Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was a regular Tuesday, the roads busy and crowded, sidewalks bustling with people headed to their day-to-day obligations. Busy chatter amongst pairs walking side by side, arms intertwined, business men tuning into virtual meetings, kids tugging at the straps of their backpacks and hopping excitedly on their way to school as their parents kept an eye out for oncoming traffic. Distinct heaps of sounds coming together in a practiced orchestra. Kept in their last bits of morning tranquillity with the presence of a cooling autumn breeze.

Izuku sniffed away the cold, which had been slowly creeping onto him along with the season’s change. A firm gust swished through his hair at every twist and turn of his aerial movements. Looking down below, he couldn’t help a small grin from tugging at his lips at seeing the peaceful scenery all around. Trees in their metamorphosis, the sky emitting a faint orange hue at the light’s reflection on the slowly withering leaves; it was all very mesmerising and pretty to gaze upon as he basked in the pretty colors for as long as the peaceful moment allowed him to.

At the beginning of September, for many, it meant the continuation of their hectic lives as summer slowly transitioned into autumn. The green leaves were crisping because of the passing wintry winds from the north, drying out all colors until only splotches of orange remained, transforming the landscape in its totality.

The start of a new season meant a start for the new semester in the hero course, too. The colder months often proved to be more prone to criminal activity, which was perfect for 3rd year graduates in training. Not that their efforts in the battle two years ago weren’t enough proof of their capability with All For One being defeated in a destructive battle; one so grave and intense, whispered conversations still surfaced from every corner or crevice on the streets.

Tons of innocent lives had gotten inevitably caught amidst the warfare, both regular citizens as beloved pro heroes alike. As a result, the aftermath of chaos had left a deep rooted imprint on those still alive, harbouring their grief and hatred for the league, but not only the league.

Not everybody agreed with the choices made by the capable pro heroes present in said battle, and many still expressed their contempt about the entire situation to this day.

People heavily criticized the situation where everyone ended up being so immensely dependent on a child. They weren’t exactly wrong, but people seemed to forget they were heroes in training. Were children even meant to take on the heavy burden of a war they hadn’t initiated in the first place? No, of course not. Was there any other way to go about it? Obviously not. They were aspiring heroes in training and duty had simply called.

Batting an eye and leaving the adults to do the dirty work was not an option. Blame it on heroes’ ambition.

Only those closest to battle knew the severity of the stakes and difficulties of the situation.

Luckily, the debates ebbed out over the last year, but people still recognized Izuku and he had somewhat grown exponentially popular as time passed.

And then there was spinner’s book too.. A crowd of people had come to sympathize with some of the league. Though the majority didn’t, there were still enough people who did, and enough people to start a discourse over how society and the government had failed in their duty to create a cohesive community.

Everything just got a little messy after that. Riots started breaking out more often, robberies and theft, demolition of public properties, harassment of regular pedestrians. Luckily no bigger threats though, but that didn’t mean these issues weren’t an evident problem.

It’s the start of a new year now, Izuku and the entirety of the UA hero course have been training and studying, giving it their all to heed the dangers they couldn’t directly see—always one step ahead of the threats lying in waiting. They were stronger now, all of them, and this being their last year, made for a different kind of reality check.

They would be heroes after this. True heroes.

Starting up agencies, joining agencies, protecting those who can’t fend for themselves, being dependable and heroic. It all seemed so thrilling! Izuku couldn’t wait to put on the caps and gowns, standing on a grassy field with all his classmates as they closed this chapter of their life to celebrate the start of another.

Together until they dissipated.

It was a little sad, but that was what came with chasing high-end dreams and building a life of which to be proud of. Besides, it’s not like they’re not in the same line of work—they’ll have plenty of opportunities to work together as actual colleagues instead of classmates.

His heart beat erratically at the visionary of his future and he couldn’t help grinning from ear to ear. Finally, he could become the hero he had always dreamt of being. Izuku thanked the divine-quirk-being out there who had deemed him fitting enough to protect the clean slate that was the essence of One For All after almost having lost the embers completely.

His eyes crinkled in delight, thinking about graduation and his future. It was finally in reach and he had fought so incredibly hard for it.

Utilizing a support system in his gloves created by Mei, Izuku hummed softly as he swung from building to building. They mimicked the webs of a spider, and he still struggled to get a hang of the mechanics, but in certain ways, it was reminiscent of blackwhip. The electricity charge allowed for friction in chemicals which wrapped the high-end strings in a magnetic field. He swung happily, playing with the aerodynamics of the stretch and pull and drop as he let gravity run its course.

