer then?”

“Something inspired, something imaginative, something like…” Izuku tapped his index finger against his bottom lip as he thought. It was annoyingly distracting. 

“Like Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight!”

“Like my hero name? Fuck no—”

“No! No. I mean, the creativity behind it! The ingenuity—”

“—You’re making fun of me, and I’m gonna fuckin kill you—”

“—of the name! Like, wow. It’s real original.”

“I’m so sad,” Katsuki retorted sarcastically while putting a hand to his chest, “that my insults aren’t up to your standards. I’ll work on it.”

“You better,” Izuku replied sassily, his smug smile betraying his thoughts aloud, happy to have gotten the upper hand for once. Katsuki couldn’t help but let him, holding his tongue against a slew of insults, just this one time.

He was seriously having way too much fun with Izuku. He was scared of the rising emotions tangling in his stomach, churning, not wanting to face them and pushing them down, down into his gut. But like a train riding full speed across the sunken tracks, Katsuki couldn’t seem to find the break. Didn't quite want to, either. 

And that was what scared him most of all. 

____

One day, he decided to visit Izuku during his afternoon class.

The teacher did a double-take as Katsuki swaggered through the classroom door, white chalk stopping halfway through a note on the board. The students sat up a little straighter in their seats, it wasn’t every day they got a visit from the number one hero. But, slowly and surely, they were actually getting used to having the pro around, so no audible gasps this time—although it boosted his ego when they did.

“Kacch—Dynamight?” Izuku asked bluntly, walking over to him with a questioning gaze.

“Is something wrong?”

“Nah,” Katsuki replied, a bit embarrassed now that he was actually here, but decided, fuck it. 

He was going to watch Izuku teach something. 

“Just passing through on patrol. You wouldn’t mind if I sat for a minute, would you? Long night yesterday, saving the country and all.” Before Izuku could even get in a word, Katsuki was already moving, swerving in between the desks to the back row of the classroom—where there was an empty seat in the corner waiting for him. 

He plopped down, kicking his feet up onto the desk and crossing his arms over his broad chest. A few snickers rose up from the students, but he paid them no mind. He just watched carefully for Izuku’s reaction, who was presently pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger in frustration. 

“I would, in fact, mind. You’re disrupting class time, Dynamight.”

“I won’t be a distraction, Midoriya-sensei. Just here to learn.”

“What more do you have to learn? I don’t believe it for one second.”

“What? Don’t trust the word of the number one hero?”

Izuku leveled him a glower that even scared the students a bit, but Katsuki didn’t balk. He was here already, might as well make it worth the trip. He glared right back, making his stance known.

After a moment, Izuku sighed, gaze softening into a look that said something like, We’ll talk about this later.

Katsuki, happy to have won the argument, returned a smug smirk that answered, Sure, Izuku.

With one more narrow-eyed glare, Izuku turned back to the board and continued the lesson. 

Yeah, Katsuki was really glad he decided to take a detour today.

____

“Kacchan, you really can’t be showing up in the middle of someone’s lesson. It’s rude.”

“Yeah, yeah, nerd. Won’t happen again.”

They sat in silence for a moment.

“Why’d you come though?”

“...Don’t worry about it.”

Izuku hummed a short note.

“If you say so, Kacchan.”

____

Two days later in Principal Nezu’s office, Katsuki couldn’t make himself regret it. 

“Bakugo, could you please explain to me why you stopped patrolling to watch Midoriya teach a lesson?” the principal asked patiently.

Katsuki honestly didn’t know how to respond. ‘I know we used to be enemies, but now we’re actually becoming friends and I also think he’s attractive?’  Yeah, that didn't quite make the cut. Katsuki usually didn’t like speaking anything but what was on his mind, but sometimes even he had to make exceptions. So he settled on a response involving what he did best—avoiding any and all problems. Usually, with insults.

“What’s the big fuckin deal?”

“You were supposed to be monitoring the school,” Aizawa cut in, and of course, he was here too. Everything about the conversation so far was taking Katsuki back six years. Almost seven now, if the blossoming leaves were any indication. 

“I was, old man.”

“Monitoring the whole school from Midoriya’s classroom? Seems unlikely. And a complete waste of your time.”

“What would you have me do? I was fuckin bored!” Half truth. “There’s no villains here.” Truth. “So I just went there for a place to sit down.” Complete and utter lie.

They both seemed to buy it though, because Aizawa just nodded and Principal Nezu looked back at the pile of papers littering his desk. 

“Don’t let it happen again,” Aizawa scolded, but let it go. Katsuki let loose a silent sigh of relief. His weird, secret desire to see Izuku was safe for another day. 

He didn’t know how much longer he could last without giving everything away. Katsuki was always the type to wear his emotions on his sleeve—it would soon be easy to spot if he didn't stop this trainwreck now before it came crashing down around him.

But for some reason, when Katsuki finally tried to push these strange, icky emotions down, down into his gut like he usually did, he found himself simply incapable.

He didn’t know where that put him.

Chapter Text

Izuku was leaving late again, as per usual. 

The sun was setting low on the horizon, all reds and oranges and pinks, as he packed up his things into the stuffy brown briefcase he always carried around with him. It wasn’t something he would’ve picked out for himself, but rather gifted to him by All Might, who had said something about how he would have to “get used to it.”

Whatever that meant. 

Either way, it provided a nice, adult-like travel bag which replaced his usual yellow backpack that had carried him through most of his school years. And with this gift from his mentor and friend, Izuku could finally walk around at the ripe old age of twenty-four without looking like a grade school boy. 

It swung gently in his right hand now as he walked down the glistening halls and out the front steps of UA on the way to his apartment. There was so much he needed to do, and so little time! His pace sped up slightly to match the cadence of his thoughts.

First, there was the grading. So. Much. Grading. Izuku never realized how much time it would take to calculate and score and write each individual student’s grades in his scorebook. Not only that, but he had to return progress back to the students, so they could make changes to their performance if they so desired throughout the semester. The months had just flown by, and his students were properly excelling, but all of these markings were taking a toll on him. 

Then, there was the parent-teacher conference coming up soon. And the new lesson about quirk counseling that all teachers were expected to add. And the scheduling of the provisional licensing exam…

It was all too much at once for the new teacher. 

He glanced down at his watch in dismay. It was only five-thirty. If he rushed home now, he could get takeout on the way. Then he could start grading the most recent exam by six o’clock, which would have him hopefully done by eight. Then he could finally start the—

Smack!

Izuku fell back, startled out of his trailing thoughts. On his raging tangent, he had run straight into a wall of lean muscle, blissfully unaware of his surroundings. So he started to apologize, staring at the chest in front of him for a minute longer than he should have, before realizing he was looking at a familiar orange “X” gleaming boldly on painted black. 

Green eyes dragged upward to meet red. Ah, shit. Izuku cleared his throat.

“Oh, uh, hi, Kacchan.”

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, shitty nerd?”

“Um, getting a closer look at your hero costume? I like the, uh, orange. Really neat.”

“Uh-huh, first I’ve heard of it.”

“Why are you standing in the middle of the sidewalk?”

“I heard your annoying ass mutterings from halfway across the damn building. I decided to wait and see what it was all about.”

“Stalker, much?”

“Not my fault you’re so loud.”

Izuku scoffed then, taking a step away from Katsuki so they could talk at a normal distance. Their proximity had been starting to do funny things to Izuku’s heart.

“Well, I’m glad you stopped to chat,” Izuku began, effectively changing the subject and turning to continue walking out the entranceway, “but I really do have to get home.” He checked his watch again: five thirty-six, plenty of time.

“Yeah, me too,” Katsuki replied, following in step beside him. “I have training today at seven.”

Izuku nodded as they made their way out into the bustling city street. While it was a little strange that Katsuki wanted to walk together, Izuku figured that they would just branch off whenever they got closer to their apartments. 

“What time do you usually leave UA? This seems pretty late,” Izuku asked curiously, content to make conversation as they stepped in time. 

“Usually right after the mad dash of students leave,” Katsuki explained. “But today I had a meeting with Nezu and the old man.”

Hmm, that’s strange, Izuku thought to himself, but decided not to push it.

“And what about you, nerd? Why are you leaving so late?” Katsuki moved his mask off his face and into his hair, it effectively acting as a headband to his usual unruly blonde spikes. God, Izuku hoped his own appreciation of the change didn’t show on his face. 

“I usually do,” Izuku admitted, patting the briefcase at his side. Katsuki eyed the movement. 

“There’s just so much to prepare, and when I’m teaching all day…” he trailed off, watching Katsuki fill in the blanks. 

“Then you have to work after hours,” Katsuki finished, and Izuku nodded solemnly. 

“Yeah, pretty much. But I’m not complaining though! Not in the slightest,” Izuku explained rapidly, trying to express his emotions clearly. 

“I really do enjoy it. The students are wonderful, and the teachers are all so welcoming. I’m learning more every day, even if I do slip up here and there. Actually, I really have you to thank,” Izuku continued, huffing a breath of laughter through his nose. 

“You’re the one who inspired me to become a teacher, after all. Called me up with the idea and everything! Truthfully, I was a bit messed up once I lost One For All for good, but…”

Izuku’s beaming smile only glowed brighter under the setting sun. 

“You gave me purpose, Kacchan.”

Katsuki kept his focus on the street ahead, not bothering to answer for a moment. The silence that stretched between them was quiet but companionable, and he figured that Katsuki was just taking in every emotion conveyed. 

Izuku knew that Katsuki would understand him. He knew it like he knew his own soul. But when, in these past few months, had they gotten to this point? When had they gotten so close? 

But Izuku knew the answer, deep in his heart. It was the weeks of teasing, banter, and jokes. It was that Katsuki had given Izuku his katsudon recipe to try and make because he remembered one casual remark. It was when Izuku let Katsuki sit in on his lesson for no reason at all, but just because he wanted to see Katsuki a little bit longer. It was a culmination of everything they were six years ago, fifteen years ago, and all that happened in between. 

They had always been this close. But without the hatred inhibiting them, something new and meaningful had bloomed.

“It’s alright, nerd, you don’t need to thank me,” Katsuki finally answered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. While communicating his feelings was a quality Izuku excelled in, Katsuki…well, Katsuki never had been the best at it. Izuku stifled his laugh as he watched the pro struggle. 

“And don’t smile at me like that. Your optimism is giving me a cavity.” 

“Fine, fine, Kacchan.”

They walked further in friendly silence, and Izuku checked his watch for an updated time: five forty-nine. They were nearing his apartment now, with plenty of time for Izuku to continue with his grading. His introspective thoughts about Katsuki would have to wait until later.

Curiously, Izuku glanced over at the pro hero walking beside him. Was Katsuki walking him home? That would be an interesting thought. But if he wasn’t…

They rounded the corner and Izuku pointed a thumb up at the large apartment building a few paces over. 

“This one’s me,” he told Katsuki, giving him a wave.

But Katsuki just stared blankly back.

“Fuck, Izuku,” he started, pointing shakily at the building neighboring Izuku’s.

“That one's mine.”

They stared at each other for a moment before Izuku burst into boisterous laughter.

“You can’t be serious!”

“I can’t believe it either, but I am completely serious.”

“You’re a pro hero,” Izuku retorted while laughing, wiping a tear from his eye. “You’re rich! You can live in any fancy penthouse you want!”

“Why the fuck would I do that?” Katsuki countered with an offended expression. “I have no need for the space. I like it being close to the heart of the city anyway, it’s usually easier to get around when there’s trouble.”

Izuku nodded in understanding as he finally calmed down. “I can’t believe we’ve never seen each other.”

“I guess we do have opposite schedules.”

“I often stay later at school…” Izuku started.

“...and I get there super early,” Katsuki finished.

They shared another small chuckle. 

“Well, see you tomorrow,” Izuku exclaimed, waving enthusiastically as he headed into the entrance of his apartment building.

“Bye,” Katsuki offered, heading into his own. 

Well, that was an intriguing development, Izuku thought as he climbed up the stairs to the fourth floor.

Unlocking the door and slipping inside, it was only when he sat down to grade that Izuku realized he had forgotten to pick up food on the way. 

____

“Kacchan, calling,” his phone rang an hour later. 

Izuku picked up on the second ring.

“Kacchan?”

“Izuku. What’s your apartment number?”

“What—”

“Just tell me.”

“...401.”

“‘Kay. Be there in a minute.”

“Wait, what—”

Katsuki hung up before Izuku could say another word.

____

Three minutes later, there was a harsh knock on the front door. 

Izuku opened it up without checking the peephole. Katsuki was waiting, dressed in a black muscle tank and sweatshorts, gym bag and water bottle slung over one shoulder, and holding a delicious-smelling container in his hand.

“Here, nerd,” Katsuki said while passing him the orange box. Without letting him reply, the pro turned around immediately and made to leave. 

"Wait!”

Izuku stepped out into the hall, tie askew and shirt undone a few buttons.

“What?” Katsuki asked over his shoulder, annoyed, and turned around to face him once more. 

“Um, what’s this for?” Izuku suspiciously popped open the lid of the bright orange food container. It really did smell amazing, like chicken and spices and rice. 

“You were muttering about getting dinner before,” Katsuki said simply, like that could explain everything. “Figured you forgot. And I always make extra.”

He turned around for good this time, walking quickly down the hall, but not before Izuku managed to call out one last grateful message:

“Thank you Kacchan!”

Chapter Text

The last few weeks of the semester passed by in a blur, and before he knew it, Izuku was congratulating his first class ever on a year well done. 

For the troublemakers who had left Izuku upset and frustrated on his first day, the teacher sure had grown to love them like they were his own kids. He felt personally responsible for their every screw-up, victory, or rambunctious laughter that echoed through the halls. And despite the rocky start and the amount of grief they had put Izuku through, class 1-A loved him too. 

They showed it now, while weeping and hugging their first-year teacher who somehow had grown on them over the course of the year. 

“Midoriya-sensei!” one student cried, wiping his face on Izuku’s jacket.

“We’ll miss you!”

“Come visit us!”

“Alright, alright, don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” Izuku soothed while tearing up a bit himself, trying to stay strong for the sake of the students.  

“But it’ll be different!”

“Who’s our new teacher?”

“I hope it’s not Aizawa-sensei…”

“You’ll be just fine, everyone,” Izuku assured them all, truly meaning it. “And I’ll be just a couple doors down, you know.”

“Midoriya-sensei!” the class yelled in chorus. 

“At least we know you’ll still have Dynamight, even if we’re no longer in your class,” a student piped up, using the back of her hand to dry her eyes. 

“Yeah!”

“Of course!”

“You two make the cutest couple,” another told Izuku, with nods of agreement echoing across the classroom. 

“W-W-What?!” Izuku exclaimed, mouth gaping open in shock. He blinked back at them silently for a few moments while he processed that new tidbit of information. “We are not a couple!”

The students looked around the room, mirroring one another’s confused expressions. “But he visits you every day?”

“You walk home together?”

“And you have cute pet names for each other?”

“We do not—” Izuku cut himself off, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. “We do not have pet names. And friends can—”

“It’s okay, Midoriya-sensei,” a student cut in happily, placing their hand on his arm with far too much empathy for a young kid. “We respect your privacy, so we won’t tell anyone. And we understand that you’d want to keep it a secret.”

The class nodded seriously, their eyes wide and sincere, as they watched Izuku anxiously search the crowded classroom for someone who understood him, but to no avail.

The teacher sighed deeply. 

There is no changing their minds, huh, Izuku thought. 

So that was that. 

“You guys just focus on the upcoming vacation period. Make sure you rest. You wouldn’t believe the amount of times I got yelled at in my youth for not taking a break, so I get it. But seriously, I promise, it really is important.”

“Yes, Midoriya-sensei!” the class cheered in tandem.

Izuku smiled back at the students he had grown so fond of, completely oblivious to Katsuki listening carefully from outside the door. 

____

“Last day of the school year, huh?” Katsuki asked him later that day, as the two of them sat in Izuku’s classroom for lunch, as they had every day for the entire semester

“Yep!” Izuku replied happily, chomping on a bite of stirfry that Katsuki had made for him. 

Izuku didn’t know when it happened, but sometime in these many months together, Katsuki had started bringing in two containers of home-cooked lunch every day, one bright orange box for each of them. Something about how he “always made extra food,” and he was “tired of Izuku only eating gas station meals”, and that it “really wasn’t a big deal”. Weird, for sure, but hey—Izuku wasn’t complaining. Katsuki was a fantastic cook. 

“I’m happy and sad and proud all in one!” the teacher gushed, smiling wistfully as he reflected back on the wonderful year. His students had made him so proud, every single day. They were growing and learning faster than he could have imagined! The thought almost made his heart burst with happiness.

“And you, Kacchan? Last day of work here, are you ready to be done?” 

“Yeah,”  Katsuki replied, “I can’t fuckin wait to get back in the field.” But Izuku felt a hint of sadness in his tone, although he couldn’t imagine why. Katsuki loved being a pro hero, as he had expressed to Izuku many, many times before. 

“Oh, of course.” Izuku agreed as he took another bite of his food, practically groaning at how good it tasted. “Are you going to the thing tonight?”

Katsuki paused. “What thing?”

“You know, the get-together to celebrate the end of the school year?” Izuku asked, curiously raising an eyebrow at Katsuki’s confused expression.

“You know…” he continued, “for the teachers? Didn’t Aizawa invite you? He told me he was going too.”

Katsuki shook his head, and Izuku sighed. 

“Geez, coworkers these days, huh?” he teased through a chuckle, smiling at Katsuki. “It’s tonight at that weird old bar in the middle of town. Apparently, they’ve been doing this since we were students. Isn’t that crazy?”

Katsuki nodded, “Damn geezers were getting drunk without us?”

Izuku laughed as he replied, “Sounds like it.”

It would be nice to have Kacchan there, Izuku thought privately to himself. The new teacher was the youngest of them after all, and still felt a bit awkward socializing with the others outside of work. Izuku didn’t know how to describe it, but just having Katsuki there, in the same vicinity—it would give him courage.

And maybe...maybe he wanted Katsuki there for reasons he couldn't yet explain.

Izuku waited on bated breath as Katsuki mulled it over, the pro chewing thoughtfully on his own lunch.

“That’s not really my scene,” Katsuki admitted, looking out the classroom window and down at the city below.

“Come ooon, Kacchan!” Izuku lamented, already getting excited about hanging out with his childhood friend after work hours. “I want you there!”

“You want me there,” Katsuki repeated uncertainly. 

“Yes! It’ll be your last hoorah as a UA employee.” Izuku reached over and tugged on the sleeve of Katsuki’s hero costume, turning the other’s attention back to him. 

“Please,” Izuku added softly, perhaps giving the male across from him the tiniest sulky expression, resembling something that could’ve been pout. 

Katsuki just rolled his eyes, completely unaffected. He dropped his chin in his hand, red eyes staring deeply into green.

“Fine,” he replied nonchalantly, turning away once more, as Izuku made a wordless noise of excitement. 

“I’ll be fun, Kacchan! You’ll see!” Izuku assured him earnestly. 

Katsuki just grunted in doubtful agreement. 

Chapter Text

The Quirk & Barrel was a retro, old-fashioned bar on a desolate side street in the city that was somehow still standing since before the mass destruction of the war. The plain wooden sign dangling above the door was holding on by a thread—literally, a single nail hammered into the side—but that didn’t stop the small crowd of teachers from entering on the celebratory Friday night. 

Despite its sinister outside, Quirk & Barrel was surprisingly swanky. Elegant walls of aged dark wood, black marble floors filled with booths and bar stools, and it all completed with pool tables, dart boards, and other games, as well as a fully stocked bar. The hum of conversation lulled Izuku inside, the hanging lanterns and flickering candles casting a pleasant glow across his dumbfounded expression. A bright chime of a bell rang across the room as he curiously entered through the doorway. 

Yeah, Izuku thought, I can see why the other teachers like it here. 

He definitely needed a drink to start, so Izuku made his way over to the bar, glancing excitedly at all the hero memorabilia lining the space around him. 

He spotted the signature yellow bars of Aizawa’s goggles, broken almost clean in half on the wall to the right. On a table to the left laid one of Snipe’s cowboy hats, scorched in a few places but otherwise still intact. Behind the bar, hanging around a bottle of liquor was a pair of headphones, presumably belonging to Present Mic. 

What was this place?

Other facets of hero costumes, weapons, and relics were scattered all around, marking the bar as true hero territory. Izuku recognized them all instantly, being the fanboy he was, taking note of the fact that the only keepsakes present were those of heroes who were also, at one point or another, UA teachers. 

Sitting on a worn brown stool at the edge of the bar, Izuku swiveled around, leaning back against the counter as he stared at the various mementos in wide-eyed wonder. 

“Pretty cool, right, young Midoriya?” All Might asked as he walked over to sit down next to Izuku. 

“Uh-huh!” the new teacher replied eagerly, barely able to keep up as his mind worked into overdrive, classifying and sorting every single item from every single hero. 

“A retired hero’s haven.” All Might turned his own stool, watching Izuku take in every poster, every piece of equipment, every memory. “A place for us old teachers to reminisce on the past once in a while.”

All Might then signaled the bartender, ordering two drinks.

“Oh, please, you really don’t have to,” Izuku insisted, reluctantly drawing his attention back to his mentor. 

“Of course I do!” All Might boomed, his voice echoing across the bar. No one else seemed phased by it.

“My star pupil, all grown up and teaching! And not only that,” he leaned in to give Izuku a pat on the shoulder, “but you’ve completed your first year! I’m so proud!”

Izuku blushed shyly at the praise, waving him off.

“Thank you, All Might.”

“What did I say about calling me All Might? We’re working together now, the least you can do is call me Toshinori.”

“I’ll work on it,” Izuku promised, ears burning red. 

“See that you do! And—aha! Here comes another one of my favorite students—welcome young Bakugo!”

“Hey, All Might.”

Izuku twisted toward the door, a smile rising to his features. “Hi Kacch—”

He stopped dead in his tracks, mouth parting open slightly in a silent ‘o’.

Because in front of him stood the most gorgeous man he had ever seen. 

Katsuki was not dressed in his hero costume. No—he was all off-duty classy tonight. Dark black pants coupled with a midnight blue button down, tucked in tightly to perfectly accentuate his powerful chest. He had his sleeves rolled up, giving Izuku a glimpse at his muscular forearms and an elegant gold watch. His blonde hair, although still a bit unruly from the walk over, was styled nicely in a way that had Izuku’s stomach doing somersaults. 

Izuku was used to Katsuki’s attractive qualities by now, he had to talk and stare at him every day for heaven’s sake…but this? This was a whole new level. 

Katsuki smirked back at him, like he knew it too.

“Cat got your tongue, nerd?”

Izuku sputtered something incoherent, face flushing as he turned away. 

It was so not fair that Katsuki’s parents were fashion designers. 

All Might and Katsuki carried on a conversation that Izuku only half listened to as he sipped his drink, finding it gone in a matter of minutes. He was starting to get nervous, and being nervous meant doing something to distract himself, which he found, in this instance, to be finishing his drink. He ordered another, overhearing All Might say something like, “You boys have a good time catching up!” before heading further inside to talk to the other teachers. 

Katsuki slid into the seat next to Izuku, replacing the spot his mentor had just vacated. Izuku gulped, glancing over and watching the lean gold chain around Katsuki’s neck glimmer in the candlelight. 

The blonde male turned his head to meet Izuku’s gaze.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Katsuki remarked casually.

It took everything in Izuku not to let his voice betray how truly affected he was. “Can’t a guy want to celebrate with a little bit of peace?”

Katsuki rumbled a low breath of laughter. “I’m just surprised you’re not…geeking out about this place right now.”

“Oh, believe me,” Izuku replied, falling back into their usual rhythm. “I already did. I freaked out like an absolute dork ten minutes ago.”

The pro rolled his eyes. “Glad I missed it,” Katsuki teased, leaving Izuku to pout in answer. 

Katsuki ordered a drink, clinking his glass against Izuku’s own. 

“To being fucking done with shit,” he toasted, raising his cup in the air. “And to cursing again.”

They drank together, listening to the sounds of the teachers enjoying the bar behind them.

“You actually should stop the cursing though,” Izuku cut in after he finished his drink, allowing the gentle lull of the atmosphere to calm his raging heart. “Ratings, and all.”

“You know I don’t give a fuck about ratings,” Katsuki retorted, setting his now empty cup on the bartop and flagging for another.

“I’m gonna work my ass off to be number one regardless.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Izuku muttered back, feeling his soul swell with pride. He shook himself out of it, turning around to face the teachers and activities littering the back corner of the bar.

He looked back at Katsuki. “Wanna play me in darts?”

Katsuki’s smile was an evil, feral thing that made him look positively devious. “Only ‘cause I’m gonna win.”

“Are not!”

“Are too!”

“Just because I don’t have a quirk doesn’t mean my aim is off!”

“Well, we’ll just have to put that to the test now, won’t we?”

“Last one to the darts board is a rotten egg!”

“No fair, you got a head’s start!”

“Try and catch me then!”

“Hah?!”

____

There were some balls of fire thrown and a few insults tossed around, but overall Izuku was having a fantastic night. Both he and Katsuki had managed to argue over every single game in the damn bar, but no one present seemed to mind. They interchanged playing against each other and the other teachers, who turned out to be quite the challengers after coming there for so many years in a row. 

Currently, Katsuki and Izuku were facing off in their fifth round of pool, with the former winning by having only one striped ball remaining, while the latter still had two solids. It was probably their last epic duel of the evening, considering how many teachers were saying their goodbyes for the night and heading out. But, as it was in their youth, nothing could stop these two whenever they got a competition going. They were currently tied two and two in pool games.

And since they were more than a couple of drinks in, of course, neither side was letting up.

It was Izuku’s turn next. Coming around the side of the table, he slyly hip-checked Katsuki into moving over and set up his course for victory. He aimed, breathing in a consistent rhythm. In…out…and—

He smacked the cue ball into one of his remaining solids, sinking it easily into the pocket. 

Izuku cheered, turning to see Katsuki’s disgruntled expression, to which he winked maliciously back. They were tied now, just one more solid left and then the eight ball for Izuku to steal the game. 

Katsuki moved to his side then, trying to deter Izuku from hitting another in. Every time Izuku would go to line up his shot, Katsuki would pull gently on the side of his button-up, knocking him slightly out of balance. He did it once, then twice, but before he could do it a third, Izuku straightened and placed a hand on Katsuki’s chest.

“Can you not?” Izuku asked, face red with frustration, and, perhaps, the alcohol. 

“What did I do?” Katsuki teased meanly, expression far too innocent. 

“Stop moving me!” Izuku used the hand on Katsuki’s chest to push him back a few paces, leaving the hero to huff a breath of laughter. But just as Kastuki started to walk back and be a pain in Izuku’s side once more, the teacher dropped down into position, not bothering with his regular technique. But he did change one thing…

Perhaps Izuku pushed his ass out, arching his back just a little bit more. 

The distraction must have worked because Izuku bought himself a few seconds to line up his shot, hit the cue ball, and sink his last solid into the pocket. 

As he unbent his form from over the table, smiling wide, Izuku found an angry Katsuki stalking toward him with a bewildered expression. 

“What the fuck was that?” Kastuki asked in a daze.

“What was what?” Izuku replied, not daring to look him in the eye. He resorted to dragging the chalk over the tip of his cue. 

Katsuki snatched the stick straight out of his hands.

“Hey!”

“I asked you a question.”

“And I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Izuku grabbed the cue back, moving quickly to the other side of the table. Katsuki watched him go with dark eyes.

Izuku lined up his last shot, motioning to the far right corner where he wanted the eight ball to go. He breathed in and out in his usual routine, but something about Katsuki’s eyes on him made his hand slip, and the cue ball was knocked gently off course, hitting the side wall.

Izuku pouted, watching Katsuki move around the table, his gaze on the remaining balls like a predator eyeing prey. The pro shifted his position, easily hitting his last striped ball into the pocket, to Izuku’s unbridled dismay. Only the eight ball remained for him to win, the black orb twinkling under the low lights. 

Katsuki scoured the table for the perfect angle, chalking the tip of his cue. Izuku felt him come up upon his left side, Katsuki’s muscled upper arm gently pressing against the sleeve of Izuku’s shirt. 

Neither moved for a moment, not looking at the other, the tension between them palpable. 

But Katsuki just leaned down into position, his right elbow slowly brushing down Izuku’s side and back as he shifted. Izuku shivered, Katsuki’s touch a gentle caress across his skin. 

It only took a moment for the pro to line up his shot and sink in the eight ball with a resounding smack—winning the game.

Katsuki made sure to take his time standing up, letting his forearm brush dangerously back up along Izuku’s side as he did so. And when Katsuki finally turned his body to face him, Izuku forgot how to breathe. 

“Now, we’re even,” Katsuki grumbled darkly, and Izuku knew he didn’t mean in their competition of pool games.  

They were standing close now, too close. Practically chest to chest, breath mingling beneath the candlelight. A slight push and Izuku would be dangerously close to—

He looked down at Katsuki’s mouth, eyes flickering once between his lips and then back up to his searing red eyes. 

Katsuki made a sound, deep in his throat, like he knew exactly what Izuku was thinking. 

“Congrats,” Izuku mumbled, low and hoarse.

“I told you I’d be number one,” Katsuki replied, his voice matching Izuku’s, both barely more than a whisper. 

“I believed you.”

“Did you though?”

“I did. Although I really wanted to win.” Izuku shifted, leaning on the pool table without giving up their proximity.

“Why’s that?” Katsuki followed his movement.

“Because…” Izuku swallowed, eyelashes fluttering softly, “because you’re really cute when you’re angry.”

Katsuki laughed then, a true laugh, and maybe it was the alcohol talking, but Izuku swore it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. 

“Go jump into traffic, nerd,” Katsuki teased softly, leaning in to close the distance between their lips.

“Yeah,” Izuku murmured in reply, letting him. 

They were the only people in the universe—just two people, the lantern's glow, and the electric spark crackling between them.

“—Hey, you guys! Last call!”

The pair turned quickly toward the bartender, just a hair’s breadth away from one another. But much like glass shattering in a silent room, her voice had shaken them, breaking them free of the spell that had bound them together. 

Izuku’s face flushed an ungodly shade of crimson as he backed away from Katsuki, practically racing toward the other side of the table. 

What just happened? Izuku thought to himself, astonished at his own actions, and Katsuki’s…

God damn. Katsuki had almost kissed him.

Katsuki had almost kissed him.

Izuku didn’t know whether he should be running away or cheering or apologizing for even thinking that Katsuki would have kissed him in the middle of the bar. Katsuki wouldn’t, he hated Izuku. Practically despised him since they were kids. He was always poking fun at Izuku even now, meanly calling him names and questioning his every move.

So then why did Katsuki play along, all light teasing and tender touches? Why did he lean in, blowing caution to the wind? Izuku didn’t dare let his heart soar, especially with the cloud of alcohol numbing his thoughts. 

He needed to go home. He needed to rethink every action, every word uttered from tonight. 

And he definitely needed to get away from Katsuki, lest, under the influence, he do something he would most definitely regret.

He opted for his first option: running away. 

Quickly dropping some cash to pay for the numerous drinks he had consumed, Izuku waved goodbye to the remaining teachers, heading out the front entrance in a dash of green lightning.

“Izuku, wait—” Katsuki called.

But Izuku was already gone, the bell above the door chiming pleasantly behind him.

Chapter Text

Katsuki didn’t know which was worse, being rejected by his crush, or having his crush be Izuku motherfucking Midoriya.

It was as embarrassing as it was thrilling, since the thought of Izuku—looking up at him with hooded eyes, mouth parted open, staring straight at Katsuki’s lips…

Fuck. Katsuki wanted to beat that bartender to a bloody pulp. 

It was about time he admitted to himself the truth: Katsuki had a crush.

He couldn’t help it, truly, as shown by the many, many times he had tried to push his feelings for the nerd down into oblivion. But something about Izuku made all the usual warning bells in his brain go silent. It felt so natural, so right with him, that Katsuki couldn’t help but wonder if this was all a trick of fate, sparking from the very first time they had met as little brats long ago. 

But just as everything had been going so well, Izuku had ghosted him. For a whole fucking week.

Katsuki texted a total of two messages to Izuku since that evening at the bar. The first one was from that same night, asking, “Are you okay?” That text was decently reasonable, even if it was out of character for him. But the second one was worse, and Katsuki immediately regretted sending it after writing a few days later, “Are we good?”

What a dumb thing to say. 

Katsuki didn’t blame Izuku for ignoring him, truthfully. It must've been a weird day having your childhood best friend turned rival turned friend again try and…well, try and kiss you. Intoxicated.

He just hadn’t expected Izuku to be so into it too.

Katsuki really couldn’t get him out of his head. Izuku’s white button-up, normally so crisp and proper beneath his suit, askew, a few buttons undone from the top to show off his muscular chest. His brown slacks fitted tight around his ass, usually hidden by his suit jacket, on full display as Izuku leaned over the pool table. Green hair awry, freckles gleaming, smiling at Katsuki so wide and happy and—

Katsuki wrung his head in his hands, frustrated with himself and the events of the night. If only he could have been more patient, things might not have ended up this way. 

But Katsuki had never been known for his patience. Honestly, he was surprised he had lasted this long without spilling everything to the nerd in a series of curses and insults.

Izuku was a constant, muttering, vexing thorn at his side. 

And Katsuki didn’t want to let him go. 

____

But although Katsuki’s head was clouded with thoughts of one green-eyed teacher, life went on. He went back to work, went back to patrolling and training, and…what had Izuku called it again? Ah yes, his “boring hero life.”

Izuku couldn’t have known how true that was. 

If only that damn nerd would text me back, Katsuki thought to himself glumly one morning, three weeks after his return to hero work, then maybe I’d feel less shitty.

Katsuki reminisced on their time together, wondering how Izuku was doing, since it was getting so close to the start of the new term. Working at UA these past few months had been fun for him. More than fun, especially with Izuku around. The missing piece in his puzzle of a life had finally felt complete, and Katsuki had never been happier. 

But, the only problem was, that job had come to an end. And now—

Well, now, Katsuki felt like he was losing himself once more.

Crime was less and less common these days, even more so with the number one hero back patrolling the streets. But Kastuki still trained every day to become the best version of himself that he could possibly be. 

It was just a bit difficult, he could admit, to sustain his motivation without a true rival. Someone who could drive him and keep his competitive spirit burning strong. 

No one else had come close these days, no one ever really had, in truth, except…

Katsuki’s breath hitched in his throat. 

No one except Deku. 

He instantly was reminded of that project All Might had pitched a few years ago, wondering how it was coming along. Katsuki was the top benefactor of the plan, after all, since the new quirk technology might have rendered it possible to…

Before he had even finished the thought, Katsuki was making a mad dash for Hatsume Industries, leaving his patrol partner Kirishima to gape after him in confusion. 

Katsuki never skipped out on his mundane hero duties, but for something as important as this, no—for someone as important as Izuku, even he could make exceptions. 

He needed to know how Izuku’s new support item was coming along. 

And how quickly it could be completed.

____

Unfortunately, getting Deku back in the field as soon as possible would have to wait. 

The villain on his route was a scrawny woman, with a torn dress and a malicious sneer which he knew meant she was up to no good. That, and also, the hundreds of manipulated items being strewn across the sky, moving artfully through the air at the control of her keen brown eyes. 

So a telekinesis-type quirk then, Katsuki thought vaguely to himself, ready to blast through every single object in his path. She must be able to pick up anything within a certain weight and radius. 

Katsuki took note of how the scattered fragments were anything from pieces of debris to household elements, but nothing floating appeared stronger than the desk in the air on the right. He quickly scanned the surrounding area for pedestrians, finding none, breathing a sigh of relief that he wouldn’t have to deal with any damn extras in his way. 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Katsuki asked her with a snarl, explosions already popping between his fingertips. 

The villain just moved her focus from the objects above down to Katsuki.

And pelted all one hundred and seventy-three floating items down at the spot he stood. 

Katsuki dodged before they could reach him, exploding through a microwave, then a chair, then a stop sign, all the while maneuvering to try and get closer to the villain. She hurled object after object at him, keeping him busy and far away from her center of orbit. The villain must have done her research on him before this battle, because she didn’t let him get one inch closer, forcing Katsuki to fight at a distance. 

Dynamight’s quirk and strategy were no secret: raw power coupled with a lot of aggression, topped off with a hint of intelligence and quick thinking, but overall more successful in close combat. Since pro heroes were often the most vulnerable to leaked quirk secrets, many villains often took unconventional approaches to counter them. 

Katsuki was aware of this, but couldn’t help wanting to rush the whole thing along. He didn't underestimate his foe, the research she had done was proof enough of her legitimacy as an opponent. But Katsuki wanted to get to the lab, and fast. 

He had one special green-haired teacher on his mind, and nothing was going to get in his way.

The hero made a mad dash for the villain, abandoning all strategy, and using his explosions to bypass the various obstacles aiming to knock him dead. Katsuki was so close to her now, he could even see her sweat, a beat of concentration dripping down her forehead. 

He would definitely be victorious, like he always was and always would be. In no time at all, Katsuki would be back on his race to Hatsume Industries to help Deku—

…Izuku…

In the front of his mind, a flash of green eyes and a beaming smile set Katsuki’s heart aflame. 

Quick as a bolt of lightning, the thought was gone, and his focus returned to the combat ahead.

But, his moment of distraction had cost him. 

Katsuki watched as the villain sneered wider, thrilled that Dynamight had fallen right into her trap. 

He saw the shadow of a heavy object, a blur coming straight for him. He felt the pain that came next, as it knocked him down to the ground in a blur of crimson blood.

And before Katsuki passed out, the last thing he saw was a flash of green curls, blowing gently in the wind.

“Izu—” he shuttered out...

But felt his vision go black. 

____

Beep…beep…beep…

The hum of the hospital heart monitor stirred Katsuki from his dreams. He blinked his eyes open, narrowing them against the fluorescent lights above. What the fuck had happened—

Shit. Everything hurt. 

His head felt like it was split in two, which meant a concussion if he was lucky, or brain trauma if he wasn’t. It was killing him now, a constant throb that would certainly keep him awake for nights to come. His body was mostly intact, save for the cuts and bruises from the fight with that villain from earlier…

Wait—the villain attack! What had even happened after he blacked out?!

Maybe there’s some TV coverage of it, Katsuki thought, shifting his gaze around the room and spotting the hanging television across from his bed. Katsuki tried to find the remote, groaning in pain as he turned over. But before he could get far, a familiar figure slid open the door, meeting Katsuki’s frantic gaze with an angry one.

Katsuki cleared his throat. “Hey, All Might.”

All Might, no—Toshinori, as he had insisted Katsuki call him, marched into the room and stood beside Katsuki’s bed, arms crossed and furious. 

“Why, young Bakugo,” he began sharply, “am I listed as your emergency contact?”

Katsuki sighed, tugging at the threads of the hospital bed sheets. “Because it was either you or my parents or no one. And the last time I was stuck in the hospital they coddled me for two months,” Katsuki leaned forward to emphasize his point, wincing as he did so. “Two fuckin months. And having no one was kind of sad, so I figured you would do fuckin fine.”

Toshinori stared at him for a moment, the silence stretching between them. But then he sighed, putting his head in his hands and taking a seat on the edge of the bed. 

“It’s alright, just, in the future…tell me if you’re going to do something like that,” Toshinori replied, lifting his head up to watch Katsuki nod in silent agreement.

“What—” Katsuki cut himself off, swallowing restlessly. “What happened?”

All Might just watched him, his expression unreadable. “Why don’t you see for yourself?”

Toshinori opened the side drawer and pulled out the remote, turning on the TV. Instantly, the news channel flashed with the latest report, Katsuki’s face on the cover.

“ —reporting a villain attack from this morning. The villain, known as “Mindbender,” was rampaging in the heart of the city before being approached by pro hero, Dynamight. However, the number one hero was unsuccessful at defeating this villain on his own...”

The pro hero couldn’t look away as he followed his sloppy approach on the screen, watching the villain play him like a goddamn fiddle. Why had he been so careless?

“...He was assisted by pro hero Red Riot—”

Katsuki saw himself almost get totally pummelled by a refrigerator before Kirishima saved him in the nick of time. So that was what the flash of red in his vision had been. Also, probably, a shit ton of blood.

“ —who, along with a civilian, saved Dynamight and worked together to defeat the villain. But we have to ask, is it time for the number one hero position to change? Ratings are dropping for Dynamight as—”

Katsuki snatched the remote from Toshinori’s hand and paused the program, rewinding it back a few seconds, and…there.

There he was. Standing next to Kirishima, watching over Katsuki as he was wheeled away on a stretcher.

Green hair and green eyes. A button-down white shirt and brown slacks. 

It was unmistakably Izuku. 

Katsuki whirled to All Might, panic flooding his vision. 

“What the fuck was he doing there?”

Toshinori just sighed, heading toward the entrance of the room. “Ask him yourself,” he offered, before sliding open the door and walking out.

Leaving Izuku standing there in the threshold, freckles gleaming gently in the fluorescent light. 

“Hi, Kacchan.”

Chapter Text

Of course, with the last few weeks being vacation time off from school, Izuku had had plenty of time to think about the one subject he didn’t quite know how to approach:

The wild, raging, gorgeous enigma that was Katsuki Bakugo.

That night at the bar had left him reeling, unable to comprehend what to do or where to go from there. So he kept silent, shutting himself off from the world, even as it hurt him to blatantly ignore Katsuki’s texts. 

But the overthinker needed this time to breathe, to think. To understand his own thoughts on the matter.

What he had come up with so far, was this list, messily written down in his notebook:

• Kacchan is attractive.

It wasn’t hard for Izuku to understand that. Katsuki was sexy as hell, and Izuku wouldn’t mind staring at those gorgeous pecs beneath his tight hero costume all day and—

Izuku cleared his throat for no reason in particular, moving on to the next bullet. 

• Kacchan is a good friend.

It had taken them a minute to warm up to one another. But over the course of the last three months, Katsuki had been there for him. Had supported him, despite his frequent berating of insults. 

Izuku supposed Katsuki had always supported him, even back when they were kids. Katsuki had always been his image of victory, after all, a driving force to push Izuku to be his best self. Even in UA, their rivalry had been a source of excitement for Izuku, every day a new challenge—to reach higher and fight harder. 

Isn’t that what a friend is supposed to do, help you become a better person? Izuku thought, nodding once in agreement with himself.

He looked down at the next bullet.

• Kacchan makes me happy.

Every day Katsuki had made him laugh. Every day, Katsuki helped him gain the respect of the students, threatening them gently when he thought Izuku wasn’t looking. Every day, Katsuki showed Izuku that he was strong, that he wasn’t just a quirkless nobody. 

Also, he was sweet. Bringing Izuku homecooked meals, checking in after faculty meetings, listening to him rant about something completely unrelated or unimportant. 

But, what made Izuku happy most of all, was just having Katsuki at his side. 

Izuku gulped audibly, staring down at the last bullet point. 

• I lov—

The pen line scribbled off from there, the black ink fading into something illegible. 

Izuku let out a guttural scream into his pillow, muffling the raw intensity of his frustration.

He needed to get out of the house, get out of his torment of thoughts. He had no food left, and the leftovers from his mom’s house had already gone bad. Sighing, Izuku slipped on his shoes and headed to the store. 

If this didn’t help clear his head, he didn’t know what would.