He was managing pretty well despite the support system still being in its beta period.

It would never be the same, with all the vestiges and their quirks gone, though. At least he had gotten the ability to accelerate the blood in his veins—something One For All had manifested into—pumping his blood, so his punches and kicks maintained their original force from when One For All still worked at its full percentage. Izuku was glad he at least still had this, though he had to admit it was a little lonely now without the vestiges rambling inside of his head.

He missed them.

“Oi!,” A sharp claw poked at his floating bubble of a daydream, grounding him back to earth, “Focus, nerd! Can’t screw up on the first mission. Get out of your head.”

Kacchan.

Thin but firm thread shot out of his knuckles, cutting the air and connecting itself onto hard surfaces as he peered to his side. Green eyes softened as he allowed himself to stare at the prettiest of sparkles dancing to the air next to him, accompanied by a handsome face bearing a focused expression and red eyes sharp and calculating.

He stared some more at Katsuki’s sharp side profile, tracing the almost too perfect lines of the latter’s face with a quick sweep of his eyes. He reminded Izuku of a cat and the thought seemed so fond, Izuku fought the urge to chuckle. Kacchan as a fluffy cat—how silly that must be.

Yes, Katsuki may come across as all sharp and edgy angles upon first glance, second glance, and even third glance, but if one truly paid any attention, they’d notice the subtle plumpness of his cheek, the roundness of the tip of his nose, the soft curve of almond scarlet eyes.

Eyes which had adopted a newly gentle song in the way they held Izuku’s. He could almost hear the peaceful tune playing soundly within the depths of red—and even brown—hues.

They hadn’t always been like that, so the softening in demeanour filled Izuku with an indescribable sense of joy and satisfaction. How long he had hoped to be civil with Kacchan until, one day, they finally were. His best friend, the one closest to him, his weak link, his strength. The one Izuku wished to spend the rest of his life with if he allowed it. He loves Kacchan. He has always loved him.

He knew Katsuki was attractive, but there was no denying that in the run of things, and ever since the war ended, the blond had started growing out of the boyish and rounded features. Maturing both inside and out. He had all the qualities of a perfect heartthrob jock, but looking at him now as the sparks of his quirk shone on every curve and sharpness, Izuku could acknowledge he hadn't just grown handsome but prettier, too.

Pretty, but most importantly: alive.

Izuku felt his heart jerk slightly in his chest at the remembrance of a barren and bloody battlefield. A surge of phantom dread weighed down his bones as horrifying images flooded his head.

Kacchan had been dead. It was a fact Izuku still struggled to wrap his head around.

Had he truly died, Izuku wouldn’t know what to do with himself after everything would have sunk in. They hadn’t even properly rekindled or discussed after the apology! How could he reassure Katsuki that he never blamed him for behaving the way he did if he was dead? Izuku doesn’t know what he would have said.

Still, the perfect words struggled in their way to come to him, but the possibility of not being able to say anything at all had instilled Izuku with a new type of anxiety, so incredibly suffocating nightly terrors still taunted him in their clawed grasp.

Evidently, not talking to Katsuki feared Izuku.

He wanted to say and do so many things, but could never find the right time to do or say any of it.

After the horrors of battle, Izuku suffered occasional nightmares and night terrors. Apparently, PTSD is what they call it?

A post traumatic stress disorder many heroes, even those at the top, struggle with. Being a hero doesn’t come easy and losing those you love was, and always will be, an inevitable threat lying in waiting for the perfect time to dig its teeth in.

Love.

He loved Kacchan. Loves him deeply. He always has.

Izuku had a storage of adoration and admiration, voluminous and, one sometimes times even ghastly overbearing, occupying the space of his heart inside of his chest.

But, without him noticing, those feelings weren’t just all they were anymore and had spiralled out of control. They had taken shape, morphed into something deeper and raw. An emotion all consuming and so life changing that the first time he had noticed, it scared him.

The change in Katsuki’s behaviour wasn’t of much help either—playing ping-pong with Izuku’s fragile heart. Kacchan was still as prickly and explosive as ever, but the subtle actions of care and body language; grabbing Izuku by his hand instead of his lower arm, pushing Izuku gently by his lower back when guiding him somewhere. Or looking out for him amidst battle to keep track of how Izuku’s faring with his new suit, one which Kacchan himself had majorly funded.

All of it just messed with Izuku’s heart, the acknowledgement and undivided attention causing his heart to beat at a rapid tempo, but surely it couldn’t be—

Shouldn’t be… a crush?

Then there was the way his hand lingered on the small of Izuku’s back whenever helping him back to his feet, or how maroon eyes locked on green amidst the heat of battle in a sound song—communicating their next move without uttering a word.

It sometimes felt as though ants danced through freshly made canals beneath his skin with the way those fiery eyes filled him with electricity whenever they picked him out amongst the crowd.

Kacchan was also incredibly pretty. And Izuku couldn’t help himself from occasionally, if not always, staring at the latter in utter and complete awe. It was only when said eyes caught him in his hyper fixation that Izuku coloured an embarrassing shade of crimson accompanied by the immediate urge to run away.

He couldn’t recall when exactly it was the shift in feelings happened, but they were there all the same, holding Izuku in their grasp. A pleasant suffocation at best.

Sometimes, seeing how Katsuki’s face brightened, shedding that almost permanent scowl as he basked in unadulterated laughter and glee, it touched Izuku so much that he had to fight back a cheesy smile at the sound of such raw and uncorrupted happiness.

He loved when Katsuki was happy. He loved how his friend had become much more comfortable removing the filter of his intentions and true self after pouring out his regrets, and putting in the effort to be better.

Trying to be better for him and those he held dear. Izuku’s heart jumped in his chest and a blush coloured his cheeks rosy at the thought of Katsuki putting in an effort for him. Something so unnatural and alien, he sometimes had still trouble wrapping his head around the concept.

Izuku whipped his head back to the road, swinging from the green electric threads as they caught on buildings. His face heated from embarrassment as he let his mind wander once again.

And—oh!

Oh…

He really loves Kacchan.

If anything around him was uncertain, that was the only grounding fact tethering him to the surface; stabilising him.

Izuku glanced to his right as anticipation bubbled in his tummy ready to rise to surface and voice his excitement, but he knew better and writhed in silent happiness instead. He couldn’t believe Katsuki had asked him to tag along on patrol. He chose him!

He allowed himself to drink in the third year hunk next to him, gaze lingering on the soft cupid’s bow atop the subtle curve of rosy lips. He wondered if they tasted as sweet as the words he never uttered but were so apparent in the way he looked at Izuku, and—Oh, they locked eyes. A bemused glint bathed in maroon as a trickle of explosions combusted into glittering sparks, accelerating their instigator through the air to keep up pace with Izuku. 

“You have a death wish or something, you self-sacrificial jerk?” Words of care and worry. Izuku tried not to swoon and blush, because if he had to go by any of Katsuki’s habits and tendencies, he could unmistakably detect concern laced in the pitch of his gruff voice.

“Stay focused, nerd” he muttered and Izuku complied, jerking his attention back to the road ahead. Giddiness transitioned into sudden surprise, his stomach dropping, as Izuku narrowly avoided crashing into a window when taking a sharp turn to his right.

Katsuki’s face twitched in annoyance, turning to look at Izuku.

“You De-, are you even listening to anything I’m saying?” Oh.. no. He definitely wasn’t.

But, truly, how could he when Kacchan was so undeniably and distractingly pretty next to him?

Izuku felt himself flush as he continued to just stare at Katsuki’s bemused face. Oh, wow. He really was going crazy. He slowly started to grasp onto the whole concept of ‘love makes people crazy’. But if he were being honest, deep down he had always harboured a faint crush for Katsuki (though mistaking it for a sole admiration instead).

Izuku admired lots of things. It was almost a curse, in a way.

The curse of owning a heart so exponentially big, yet it was almost impossible to hold all the love he had to give locked up inside. It needed an outlet, whether it was through his note-taking or simply watching the people he admired do what they did best.

Izuku glanced at the flickering reflection in the window reflecting a pleasant picture of them soaring through the sky side by side.

Green and blond and viridian and ruby red.

All he could think as he grinned softly at their mirror-selfs was how well they fit together. He allowed himself to wonder whether Kacchan ever felt the same, if the possibility of them—no.

Friends. They were friends.

He was being silly.

They could finally be civil and friendly with each other. Ruining something as sacred and once deemed to be impossible like that wasn’t an option. If he loved Kacchan, he’d do this single thing for him in return. No matter how much it ached in his heart.