____

Eggs, butter, milk, protein powder, apples…

Izuku tallied his mental checklist of items, counting off the corresponding food in the bag. The store had been eerily quiet for a Sunday morning, but Izuku didn’t mind. It gave him a chance to concentrate on the task in front of him without any distractions. 

As he headed back to his apartment, Izuku noticed the streets were also strangely deserted. Did something happen? he thought warily, passing by a vacant store with the televisions running on full blast.

“—And here we see pro hero Dynamight, blasting through the villain’s attacks like it’s nothing! That’s our number one hero for you, look at him go!”

Izuku watched in awe as Katsuki dodged every attack with a harrowing quick step or an intense explosion. Where was he? Izuku asked himself, carefully reading a store sign on the television that had just flown through the air and was being pelted at Katsuki. 

Shit—the villain was only a block away! No wonder the streets were barren. If Izuku listened closely, he could hear the booming sound of explosions from the street over. He turned back to the TV in a panic.

“It looks like he’s heading in to defeat the villain once and for all! Go Dynamight!”

But Izuku noticed it before the rest. The large, heavy item primed above Katsuki’s head. The malicious glint in the villain’s eye, and Katsuki's brazen rush into the fray. 

“No! Kacch—” Izuku called to the empty air, hands fisted against the glass, like it could help save Katsuki from his fate. 

“Wait, what’s that above him?” the news reporter cried, finally seeing the full picture from her position. “Dynamight, look out!”

But it was too late. Katsuki had fallen right into the villain’s trap, and there was blood, so much blood—

Izuku was running before he could think. 

His bag dropped, discarded on the floor, eggs cracked on the sidewalk like Katsuki’s blood dripping down, down into the road, the crimson staining the pavement. 

It was only a block away. 

He could make it. He could help. He could do something. He could save—

Izuku didn’t let himself second guess it. 

He could save the man he loved. 

Katsuki was dying, just a block away. 

It was the longest minute of his life.

____

Kirishima was already there when Izuku arrived. 

Red Riot had been holding his own against the villain for a minute now, guarding a now unconscious Katsuki leaning on the wall beside him. With his hardening quirk, Kirishima was doing well at stopping the attacks from the villain, but he wouldn’t last much longer without help. 

Izuku sprinted the last few steps to Katsuki’s side, sliding on his knees to cradle his blonde head in his lap. 

“Midoriya?!” Kirishima yelled over the sounds of combat, not daring to take his eyes off the villain. 

“Yeah, it’s me.” Izuku checked Katsuki’s breathing, finding it normal. He gently propped Katsuki’s limp body up, supporting his head with the hood of his hero costume. He ripped a strip of cloth from his own shirt, using it to wrap around the bleeding on Katuksi’s skull. 

He’s alive, Izuku thought to himself, letting the feeling of relief shutter through him. He needs a hospital, but he’s alive. 

“What are you doing?! We have to wait for backup!” Kirishima called, punching through a piece of debris. 

“No, you don’t!” Izuku shouted, careful not to move Katsuki’s sleeping form. “You can defeat her on your own!”

“What?!” 

“You can! You just have to get close to her! Her weakness is in her physical form, she can’t keep this up for much longer. Just one hit will knock her out!”

“How do you know?”

“Just trust me!” 

Izuku watched as Kirishima's expression hardened with determination. Then his fists, thumping together in challenge. “You got a plan, Deku?”

Izuku couldn’t help the happiness that rose to his throat at the mention of his hero name.

He nodded once, a clear sign that he was ready for anything. 

“Of course I do.”

____

Later, when he was questioned by the police, none were surprised to see the UA teacher. This was his second time saving the day recently, so they didn’t even request his documentation. But others in the area looked his way with bewilderment, wondering how and why the green-haired civilian was so close to pro heroes Red Riot and Dynamight. 

And when it was all over and done with, Izuku watched Katsuki be carted to the ambulance. 

His blonde hair was streaked with the blood from his scalp, the makeshift bandage forming a sort of red halo around his head. His hero costume, usually so pristine and shiny was dulled with dirt and rubble, scratches lining his arms and legs. 

It ached, to see him this way. It pained Izuku’s very soul.

“Sir, you need to make way for the professionals,” one emergency worker told Izuku, tilting her head in confusion. “Unless you’re another hero? Or a family member?”

“No, I’m…” Izuku sighed, still looking anxiously at Katsuki’s form on the stretcher. 

“I’m just a teacher.”

She nodded vaguely as Izuku walked away from the scene, head hanging low on his shoulders. 

He was just a teacher, nothing more, nothing less. He had given it all up, every last fiber of One For All in his body when fighting in the war. He knew this was his fate now, to teach the new generation, instead of fighting with it. 

But…for Kacchan…

Izuku shook his head, his thoughts a raging storm. 

For Katsuki he would do anything. He would cross any stream, climb any mountain, defeat any villain, with or without a quirk. He had shown that to himself today, when his body had reacted before his mind, taking him toward the one person he came tumbling back to, time and time again. 

His person. The man he…

Well, the man he loved.

Izuku supposed he had always loved Katsuki. In the same way he breathed air and drank water and jumped into battle because he itched to. Loving Katsuki was like a revelation that had long been simmering under the surface, but had finally broken free from its restraints. 

It was easy, to love Katsuki. 

And now he was being carted to a hospital, alone and bloodied and without Izuku.

Without me.

Kacchan is going there without me.

Izuku picked himself up and ran, flying through the streets with his heart soaring inside him...

To Katsuki.

____

“Hi, Kacchan.”

“Hah?! What are you—Why are you—”

Izuku chuckled gently, soft green eyes meeting Katsuki’s own panicked red ones. It was rare to see Katsuki this flustered. He was usually all mean insults and teasing jokes, never one to show concern so readily upon his handsome features. But it meant all the more to Izuku, seeing Katsuki’s care for him so openly expressed. 

“I’m alright,” Izuku started, knowing that would be Katsuki’s utmost worry. And it was, considering the way Katsuki’s body visibly relaxed, although he warily still followed Izuku's approach. 

“And…I’m sorry.”

Izuku took Katsuki’s hand in his own, squeezing his fingers gently. The other’s eyes widened a fraction, but he didn’t pull away. Izuku took that as a good sign. 

“I didn’t mean to ignore you. That night…it was just a lot at once for me." Izuku swallowed, remembering their tension, their closeness, their—

Izuku swallowed again.

"But I’ve figured it all out. Today…today helped me do that,” he finished, opting not to say anything more. 

Katsuki, to his credit, didn’t pry. He just watched their hands in silence, staring at the grasped fingers between them like it was his only lifeline. 

Izuku cleared his throat. “So, how are you feeling?”

Katsuki scoffed, finally deciding to speak. “Like shit.” 

He turned his observant eyes up to Izuku’s own, scanning his body as he did so for any sign of harm. When he found none, his gaze hardened. “What the fuck were you doing?”

Izuku sighed. So they were going to get right to it then.

“Uh…saving the day?”

“Bullshit.” 

“What would you have me say, Kacchan?”

“I don’t know, stupid Deku! Why do you have to be so selfish all the damn time! If something had happened to you, something really bad, because of me—” Katsuki cut off sharply, choking on his words. 

And Izuku understood then, what Katsuki was trying to say. He had been a bit selfish, jumping into the battle with no gear, no quirk, no backup, all for the sake of saving the man in front of him. It wasn’t that Katsuki didn’t believe in him, no—it was that Katsuki didn’t want Izuku to die.

Which seemed pretty reasonable, if he thought about it. 

Izuku raised a hand to cup Katsuki’s cheek, thumb caressing gently over the scar that lay there. 

Of course, he understood. How could he have forgotten? This very scar held so many memories.

Katsuki leaned into his touch, eyes drifting closed.

“I know,” Izuku whispered softly, “I know.”

They stayed like that for a moment, neither wanting to let go, to break their bubble of peace. 

But Katsuki was the first to move, opening his eyes and shifting over to the side. 

“C’mere, nerd,” Katsuki offered, nudging his head toward the vacant spot beside him.

“No, no, no,” Izuku sputtered quickly, hands waving in front of him. “You’re recovering! And you probably want to talk more about—”

“Yeah, so?” The bedridden hero patted the sheets twice, his eyes a determined glimmer of red. 

“I almost died today, give me a damn break. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

Izuku huffed a laugh, sliding onto the bed and leaning gently against Katsuki’s shoulder.

“Better?” Izuku asked when he was all situated. 

“Much,” Katsuki muttered sleepily in reply, head already dropping comfortably atop of Izuku’s curls. 

Izuku felt his own eyes drifting closed, the lull of Katsuki’s breath a constant rhythm that soothed him into a deep, peaceful sleep.

There would be time tomorrow. There would be conversations tomorrow. 

But for now, they slept side by side until dawn, two heroes together, facing the world.

Chapter Text

In the morning light, a nurse arrived and promptly kicked Izuku out—reminding him that visitors were not allowed to sleep over. 

So the pair parted ways, promising to meet up when Katsuki got released the following day. The pro hero had been lucky enough to escape from the fight with only a concussion and his own embarrassment, stemming from his failure to defeat the villain. Witnessing his frustration, Izuku merely laughed Katsuki off, telling the pro that he would “get ‘em next time.” 

Life went on, and the new term began. Izuku and Katsuki began to meet up sporadically in between their busy schedules, sometimes for lunch on the weekends, or dinner on schoolnights. Katsuki would bring him food when Izuku didn’t respond to his texts, and Izuku would force him to come over and watch old All Might movies when the stress got too much. 

It was a new change, but a welcome one. The pair still had their spats, but they were continuing to get closer and closer, more than friendship blossoming on the horizon, or at least, that’s what Izuku hoped. 

But it was never the right time, to tell Katsuki he loved him. To open up his heart and soul, bare it plain for Katsuki to see. There was always work for Katsuki or school for Izuku. Or one of them needed to rant, or had a difficult day, or something happened that made the mood sour. Izuku didn’t have much experience with dating—how was he supposed to ask Katsuki out? Just like that?

So they continued on as they had been, circling one another in an intricate dance. 

Another change that came after the battle was the touches. 

The small, casual gestures between them had become more frequent, and each one never failing to make Izuku's heart pound. Katsuki, his hand brushing against Izuku’s back as they walked side by side. Izuku, leaning his head to rest on Katsuki’s shoulder during movie night, and Katsuki’s fingertips grazing softly on the side of his leg. These and more and more and more—every day bringing a new caress, a fleeting brush that drove Izuku absolutely wild.

It was exhilarating, these small breaches of contact. Yet, somehow, Izuku found himself craving more. 

Ugh, he just needed to confess to Katsuki already. 

But, the biggest change of all was in the rankings:

Dynamight’s number one hero spot was tittering on the edge. 

He was still number one, for now, but the current number two hero, Shouto, was slowly gaining favor, with Lemillion not far behind. After Dynamight's failure at defeating the Mindbender villain and his persistent lack of respect for the media, it wasn't hard to see why the people began to lack trust in him. That, and also the fact that Dynamight had been seen skipping out on patrol to head to the city center, but for what, the public didn't know.

Izuku asked Katsuki how he felt about it one day at lunch, the cicadas singing to mark the beginning of summer break. But Katsuki, in his usual insufferable way, just blew off Izuku’s concern. 

“I told you, I don’t give a fuck about ratings,” Katsuki repeated, taking a bite of the lunch he had prepared for both him and Izuku. 

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But you could totally stay number one if you just stopped being so rude to reporters,” Izuku chided.

“Hell. No. Them fuckers deserve it,” Katsuki sassed back. “Usually.”

And that was that.

“Anyway,” Izuku continued, happily scooping out food from his orange container, “my mom wants you to come by for dinner tomorrow.”

Katsuki stopped chewing and looked at Izuku across the table, his gaze intense. After a moment, he finished his bite, swallowing with a dark, unreadable expression.

“What?” 

“Hello, earth to Kacchan! Dinner, at my mom’s—”

“I heard you,” Katsuki replied, rolling his eyes, “I just didn’t understand what you meant.”

“What, that my mom wants you to come over for dinner? What’s wrong with that?”

“...And why would she want me to come over for dinner?” Katsuki looked slyly over at Izuku, a smirk twitching on his lips. 

Izuku’s cheeks blushed a dark crimson. “Because…well…”

He swallowed audibly, rolling his eyes as he quickly finished, “Because she wants to see the handsome man I’ve been spending all my time with. Her words, not mine.”

Katsuki chuckled then, a dark sound that slid over Izuku’s very bones. “Oh?”

“Yeah,” Izuku huffed a laugh, running a hand through his green curls. “Kinda your fault, considering how often we see each other.”

“I haven’t heard you complain.”

“Well, I’ve heard my mom complain.”

Katsuki smirked again. 

Izuku reached over to grasp Katsuki’s hand in his own, heart pounding in his ears. It was racing now, its beat echoing in his fingertips.

He wondered if Katsuki could feel it too.

“Will you come?” Izuku asked softly, a hopeful gleam in his eye. 

After a moment, Katsuki nodded, squeezing Izuku’s hand once in acknowledgment. 

“What time tomorrow?” he asked.

“Six o’clock,” Izuku replied with a wide grin. “Don’t be late!”

____

Watching Katsuki stand in the threshold of his childhood home was a sight that Izuku did not think he would ever see again. 

He looked good—really good. A simple shirt and slacks, with his blonde hair combed but still unruly, making him look younger, if not for the battle-hardened look in his eyes. Izuku couldn’t help but think he wouldn’t mind coming home to Katsuki looking like this every day.

“Hi, Kacchan,” Izuku started shyly, enjoying the view.

Katsuki huffed a laugh, like he could hear Izuku’s thoughts. “Hey.” 

He had brought a large container of something, bright orange, as per usual, but with the lid on Izuku couldn’t peer inside. Izuku made to take it from him, but Katsuki quickly snatched it away.

“No peeking,” Katsuki grumbled, and Izuku could have sworn the tips of his ears turned red.

“But why—”

“Katsuki? Is that you?” Inko Midoriya’s head peeped around the corner as she rushed out to meet him. “Oh, it is so good to see you!” 

She immediately grabbed the container in Katsuki’s hands, passing it over to Izuku, and enveloped Katsuki in a crushing hug. Katsuki paused, surprised for an instant, before wrapping his arms around her and smiling gently. 

“Hi, Auntie. It’s good to see you too.”

Izuku almost started crying right there at the softness in Katsuki’s eyes. It made his heart swell so much that he even forgot about the food in front of him. 

“Come in, come in,” Inko motioned, releasing Katsuki from her clutches. Katsuki took Izuku’s moment of weakness as an opportunity to steal the container right back, sticking his tongue out at Izuku as he did so. 

Izuku, at first mad at himself for missing his chance, couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Some things never change, Katsuki’s antics being one of them.

Izuku followed them inside his childhood home, listening to his mom chat away with the blonde hero. 

“—So we’re having katsudon tonight, if that works for you, Katsuki. I mean, you know how he is. Won’t eat anything else I make, and I have to drag him home somehow—”

“—Mom! That is so not true!”

“Nah, I get it. If it weren’t for me, he’d still be eating gas station meals,” Katsuki jumped in, both him and his mom completely ignoring Izuku. 

“Hey! Kacchan!”

“Thank you, Katsuki,” Inko praised sincerely, placing a hand on Katsuki’s shoulder. “Having you back in Izuku’s life again makes me so happy.”

“No problem at all, Auntie,” was all Katsuki replied, turning his face around to give Izuku the biggest shit-eating grin. 

Izuku facepalmed at the sight, groaning softly. They better not keep this up all night, he thought to himself as they settled down for dinner. 

But, truthfully, Izuku felt more content than he had in a long time. 

____

After dinner, Katsuki revealed his surprise to be a batch of homemade cupcakes, which made Inko practically scream in delight. They dug into the tasty treats, Inko asking Katsuki questions about his hero work, his family, and, of course, his love life. 

“Hero work must be tough, huh,” she was saying over a bite of cupcake, happily digging in with noises of delight that sounded awfully similar to Izuku’s. 

“Do you even have time for a girlfriend, Katsuki?”

Izuku sputtered around his own cupcake, covering his mouth with his hand as he spoke. “Mom, you can’t just pry about people’s lives!”

“It’s fine,” Katsuki told Izuku, starting to wash dishes despite Inko’s insistence. He had said something about how his mother had always taught him to do the dishes when someone else cooked, and at the mention of Mitsuki, Inko let it drop. 

“I think I could make do,” was all Katsuki replied, hiding his face in the sink. “But I can’t say I’m all that interested in girls.”

Inko’s mouth dropped open in a silent ‘o’ as she turned to Izuku, hitting his leg twice under the table. 

“Stop it, Mom,” Izuku gritted under his breath, fixing her with a stare. 

“Oh, I see dear,” Inko answered to Katsuki, ignoring her son completely. “You know, Izuku here is also interested—”

“Okay!” Izuku practically shouted, cutting his mother off entirely. “That’s enough personal information sharing for today! Let’s clean up.” Izuku finished his cupcake in record time, wiping down the table and tidying up. Inko reluctantly followed, the three of them reverting back to their usual banter in no time. 

Later on, after a few hours' worth of conversations, Inko gasped as she glanced at the clock on the wall. 

“My, it’s gotten so late already! Katsuki, I can’t let you walk back now. Did you want to stay over the night?”

Izuku and Katsuki shared a look, with Katsuki turning back to Inko with a dazzling smile. “Sure, that would be great, Auntie.”

Izuku rolled his eyes. Katsuki was a pro hero for heaven’s sake—he’d be okay with a little walk alone. But watching Katsuki butter up his mom was utterly ridiculous and charming, and Izuku couldn’t look away. 

“Oh, wonderful! You know, I can’t in good conscience let you two sleep in the same bed like you did when you were kids. So—”

“The couch is fine,” Katsuki interjected as Izuku’s face burned a deep scarlet. 

“Good, good, Izuku, baby, can you bring Katsuki some blankets and pillows?”

“Sure, Mom.”

“Alright, you kids let me know if you need anything. Goodnight!”

“Goodnight Mom!”

“Bye Auntie.”

She made her way over to her bedroom and shut the door, leaving Izuku and Katsuki behind. The pair turned to look at one another for a moment, before tumbling into laughter. 

“I can’t believe she just said—”

“And then at dinner—”

They couldn’t help the snickers that arose, finally letting their amusement spill over. But, after a minute of recounting their favorite lines, they finally calmed down enough to get Katsuki’s bed prepared. 

Izuku grabbed a pillow and a blanket from his room, displaying an obscenely comically matching depiction of All Might’s face on top. Katsuki held the pillow up mockingly, smirking as he arched a blonde eyebrow.

“Didn’t realize you were a fan,” Katsuki deadpanned. Izuku chucked another equally embarrassing pillow at him in retaliation. 

“Hardy har,” Izuku retorted, rolling his eyes. “You’re the first person to sleep over in like, forever. So you get what you get.”

“I wasn’t mad about it,” Katsuki replied, covering himself in the All Might blanket. 

“Sounds like you were.”

“At least I don’t have to sleep in there,” Katsuki motioned toward Izuku’s bedroom, “with him staring at me all night.”

“I don’t need his protection anymore,” Izuku countered wryly, “especially with another number one hero watching over me.”

But despite the sarcasm, Izuku knew there was truth in his words. He turned away from Katsuki, hiding his expression.

“Goodnight, Kacchan.”

“‘Night.”

Izuku stepped into his room and turned off the light.

____

Sometimes, the darkness was too much.

Izuku had only been a boy, barely a man, when he lived through that terrible, gruesome war. It had left scars on his heart that would never fully heal, echoes of the past still clinging to his bones. He had mended, slowly, but even now, it pained him to see the faces of those who had left him, smiling in his very dreams.

Pulling back the covers, Izuku made his way to the kitchen, hoping to clear his mind, if only for a moment, without the hauntings in his heart.

“You do know it’s three o’clock in the morning, right?” Katsuki asked, blinking up at Izuku with sleepy eyes. 

Izuku jumped as Katsuki slowly sat up from the couch, groaning as he stretched.

“Yeah, sorry for waking you,” Izuku whispered, filling a glass of water from the sink and taking a small sip.

Katsuki got up to join him, leaning against the counter across from Izuku, arms folded across his chest. “Why’re you up?”

Izuku shrugged, not wanting to let Katsuki see him in such a state of disarray. “Afraid of the dark?”

Katsuki scoffed, noticing Izuku’s troubled eyes, his tired demeanor, the sweat beading on his forehead. “I’m sure Auntie could buy you an All Might night light.”

Izuku huffed a laugh then, the shadows clearing for an instant. Katsuki smiled, a hint of pride in his expression.

“For my birthday, maybe.” Izuku took another sip of his water. “It’s just…”

He cut off, green eyes turning away from red ones, the other male listening intently. “It’s just hard to let go of the past,” he offered. 

Katsuki sighed, nodding once in agreement. He understood, of course, he did—Katsuki had almost died in the war.

“I...still have nightmares,” Katsuki admitted softly.

Izuku whipped his head around in shock, eyes widening. “You?” he asked dumbly.

“Yeah, me.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “You’re not the only one who saw some fucked up shit.”

Izuku swallowed, feeling embarrassed. “You’re right,” he countered apologetically, “I guess even the strongest people are still haunted by some things.”

“But that’s what makes us strong.”

Katsuki crossed the distance between them to ruffle Izuku’s mop of green curls, staring down at him with clear red eyes. “Remembering. And learning.”

And for a moment, they looked at each other, truly looked, and saw the mirror that lay within.

Katsuki returned back to his position on the couch, waving a hand up. “Next time, just know you’re not the only one.”

“Alright,” Izuku told him quietly, heading back to his room for the night.

That’s what makes us strong.

Us.

Izuku fell asleep to the sound of those words echoing in his head.

Chapter Text

At the end of the year, when the news networks announced the new top ten hero rankings, Izuku immediately dashed over to Katsuki’s apartment.