Oh.. And the way he said his name with such gentle ease, it was truly—

Katsuki growled with a hostility, his facial expressions counteracted. Izuku snapped back to reality, glancing timidly to the side as he stifled back a chuckle. The way the blond’s lips curled, revealing the pointy edge of his canines, and hair carried the wind in messy spikes, was almost endearing. Painting a picture like that of a—cat.

The change in behaviour and how he treated Izuku had changed a lot ever since the apology; one they had never actually talked about in the aftermath of everything else. It had seemed so negligible with all the chaos unfolding all around them, so it naturally took a backseat until the moment was over and they didn’t speak of it ever again.

Izuku had tried, but he couldn’t seem to find the words to convey what he felt regarding the situation, which was new. He almost always knew what to say, though when the object of conversation was Katsuki, Izuku seemed to be at a loss for words.

The chaos was distracting enough, so he momentarily shoved it into a ‘discuss for later’ file.

Chaos indeed. Especially in the way how Izuku’s quirk took to the centre of the stage. Just when it was deemed to be gone completely, the smallest of sparks had miraculously ignited from within. Izuku was no longer connected to any of the vestiges, all quirks erased except for the baseline that was One For All.

Why and how it exactly happened wasn’t very clear, but All Might suspected it had to do with the fact that Izuku was the last person to utilise One For All’s power, and tuning into his quirkless nature, the quirk had somehow chosen him as its new successor. Its change on a clean slate. Some quirks adopted conciousness like that. It was still a topic of mystery on unthreaded grounds, but Izuku took relief in how it seemed to be true, anyway.

It was a rather vague concept, and since the origins of quirks were still somewhat a mystery, there wasn’t exactly an explanation as to why One For All had taken on consciousness and decided on Izuku as its new host.

So, yeah. Tons of chaos, no time to really talk.

But realistically speaking; no more words had truly needed to be said between the two of them. The way things had changed between the both of them as time passed spoke volumes in itself.

And this subtle one, as Izuku held gazes with Katsuki, was a perfect example. Especially the way Katsuki’s eyes softened in their prolonged eye contact, or how they slightly crinkled in the corners when he smiled. The genuine and sweet reaction made Izuku want to keep luring them out of the latter. To make him laugh, to make him smile, to make him want to spend time with him. To make Katsuki worried wasn’t something Izuku particularly enjoyed, but he did like the way it felt to have such undivided attention directed at him.

Only him.

From a person he had never dared to wish it from.

Normally he was the one always chasing after Katsuki, obsessing over him, his quirk, his strengths and weaknesses, habits and tendencies. But it felt nice to be on the receiving end for a while. Even if Katsuki wasn’t as extreme as Izuku, he showed it in his own ways and since they had known each other for so long, Izuku could perfectly pick up on all the smooth signs.

They rounded a building into a clearing when a faint buzzing erupted from their ear pieces as they neared the area, “—anyone…—need.. —elp…”

They shared a quick glance, nodding once as they came to a silent agreement. A gust of explosions sparked all around as Katsuki descended to the ground, Izuku trailing after him.

“Where to?” Izuku yelled.

“Coordinates say it’s somewhere around here, centered amidst a green landscape?” Katsuki looked upwards as he held Izuku’s mindless gaze from down below.

Centered amidst green… There was only one spot close enough in their vicinity to fit those descriptions. “I can see those screws working, Deku.” The other’s acknowledgement successfully pulled Izuku out of his headspace as he accorded a rhythmic shift in his descent, taking his side next to Katsuki. When the other put a safe distance between them, Izuku flashed a reflexive grin. So mindful. “The city’s botanical garden!”

The area was quiet as they began their descent—or at least, tried to.

It happened faster than both of them could keep track of as a yelp mixed with the noise of booming explosions and the delayed fizzles of electricity.

The suit’s web shooter malfunctioned, sending Izuku tumbling towards the ground. Panic seized his former state of calm as the floor below grew gradually closer.

Izuku could break his fall with a flick of his finger, creating a small gust of wind, but from this height, that would most likely end up with him in braces and indescribably hurt.

A string of angry curses sounded from somewhere behind him and so he craned his neck to find their source. Before he could fully turn to look, a firm arm had snaked around his waist, pulling him flushed against Katsuki’s chest. “Are you stupid just falling to your death?” the other’s hot breath against his ear brought about an unexpected shiver. “Call out for help when you need it, dammit!”

“I-I’m sorry, Kacchan I was just—“

His breath hitched as the arm around his waist tightened, as Katsuki gently lowered them to the ground. “That damn Goggles. She said she had perfected the gloves!” He slowly let go of Izuku’s waist as he settled them on a patch of grass.

The immediate loss of warmth and safety left Izuku with an aching longing, already missing the contact.

How horrible. He really was far gone.

His cheeks flushed in embarrassment at the thought as he struggled to look the other in the eye. “I’m sorry. I was just thinking about how to break my fall, but then-” Katsuki rolled his eyes, taking Izuku’s chin in his grasp, tilting his head upwards. “How many times do I need to put it in that thick head of yours—” His warm hands slid upwards, cradling Izuku’s cheeks together in a playful squish, lips pouty and moist.

“—it’s okay to depend on others sometimes. We were up sixty feet! How the hell were you planning on breaking such a fall, you dumbass?!”

He let go of his grasp, and Izuku could finally feel a breath of oxygen trickling back into him. “A gust of wind.” He muttered, cheeks reddened. “A gust of wind.” Katsuki repeated lazily, eyebrows raised in disinterest. Izuku struggled to keep looking and tipped his chin downwards, shifting his attention to the tiny flower blooming between them instead. A hand came up to his forehead, pushing his bangs to the side before another hand flicked his skull with such force it brought tears to his eyes.

“You’re an idiot.”

Izuku jumped backwards, both hands shielding his forehead and face contorted in response to the lingering stinging where Katsuki’s fingers had laid contact. “No need to get physical about it!” he spat in a pitched, challenging cry.

Katsuki, however, was no longer paying any attention to Izuku as his demeanour stiffened before converting into a stance of defence. Scarlet eyes locked in as they peered around the place.

“Izuku.” He called out, and Izuku immediately took notice of the seriousness with which the other had uttered his name. Izuku offered a quick nod in response and checked the watch on his wrist. A red dot flickered right where they were standing and he looked back up at Katsuki, and an expression of uncertainty washed over his features as brows knitted in confusion. “I don’t get it, the threat should be right—“

—here.

It all went so fast.

First, Katsuki’s face hardened, jaw tight as he yelled for Izuku to move. And then came a white flash, illuminating the mix of soft and sharp features he could see so well from their proximity as Katsuki forcefully pushed him aside.

Izuku landed on his back with a yelp, head taking the blunt force as his vision clouded with stars and a white haze. Cheeky laughter ebbed out of hearing range as Izuku could see the blurred shape of the incident’s instigator running away.

In a haste attempt to regain his composure, despite the aching behind his eyes, Izuku stood up with a groan. All he could see for a sliver of a moment from the abruptness of the action was white, and white turning into pastel green, until it shifted to a more prominent deeper shade as his body grew familiarised with the new position.

He rubbed his eyes as he ran for the edge of the garden leading into the woods, but his pace was unsteady and he sunk to his knees. The cheeky laughter had long disappeared, and he was now left all alone under the canopy of trees.

Alone?

Wait. That couldn’t be right.

“Kacchan!” Izuku called desperately as panic seized him completely, turning his blood cold and making his skin sit uncomfortably atop his bones. Swift, frantic eyes glanced about the place in search of a hint of blond amidst all the green. The beauty of the garden, colored in all shades of orange, yellow and light green, could have been a pretty sight to behold if wasn’t so focused on Katsuki right now.

The world spun around him, dizzying. Air trickled past his lips, down his throat, only to fail at pushing through the lump stubbornly occupying the narrow space.

Izuku rested his arms next to his sides, hands clenching and unclenching as he followed a routine of breathing exercises Kacchan had taught him a few months back. He had been experiencing frequent panic attacks and had been trying his best to shield them from his friends when he was ultimately caught by Katsuki in the training room.

‘Breathe in. Breathe out. One…, two…, three. Now do it again, Izuku. Follow my lead.’ He could still remember how they had held eye contact then and tried his best to envision it now, too. “One…” And the comforting weight of Kacchan’s firm hold. “Two…” The warmth radiating from a body still heated from the aftermaths of training so close and pleasant to how cold he had felt. “Three…” The musk scent of sweat mixed with a freshly sweet cologne wrapping around him, aiding the oxygen back into his lungs.