“Kacchan!” Izuku called out as he barged through the door, skipping the formality of knocking altogether. Katsuki was at the kitchen table, casually eating a bowl of curry while the television buzzed with updates in the background.

“I’m going to punch a wall…or do something drastic! I haven’t decided yet!” Izuku declared, his frustration evident as he tossed his scarf and gloves on the couch.

“Alright, pack it up, evil villain Deku,” Katsuki said without looking up, taking another spoonful from his warm bowl. “I’ve got a pot of spicy curry to eat.” 

Izuku pouted in response.

This had become their routine, frequent visits to each other’s places, always ending with some casual banter or moments of tension. But not today, Izuku decided. I need to discuss the rankings and make sure that Kacchan is—

“Before you ask, I’m annoyed, but I’m fine.” Katsuki stood up to grab himself another helping, looking pointedly at Izuku as he did so. Katsuki could always sense his thoughts like that. “I’ll just work harder to be the best.”

Shouto had officially replaced Dynamight as the number one hero, and everyone and their mother were raving about it. Katsuki had always been the target of heavy criticism: he hated the media, never did interviews, and cursed enough that the networks had to cut out entire minutes of audio from his villain fights. But with Shouto…his kind, calming demeanor, careful words, and articulate responses had garnered many fans over the last year. 

Seeing Izuku’s image of victory drop down in the rankings was devastating, even if it was only a small fall to number two. 

“Why aren’t you raging?” Izuku asked curiously, sliding into the seat next to Katsuki at the table. “I thought you would’ve been pissed.”

“I am,” Katsuki told him, offering Izuku a bowl of curry which he gladly started digging into. “But…” he trailed off, leaving Izuku’s eyebrow to arch in question.

“But…?” 

“But I’m finding that being the number one hero isn’t everything I thought it would be.”

Izuku couldn’t hold back his stunned expression. “Really?” he asked incredulously, “I thought you loved being a hero.”

“I do. Though, not having a rival, someone to push me to surpass my limits…it gets kinda boring.” Katsuki shrugged, but Izuku was having none of it.

“Todoroki just passed you in the rankings! Doesn’t he count as a rival?”

“No,” Katsuki said quickly, hiding his face in his food. “No, he doesn’t.”

Izuku blanched, trying to continue his line of questioning, but Katsuki cut him off with a question of his own.

“Don’t you ever think about being a hero again?” Katsuki inquired, his voice steady.

Izuku hesitated, caught off guard. “I mean, of course. But I’ll never be able to—”

“—But if you could,” Katsuki pressed, his intense gaze locking onto Izuku’s green eyes.

Deku, a hero again…

“...If I could,” Izuku replied, his voice small but slowly gaining strength, “I would. Without a second thought.”

The ease with which the words came startled Izuku. Katsuki had been the one to give him purpose, to show him that life extended beyond his quirk and being a hero: to become a teacher. And yet, even so...

Of course, he would want to be Deku again. Of course, he would.

“I see,” Katsuki replied after a moment, eating another bite of curry without any further comments, clearing thinking about something.

Izuku followed his lead, contemplating what else might lie beneath the surface of his soul, hidden by his own fixation on doing what needed to be done rather than what he truly wanted.

Being a hero again…well, that would most certainly be a dream. 

____

Izuku felt Katsuki dying, still, in his nightmares. 

He felt every step, every heaving breath he took as he ran to him. He felt the hero’s blonde hair in his hands, blood, so much blood, seeping from his head wound to stain his hands. He felt the life leave him, his eyes going blank, no longer seeing the man yearning for him in every fiber of his soul. 

It hurt, it hurt—

And then Izuku was sobbing, wailing for his childhood friend, his rival, his person as Katsuki remained unmoving in his arms. 

That was usually when he woke up, tears soaking his freckled cheeks.

Today was no different as Izuku startled out of his slumber, crying in streaks of salt. He tried to get out of bed, as he always did on nights like these, to get a glass of water and clear his head, but found, somehow, he couldn’t.

Katsuki wasn’t dead—Izuku and Kirishima had saved him. He was alive and breathing, thriving, even if his hero position was threatened. Izuku knew this, knew that Katsuki was just a building away, and yet…

He just couldn’t. He couldn’t find the way back to the world, the way back to his own mind.

Izuku’s breath quickened, coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to steady his heart. He curled into himself and covered his chest with his hand, trying to force himself to stop heaving, to stop suffocating within the four walls of his bedroom. He was safe, they were safe. Everything would be alright, everything was—

Izuku picked up his phone and dialed the number before he could think.

Katsuki picked up on the second ring. 

“What? Why are you—”

“Katsuki,” Izuku panted, choking on his own words, sounding like he was a breath away from breaking. He practically was now, unable to think, unable to breathe—

“What happened.” Katsuki’s tone turned cold as ice, hardening against a potential threat. But Izuku didn’t have the words to explain, so he just held onto his phone, a lifeline between reality and dream, Katsuki’s voice hanging between them. 

“You know what, I don’t care. I’m coming over.” And with that, he hung up. 

Izuku drew himself inward, the shadows melting further into his mind. Had Katsuki left him too? Had he, like the others Izuku had cherished so close to his heart, forever disappeared into the wind? The blood, all he could remember was the blood—

The loud bang of his door being kicked open jolted Izuku from his panic. Slowly, he lifted his head, eyes glazed and damp, peering into the darkness for answers, unable to move.

But, there Katsuki was, standing frozen in the doorway. 

Kacchan.

He’s alive.

Izuku must have looked like a wreck because Katsuki just stared at him for a moment, open-mouthed and unguarded. “Shit, Izuku,” Katsuki swore softly, coming around the bed to sit beside him. 

Izuku felt more than saw Katsuki’s arm slide around him, pulling him up and close to his side. 

“It’s okay,” Katsuki murmured, hand rubbing delicate circles up and down Izuku’s back. 

“You’re okay. I’m here. We're alive.”

Katsuki's voice never wavered as he continued in gentle whispers, reassuring Izuku about their friends, where they were, and how they were most definitely alive and well.

He kept at it as Izuku leaned into him, tears still streaming down his pale cheeks. But he was calming down now, the shutters fading and his head slowly clearing of phantoms. Katsuki’s presence gave him courage, as it always did—the courage to face his fears, although now in a different light. 

It could’ve been five minutes or forever, but they stayed just like that, Katsuki’s arms around Izuku for much longer than necessary. That was just another thing Izuku loved about Katsuki—he always gave one hundred percent to everything, even to comforting a friend like him. So, they sat together for a long while, holding one another as their ghosts became friends in the darkness of the night.

When he was finally ready, Izuku leaned back, feeling the sudden chill as Katsuki’s arms fell from around his shoulders. 

“Hey,” Izuku started cautiously, wiping away the last tear from his eye.

“Hey yourself,” Katsuki whispered back, eyes searching Izuku’s. “You alright?”

“Yeah. I am now.” And he meant it—with Katsuki there, Izuku had managed to keep the shadows at bay. He could only hope Katsuki saw the truth in that. “Thank you for coming. It’s… usually not like this.”

“Oh yeah? Then what’s it like?”

“It’s usually easier for me to manage.”

Izuku swallowed, unsure of how much to confess. But after the pitiful display he’d put on for his crush tonight, he couldn’t help but want Katsuki to know him just a little better, to understand him on a deeper level.

“But tonight…it was too much. The nightmares of you, dying. Our friends, dying.” Izuku laughed, the sound hollow. “And I can do nothing to save them.”

Katsuki watched him in silence, absorbing every word.

“What are yours about?” Izuku asked, his voice tinged with vulnerability. 

“Ah. For me…well, the same.” The hero leaned against the pillows, hands behind his head, recalling something that Izuku could not see. 

“A lot from the war. More about being on the sidelines,” Katsuki admitted, glancing over at Izuku. “Where I’m powerless, just watching the very people I wanted to protect get killed right in front of me. Things that haven’t happened and couldn’t happen, and yet…” He trailed off, sighing deeply as he shook his head.

“It’s the possibility, you know. Of me failing everyone I know and love. That’s what keeps me up at night.”

Ah. Izuku got it. Understanding Katsuki was as easy as breathing, as easy as loving him. In that moment, Izuku felt safe. Known. They both were so different in many ways, and yet, and their core—

They would always understand each other.

Izuku laughed again, a haunted sound that echoed in the night. “We’re two sides of the same coin, you and I.”

Katsuki mirrored his chuckle, reaching over to gently brush his thumb across Izuku’s hand. Izuku couldn’t help but lean back into Katsuki’s warm chest, resting his cheek on Katsuki’s shoulder, feeling the heat seep into his bones… Wait a minute—

“Why is your skin so warm?” Izuku asked incredulously, using his hands to sporadically touch different places on Katsuki’s body. Whoa, everywhere was like a damn furnace!

“I didn’t know you could do that! I thought your skin only warmed when your adrenaline is high in bat—”

Izuku could’ve sworn Katsuki’s ears turned red in the darkness. 

“—Shut it, nerd. Just let it happen. You were shaking like a damn leaf,” Katsuki grunted out, hiding his expression as his arm came back around to rest over Izuku. 

“But it’s so cool though! How does it work? When you get—”

“I said shut it, nerd!”

“Kacchan—” Izuku whined. 

“I’ll never do it again,” Katsuki threatened.

“What?! No!”

“That’s what you get for asking too many damn questions!”

“I only asked two!”

“Two too many.”

“I can’t believe you…” Izuku trailed off, finally realizing how close they were. 

With Katsuki’s arm around Izuku’s shoulders, they had drawn close together, their breaths mingling and their hearts racing in sync. Izuku felt the warmth of Katsuki’s body and the erratic rhythm of his heartbeat, matching Izuku’s own. The proximity was both comforting and electrifying, with Izuku soon feeling overwhelmed by the intensity that was Katsuki Bakugo. 

Should he tell him, now, tear-stained face and all? Spill everything he was feeling in his heart and let his words determine his fate? The temptation was too real, and the notion of finally kissing Katsuki was—

“Hey, wait,” Katsuki started, interrupting Izuku’s spiraling thoughts.

Izuku swallowed nervously. What is he going to say now? And why can he always tell what I'm thinking?

“I wanna do this right,” Katsuki continued, his voice dropping down an octave. "And not in the middle of the night. A stressful one, at that."

Wait, wait, wait...was he about to…

Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy—

“Let me take you out tomorrow.”

Izuku’s mind went blank.

“Wait…you mean like…?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki chuckled, a hint of nervousness in his voice. Izuku wasn’t sure he had ever seen Katsuki actually sweat when it wasn't intentional before.

“Are you free?” Katsuki finished, leaving Izuku’s thoughts in a whirlwind.

“Yeah! Definitely! I’m absolutely free,” Izuku stammered, his response sounding awkward even to him.

But he didn’t care. Not one bit. Because Katsuki—

“Cool,” the blonde said, his demeanor back to effortlessly calm, and Izuku couldn’t remember Katsuki ever looking so dashing.

"Guess it's time for bed now, eh?"

Katsuki made to get up and head home, and Izuku followed, all thoughts of dread and disaster left behind. With Katsuki around, it felt like the sun had come out, chasing away the shadows that had plagued him.

As they approached the entrance to his apartment, Izuku collided with Katsuki’s back. “Hey! What’s the big—” Izuku began, but his words faltered when he saw the new disaster in front of him.

The front door lock was broken, the handle hanging ajar as if someone had forcefully kicked it in. A dirty boot footprint marred the pristine white paint, completely ousting the culprit. Katsuki turned around, looking sheepish as he met Izuku’s stunned gaze.

“Kacchan,” Izuku groaned, burying his face in his hands. 

“First item on the agenda for tomorrow: get you a new lock,” Katsuki reported, checking to see how bad the damage was. 

“I’m gonna kill you,” Izuku continued, aghast. 

“Can you wait until after I fix the lock?” 

“That’s awfully chivalrous.”

“I can be chivalrous guy.”

“Is that right? Will it be before or after you call me a ‘shitty nerd’?”

“Before and after.” Katsuki finished inspecting the door and walked back over to Izuku, tentatively reaching a hand to run through his messy green curls. “Come back to my place, you can sleep on the couch.”

“Nah, I’ll be fine. The door still shuts, right?” Izuku asked, not daring to move as Katsuki continued gently scratching his hair.

The blonde nodded in confirmation. “Yeah, it’s not perfect, but it’ll hold for now.”

Izuku sighed. He couldn’t be upset, how could he? Katsuki had used brute force to get in, to make sure Izuku was safe and unharmed. He was in his pajamas for heaven’s sake—had probably run over here despite it being the dead cold of winter. Anyone would’ve been scared shitless by that phone call…he really should be giving Katsuki just a little more credit. 

And Japan was safer than ever, anyway. What was one night?

“I’ll make a barrier with the furniture for tonight. Then tomorrow, we can fix it,” Izuku finished soundly. Then, after a moment, “Together.”

Katsuki’s expression softened at that. He gently pushed Izuku’s curls away from his temple, and slowly, as if giving Izuku a chance to pull away, he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to Izuku’s forehead.

“‘Night,” Kastuki whispered, his breath warm against Izuku’s skin.

Izuku inhaled deeply, savoring the closeness. “Goodnight,” he murmured back.

And then Katsuki was gone, gently shutting the door behind him. 

They had plans for tomorrow—suspiciously close to date-like plans. Izuku could hardly contain his excitement, even as the lull of sleep began to tug at him after the night they’d had.

But for now, only dreams awaited Izuku, the nightmares having long been chased away by the warmth and reassurance of the sun.

Chapter Text

Almost two years. Izuku Midoriya had been driving Katsuki crazy for almost two years, and somehow, they hadn’t even gone past hand-holding. 

As Katsuki patrolled past endless snow-lined trees, even he could admit to himself that his development with Izuku was taking long as hell. It was all Izuku’s fault, really. Katsuki was terrible with communicating his feelings, always had and always would be. But Izuku? Izuku was great at it! 

So why the fuck hadn’t he confessed already?

Katsuki wasn’t dumb. He could read the signs, the tension. Izuku felt something for him, whether it was sexual attraction or like or love — that he didn’t know. But he wished Izuku would just fuckin tell him.

Ugh. He was in some deep, deep shit. 

And that deep shit felt never-ending, especially with Katsuki’s drop in the hero rankings. Initially, falling to number two had stung, and Katsuki had been ready to punch a wall. But the more he thought about it, the less it mattered. Only one thing truly did—Izuku. Their rivalry, their partnership, Izuku pushing him toward greatness.

That was where Katsuki found his sense of purpose.

And it was kinda his own fault anyway, always skipping out on hero duties to go to Hatsume Industries. 

Speaking of that place, Katsuki really needed to finish working on Izuku’s gadget. He checked his phone now, texting to see if Hatsume and All Might were free today to continue their research. The sooner they did, the sooner Izuku could return to the field, right where he belonged—by Katsuki’s side. Izuku wanted to be a hero again; he’d said so himself. And Katsuki was determined to make that happen, no matter what. 

When they replied, Katsuki rounded the corner, waving a hand up in goodbye as Kirishima finished his patrol for the two of them, ready to cover for Dynamight. Everyone from class 1-A was in on the plan anyway, so all it took was a bit of explaining for Shitty Hair to help him out. 

Katsuki was going to do everything in his power to make Izuku’s, and his, dreams come true.

____

Katsuki woke up feeling like a million bucks. 

After seeing Izuku the night before and finally getting the balls to ask him out, Katsuki couldn’t help but feel victorious. 

It had been anger that had first coursed through his veins when he had gotten the phone call from Izuku at two in the morning. The nerd knew how much Katsuki valued his sleep, so if he had been looking for a late-night booty call…Katsuki was not gonna be it. 

But after hearing Izuku’s voice, broken and frantic—it had snapped something in him. Something that had long been brewing under the surface. 

He would do anything for Izuku, anything he needed…and would kill anyone who hurt him, hero or not. 

But when Katsuki had arrived, kicking down the door in the process, Izuku wasn’t hurt…at least, on the outside. His mental anguish, an agony Katsuki understood all too well, had seized hold of Izuku's soul, the tremors of panic raging through his body. It took only a moment for Katsuki to compose himself before he pulled the nerd into him, embracing him until the nightmares finally faded into the darkness. 

Katsuki didn’t know why he did it—why he chose that exact moment to tell the nerd that he wanted to go out, presumably on a date. Maybe it was the way the moonlight cast a soft glow on Izuku’s freckled cheeks, still flushed from crying, or how his eyes, so wide and green, seemed to stand out against his pale skin. Or perhaps it was the way Izuku’s whispered words had mingled with the quiet tension, their light banter easing the weight of the night. Whatever it was, something at that moment pulled the words out of him, and he couldn’t hold back.

And, well, it had looked like Izuku wanted to kiss him.

That wouldn't do, considering the circumstances. Izuku couldn't have understood just how badly Katsuki wanted to kiss him, to get lost in the lips he had caught himself staring at countless times before. But Izuku had just had a panic attack, for fuck's sake—and he was still recovering from the aftershocks. Katsuki wasn’t about to let their first kiss be tainted by his own reckless impulse.

So Katsuki stopped himself. He pulled away, asked Izuku out properly, probably looking dorky as hell as he did so. And that was that.

Now, it was time for the real shit to begin. 

Katsuki, of all people, had done the communicating. That entitled him to a little bit of credit, he supposed. 

But next on the list was to plan a really good fuckin date. 

Fixing the door will have to be first, Katsuki mused to himself, starting to make an actual, written list on the back of a random receipt, taking a page out of the nerd’s book. 

Then lunch. Then…arcade down the street? Or an amusement park? Katsuki paused, then shook his head vigorously, It’s fuckin winter, so no amusement park. Dumbass. Arcade it is, then.

He spent the early morning jotting down ideas and looking up places for them to go for the day. Katsuki knew Izuku like the back of his hand, so he wasn’t worried about the activities—they would find a way to make it fun, together. 

By the time the clock hit ten, Katsuki figured it was late enough to show up at Izuku’s apartment. He might have had a rough night, but there were things Katsuki wanted to do with him, places he wanted to explore. And that required securing a certain green-haired teacher.

With that thought in mind, Katsuki grabbed his jacket and scarf and headed out the door, a mix of determination and anticipation fueling his steps. Up the familiar four flights of stairs, he went, practically whistling. Was he excited? Yeah, maybe just a bit. It wasn’t like he had waited for his day for the past two fuckin years—

…Wait, why was Izuku’s door open?

The handle dangled precariously, the door ajar, and Katsuki's pulse quickened. He knew he'd broken the lock, but this...this was different. Shit—someone could've easily snapped the knob and forced their way in.

Katsuki’s heart pounded in his chest as he approached the entrance, every instinct screaming that something was wrong, wrong, wrong—

He pushed the door open, the hinges creaking ominously in the silence. The lights were off, but the early morning glow filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the floor. Katsuki stepped inside, eyes scanning every corner for anything out of place, every muscle tense as he searched for any sign of intrusion. The apartment was eerily still, and the quiet only heightened his unease.

“Izuku?” Katsuki called softly into the stillness, his voice barely louder than a whisper. 

The silence felt oppressive, and he half-expected an intruder to spring out from the shadows, anything to break the tension knotting in his chest. But nothing stirred. No sound, no movement. The only thing Katsuki could hear was the pounding of his own heart. The alternative—the thought of Izuku being hurt or worse—was unbearable. 

Where the hell was he?

Katsuki moved toward the bedroom, finding it in the same state it was last night. Sheets askew, pillows and blankets everywhere, but this time, no Izuku. He checked the bathroom, the kitchen, and the living room, only to find them all untouched. It was only when he circled back to the front entrance that he saw it: the sign he had been dreading— 

Dried blood, dark and stark, marred the back of the once-pristine white door.

Katsuki’s heart raced as he took in the horrifying sight. His breath came in short, shallow bursts, but he forced himself to stay focused. He needed to find Izuku, and he needed to do it fast. Ignoring the rising panic, he pulled out his phone and dialed Izuku’s number, praying for an answer.

His phone rang in his ear for a moment, and then echoed in another resounding buzz from within Izuku's bedsheets. Katsuki returned back to the bedroom to pick up Izuku's phone, finding his own nickname staring back at him on the screen. Fuck.

With no other leads, Katsuki sprinted out of the apartment and into the street. He looked around frantically, searching for any sign or something that might lead him to where Izuku might be.

His mind raced through the possibilities. Has Izuku been kidnapped? Is he in danger? The thought made Katsuki’s stomach churn with guilt. This is all my fault for breaking the damn lock. 

He dialed a new number—Kirishima’s. At times like these, when Katsuki felt overwhelmed and didn’t know how to ask for help, Kirishima was the only one he trusted to come through. The phone rang twice before he heard Kirishima’s voice, calm but tinged with concern.

“Bakugo? What’s going on?” Kirishima asked, his tone betraying his worry.

“Kirishima, it’s bad,” Katsuki replied urgently. “I’m at Izuku’s place, and there’s blood—I don't know whose it is. And I can’t find him fuckin anywhere...I need your help. Now.”

The was a sharp intake of breath. “Okay, okay, I’m on my way, man. Stay put and don’t do anything stupid. I’ll call in for backup and we'll find out what happened." There was a pause on the other end. "I mean it, Bakugo—don't worry. We'll find him."

Katsuki ended the call and slid down the wall, collapsing onto the floor with his head cradled between his knees. 

Izuku, where are you? he called into the void of his thoughts, but no one answered.

There was no one to blow up, no one to fight. Katsuki didn’t even know where to begin. Without an immediate threat in front of him, and no trace of where the perpetrator had gone, the pro hero was practically useless. 

I failed you, Izuku. And it’s all my fault.

____

Soon enough, the police arrived and declared the apartment an active crime scene. Katsuki reported everything he knew and later attended a meeting with a few heroes assigned to the case. Everyone was doing their best to help—even Hawks had sent a few feathers to look and gather intel, but to Katsuki, it wasn’t enough. 