Izuku exhaled a last time, the image of Katsuki shielding him from the world’s probing presence dissipating as he grounded himself back to the here and now. He felt a flicker of relief, though worry still gnawed at his insides, flipping his stomach around like a washing-machine touring its rounds.

Brought down from his high, Izuku gathered his chin in his left hand and plucked at his bottom lip—a habit he couldn’t seem to get rid of no matter how much he tried. He knows how it probably looked incredibly dumb, but he was a firm believer in it helping his subconscious to think.

Everything was okay. Kacchan was okay—he had to be.

It’s Kacchan.

Izuku figured the latter had probably run off in pursuit of the villain. Izuku sighed, thinking back to the sudden occurrence of everything happening all at once and then; silence. What was that bright flash and why had Katsuki looked so fearful?

To speak the truth, it made him feel a little restless and then there was the agitating white noise humming in his ears.

He rubbed at the back of his head, heading towards a small pathway in a quick stride when his feet got tangled with something on the ground. He looked down at his feet and—oh.

Oh..

Izuku bent to his knees to pick up the piece of glove that wasn’t his. He inhaled deeply, holding his breath as he took notice of all the clothing pieces scattered across the ground. Squeezing his eyes shut, he willed his heart to adopt a more careful pace.

Continuing on, he found padded armour to his left, and on his right, the utility belt Kacchan always wore.

A chill ran down his spine; Izuku couldn’t help but let his thoughts run wild. He was growing more worried as he found the other glove and, lastly, Katsuki’s headband.

Izuku halted in his movement as he retrieved the headband from the ground, still bent to his knees; he noticed a swift motion beneath the remains of fabric just a few feet in front of him. Why was everything all over the place?

What the hell happened here..

He brushed it off as a trick of light before raising himself back up and dusting his pants just as his ears perked up at the sound of a quiet whine carried on the wind. It had sounded almost cat-like.

Izuku’s attention flicked to the faint noise of a rustle coming from in front of him. The fabric moved again, startling him, and this time he couldn’t just brush it off as the rustling grew more frantic and the whining and hissing louder.

He trudged forward in a careful step, his hands held in front of him to maintain a safe distance; lest there be a bloodthirsty animal buried beneath the fabric. Izuku fought the threatening surge of another panic attack upon seeing Katsuki’s clothes abandoned as they were.

But maybe this was…

Scattered clothes, an animal hidden beneath Kacchan’s costume…

It could only mean one thing, and Izuku wasn’t sure he was going to like it. There had been rumours, but he hadn’t expected to actually fall victim to them—at least not as indirectly as this.

He crouched down, hands still held in a protective stance as he raised the black fabric. First a fuzzy blond tail popped out, and then a tiny paw—sharp nails clawing at the air.

The whining stopped and a low hissing sounded instead as Izuku locked eyes with the fiery, sharp red of the cat’s.

It was a cat.

A red-eyed cat with blond fur, looking up at him with a look of mild curiosity before slipping into boredom.

A blond cat with red—

“—Kacchan!?”

First came a warning hiss and then the kitten jumped right out of the cocooned fabric and Izuku instantly regretted calling out so abruptly as it sprang toward his face, digging its razor-sharp kitty claws into his skin.

He yelped in his desperate attempt to get the furry creature off of him, “K-Kacchan, it’s me. Please stop—OUCH.” The demonic being bit him in the nose and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes.

He pried the cat—Katsuki, presumably—off him, holding him directly in front of his face to try to grab its, his, attention by looking him straight in the eye.

It proved fruitless, however.

The cat was still squirming and clawing at Izuku’s hands and arms, littering them in scratches and bloodied gashes. Izuku grimaced, “Ouch—would you—.. would you stop? Hey!” The cat—Katsuki— started violently wriggling in his hold as a means to escape, nearly slipping out of Izuku’s grasp.

Izuku bit his bottom lip, pondering for a moment, before adjusting his hold on Katsuki to allow him some comfort. He slipped a hand underneath the ca—Katsuki’s chest, supporting his weight with his other hand tucked beneath the cat’s bum.

The hissing and growling quieted down, so Izuku figured he must be doing something right as he held the furry creature closer to his chest—trying with an effort to ignore the fact that it was initially Kacchan he was cradling in his arms

It was quiet now as the blond fur tickled his chin where he held cat-Katsuki close. With a soothing and rhythmic motion, Izuku rocked cat-Katsuki back and forth, calming the spiky animal down with the soft hum of his voice and cradled in his warm embrace.