They needed to find Izuku now.  

After twelve grueling hours of relentless effort, the team insisted that Katsuki take a break. They urged him to go home, eat something, and regain his strength before diving back into the search. While they knew they couldn’t stop him from continuing through the night, they at least wanted him to take care of himself and keep up his energy.

Katsuki reluctantly agreed and headed back to his apartment at ten to eat his first meal of the day. 

He filled the kettle with water and set it on the stove, preparing to make some tea. And as he cooked his dinner, Katsuki’s thoughts remained consumed by Izuku.

Where could he be? What happened? Every clatter of the utensils and sizzle of the pan seemed to echo the unanswered questions.

It was unsettling how drastically his emotions had shifted within just one day—one moment he was planning a date, the next he was caught in a desperate, frantic search for the man he loved.

Shit—he really did love Izuku. 

A soft knock drew Katsuki’s attention away from his thoughts. With a scowl, he swung open the door and barked, “What?!” as his eyes settled on the person in front of him—

Izuku Midoriya. 

Katsuki's mind went blank, and his mouth dropped open.

Izuku's pajama pants were ripped, revealing a few bloody gashes on his legs. His usually shiny green curls were matted with dust and debris, giving him a disheveled appearance. Katsuki’s heart clenched at the sight, the urgency to understand what had happened flooding back as he took in the damage.

“Sooo,” Izuku began, his smile strained but his tone light, “my house is an active crime scene right now. Mind if I come in?”

The kettle whistled brightly in the background, and Katsuki, still processing the sight before him, barely registered the sound.

“Izuku?” Katsuki’s voice cracked with emotion as he took in the sight of the man he’d been desperately searching for.

Izuku’s presence was like a balm to Katsuki’s frayed nerves, the sight of him easing the weight of fear that had settled heavily in his chest. As they stared at one another, Katsuki’s hands shook slightly with relief.

Izuku was here.

Izuku was here.

Chapter Text

After falling asleep to the promise of a date the following day with Katsuki, Izuku never expected to be kidnapped that same night.

His captor was gifted with a hypnosis quirk similar to Shinso’s, except a bit more dangerous—this perpetrator was able to use it only on people who were sleeping, using their dreams to force them to move or speak as directed. Izuku hadn’t realized what was happening until he woke up, bound to a chair in what seemed to be the villain’s basement.

The criminal was short and round, dressed in all black with a dark mustache that almost concealed his lips. He resembled a character straight out of a TV show—one of those people who spent all day clicking away on the Internet, obsessively stalking and lurking in the shadows of other people's lives.

He was sitting in front of a computer now, various pictures of Izuku and Katsuki littering his screen. “I’ve got you now, Dynamight,” the villain was saying as Izuku came to, his sinister laughter echoing in the dim light. “I’ve got your little boyfriend, and I will force you to give me a damn autograph!”

Izuku couldn't help but roll his eyes. Seriously? he thought to himself, annoyed. Disrupting my beauty sleep for a piece of paper?

Izuku would’ve helped the guy if he had just asked nicely! He sighed, shaking his head.

Enough of this.

Izuku broke free from his poorly tied restraints, slipping his hands through with ease. The villain, startled, pushed away from his computer and grabbed a baseball bat that was leaning against the side of his desk.

“When did you wake up?” he taunted, his voice dripping with malice as he brandished the bat.

Izuku met his gaze with a cool, determined look. “Long enough to know that this is not how you get an autograph.” He took a step forward, adopting a fighting stance, his focus sharp and unwavering.

The villain sneered meanly. “Ha! You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? You gave me this lovely mark while you were asleep.” He lifted his arm, showing off the dried blood. “Who knew Dynamight’s boyfriend would actually have some fight in him?”

Izuku’s eyes narrowed, ready to end this farce and get back to Katsuki, but the villain continued on.

“Especially for a quirkless los—”

Izuku struck, not even letting the villain finish his taunt. 

One sweeping kick to his kidnapper’s knees had the short male tumbling to the floor, hugging his Dynamight special edition baseball bat close to his chest. But on the way down, he reached for his desk in a frantic grab to stay afloat, and unintentionally pulled the entire desktop set up on top of both him and Izuku. Izuku dodged, but barely—harsh pieces of computer equipment scratched at his legs, and Izuku knew he would be bruised plenty tomorrow. 

The villain screamed, frustrated at his own actions, and tried to stop the machinery from breaking, but to no avail. Scattered pieces of metal littered the basement floor, making it hard to move without getting cut. And Izuku, who was in his pajamas and barefoot, was not in the best position. 

“You’ve done it now,” his captor growled, slowly rising from the ground. Izuku sprung up to meet him, hissing as the metal shards dug into his feet. “Now I’m gonna make you pay.”

Izuku scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m a teacher. Do you really think I have the kind of money to pay for all that?” He pointed a thumb toward the complex electronics now shattered on the floor, his tone dripping in sarcasm.

The villain declined to answer as he bellowed a battle cry, whipping his baseball bat behind him. 

But Izuku was ready for the blow. Quickly, he evaded the first swing of the bat, ducking under it to move around the villain’s back. While his captor was off balance, Izuku managed to nail him on the side of the head, knocking him back to the floor. 

The baseball bat rolled away, the sound clattering loudly on the basement floor. The villain turned over, blood dripping down his skull, and his eyes widened as he beheld the look in Izuku’s eyes, the determination that lay there.

Some semblance of fear raged through the villain’s expression, finally realizing he wasn’t dealing with some ordinary teacher.

Izuku grabbed the ropes that had once held him captive and quickly fastened them around the villain’s hands, securing them tightly behind his back. The villain struggled, but Izuku’s knots were firm, leaving no room for escape. 

The villain looked up at Izuku in a daze. “Who exactly are you?”

Izuku chuckled darkly, giving the ropes one last secure pull. “All that research and you still couldn’t figure it out?”

The green-eyed teacher started walking up the stairs then, ignoring the protests of the villain behind him. 

“You can’t leave me tied up here! My mom will come looking for me, and then you’ll be sorry!”

Izuku turned back then, a shadow of a smile on his lips. “Then you can tell her and the cops all about how you kidnapped the retired hero Deku from his own home in the middle of the night.”

The villain’s face drained of color, the weight of Izuku’s words sinking in.

Izuku walked up the stairs and didn’t look back.

____

Okay, where in the hell was he?

After leaving the basement and exiting the house, Izuku found himself in the middle of nowhere—and, of course, with no shoes, no cell phone, and a sorry excuse for pajamas.

Shit. 

Izuku started walking, the sun hanging high overhead, casting long shadows on the unfamiliar landscape. He had to begin somewhere, he supposed, as he glanced around at the desolate surroundings. Judging by the position of the sun, it was likely around noon, which meant he must be far from the city—far from any immediate help.

He needed to get to a phone. Or a bus stop…or maybe not, considering he had no money. 

Kacchan is probably sad that I didn’t show up to our date, Izuku mused as he walked along the desolate highway, shivering from the cold. 

The thought made him move just a little bit faster.

____

After a little while, Izuku managed to flag down a hitchhiker, who after a few words from Izuku, was happy to give him a ride and lend him a pair of too-small shoes and a coat. When she dropped him off, he snuck on top of a bus, despite his better judgment. But by the time the sun had disappeared into the horizon, the city lights greeted him warmly. Izuku was finally home.

Following that ordeal, Izuku just wanted to collapse and sleep for a week. As he rounded the corner to his apartment, he found it crawling with officers. Fantastic—he wasn’t in the mood to deal with that mess right now. But thankfully, he knew just where he could find solace for the night…

Taking the route to Katsuki’s apartment was both familiar and comforting. When Izuku approached, he found the light from Katsuki’s apartment on and glowing brightly. Izuku glanced down at his disheveled appearance—blood-stained clothes and all—and hesitated for a moment. But he took a deep breath, steeling himself before heading towards the door.

He knocked twice, the sound timid even to his own ears. 

And when Katsuki opened the door, Izuku couldn’t help but stare. 

Katsuki’s clothes were disheveled and covered by an apron, his blonde hair sticking up in all different ways, but Izuku didn’t care. He couldn’t have cared less what Katsuki looked like, only that he was there. 

The events of the day came crashing down on him in a wave of weariness, and Izuku could barely keep himself upright.

"Sooo,” Izuku started, attempting to keep his tone casual despite the sorry state he knew he was in. “My house is an active crime scene right now. Mind if I come in?”

But Katsuki’s next words stole the breath from his lungs.

“Izuku?” Katsuki breathed, his voice trembling with disbelief, the name a prayer on his lips.

And Izuku broke then, his fragile facade crumbling easily beneath Katsuki’s gaze. They closed the distance between them, collapsing into an embrace that took them to the floor, holding each other tightly as if the world had narrowed to just the two of them.

Izuku was crying, the drops soaking the shoulder of Katsuki’s shirt. “I’m fine, Kacchan. I’m really fine,” Izuku reassured him between sobs, but Katsuki wasn’t letting go.

And Izuku didn’t want him to. 

“Never do that again,” Katsuki growled into his shoulder, his voice breaking with emotion.

Izuku laughed softly, wiping his own tears away. “It wasn’t my choice, you know.”

Katsuki finally let him pull away then, but not too far—just enough to see his face. “Tell me what happened,” he demanded, his grip remaining firm around Izuku as he spoke.

Izuku took a deep breath and recounted the events of the day for Katsuki. He detailed everything, from the abduction to his escape, sharing the whole ordeal as the two of them sat close, the weight of the day’s events lingering between them.

“So,” Katsuki started, trying to summarize all he had heard. “The villain hypnotized you in your sleep, forced you to walk all the way to his house, and tied you up, all for the purposes of getting my fuckin autograph?” he finished in disbelief.

Izuku nodded, huffing a laugh at the absurdity of it all. “Yep. You have some crazy fans,” he teased. 

Katsuki scoffed, “Hell no. That was not a fan, that was a damn villain.”

“That can be one and the same, you know.”

“No way, I don’t claim him as my fan. He’s crazy.”

“So are you, sometimes.”

“Hah?! What is that supposed to mean?”

Izuku chuckled, his gaze turning soft as he looked at Katsuki, still holding him close. “Should I even ask what you were doing before I got here? Or why my house is a crime scene?”

The tips of Katsuki’s ears turned red, and Izuku smiled, happy to have caught it this time. So he did get flustered—who knew?

“Maybe,” Katsuki started, trying to hide his face by turning it to the side. “Just maybe, I freaked out and opened an investigation on a missing person…” 

At Izuku’s expression, Katsuki groaned and threw his head in his hands. 

“There was blood okay! On the door, and you left your phone…I think that deserves a little crazy!”

“Hey.” Izuku reached up and laid a gentle hand on Katsuki’s cheek, right over his scar. “I never said you were wrong for it.”

Katsuki stilled as Izuku caressed his cheek, the tender motion filled with so much unspoken emotion. The touch was both soothing and electrifying, a silent affirmation of everything they shared and everything they’d faced together.

“It means a lot,” Izuku whispered, his voice barely audible, “that you would do all that. For me.”

Katsuki swallowed hard, his eyes locking onto Izuku’s. “Of course I would, dumbass.”

“I’d do the same for you, you know. I have.”

“Oh, I know.” Katsuki’s voice softened.

Izuku’s eyes flickered to Katsuki’s lips. “Yeah?” he mumbled, leaning closer, and their gazes tangled—red meeting green in a storm of unspoken promises.

“Yeah,” Katsuki replied, closing the distance.

And when they kissed, no one else in the world existed. 

Katsuki’s lips were soft, tasting like the bittersweet tang of spices and something uniquely him. Izuku lost himself in the moment, running his hand from Katsuki’s cheek to the back of his head, playing with the spikey strands that lingered there. Katsuki hooked his arm around Izuku’s waist, pulling him closer, closer—chest to chest and heart to heart as their souls fell apart together. 

Their kiss was tender and lingering, a silent declaration of everything they couldn’t yet put into words. It poured out their stress, their emotions, and the depth of their feelings into this one, blissful and searing kiss.

When Izuku finally broke away, Katsuki looked positively whipped—eyes blown wide and mouth pink and swollen. Izuku fought the urge to dive back into that intoxicating, burning that had set his heart and body ablaze. 

And he could bet Katsuki was thinking the same.

“Whoa,” Izuku said dumbly, voice loud in his own ears.

“Whoa is right,” Katsuki replied, his gaze smoldering with the desire to kiss Izuku again.

“You’re good at that,” Izuku admitted before he could stop himself.

“I’m good at everything.” Katsuki leaned forward once more, expression turning more devious. “But especially that.”

Izuku chuckled, drawing in a breath. “Oh, don’t worry, I know.”

“Do you?”

“Only one way to show me.”

Katsuki’s smile was as gorgeous as it was wicked. He reached a hand up through Izuku’s green curls, starting to pull him down for another kiss—

Bang, bang, bang!

“Bakugo! It’s Kirishima, we found some footage of Midoriya! We think he might be on his way back to the city now!”

On the floor behind the door, Katsuki paused, shooting Kirishima a scowl and a middle finger. Beside him, Izuku chuckled softly, carefully disentangling himself from Katsuki’s embrace and standing up. He reached out to help Katsuki up, both of them reluctantly shifting from their intense moment to a more urgent reality—Izuku had been missing for the past twelve hours, after all.

“Oh shut it, will you?!” Katsuki yelled as he opened the door, letting Kirishima inside. The red-haired hero gaped as he beheld who exactly was beside Katsuki. 

“Hi,” Izuku squeaked, still caught off guard by the sudden shift in mood.

Katsuki placed a gentle hand on Izuku’s lower back, a comforting presence that gave him strength. Katsuki always had that effect on him, no matter the distance between them.

It would be a long night, a night of reports, recountings, and paperwork. But, at least he knew that when he got home—Katsuki would be there waiting for him.

And that meant more than anything. 

Chapter Text

Finally, after a night of paperwork and a restless week at UA, the weekend had arrived, and that meant one thing—Izuku was finally going on a date.

And not just any date, no—but one with his childhood companion, his longtime rival, and now…now friend. A good friend who had stood by him through thick and thin over the past two years. A hot-headed, passionate, stubbornly loyal, and undeniably sexy hero friend—Katsuki Bakugo.

Izuku could hardly contain his excitement. 

Katsuki had insisted on planning the entire day himself, but Izuku flat-out refused. He wanted to be the one to organize their first date, to make it perfect in his own way. Naturally, this led to an intense argument—neither of them willing to back down. But in the end, they begrudgingly agreed to plan one half of the day. Izuku chuckled to himself—he wouldn’t have expected anything less from them.

Izuku’s part was up first, having chosen to organize the morning activities. Both he and Katsuki were early risers, so he wasn’t surprised when he heard a knock on the door at nine o’clock sharp.

“Coming!” Izuku shouted from the bedroom, fixing his long winter coat with a final tug. The chill was unstoppable at this time of year, but hopefully, if he was lucky, Katsuki could do that funny warming trick again. 

Izuku opened the door, the wind already ruffling his green curls out of place. “Hey, Kacchan,” he greeted warmly, stepping out into the cold. “Why didn’t you just come inside?”

Katsuki scoffed, red eyes locking onto green. “That’s not very polite now, is it?” 

Katsuki looked effortlessly gorgeous, dressed in dark street clothes with a matching coat that framed his form perfectly. Izuku sighed happily, openly admiring his date, unashamed of the warmth spreading through his chest.

 “—Sorry, what did you say?” Izuku asked, redirecting his focus back to the conversation. 

Katsuki huffed a laugh, stepping closer until their breath mingled in the frigid air. "Enjoying the view, nerd?" he teased, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

Izuku’s face flushed crimson, but he didn’t back down. “Yeah, I am. So?” he shot back, his voice steady as he reached down and gently tugged Katsuki’s hand into his own.

Now it was Katsuki’s turn to be stunned, his mouth parting as he gazed down at their intertwined fingers. Katsuki’s hand was warm and comforting, and for a moment, the cold didn’t seem so bad.

“Come on, Kacchan, let’s go! The students are amazing, but I was so excited all day yesterday and I couldn’t wait…”

Izuku’s enthusiasm was contagious as he pulled Katsuki along, his bright chatter filling the air. Katsuki kept pace, throwing in quick-witted remarks that sparked an electric charge between them, making the crisp air around them feel alive with energy.

Their relationship had never been conventional. Hell—getting here to this date hadn’t been conventional. But they were here now—

And that was what mattered. 

____

Izuku led them across the city to their morning date destination: ice skating. The rink was serene and empty, the early hour keeping the crowd, and any of Dynamight’s crazy fans, at bay. They found a bench and sat down to swap their shoes.

“This is a terrible idea,” Katsuki warned Izuku, shucking off his designer boots. 

“Complaining already?” Izuku teased, tying his laces in a messy bow. 

“Yeah. I shoot fireballs from my sweat...and now we’re on ice? It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

“Good thing you’ve got amazing control over your quirk,” Izuku said, extending a hand with a bright smile. “You can at least give it a try.”

Katsuki groaned something incoherent but slipped his fingers through Izuku’s, letting him lead them toward the rink. It took a few attempts, but the two easily found a rhythm, gliding lightly under the warming sun, the ice sparkling gently beneath them. 

“Catch me if you can!” Izuku called with a laugh, zipping around the edge of the rink.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Katsuki grumbled, pushing off to follow, his irritation melting into a genuine grin as he picked up speed. “You’re on!”

“Kacchan, be careful! You can’t use the speed from your explosions!”

“I don’t need ‘em!”

“But—”

“I’ve got speed! I’ve got fuckin speed, okay! Just watch and see!”

Izuku tipped his head back in a laugh.

“Nuh-uh—you’re too slow!”

“Who are you calling slow, you shitty ner—Ah!” Katsuki bellowed as he slipped, crashing onto his back and skidding down the ice like a turtle on its shell.

Izuku stopped, skating back a few paces to check on Katsuki. “Are you okay?” Izuku asked, wide-eyed with concern as he reached out a hand to help Katsuki up—

Crash!

Katsuki yanked on Izuku’s hand, pulling him down onto the ice with him. The pair tumbled together, laughter mixing with the cold air as they lay sprawled, their earlier grace forgotten.

Izuku pulled himself into a sitting position, trying to stifle his laughter as he wiped a tear from his eye. “Geez, guess you really held a grudge,” he said, glancing down at Katsuki, who was still stretched out on the ice.

Even in his disheveled state—hair sticking up in wild tufts, coat askew—Katsuki looked undeniably good. Every glance at those intense eyes made Izuku’s heart race, the urge to see that burning desire in Katsuki’s eyes again surging within him.

Shit, Izuku really wanted to kiss him again. 

But Katsuki, oblivious to Izuku’s thoughts, sat up slowly and met his gaze. “It’s your fault for egging me on,” Katsuki said, trying to smooth his hair back into place to no avail.

Using the rink’s edge, Izuku managed to pull himself upright. He reached out his hand to Katsuki once more, who took it this time with a grateful nod.

Izuku sighed. “Can’t we do anything romantic?” he mused, rolling his eyes at their antics.

“Who said this wasn’t romantic?” Katsuki returned snarkily. 

“Me!”

“Why?”

“Because! Other people hold hands and…look into each other’s eyes…and…you know!”

“That sounds boring.”

“Well, yeah.” Izuku waved a hand at the ice, trying to showcase his point. “But we just chased each other and yelled swears and fell on the damn ground—” 

“So?”

“So, I just didn’t know if you’d—”

“Izuku,” Katsuki skated forward, cornering Izuku between the rink’s edge and his body. “You’re describing my kind of date.”

Izuku’s breath caught as his eyes met Katsuki’s. It was the first time either of them had said it so plainly—a date. The confirmation made Izuku’s heart race, sending a tinge of electricity running through him.

“Oh,” Izuku replied.

Katsuki’s lips curved into a smug grin. “Oh,” he echoed, his gaze intensifying with playful confidence. “Now, where’s lunch? I’m starving.”

Izuku laughed, the sound light and warm. Katsuki’s usual roundabout way of expressing himself only made Izuku more certain—he was enjoying the date.

“This way, Kacchan! We have to return the shoes first.”

“Ugh, too much work. I’m blasting away.”

“Wha—Kacchan! No!”

“I’m gonna.”

“Plea—”

“Hah. Just kidding.”

“Kacchan!”

___

After lunch, the second half of the day was all Katsuki’s territory. Izuku was eager to see what he had in store, especially after Izuku’s own success in the morning. They passed cute coffee shops, museums, and plenty of other activities, so Izuku was left wondering—what exactly did Katsuki have planned?

Izuku's curiosity was finally piqued when they arrived at a cozy, retro arcade tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. The sign's neon lights flickered warmly, and Katsuki, with a mischievous grin, led him through the double doors.

The interior was surprisingly spacious, filled with an impressive assortment of games ranging from classic arcade cabinets to modern console setups, all spread out across a long red carpet that led to the back. Izuku spun around, his face illuminated by the vivid lights and colors of the arcade. He looked back at Katsuki with wide, wonder-filled eyes, expression alight with excitement.

Katsuki turned back to Izuku with a shit-eating grin, clearly pleased with his choice of activity. “You ready to play?” Katsuki asked, already turning to the machine with game tokens. 

“Of course!” Izuku cried, taking a small handful of coins.

“Let’s see who can win more games,” Katsuki challenged, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Tsk, always so competitive. Can’t you just root for me to win for once?” Izuku teased.

“Not a chance, because I’m gonna win.”

Izuku rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “Alright, fine! If that’s how you want to play…” He dashed to the nearest machine, a two-player game where they had to hit the most tiles. “Let’s see how sharp your reflexes are!”

Katsuki cracked his knuckles. “Let’s do this, nerd.”

They spent the afternoon playing game after game, enjoying each other’s company and the competitive edge they inspired in one another. Izuku couldn’t help but reflect on what Katsuki had said earlier, about how this was his kind of date. 

This date didn’t need to be all flowery, with lovey-dovey eyes and tender touches, or have to be filled with clichés or grand gestures. No—this date could be fun in other ways. This date could be about being themselves, fueling the competitive fire that always sparked between them and still finding a way to get lost in the connection that had always brought them back to each other, time and time again.

This date was for them, and no one else. 

“Wow, only two tokens left!” Izuku told Katsuki, smiling wide from ear to ear. “One last game, what’ll it be?”

“Hmm.” Katsuki scanned the room, his eyes catching on a game tucked away in the back corner, one they hadn’t tried yet. “There,” he said, nodding towards it and leading the way.

The game was a classic water shooter, the kind where the first player to fill their tank to the top wins the prize. Izuku slipped in their two tokens and took a seat on the round stool beside Katsuki, fingers poised and ready for the challenge.

“Psst, hey,” Katsuki whispered, leaning in close, his breath warm against Izuku’s ear.

Izuku tried to stay focused, telling himself not to get distracted. “What?” he asked, eyes on the game, waiting for the buzzer.

“What’s my prize if I win?” Katsuki’s voice was low, teasing, sending a shiver down Izuku’s spine.

“You get bragging rights,” Izuku replied, fighting the smile tugging at his lips.

“What about a kiss?” Katsuki’s breath tickled his ear, and Izuku couldn’t help but swallow.

“Just bragging rights.”

“What about, bragging rights and a kiss?”

Someone, spare me.

Izuku didn’t let himself hesitate as the machine began counting down. “Let’s see if you win first.”

From the corner of his eye, Izuku watched Katsuki’s mouth twist into a wicked grin as he got into position.

Three…Two…One…Go!

They both launched into action, thumbs mashing down on the buttons in tandem. It was a close race, their fill lines only millimeters apart as they battled for victory. 

But after a minute of intense competition, Izuku’s buzzer lit up triumphantly, a swirl of lights flashing across the dark arcade.

“I won!” Izuku whooped, springing up to do a triumphant little dance. Katsuki watched with an amused smirk, arms folded across his chest.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Katsuki replied, rolling his eyes at the show. “You might have won this round, but I think I won more games today.”

“Don’t care!” Izuku called back cheerfully, continuing his dance. 

“Alright, nerd.” Katsuki extended his hand with a soft look in his eyes. “I’ll let you have this one. But don’t tell anyone, or my reputation will be ruined.”

“Sure thing, Kacchan,” Izuku replied, intertwining their fingers with a playful grin. “Whatever you say.”

____

Katsuki dropped Izuku off at his apartment like a true gentleman. I definitely have Mitsuki to thank for this, Izuku thought as they approached the entrance to the fourth floor. 

It was hard to say goodbye after such an amazing day together. Izuku longed to invite Katsuki inside, kiss him senseless, and maybe even convince him to stay the night. But Izuku hesitated, unsure if that was too forward for a first date—wait, that was definitely too forward for a first date. Who knew if Katsuki was still interested after Izuku talked his ear off all day? 

Shyly, Izuku stopped in front of his door, tucking a stray green curl away from his face. “Today was…really great,” he said, his words feeling awkward to his own ears but sincere nevertheless.

Katsuki nodded, stepping closer and taking both of Izuku’s hands in his own. “Yeah, it was,” he murmured, his gentle tone making Izuku’s heart race.

But the longing in Katsuki’s gaze stirred something bold within Izuku, erasing all doubts in his mind. It fueled his quiet resolve to close the distance between them, something he’d been yearning for all damn day.

“Don’t I get my prize?” Izuku asked playfully, tilting his head with a smile.

Katsuki’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What prize?”

Izuku chuckled softly, his expression turning coy. “You know, the one I was promised…” he trailed off, glancing up at Katsuki with a hopeful look.

At Katsuki’s perplexed expression, Izuku knew he had definitely forgotten.

“Come on, Kacchan. The bragging rights…” Izuku teased, stepping closer so they were chest to chest. He ran one hand up Katsuki’s neck and into his hair.

“…And the kiss,” Izuku finished, closing the distance and pressing his lips to Katsuki’s.

This wasn’t the sweet, tender kiss from before. No—this one was intense and fervent, charged with deep-seated desire and longing. Fire surged through Izuku’s veins as they moved together, the heat of their passion burning bright.

Izuku’s arms draped around Katsuki’s neck, fingertips tangling gently in his tousled blonde hair. Katsuki’s hands found their way to Izuku’s waist, tugging him closer by the belt loops, their bodies pressing together with a heated intimacy. Their lips, so often sparring in playful arguments, moved together in a slow, synchronized dance, brushing softly and lingering as if…

As if they were discovering each other all over again.

When Izuku finally pulled away, he found Katsuki looking as undone as he felt.

“Shit,” Izuku muttered softly, huffing a laugh into Katsuki’s neck.

“Mhm,” Katsuki murmured, pressing a tender kiss to Izuku’s shoulder.

“Is it always gonna be like that?” Izuku asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

“I hope so,” Katsuki replied, his voice a low rumble against Izuku’s chest, his delicious warmth making it hard for Izuku to let go. 

“Me too,” Izuku finished, arms falling down back at his sides, the chill finding his bones once more.

“Goodnight, Kacchan.”

“‘Night, Izuku.”

As Izuku slipped inside and closed the door, he could barely stop himself from calling out to Katsuki, asking for just one more kiss, just one more moment to hold him close and never let go.

Chapter Text

A couple of days after their first official date, Katsuki asked Izuku if he wanted to join him at a party that upcoming weekend.

“What kind of party?” Izuku asked as they strolled side by side through the snow-dusted city.

“A New Year’s party,” Katsuki grumbled, clearly unimpressed.

Izuku turned to him, one eyebrow raised. “Wasn’t New Year’s a few weeks ago?”

“Yeah, but pros don’t exactly get to celebrate on the actual day. We’ve got too many stupid emergencies from all the damn extras to deal with.”

Izuku nodded in agreement, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Who’s going?” 

“Just the usual crowd from 1-A. Me, Shitty Hair, Pikachu, Raccoon Eyes, Tape Arms, and Ears, probably,” Katsuki replied, shrugging.

Izuku rolled his eyes. “You’ve got a real talent for nicknaming people.”

Katsuki huffed. “It’s not my fault I’ve known them forever and their real names are still so annoying.”

Izuku laughed, shaking his head. But after a moment, he hesitated, brows furrowing.  “I mean, thanks for inviting me, but I don’t want to intrude or anything.”

Katsuki glanced over at him with a frown. “Why would you be intruding?”

“Well…” Izuku shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not a pro hero, and I’ve been a bit out of touch with everybody, so it might be a bit weird for me to just show up—”

“You’re being ridiculous.” Katsuki reached over and ruffled the messy curls on top of Izuku’s head. “They really want you to come. In fact, they’re all complaining that I’m ‘holding you hostage’ or something. I don’t know where they got that idea.”

Izuku gave Katsuki a knowing look, already feeling reassured. “Alright, if you say so, Kacchan.”

“I do. We can head to Mina’s place together. Sero’s always fashionably late, so the party won’t kick off for a while.”

“So you do know their names!”

“Who, me? Nope, never.”

“I’m gonna tell 'em.”

“Don’t you fuckin dare.”

____

The not-New Year’s party was held in Mina’s penthouse apartment, a lavish space funded by her numerous deals and endorsements since becoming a pro-hero. Izuku gazed up in wide-eyed wonder as they took an elevator to the top, plush carpets and gleaming marble floors lining the way. Music floated through the air as they approached the bright pink entrance.

Shortly after knocking on the door, the pink-haired hero greeted them warmly, a shriek rising from her lips. She rushed over and enveloped Izuku in a tight hug. “I missed you!” she exclaimed, squeezing him against her shoulder.

Izuku returned the hug, a warm, happy sensation spreading through his bones. “I missed you too,” he replied, voice full of genuine affection.

Mina pulled back and turned to Bakugo, who had already assumed a mock fighting stance. She rolled her eyes, waving him off dismissively. “Oh, quit it, Bakugo. I didn’t wanna hug you anyway.”

Katsuki crossed his arms over his chest, a playful smirk on his face. “Yeah, right. You’re just upset you didn’t get to tackle me.”

Mina laughed, ignoring Katsuki’s antics as she grabbed Izuku’s hand and pulled him inside. “Come on, Midoriya! Everyone thought you were too busy inspiring those little munchkins, so I can’t believe you’re actually here! Tell me—have you ever done a keg stand?”

Izuku shot a frantic glance back at Katsuki, silently pleading for some sort of intervention. Katsuki just grinned, clearly enjoying the spectacle of Izuku being thrust into the middle of Mina's chaos.

“I can’t say I have,” Izuku admitted nervously, feeling the bass’s thump grow louder and sync with his racing heartbeat.

“Oh, perfect.” Mina’s mischievous eyes met Izuku’s own, and finally, she led him through a set of double doors to where the real party was already in full swing. 

A slew of drinking games were already underway, with laughter and shouts of triumph filling the air. The space was vibrant with flashing lights, casting a colorful glow over the small crowd. Izuku took in the scene with a wide-eyed look as he was pulled further into the fray.

The room was filled with a familiar group of friends from class 1-A, many of whom Katsuki had been closer with during their school days. Kirishima was in the thick of it, leading a boisterous round of pong against Sero, who was definitely using his tape to keep cups on the table. Kaminari was at the makeshift bar—which looked to be more of a fancy coffee table loaded with a variety of liquors and mixers—pounding shots in one hand and eating a slice of pizza in the other. Meanwhile, Jirou watched from the couch, alternating between teasing Kaminari and flipping through songs on her playlist, the loud music filling the room with lively energy. 

“Midoriya!” Kirishima shouted in greeting, pausing his game to pull Izuku into a big bear hug.

“No way!” Kaminari called with a wide grin, tipping his drink up in a cheerful salute.

“Whoa, hey,” Jirou greeted with a casual nod from the couch. 

“The one and only,” Sero added, taking advantage of Kirishima’s distraction to tape a few more cups to the table.

Kirishima set Izuku down, still beaming. “What’s up, man? Hey, pst—any more kidnappings?” he whispered, leaning in close to Izuku’s ear.

“Not since that one a few weeks ago,” Izuku replied quietly. Kirishima nodded, satisfied.

“Cool. You let me know if you—hey, Bakubro!” Kirishima was nudged aside as Katsuki squeezed between them, casually handing Izuku a drink filled with something red. Izuku sniffed it tentatively, relieved to find it didn’t smell overpoweringly like alcohol.

“Oh! Be careful, Midoriya—Bakugo’s drinks are notoriously strong!” Kaminari called, heading over to join them. 

“That man’s a tank,” Jirou agreed. 

Izuku glanced at the swirling red liquid once more before taking a cautious sip, finding it tasting pleasantly of fruit punch. He looked up to find Katsuki watching him closely. “Nah, it’s good,” Izuku determined, earning a series of shocked gasps from the others.

“Don’t tell me you went easy on him!”

“Gone soft, Bakugo?”

“Not my fault he can handle it better than any of you wimps,” Katsuki shot back, giving Izuku a small, genuine grin. Izuku returned the smile, unaware of the astonished looks from the room.

“Oh my god, did he just smile?”

“I think he did.”

“What in the world is happening?”

“Don’t you lot have anything better to do!” Katsuki snapped, his expression quickly reverting to his usual scowl.

“Yeah, yeah—come on, Sero, we’ve got a game to finish!” Kirishima said, turning back to the table. But before he did, Kirishima threw Izuku a playful wink that sent his cheeks aflame. Wait, did Kirishima know? Did any of them? Oh, geez—

“You okay?” Katsuki asked Izuku softly, placing a reassuring hand on his lower back.

Izuku nodded, taking another sip of his drink to hide his words. “Do…do any of them know? That we’re…um….” he trailed off, unsure of what to call this new thing blossoming between them. 

Katsuki shook his head and leaned in, his breath warm against Izuku’s ear. “No. But Shitty Hair has his suspicions.”

Izuku felt a shiver as Katsuki’s words lingered, his heartbeat racing a little faster. “Hmm.”

“You can tell them whatever you want,” Katsuki said, stepping in front of Izuku and raising a teasing finger to his lips. “Or don’t. It can be our little secret.”

Izuku’s cheeks flushed even deeper, and he turned his face away to hide his embarrassment. He lifted his drink, trying to shift the focus away from the emotion flooding his chest. “Didn’t know you were a bartender.”

Katsuki smirked. “I’m a man of many talents.”

“Stop hogging him, Bakugo! I wanna play pong,” Kaminari whined, probably the only person in the room who could get away with so blatantly interrupting the two due to his sheer stupidity. 

Izuku laughed, offering Katsuki a bright smile. “See you later?”

Katsuki’s gaze softened, melting Izuku’s heart. “See you later.”

____

They spent the next hour immersed in the pong games, surrounded by friends and drinks and laughter.  Izuku and Kaminari had a rough start, losing spectacularly in their first match against Sero and Kirishima. But as the night wore on and Izuku had a few more drinks in his system, his play began to drastically improve.

He and Jirou teamed up for a round and managed to pull off a win against Mina and Sero, sinking in the ball with just one cup left. The cheers and high-fives that followed only egged Izuku on further, firing up the competitive spirit that lay within him. 

“Come on, Kacchan! Don’t you wanna play?” Izuku pouted, the drinks making him brave. 

“Yeah, Kacchan,” Mina teased, pouring Katsuki another drink. “It’s not like you to miss out on the competition.” 

Katsuki rolled his eyes. “I’m just enjoying watching Izuku kick all of your asses.”

“Fine, then let’s play another game!” Mina announced, waving the group over. 

She plopped down on the floor, with Kirishima settling close on one side of her and Sero leaning against the couch on the other. Jirou claimed an armchair, with Kaminari on the identical one next to her. Izuku ended up choosing the couch, and Katsuki casually slid in beside him, their knees brushing and sending a warm fire through Izuku's bones.

“Truth or dare? Spin the bottle? King’s Cup?” Kaminari asked, counting off the options on his fingers.

“What are we, teenagers?” Mina scoffed, “No—we’re definitely worse. We’re gonna play Pizza Box.”  She grabbed one of the empty pizza boxes and spread it out in the center of the floor. With a pen in hand, she scanned the room and asked, “Anyone got a coin?”

“I do,” Sero called, handing her a shiny quarter.

“Perfect,” Mina replied, ready to flip it to start the game.

“Umm…” Izuku whispered to Katsuki, leaning slightly against his shoulder. “What is Pizza Box?”

Katsuki let out a soft laugh. “It’s a dumb game we made up back in our third year. You flip a coin onto the empty spaces of the box, and wherever it lands, you draw a shape and come up with a rule for it.”

“I see,” Izuku said, watching as Mina flipped her coin into the center of the box. She drew a large heart and wrote in the center: ‘Tell your crush you like them.’ Yikes.

Izuku’s brow furrowed. “What happens if I toss the coin in someone’s shape?”

“Then you have to follow the rule,” Katsuki explained. “No matter how wild it gets,” he added, noticing Izuku’s nervous gulp.

“Great,” Izuku replied, waiting for his turn. When his coin landed in an empty space, he drew a cloud and wrote inside: ‘Finish your drink.’

Katsuki followed with his own coin toss, drawing a spiky explosion and writing: ‘Strip to your underwear.’

Izuku smacked Katsuki’s arm playfully. “Kacchan! Why would you write that?” he hissed.

Katsuki shrugged with a smirk. “Because I look great in my underwear?”

Izuku facepalmed, but wisely didn’t let himself say another word. 

They continued around the circle, flipping the coin and adding new rules as they went. The dares escalated quickly, each toss leading to increasingly outrageous and wild challenges, thanks to the copious amounts of alcohol being consumed.

Jirou soon found herself giving Kaminari a lap dance, leaving him wide-eyed and speechless as his crush grinded against him. Kirishima begrudgingly twerked against the wall, muttering something about how it ‘wasn’t manly to back down from a challenge’ to Mina’s unending delight. Meanwhile, Sero was stuck with Katsuki’s stripping dare, putting on an elaborate, showstopping performance for everyone before wrapping the essential parts in tape.

When it was Izuku’s turn, his coin landed on a square that read: ‘Kiss the hottest person in the room.’

Izuku gulped nervously as the room erupted in teasing shouts and playful taunts.

“Get over here, Midoriya!” Mina called out, smacking her lips together with exaggerated enthusiasm.

“What about me?” Sero chimed in next, flexing his arm muscles beneath his black T-shirt.

“Come on, we all know who it is,” Kirishima said, giving Izuku a thumbs-up.

Izuku chuckled at their antics, setting his drink down on the coffee table. “Sorry, guys,” he told the group, leaning in to plant a tender kiss on Katsuki’s cheek.

Katsuki, naturally, couldn’t have looked any more smug.

“Huh?!” Kaminari exclaimed, his jaw dropping in disbelief. “I thought you guys were, like, rivals or something?”

“Catch up, dumbass,” Jirou muttered, smacking Kaminari on the back of the head.

“Ow!”

“No surprises there,” Kirishima teased, tossing the coin to Katsuki. “You’re up next, Bakugo!”

Katsuki flipped the coin with a nonchalant flick of his wrist. It landed on a circle that read: ‘Answer a question from everyone (or take a shot for each question you skip.)’

Katsuki groaned dramatically. 

The group started whispering excitedly, each person eager to come up with a question that would either reveal something juicy or get Katsuki incredibly drunk. Since Kaminari was sitting to Katsuki’s right, he was the first to go.

“Favorite sex positions?” Kaminari asked with a mischievous grin.

“Sixty-nine, doggy, and…anything over a desk. Next?” Katsuki shot back without missing a beat.

The room erupted in shocked gasps at his easy response.

Jirou glanced over warily. “Which one of my playlists do you listen to the most?”

“‘Anger Management Class Sucks—Number Seven.’” Katsuki replied.

"Nice, that was from three years ago, right?"

“Jirou!” Kaminari hissed, nudging her. “That was a waste of a question!”

“But I wanted to know,” she shrugged, twirling a lock of jet-black hair. “And y’all are freaks.”

Kirishima laughed, gearing up his next question. “What do you like most about Midoriya?”

Izuku turned to Kirishima, mouth opening in protest. “No—What?! You don’t need to answer that—”

“I like his eyes,” Katsuki admitted, not looking at Izuku. “You can always tell exactly what the damn nerd is thinking…and I like that.”

The room oohed and ahhed as Izuku turned a bright crimson.

“Jirou—are they dating?” Kaminari whispered urgently. Jirou smacked him again in return. “Shut up!”

Mina interrupted the scene, blinking her innocent eyes up at Katsuki. “Alright, are you gonna uh…do it…with the hero costume on or off?”

Izuku covered his face with his hands, not sure how much more of this he could take. 

“Definitely on,” Katsuki returned with a smirk, winking at the group in front of him.

The room erupted in cheers, the heroes raising their drinks in a toast and tossing them back.

Sero was the first to recover, finishing off his glass with ease. “You think Midoriya could beat you in a fight?” he asked slyly.

“No way,” Izuku replied for Katsuki, laughing it off. Now that he was quirkless, there was absolutely no way that—

“Definitely,” Katsuki chimed in, much to Izuku’s surprise. Katsuki turned to him, giving him a sidelong glance. “What’s that look for, nerd? It’s true.”

Izuku shook his head, touched that Katsuki still believed in him despite everything they’d been through. The sentiment made his heart glow brighter with every passing moment.

“You’re last, Midoriya!” Kirishima called out, grinning widely. “Hit ‘em with a good one!”

“Yeah!” Mina chimed in, leaning happily on Kirishima’s shoulder. “I wanna see him take a damn shot!”

Encouraged by the jeers from his friends, Izuku took a deep breath, feeling the alcohol giving him a brazen edge, and finally asked his question.

“Kacchan…which one of those sex positions would you want to use on me?” he asked, his voice slightly unsteady.

The room immediately fell silent, the only sound the blaring music in the background. Katsuki’s mouth dropped open, and then the room erupted in screams, yelling loudly over the music. Mina ran over and shook Izuku’s shoulders, and Kirishima punched Katsuki playfully in the arm multiple times.

Finally, they all settled down, watching as Katsuki slowly poured himself a shot, tipped it to Izuku, and downed it in one go.

Sero clapped loudly, hooting with laughter. “You’ve gone wild, Midoriya!”

“Tell me again why he didn’t party with us more in UA?” Kaminari shouted, tears still streaming from his eyes. 

Izuku waved them all off, too nervous to look Katsuki in the eye after that confession. But it wasn’t anything he hadn’t thought about extensively before, and with the alcohol making him more daring…

Who knows where the night might lead him? 

____

They spent the rest of the party dancing and drinking, the lights flickering and pulsing in sync with the music, echoing the rhythm of Izuku’s heart. As the hours drifted by, the warmth of his friends wrapped around him, each shared smile and touch turning into a precious memory. 

“You better come by more often, man,”  Kirishima said, cornering Izuku by the drinks table and slinging an arm around his shoulder. “Seeing Bakugo’s face like that was a damn treat!”

“I will,” Izuku grinned, knowing exactly what Kirishima meant. “I’d love to come again.”

But Izuku felt a jolt as Katsuki roughly shoved Kirishima’s arm off his shoulder...maybe a bit too aggressively. Kirishima staggered back, accidentally bumping into Mina, causing a burst of surprised laughter from her.

“Someone’s possessive when he’s drunk,” Mina teased, clinging a bit too closely to Kirishima as the other hero steadied her.

“Whatever,” Katsuki retorted, rolling his eyes and tossing his own arm around Izuku’s shoulders. Katsuki wasn’t much taller, but his embrace folded Izuku comfortably into his chest, creating a warm, protective cocoon. Izuku huffed a breath of laughter, looking up to find the blonde already gazing down at him. 