The little creature was shivering. “How cute.”

Its shut eyes twitched comfortably; Kacchan must be incredibly sleepy from the sudden shift in its bodily cells.

Izuku blinked when he realised whilst continuing to caress the cat’s soft fur.

Not ‘it’ dammit!

His!

This is still Kacchan, after all, just in a different… format.

Izuku was good with animals, and he was good at handling Katsuki. He would be fine. They would figure this out, together.

Everything was going to be fine!

-

“This poses a problem,” Aizawa said, his voice laced with seriousness and tension. Izuku blinked at the gravity of his tone, while All Might was laughing up a storm. Meanwhile, cat-Katsuki, perched atop Izuku’s shoulder, was nibbling on the hairs above his ear, tail flicking back and forth—hitting Izuku in the face over and over.

He didn’t mind, especially since the purrs of contentment vibrated against his ears—the small huffs and puffs of cat-Katsuki’s breath tickling the tip of his ears.

Izuku fought the urge to giggle at how cute he was being and suspected the ease of comfortability had to do with cat-Katsuki tipping into actual cat-like behaviours. Perhaps being in this feline form had somehow subconsciously tuned him into the biological instincts of a cat.

He was so much like a cat already; Izuku wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, but didn’t out of caution that Katsuki was still aware of his human origins and wouldn’t claw at his neck for laughing at him.

He had shown no signs to prove that statement, though—the guy was nibbling at Izuku’s hair, for god’s sake.

“I reckon this has to do with the Fruits Basket case popping up lately?” Izuku queried, raising an eyebrow. Aizawa sighed, “Please don’t use that name, but yes. It does.” All Might interjected, “We know this fiend has been trolling for a while now. They have a pattern, though.”

Izuku’s ears perked up, curious to find out if he would agree with the analysis. “Do enlighten me!” He sputtered excitedly, cat-Katsuki now nibbling at his ear and biting roughly as if to warn Izuku to stop moving so much. “—Ouch, yeah, yeah, sorry little guy.” But cat-Katsuki didn’t like that either, as he bit more forcefully in a growl, drawing blood.

“Uh, Midoriya, you might want to—”

“—I’m fine. This isn’t the first time. Continue.” At this, Aizawa gave him a puzzled look, but brushed it aside to focus on the problem at hand.

“The Akito Mimic is known to target specific celebrities.” Aizawa sighed at the mention of the name. “Truly who came up with these? Why are we referring to this criminal as an ‘anime’ antagonist? —” He inhaled a deep breath and pinched the flesh between his brows as he sighed. “—Anyway, they’re known to target celebrity duos with a specific dynamic.”

…

“You see what I’m getting at, Midoriya?” He didn’t. He had no idea. They weren’t celebrities, were they? At least, he thought so... “I guess so… But what about the dynamic thing? What does it, uh, mean?”

Aizawa slumped in his chair, motioning with a flick of his hand for All Might to take over. He hesitated for a bit, clasping his hands tight in front of his chest. “You know us heroes have a fandom, and if you were the fanboy I expect you to be, you’ve probably heard of shipping culture, right?”

Izuku nodded meekly. He was aware—having contributed to some of it as well in his All Might fan page days, rather shamelessly so. He didn’t want to think about it. The cringe was enough for him to want to curl up in a ball and die.

“So, what you’re saying is that this person lured us out and targeted one of us to live out their own fantasies? I don’t understand how they’d benefit from this, though.” He caressed Cat-Katsuki’s chin, purrs of contentment flowing in vibrations through the air.

Cute.

“Fan culture is weird like that, young Midoriya.” Well, okay, but how were they going to fix this? There’s not much intel on the quirk since authorities struggled to get a hold of its user. “Will he… Will Kacchan always be—”

“—No,” Aizawa quickly interjected. “He’ll turn back soon enough, but you’ll have to keep him close to you. He might be a little confused right now, so make sure you keep an eye on him and be sure not to tell anyone.”

Izuku hadn’t needed to ask why that was. Knowing Kacchan, the unwanted attention would only tick him off. He couldn’t begin to imagine how a more raw and animalistic version of Kacchan would react.

Izuku chuckled awkwardly as Cat-Katsuki balanced itself on his shoulder, snout pointed downwards, wiggling his little bum as he readied himself to take off.

Oh, no, no, nope—that’s not happening.