Katsuki noticed Izuku's attention and leaned in, his voice low and husky as he whispered, “You wanna get outta here?”

Kirishima and Mina wisely turned back to the dance floor, and Jirou kept her ears to herself. For a moment, it was just Izuku and Katsuki—the two of them lost in their own little world. 

“And go where?” Izuku murmured in reply, his green eyes locked onto Katsuki’s red ones.

“Anywhere.” Katsuki leaned even closer, his breath warm against Izuku’s ear. “Anywhere I can have you all to myself.”

Izuku rolled his eyes, trying to ignore the flutter in his stomach. “You already have me, dumbass,” he said, gesturing to their intimate embrace. “See?” 

"Doesn't count."

"Why not?"

“Stop teasing me,” Katsuki warned gruffly, and Izuku pouted, his boldness only rising. 

“Okay, okay, fine,” Izuku relented, grinning at Katsuki’s impatience. The need to be closer to Katsuki and fuel the passion pooling in his stomach was growing stronger. “Fine minutes,” he agreed, watching Katsuki’s face light up with a mischievous smile.

“Five minutes,” Katsuki repeated, gesturing toward their friends. “Uh—Bathroom, Izuku isn’t feeling well.” 

Their friends responded with knowing nods and playful shouts.

“Don’t shit too long!”

"You know the way, right?"

“Use protection!”

“Shut it!” Katsuki barked, the echoes of laughter fading behind them as the pair moved out of the party room. 

Izuku felt his ears start to ring, the sweat trickling down his collar, and a headache beginning to form. But, truly, none of it mattered. Izuku didn’t care—couldn’t care about anything else besides his need to taste Katsuki’s lips on his own. Izuku had been waiting, watching Katsuki—tempting and teasing with his words and actions. It had been fun, to see Katsuki riled up, and not the other way around.

But now, all Izuku really wanted to do was to touch him, feel their bodies pressing together as—

Katsuki must have read his thoughts because his stare was absolutely feral, a smoldering fire that made Izuku’s pulse race. The world outside faded away, leaving only the electrifying heat between them. That very gaze promised what words couldn’t, a silent declaration of desire that set Izuku’s heart aflame.

They didn’t even make it to the bathroom. 

Izuku leaped up, his legs wrapping tightly around Katsuki’s waist as their lips met with fervor. Katsuki caught him effortlessly, hands gripping firmly around Izuku’s ass as he backed them into a nearby room, kicking the door shut. With a powerful shove, Katsuki slammed Izuku against the wall beside the door, their bodies flush together, roaring with intensity. Tongues tangled in an earnest, frantic dance as Izuku's hips moved, grinding, pulling to meet Katsuki again and again, closer and closer—

It was intoxicating. The touch, the smell, the taste of him—all of Izuku’s senses came alive for this exact moment, to feel everything Katsuki was.

And he couldn’t get enough.

Izuku groaned, the sound guttural in his throat as Katsuki moved up his neck, licking and sucking up to his ear. God—nothing had ever felt so good. Izuku’s breathy voice filled the air as he panted, “Kats—”

The door creaked open, the sounds of light sighs filling the air as Kirishima and Mina stumbled in, their lips locked in a heated kiss. Izuku and Katsuki froze, their passionate moment interrupted by the sudden, unexpected company.

Mina was the first to notice them, pulling away from Kirishima and staring at Izuku and Katsuki with wide eyes and dropped jaws. Kirishima’s expression quickly mirrored her shock.

But after a stunned moment, Mina’s laughter rang out, breaking the silence.

“You guys said you were going to the bathroom!” she exclaimed, playfully smacking Katsuki on the arm. Katsuki set Izuku down, barely acknowledging the intruders.

“Fuck, we did,”  Katsuki admitted, looking over at Izuku with wide eyes. His hair was mussed, likely from Izuku’s earlier hands, and his gaze—oh, his gaze was wide and positively hungry.

Hungry for Izuku.

“My bad,” Kirishima chimed in, pulling Mina by the hand toward the door and shutting it gently behind them.

Izuku and Katsuki stared at each other for a moment before breaking into laughter, shaking their heads in disbelief.

“We are so done for—”

“How long do you think it’s gonna take before she texts the 1-A group chat?”

“I give it less than two hours.”

"How about right after she's done with Kirishima?"

"What about during?"

“Oh, geez,” Izuku sighed with a final chuckle, wiping a tear from his eye. “Let’s go home, Kacchan.”

“Yeah,” Katsuki replied with a grin, taking Izuku’s hand in his own. “Let’s go home.”

Chapter Text

The first warning bell that rang in Izuku’s head came one night while they were watching Through the Ages: All Might. 

They were cuddled together as usual, Katsuki’s arm loosely draped over Izuku’s shoulders while Izuku was nestled comfortably against his chest. Katsuki had made popcorn, the bowl settled between Izuku’s legs as they lounged together. 

A loud buzz echoed on the living room table. 

Katsuki never checked his phone during the day, let alone while they were together. Izuku never did either—there was rarely anything important enough to warrant it. So when Katsuki’s phone began humming incessantly, Izuku noticed. And the fact that Katsuki grabbed it so quickly, almost like he’d been waiting for it, was also odd. But it was probably just Kirishima or Kaminari or one of their other friends, right?

Izuku shrugged it off and turned his attention back to the movie.

The second warning bell came at lunch the following day.

After replying to a flurry of texts, Katsuki abruptly stood up, excusing himself from their meal.

“Hey—something just came up. I’ll meet you for lunch tomorrow?” he asked, already halfway out the door.

“Yeah! Sure, Kac—” Izuku tried to reply, but Katsuki was already gone. 

The third warning bell was the harshest, the one that truly sent Izuku spiraling into overthinking. 

It came one afternoon as they were walking back from school together. Katsuki had picked Izuku up after his school day, and Izuku was happily chatting away while Katsuki listened attentively.

Suddenly, Katsuki’s phone lit up repeatedly with notifications, but Katsuki seemed unfazed, content to enjoy the moment with Izuku. However, when the familiar chime rang for an incoming call, Katsuki shot Izuku an apologetic look before answering.

“Yeah? Mhm. Mhm. Okay. Be there in ten,” Katsuki finished, looking over sheepishly at Izuku. 

“Duty calls?” Izuku asked, trying not to intrude.

“Something like that,” Katsuki replied vaguely, checking his phone once more. 

“Where are you going?” Izuku asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Katsuki hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Just a quick thing I need to take care of. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.” He gave Izuku a reassuring smile, but the gesture did little to ease the growing knot of worry in Izuku’s chest.

Katsuki gave Izuku a salute as he left, jogging off toward the center of the city, leaving Izuku to his thoughts.

___

Izuku really didn’t want to be suspicious of Katsuki. 

Izuku trusted him with every fiber of his being and hoped Katsuki felt the same. And yet, there were things Katsuki seemed to be hiding from him—things that felt significant, given the secrecy surrounding them. Disappearing at odd hours, returning with oil in his hair or grease staining his hands, the bizarre number of texts and calls—it was all a mystery that Izuku was begging himself to solve.

Izuku just didn't understand what was so important that Katsuki couldn’t come out and say it. 

So, the only conclusion his mind could draw was, of course, the worst possible scenario: 

Katsuki might be seeing someone else.

It wasn’t like they were official or anything. In fact, their first date and a few close encounters were all that had happened recently, so it would be perfectly understandable if Katsuki wanted to see someone else—someone who wasn’t Izuku. 

But it didn’t mean Izuku had to be happy about it. 

Izuku replayed their memories together: lunches at school, full of banter and laughter; late nights watching All Might movies, cuddled up on the couch; their first date, strolling hand in hand around town; and that late-night party, where their chemistry burned brighter than a star. The events of the past two years raced frantically in his mind, each moment a reminder of Katsuki, and the undeniable emotions in his churning in his gut.

The sinking feeling in his chest grew heavier, each beat of his heart adding weight to the worry settling deep within him. 

I trust you, Kacchan, Izuku thought to himself, trying to push away his anxiety. 

I trust you, and I always will. 

Izuku’s phone chimed with a message, the name ‘Kacchan’ popping up on the screen.

You free this Friday? After school?

Despite his apprehensions and the gnawing fear that had been growing inside him, Izuku couldn’t help but smile. 

You mean, Valentine’s Day?

There was a pause, bubbles appearing and disappearing as Katsuki typed. When the message finally arrived, it was a simple:

Maybe.

Izuku chuckled to himself, the warmth of the smile on his face growing. He quickly typed back:

Yes, I’m free. 

Katsuki’s reply came a few moments after:

Good.

____

The week felt like it was dragging on forever, each day a slow crawl as Izuku counted down the hours until Friday. But despite the endless waiting, he couldn’t shake his buzzing excitement—Izuku was going on another date with Katsuki. Slowly, his spirits lifted, and the worry about what Katsuki might be hiding faded into the background.

Thursday turned out to be the longest day yet. His students, precious as they were, were more distracted than ever with the end of the year approaching soon. It tested Izuku’s almost infinite patience to its limits.

So when the teacher finally left the building, it was nearly six o’clock, the sun setting gently across the city skyline. He still had so much to do today, with grading even more a priority than ever. Checking his watch, Izuku grabbed his suitcase and made his way down the steps, heading out through the entrance.

“Izuku.”

The sound of his name stopped Izuku in his tracks. He hadn’t noticed the figure leaning against the wall by the gate, but now he turned toward the voice, surprised to see Katsuki waiting there in his hero costume, a small bouquet of flowers in hand.

Izuku’s mouth dropped open in a silent ‘o’ as Katsuki pushed off the wall and walked toward him.

“Hi,” Izuku squeaked, shocked expression quickly morphing into a wide, beaming grin.

“I have a dumb question for you, nerd,” Katsuki said, his voice rough but carrying a hint of nerves as he practically thrust the bouquet into Izuku’s hands.

“Will you be my valentine?”

Izuku’s mind exploded, his heart skipping a beat or three as he took in the sight of Katsuki's ears turning a deep red under the setting sun. He slowly reached out, taking the bouquet from Katsuki's hands. As he brought the flowers close to his nose, the delicate arrangement of roses and baby’s breath made him positively swoon. 

With a breathless chuckle, Izuku met Katsuki's gaze, his eyes shining with a mix of joy and disbelief. “Of course, I will,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper, swallowing against the rising emotions in his throat.

Katsuki's expression softened, his usual gruff demeanor melting into something tender as he gazed into Izuku’s eyes. “Good. Now, let’s get out of here before you start crying or something.”

Izuku laughed once more, heart swelling with happiness. It would be his first Valentine’s Day with an actual Valentine, and he couldn’t have asked for anything, or anyone better.

“How’d you know?” Izuku asked, wiping away a tear that slipped away from him, tucking the flowers into his suitcase. 

“Because I know you.” Katsuki leaned over to grasp Izuku’s hand, intertwining their fingers as they began to walk home together. “Now that that’s over—what movie are we watching tonight?”

Izuku rolled his eyes playfully. “Can’t I be sentimental once in a while?”

“Nope. And if you say All Might II, I’m not coming over.”

Izuku grinned. “What about… All Might III?”

“...Fine, but only if you’re making the popcorn.”

“Deal,” Izuku said, laughing as they continued down the street, the warmth of Katsuki’s hand in his making everything else drift away, leaving nothing but the soft glow of the sunset.

____

Izuku hung out with Katsuki practically every day, so why did going out together on Valentine's Day make him so damn nervous?

He spent the better part of the evening trying on every shirt and pants combo in his closet, to find that he liked absolutely none of them. Of course, on the most important day of the week, Izuku had nothing to wear!

Eventually, he settled on a nicer version of his usual outfit—black pants and a white button-up with a black suit jacket that cut his figure just right. He was just finishing up when a knock at the door precisely at six o’clock signaled that Katsuki had arrived.

Gathering his jacket and wallet, Izuku took a deep breath to steady his nerves before opening the door.

Whoa. 

Katsuki was dressed to the nines. He stood there in a sharply tailored dark grey suit that highlighted his strong frame. The crisp white shirt and slim black tie added an alluring touch to his usual fiery look. Used to seeing Katsuki in street clothes or his hero outfit, Izuku felt a flutter in his stomach.

Katsuki paused to give Izuku a long look. But after a moment, he held out a hand, blonde hair glowing gently in the light. “Let’s go, nerd.”

Izuku nodded, his usual sass nowhere to be found. “Yeah.”

They spent a wonderful evening together walking through the city streets, dining at a restaurant, and enjoying each other’s company. It was a perfect Valentine’s Day—every detail meticulously planned by Katsuki, and Izuku couldn’t have been more in love.

Yet, as the night progressed, Izuku couldn’t shake off the unease about Katsuki’s recent secretive behavior. Katsuki was everything Izuku had ever wanted, so why was he unable to let this doubt go? 

As they walked back to Izuku’s place at the end of the night side by side, the city lights flickering like stars around them, Izuku tried to push aside his worries. Katsuki’s laughter and the warmth of his hand in his own were enough to make him forget the world, if only for a moment.

When they reached his apartment, Izuku made to go inside. “Goodnight, Kacchan,” he called, already reaching for the door handle.

Katsuki caught his arm. “Hey.”

Izuku turned, brow furrowed in confusion. “Yeah?”

Katsuki cleared his throat, looking uncharacteristically awkward. “Was…was this all too much?” he asked plainly.

Izuku blinked, taken aback. “What?”

Katsuki shifted, searching for the right words. “I don’t know…was it the fancy dinner? ‘Cause we can go back to something simpler. I don’t mind making you food—in fact, I enjoy it.” He swallowed, taking a deep breath. “Or was it the flowers? Because Mina told me to ask you, and not to assume that—”

“—Kacchan,” Izuku interrupted, shaking his head. “What are you talking about?”

“Tonight,” Katsuki said, his voice quieting. “It seemed like something was bothering you…I thought...”

He shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. “I thought I might have done something tonight. Ugh! You know I’m not good at this stuff but…is everything…okay?”

Izuku stared at him, emotions swirling. “No, no, it’s nothing from tonight. Tonight was amazing—it’s just...I’ve been overthinking things. I didn’t want to ruin the date.”

“You wouldn’t,” Katsuki said firmly, stepping closer and taking Izuku’s hands in his own. The light cast deep shadows across his face, but his gaze was earnest. “You couldn’t.”

Katsuki’s thumbs gently caressed the back of Izuku’s hands, a soothing gesture. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

Izuku sighed, feeling the telltale sting of tears at the corners of his eyes. “Kacchan,” he began, his voice trembling. 

“Are you seeing someone else?”

Katsuki’s face fell, a mix of confusion and hurt flashing across his features. He took a moment to process the question, then shook his head slowly. “What? No, Izuku! What would possibly make you think that?”

His grip on Izuku’s hands tightened, pulling him closer as if to emphasize his sincerity.

“I’m not seeing anyone else. I don’t want anyone else. It’s just you.”

“But what about the messages?” Izuku cried, tears falling freely now. “And sneaking around all the time? You won’t tell me, and I’ve been trying not to pry—but we’ve told each other everything for the past two years! It’s so hard not to worry.”

Katsuki’s expression tightened with a mix of frustration and regret. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like that. The messages and the secrecy—there’s a reason, but it’s not what you think.”

He gently wiped away a tear from Izuku’s cheek. “I wanted to surprise you with something, not push you away.” Katsuki’s eyes softened as they met Izuku’s tearful gaze.

“I’m sorry.”

Izuku knew how much those words meant to Katsuki. If he was apologizing—then he must really mean it. Izuku nodded, turning his weary green eyes up to meet Katsuki’s tender red ones, feeling his love for Katsuki deepen with each passing moment.

Katsuki wiped away another tear, his expression open and raw. “I promise, ‘Zuku,” Katsuki said, his voice thick with emotion, “I will tell you everything. I will show you every message, describe every day, and explain every detail. I just need time…” Katsuki swallowed, breathing deeply. “Just until the cherry blossoms bloom. Can you give me until then?” 

Izuku paused, taking in Katsuki’s earnest request, and then pulled him closer, burying his face in Katsuki's chest. “Yes,” he whispered.

Katsuki breathed out a sigh of relief, holding Izuku close. “It will be worth it, I promise.”

Izuku nodded against Katsuki’s chest, and for a moment, they stayed there, listening to the steady rhythm of each other's heartbeats.

Katsuki looked up to rest his chin on Izuku’s shoulder, sighing dramatically. “Today was not supposed to go like this,” he admitted.

Izuku huffed a laugh, turning his cheek to mumble in Katsuki's ear. “I had a really great time,” he confessed, a blush spreading across his cheeks.

“Okay, but now you’re all weepy on Valentine’s Day,” Katsuki complained with a grin.

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

Izuku chuckled, feeling his heart lighten. “Then how was it supposed to go?” he teased.

Katsuki’s expression turned serious, his voice soft but resolute. “I wanted to ask you to be my boyfriend.”

Izuku’s heart skipped a beat, his breath catching in his throat. He pulled back slightly, looking up at Katsuki with wide eyes, his cheeks flushed. “Are you serious?”

Katsuki’s face was an open mixture of nervousness and hope. “Yeah, I’m serious.”

“Kacchan!” Izuku cried, his voice was a blend of surprise and joy. He leaned back, gave Katsuki a playful shake, and then wrapped his arms around his neck.

“Is that a yes?” Katsuki asked, his voice muffled against Izuku’s shoulder.

“Um—yes!” Izuku pulled back, his face alight with excitement. Without hesitation, he pressed a lingering kiss to Katsuki’s lips, a kiss that made his entire body feel light and warm. And when he finally broke away, Katsuki was smiling too. 

“Finally,” Izuku said, his voice brimming with joy, Katsuki’s grin melting away any lingering doubts.

“What do you mean, finally?” Katsuki teased, his eyes dancing with mischief. “You could’ve asked me too!”

“Now where’s the fun in that?” Izuku replied, raising a hand to cup Katsuki’s cheek.

Katsuki nuzzled into Izuku’s palm, a playful scowl on his face. “You have no idea how hard it was for me to say that—I’m not good at this shit. You’re supposed to help me!”

“My bad,” Izuku said, chuckling softly. “I guess I’ll just have to make it up to you.”

“Yeah,” Katsuki said, pulling Izuku in by the waistband. “You do.”

“Mhm,” Izuku agreed, but before he could say more, Katsuki caught him in another searing kiss. This one was deeper, full of the passion and promise of their new journey together as partners. As they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against one another. 

Izuku couldn’t help but smile, his heart swelling with contentment. “I’m so happy, Kacchan. You make me so happy I can hardly breathe. Knowing you, being with you...it’s all a dream. I really love—” Izuku cut himself off, looking nervous, unsure if Katsuki had caught the accidental hint in his words.

Katsuki’s grin widened, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Yeah? What’s that?”

Izuku’s cheeks flushed slightly, but he met Katsuki’s gaze with a mix of shyness and determination. “I really love this—us. Everything about it.”

Katsuki’s expression softened, and he pulled Izuku in closer, his voice filled with warmth. “Me too. More than you know.”

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, letting the world fall away as they cherished the intimacy of the moment. Spring would come soon, with the cherry blossoms blooming in tow.

But for now, they were content to savor the quiet, perfect present, wrapped up in their own little world.

Chapter Text

As the school year drew to a close, Izuku found himself reflecting on his second full year of teaching. 

It was astonishing how quickly the time had flown by—two whole years since he first stepped into the role at UA, eight years since the war. In that time, he’d learned far more than he ever expected, both about teaching and about himself.

His students made every moment worthwhile. Each burst of laughter, every inside joke, and all their heartfelt confessions were treasures he knew he’d cherish for years to come. Even after they became pro heroes, their presence would remain a source of comfort and joy. It made all the losses he’d felt, like the absence of One For All and his dream to become a pro, seem a bit more bearable.

As the students finally went home and UA became quiet once more, Izuku began tidying up his office, preparing to head home after a long but fulfilling day.

He was lost in his thoughts when a knock on the door broke the silence. Looking up, he saw Aizawa standing in the doorway, a familiar figure with a serious expression. Izuku raised a hand in greeting. “Hey, Aizawa-sensei. What’s up?”

“Congrats on finishing your second year,” Aizawa said, his monotone voice almost masking the sincerity of his words. Izuku couldn’t help but smile broadly, appreciating the rare praise. “And don’t call me Aizawa-sensei.”

Izuku chuckled, continuing to pack his things into his suitcase. “Alright, alright. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Aizawa replied, stepping further into the room and glancing at the clutter on Izuku’s desk.

“Have you seen this?” Aizawa held up his phone, showing an article with a headline about Katsuki, who was featured yelling at someone for getting too close. “Your childhood friend is gonna drop in the charts once more.” 

“Who, Kacchan?” Izuku laughed, knowing that his boyfriend didn’t care about the rankings at all, though he would definitely be furious about the article. “You tried your best to make him change, right, sensei?”

Aizawa shot him with a glower at the name. “Yeah, but it was pointless. The way he talks…” Aizawa shrugged and Izuku chuckled, understanding exactly what he meant.

“Now Todoroki will definitely shoot up in the rankings again,” Izuku said, nodding. The number one spot had recently been a fierce competition between Katsuki, Todoroki, and Mirio, with Mirio currently holding the top position.

They continued to chat about Aizawa’s former students and the world of pro heroes, with Izuku animatedly recounting everything he’d observed from the sidelines.

“—And the other day, Togata-senpai was screaming ‘I’m so scared!’ while laughing—”

“—Midoriya. You've been at this for a while now, and with everyone working as pro heroes... don’t you feel lonely?” Aizawa interrupted thoughtfully.

Izuku paused, glancing up at his former teacher with a contemplative expression. “Hmm…” He hummed, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.

“Years ago, when you were talking to Fuwa-senpai…I thought to myself: even if I do go back to being quirkless, I’ll still be able to use my experience to encourage others.” 

Izuku laughed lightly, though the thought stirred a knot in his stomach. “I think that’s pretty cool, in a way,” he said, looking over at Aizawa.

"Do you think I'm cool, sensei?"

His former teacher remained as stoic as ever. “You know, I said this when you first started and I’ll say it again—I wish you were stricter with your students.”

Izuku sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. 

“That’s important, you know?” Aizawa finished as Izuku closed up his suitcase. 

They chatted a little longer, catching up on various topics, before exchanging their goodbyes. Izuku left the school, heading back to his apartment with a mixture of thoughts swirling in his mind.

As the days rolled on, the arrival of spring brought with it the blooming of cherry blossoms, painting the world in shades of pink and white. The new school year was just around the corner, and Izuku was eager to meet his new students, to inspire and guide them as best as he could.

Izuku wanted to encourage his students—to be the teacher who could build them up, and help them fulfill their dreams. 

Yet, amidst the beauty of the season and the excitement of fresh beginnings, Aizawa’s words kept echoing in his mind.

…With everyone working as pro heroes...don’t you feel lonely?

The question lingered, casting a shadow over his thoughts. 

Don’t you feel lonely?

Izuku found himself drifting back to his past—the intense battles against Shigaraki, the relentless training with friends, and those fleeting moments of heroism popping up as of late with the villains so close by. Each memory tugged at him, a reminder of the life he once lived. The call of the hero’s path, with its camaraderie and adrenaline, felt like a persistent pull—and Izuku couldn’t deny that very tether, drawing him back to the field.

Don’t you feel lonely?

If he were asked that question again, would he still answer the same? 

Izuku didn’t know.

____

The first day of school stirred up a wave of unfamiliar feelings in Izuku. 

His first year had been all about the excitement of landing a teaching job at UA. The second year was filled with eagerness for another round of inspiring his students. But today, as he walked through the front gates with his suitcase in hand, he felt a gnawing sense of dread settle in his stomach.

He wondered what his friends were up to now.

What amazing hero work were they doing? How many people had they inspired? The thoughts spiraled endlessly, and he found nothing could shake him from this mood.

In a bid to distract himself, Izuku checked his phone, hoping for a text from Katsuki that might alleviate the ache in his heart. 

His screen lit up with fifty-four unread messages from All Might. 

Izuku’s eyes widened in surprise. He knew the former hero had been on a secret mission to the US, but no one had filled him in on the details. He hoped All Might wasn't in danger, or worse. Without wasting any time, he dove into the flood of texts:

HELLO! 

YOUNG MIDORIYA!

I HAVE A SURPRISE GIFT!

ANSWER NOW!

Izuku couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head as he began scrolling through the messages. 

So not an emergency, then...but a surprise gift?

Each text was more animated and insistent than the last, and Izuku didn’t even know where to start.

He started typing a reply, but before he could get far, a booming voice shouted out from behind him:

“What took you so long, young Midoriya?!”

Izuku spun around to find All Might walking toward him, holding what looked to be a suitcase in his right arm—matching the one he gave Izuku so many years ago. 

“Ah! All Might—I could’ve gone to the airport if you had told me sooner!” Izuku exclaimed, trying to steady his breath from the sudden scare, but happy to see his mentor.

“I wanted to give you a surprise gift,” All Might said, his voice brimming with excitement.

“Is it…a tapestry?” Izuku asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. But the high-tech suitcase seemed far too elaborate for something as mundane as a tapestry.

All Might’s eyes twinkled with barely contained enthusiasm. “No—young Midoriya, this gift is important, important to your future.”

Izuku stilled, eyes wide.

“The data from my fight against All For One eight years ago opened up some crazy possibilities! Technology keeps evolving alongside the evolution of quirks. This here gives you many of the same abilities as One for All!” All Might carefully placed the gadget into Izuku’s awaiting hands.

Izuku glanced at the suitcase, visibly shocked. “But this looks so expensive…”

“It was created by a friend from the US alongside young Hatsume, and funded by the class A alumni, with young Bakugo at the heart of it!”

Izuku’s mind raced through a flurry of thoughts, images flashing vividly before his eyes. He remembered every time Katsuki had returned later than usual, with soot on his clothes and hands and hair. Every time he had left early, heading toward the middle of the city, exactly where Hatsume Industries was located. Every time Katsuki’s phone had buzzed, not with messages from another lover—but messages from Hatsume, and probably All Might. 

And, finally, with Katsuki’s persistent questions, asking if Izuku still wanted to be in the field, still wanted to become Deku once more. 

Tears welled up in Izuku’s eyes, his emotions overwhelming him. 

Katsuki had been at the heart of it all, working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring Izuku back into the field. The realization that Katsuki had dedicated so much time and money to supporting his dream, without even realizing how badly Izuku wanted to be a pro…

It shattered Izuku’s heart with an immense wave of happiness.

“The secret’s out!” All Might declared with a broad smile. “Take this to heart, kid. This, too, is a power you’ve earned, fair and square!”

Just as All Might’s words sank in, Katsuki appeared, standing tall and determined with a warm, proud smile on his face. The sight of him brought a fresh wave of emotion to Izuku’s eyes.

“Let’s go,” Katsuki told him, reaching out a hand.

“Deku!”

And Izuku took it in his own, just like he always had, and always would. 

____

“I can’t believe you all knew and didn’t tell me!” Izuku complained that night, lounging on the couch in Katsuki’s apartment.

Katsuki’s rumbling chuckle made Izuku’s toes curl as he slid closer on the couch, taking the beer Katsuki handed him.

"Believe me, it wasn't easy—I almost spilled everything a few times," Kastuki admitted sheepishly. "And I'm still pissed All Might got to you before me. I wanted to be the one to tell you!"

Izuku's laughter echoed softly in the room as Katsuki raised his drink.

“To becoming a pro hero,” Katsuki toasted, his voice brimming with pride.

Izuku grinned, feeling the weight of the day’s events melting away in the warmth of Katsuki’s presence and the chill of the beer. “To becoming a pro hero,” he echoed, clinking his can against Katsuki’s.

They each sipped in silence until Katsuki set his drink down on the coffee table, and after a moment, Izuku followed suit, clearing his throat.

“How long?” Izuku asked quietly, his green eyes reflecting the soft light in the room.

Katsuki swallowed, running a hand through his spiky blonde hair. “Pretty much since we found out you were going to be quirkless for real. I was skeptical at first,” he admitted, reaching out to trace the lines of Izuku’s fingertips.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki said with a shrug. “But when I stopped by Hatsume’s about a year ago, I saw how real it could be...and then we went to work.”

“You mean…” Izuku’s eyes widened. “You were working on it with them? And funding it?”

“Of course,” Katsuki replied. “Those extras don’t make cash like pro heroes do. I had a lot saved up already, and—”

“Kacchan,” Izuku interrupted, his eyes glistening with emotions he felt poised to speak. “Why did you do all that?”

Katsuki’s hand stilled as he tightened his grip on Izuku’s. 

“For you,” he admitted, his voice breaking. “Being number one means nothing without you beside me." Katsuki drew Izuku closer, their faces nearly touching.

"Being a hero may be your purpose, but you...you're my purpose.”

Izuku’s heart filled and filled and filled and—

“I love you, Izuku,” Katsuki confessed, eyes shining. “You push me to become the person I want to be. And all I ever wanted was to be that person for you—I will be that person for you. I swear it.”

Izuku threw his arms around Katsuki, holding him close and never letting go.

“I love you too,” Izuku whispered, burying his face in Katsuki’s neck. 

“Stay by my side forever."

Katsuki’s answering squeeze told Izuku everything—no words needed. It was a promise and a pledge, sealed with the unspoken understanding that their bond would endure, no matter what came their way.

____

Izuku’s first mission came not long after his hero costume fitting. 

His new costume was basically a replica of his from the war, except with a few minor adjustments here and there to accommodate for his lack of quirk. Armored sleeves extended from his shoulders to his wrists, providing both protection and a boost to his physical strength. His shoes were equipped with extra propulsion capabilities to enhance his speed and agility, while sturdy knee pads ensured both protection and comfort during intense combat situations. The utility belt was no longer just a tool for first aid; it was equipped with a range of high-tech gadgets designed to support him in ways that One For All could no longer.

Despite his nervousness at getting back in the field, Izuku couldn't help but feel giddy. 

He’d always dreamed of being a hero, even when he was just a small kid, chanting All Might’s name only for his mom and Katsuki to hear. Now, that dream was finally within his grasp, and he was stepping into the role he’d always envisioned. 

Teaching had given him a deep sense of fulfillment, a purpose when everything else felt uncertain. And Katsuki had been the one to show him that there were many ways to make a difference, not just as a hero, but also as a mentor and a guide.

But with this mission on the horizon, that old fire within him blazed anew. Katsuki, along with All Might, Hatsume, and his class’s alumni, had breathed new life into his old dream, reigniting his passion. With the help of new technology, they had given him a renewed purpose: 

To be a hero.

“A landslide at Starwar Highway is messing with traffic: requesting help from heroes!” A voice crackled through his earpiece. Without a moment’s hesitation, Izuku sprang into action, his heart pounding with determination and excitement.

Arriving at the scene with his friends was like stepping into a dream. Working together, fighting for what was right—they made a truly powerful team. As they tackled the chaos, Izuku glanced around, almost catching a glimpse of Shigaraki’s shadow in the sunlight. 

Memories flooded back, ghosts dancing outside his mind and into the limelight, threatening to come forward—

But just then, Katsuki reached out his hand, calling out for Deku once more. 

It was a name that had once carried the weight of struggle and doubt, but now echoed with the warmth of boundless support. Hearing it again brought Izuku a joy that made his heart swell.

He knew there would be challenges and moments of hardship. Being a hero wouldn’t always be easy or glamorous—the war had taught him that. But he also knew that sometimes, all it took was for someone to reach out a hand—a hand to help, to support, and to love.

This is the story, of how all of us will keep reaching out our hands forever.

Chapter Text

Katsuki was lying in bed, half-asleep, when he felt Izuku’s persistent tugging at his hand.

“Come on, Kacchan!” Izuku’s voice was bright and full of energy, cutting through Katsuki’s groggy state. He could feel Izuku's fingers slipping between his own as he tried to drag him out of the covers.

“We’re gonna be late!”

Katsuki groaned in response, his reluctance clear. He let Izuku pull at his hand, but he wasn’t about to make it easy. 

“Alright, alright, fine…” he muttered, playing along. But as Izuku’s attention wavered, Katsuki seized the opportunity. With a quick yank, he pulled Izuku back into the bed, making his boyfriend yelp in surprise.

“Just kidding,” Katsuki said with a mischievous grin, pulling Izuku closer against his chest.

Izuku's nonthreatening fists pounded lightly against Katsuki in playful protest. Katsuki snickered, the sound vibrating through his body as he wrapped his arms around Izuku, heating the space between them.

Izuku sighed softly, his body relaxing into Katsuki’s embrace. Katsuki could feel his boyfriend’s tension easing away as he snuggled closer. He nuzzled into Izuku’s hair, his voice a low murmur.

“I get up early every day. I patrol at the same time every day. But for once, let me stay in my fuckin bed,” Katsuki muttered, hoping to convince Izuku to enjoy this rare moment of peace.

Izuku sighed contentedly, settling into Katsuki’s arms. “Fine, for a minute...but only because you’re so convincing,” he murmured, closing his eyes and snuggling deeper into the warmth.

Katsuki’s smug grin spread across his face, illuminated by the soft early morning light. 

It had been a few months since pro-hero Deku had returned to the field, and the media was abuzz with his comeback. Izuku's popularity had soared, thanks to his easy smile and the way he charmed fans with his genuine interactions. Katsuki's heart swelled with pride every time he saw Izuku’s face on TV or heard people rave about his achievements.

Izuku was always meant to be a hero—Katsuki could see that now. In their youth, Katsuki never could have fathomed it. But at UA, Izuku had proved him wrong time and time again. And when he had lost One For All… Katsuki felt his soul shatter along with Izuku’s dream. The thought of not having Izuku by his side, their rivalry fueling each other, was unbearable.

So Katsuki had tried to help in the best way he could. He had even called Izuku and told him his new idea. So for a while, Izuku had been a hero in a different capacity—as a teacher, educating and guiding the new generation.

But selfishly, Katsuki had wanted more for him. He wanted Izuku to stay by his side, as he always had, to reach their dreams together.

And now, that was finally coming true.

Deku’s fame was something he deserved, more than anyone. It was something he’d earned through his actions in the war and the life he had built since. 

But even with all the attention, it gave Katsuki great joy to know Izuku was still his. And as Katsuki held him close, he couldn't help but feel grateful for these quiet moments together amidst the whirlwind of their busy lives.

Izuku began to fidget beneath him, the telltale sign of his impatience. “Kacchan…” he complained, and Katsuki could almost feel him rolling his eyes.

Katsuki sighed in mock exasperation. “Fine,” he said, giving in and sliding out of bed. As he stood up, Izuku reached out, capturing Katsuki’s mouth in a kiss that left him breathless. Izuku’s hand threaded through his hair, and Katsuki nearly moaned at the contact.

He wasn’t sure when it had started, but everything about Izuku drove him wild. From the way his hands felt against his skin to the determination in his eyes, and even those unruly curls—everything about Izuku made him feel positively feral. And his smart mouth was the absolute worst, teasing Katsuki in a way that made him crazy.

Ah, I do remember when it started, Katsuki supposed. It was that very first day, seeing him again at UA…

Izuku pulled away, reading the loving expression in Katsuki’s eyes. They were always like that—communicating without ever speaking a word. 

Shit, I really am turning into a sap.

Izuku seared another quick kiss into Katsuki’s awaiting lips before heading into the bathroom to change, swaying his ass all the way. 

The tips of Katsuki’s ears turned red. That little fucker, I’m gonna—

“The interview, Kacchan! The interview!” Izuku called, poking his head out of the bathroom. 

“Right,” Katsuki replied, focusing back on the task at hand. 

They were together, after all. There would be time for everything later—late mornings in bed, cuddling during quiet nights, spontaneous dates in the day.

Being with Izuku was more than just his dream now, it was his reality.

And Katsuki was never going to give that up. 

____

The interview was going to be as dumb and pointless as ever, just like all the others. The only saving grace this time was one thing: Izuku was here.

Having his boyfriend by his side honestly made everything better. Even the interviewer leading the thing was surprised by his lack of insults and willingness to do as he was told. Dynamight certainly wasn’t known for his cooperation. But—he was known for getting shit done, and that’s what he was going to do today.

Also, it helped that Izuku’s presence calmed him. Slightly.

Izuku’s soothing influence truly did work wonders on him. It was odd, really—how just having his boyfriend by his side could smooth out Katsuki’s usual rough edges.

The interview was about to begin. Side by side, they sat on the plush white couch, positioned across from the interviewer, a woman in blue. Katsuki didn’t care enough to remember her name. 

“Are you guys ready?” the woman asked softly, glancing at Izuku for confirmation. Izuku nodded enthusiastically, his energy infectious even as the woman’s gaze shifted to Katsuki. Katsuki felt a dark look in her eyes and grimaced in response.

“And don’t curse, Dynamight,” she warned, her tone light but firm. She flashed a smile at the cameraman, who began counting down on his fingers.

Katsuki rolled his eyes, not bothering to reply. He felt a light smack on his shoulder from Izuku and sighed, straightening up a bit and forcing his scowl into a neutral expression.

“Three… two… one…”

“And we’re live! I’m here today with pro heroes Deku and Dynamight. Welcome, heroes!”

“Happy to be here!” Izuku squeaked, his enthusiasm palpable.

Katsuki gave a curt nod, his posture relaxed despite his internal groaning. He was accustomed to these interviews, the routine grating but familiar.

“Happy to have you! Let’s get right into it, shall we?” The interviewer grabbed her fancy pack of cards, presumably filled with the approved questions for the day. Katsuki could already feel his patience wearing thin at the sight of the stack.

“So, Deku, tell us about how you reentered the world of hero work!”

Izuku’s eyes lit up as he began, “Well, it’s a long story actually! So…”

As the interview continued, Izuku handled most of the questions with his usual charm and thoroughness. Katsuki chimed in when questions were directed at him, but his answers were brief, punctuated with grunts and nods. The exchange flowed smoothly, and Katsuki could almost forget the camera's gaze as the time passed by quickly.

“Okay, next, we have a bit of a personal question for you both,” the interviewer began slyly, her tone hinting at something less professional.

Katsuki’s internal alarm bells went off. He could tell from her smirk that this was not going to be a pleasant segue.

“There’s been rumors about you two being…ah, closer than just partners in hero work.”

Shit, Katsuki thought, his jaw tightening. He could already feel the heat rising in his ears, and he shot a quick glance at Izuku, who looked equally unsettled.

“The media has been circling with pictures of you guys…” She paused for dramatic effect, tossing aside her stack of cards. “...in various situations that suggest a more...personal relationship. Can you clarify what’s going on?”

Katsuki’s eyes narrowed. This wasn’t in the predetermined list of questions, and it was clear the interviewer was trying to provoke a reaction.

Izuku’s hand brushed against Katsuki’s knee, a silent reminder to stay calm. Katsuki could feel the warmth of Izuku’s touch, a grounding force amidst the escalating tension.

Izuku took a deep breath and began, his voice steady despite the situation. “Well, we’ve always known each other—it’s been since we were kids, really. Reconnecting with Kac—Dynamight has been a joyful part of my life these past few years.”

Izuku turned his head slightly to look up at Katsuki, and the love shining in his eyes nearly broke Katsuki, and he couldn't help but smile back, despite the circumstances.

The interviewer gave a happy chuckle, leaning in further. “So…just reconnecting? Nothing more?” she pressed, smirk looking a bit too evil for Katsuki’s liking. 

“Well…um…professionally, I admire him a lot,” Izuku continued, redirecting the flow to a safer topic. “I’m always learning from him every day. I think that’s more than just reconnecting.”

“I see,” she replied, clearly not satisfied with the answer. Tossing a lock of her blonde hair over her shoulder, she went in for the kill. “So what can you tell me about the rumors about how you two have been going home together?”

Izuku's calm demeanor started to waver slightly as he tried to respond. “We’ve just been—”

But Katsuki's fury was a raging, wild thing. All the media training and pep talks before today flew out of his mind in an instant. This wasn’t just about intrusive questions anymore; it was about Izuku being uncomfortable, and Katsuki wasn’t going to stand for it.

I’ve had enough of this shit.

“—Alright, that’s it!” Katsuki interjected, his frustration boiling over.

He turned to Izuku, grabbed his hand, and pulled him up, fingers intertwining easily as they had hundreds of times before. 

“How dare you intrude into our personal lives!” Katsuki spat at her, standing up to face the camera now with a fierce glare. “We’re dating, and that’s that—I don’t give a fuck who knows! Now fuck off with the questions!”

The studio fell silent as Katsuki’s outburst echoed through the room. The interviewer’s expression faltered, her professional facade crumbling under the weight of his anger. But the flicker of excitement in her eyes at the scandalous revelation only fueled Katsuki’s rage further.

How dare they—

“Go throw yourselves into traffic! I’m done with this shit,” Katsuki finished, his voice a mix of defiance and exasperation. He stormed off the set, Izuku trailing behind him.

The studio erupted into a flurry of activity, with staff scrambling to shut off the broadcast and attempt to bleep out Katsuki’s swears. But Katsuki didn’t care about any of that. He was done with the intrusion, done with the prying questions.

Once outside the studio, he sank into the stairwell, his anger giving way to heavy realization. His outburst had been raw and unfiltered, and he had revealed everything before it was time, before he had even asked Izuku about it. With his head in his hands, Katsuki tried to process the full weight of what he had just done. The consequences of his actions were starting to sink in, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

Izuku found him there, sitting beside Katsuki with a concerned look on his face. “Kacchan,” he said softly, placing a comforting hand on Katsuki’s shoulder. “It’s okay. You did what you had to do.”

Katsuki glanced up, his eyes meeting Izuku’s with a mixture of frustration and vulnerability. “I didn’t mean to—”

Izuku shook his head gently. “I know. It’s just...you were protecting us. That means a lot. More than you know.”

Katsuki sighed, letting the tension slowly ease from his shoulders. “Yeah, well, it didn’t come out too great, did it?”

Izuku’s smile was warm and reassuring. “You did good, Kacchan. Sometimes, people need to hear it straight. Take it from a former teacher.”

Katsuki nodded, feeling a bit of the weight lift off him. As they sat together in the quiet stairwell, he realized that while the aftermath of his actions might be muddled, he wouldn’t have it any other way. Standing up for his relationship with Izuku was worth every bit of mess that came with it.

Izuku chuckled, breaking Katsuki out of his thoughts. “But did you see the look on her face?” he asked, still giggling.

Katsuki couldn’t help but laugh in return. “Yup. Like her dog died and she got the best Christmas present all in one,” he replied, shaking his head. “Fuckin’ pricks.”

“Mhm,” Izuku agreed, his head of green curls dropping onto Katsuki’s shoulder. The contact was comforting, grounding Katsuki in the midst of the whirlwind they’d just endured.

They sat there together, savoring this brief moment of peace before diving back into the chaos of their lives. Katsuki found solace in the warmth of Izuku’s presence, the steady rhythm of his breath, and the soft rustle of his curls.

It was Izuku who spoke up first. “You ready?” he asked softly, his voice a gentle anchor in the storm of their day.

Katsuki looked down at Izuku, his eyes reflecting the unspoken promise of their bond. In that moment, he knew with unwavering certainty that he would do whatever it took to ensure Izuku’s happiness, to protect the love flowing boundlessly between them.

“Yeah,” Katsuki replied, his voice resolute. “Let’s do this.”

Izuku’s smile was all the encouragement he needed. With a final searing kiss, they stood up together, hands intertwined, ready to face whatever came next. 

Because, in the end, they had each other, and that was more than enough.