But Cat-Katsuki had already jumped and momentarily levitated in the air before settling back into Izuku’s arms to his clear catty disdain. Izuku was almost certain he could see the beginnings of a frown in the furry features. But he didn’t care, cradling the fluffy creature closer to his chest as he rocked him back and forth, stroking beneath his chin like he had done in the botanic garden.

He grinned affectionately down at the furry mess in his grasp as cat-Katsuki visibly relaxed—rubbing his head against the fabric of Izuku’s hoodie and leaving blond fur all over.

Watching over him until all was back to normal, huh?

“That shouldn’t be a problem.”

-

“So, he turned into a cat?!” Ochako screeched, hands shielding her mouth as her eyes widened. Izuku laughed sheepishly. It was his fault, really. He hadn’t been very discreet when trudging the stairs to his floor. But, if he were being honest, cat-Katsuki’s bratty behaviour also played a major part; if not the crucial role.

He had been squirming and wriggling to be freed; having grown tired of being nestled in Izuku’s embrace. The feline blond had awoken with a start upon noticing its position, and it made Izuku question how much Katsuki was aware of the situation.

If cats could grimace, the way his snout curled up, revealing a sharp canine tooth and red eyes sharpened, told Izuku all he needed to know.

Truthfully, he had been making a ton of noise trying to shush the rogue cat down, and unfortunately, Ochako had come running up the stairs with concern plastered all over her face. Which is how they ended up here, in his dorm, Cat-Katsuki exploring his desk and nibbling on—no!

“Don’t—” Despite his protests, Izuku yanked the notebook from the feline blond’s teeth; paper ripping where Cat-Katsuki had refused to budge. “—don’t eat that!” The feline creature merely hissed in response; kitty-brows drawn into a scowl as his fluffy blond tail flicked tauntingly from side to side.

“And don’t give me that look! These are important!” Izuku shoved the books into one of his many cabinets and sat back onto the bed.

“Bratty much,” Ochako said, eyeing the desk where cat-Katsuki sat unbothered, licking his paw and wiping his little head. But then his attention shifted from annoyance to intrigue—cat-eyes widened as he grumbled lowly—setting a fixed stare onto one of Izuku’s fuzzy pens as kitty paws played with the cloudy ball.

His next target. Cat-Katsuki jumped playfully towards the object, pawing at the ball of fluff with a hesitant playfulness and purrs in contentment.

Izuku sighed, deciding to leave him be as he made for the closet. He’d lie if he said the sight wasn’t even a little endearing. He craned his head towards Ochako, “Tell me about it. I’m all battered and bruised” and took one of the many safety kits from his shelf.

The price you pay for being a hero. Or cat owner. It was the same thing, anyway.

He sat down on his bed and cat-Katsuki was quick to notice the balls of bandages Izuku retrieved from the box—purring as he hopped onto the bed; weight dipping down onto the mattress where his tiny paws landed.

Izuku unscrewed the bottle of alcohol and cat-Katsuki grimaced at the intensity of the scent, pushing his snout into his paws, rubbing away the unwelcome aroma.

“Need help?” Ochako offered, but Izuku shook his head and hummed. “No need, I’ve been here before.” He drenched a cotton ball in alcohol and closed the bottle to cat-Katsuki’s relief as the curious kitten finally dared to inch closer to the ball of bandage on Izuku’s lap.

Izuku carefully wiped off his cuts and bruises as cat-Katsuki put a hesitant paw on his lap, glancing up at Izuku with an intense eye contact before kitty ears twitched and cat-Katsuki flicked his head back to the curled-up bandages—other paw sinking onto the fabric of Izuku’s joggers.

“Uh oh, someone has a new target.” Ochako giggled as she scooted the bandages closer within cat-Katsuki’s reach. The feline blond hitched backwards and hissed quietly upon the gesture; ears pushed back before setting them right again when Ochako retrieved her hand.

Red curious eyes latched onto the target at hand as cat-Katsuki stepped back onto Izuku’s lap, a little less hesitant this time around. The feisty fluff ball had a goal, and he wasn’t about to let anything get in the way as he crouched down into a defensive stance, narrowed eyes set in determination.

Cat-Katsuki launched forward, but Izuku was quicker; taking the ball of bandage into his hands and uncurling it as cat-Katsuki landed on his lap, glancing up at Izuku with a clear disdain written all over his fuzzy cat features. It hadn’t meant to look adorable, but Izuku couldn’t help the utter fondness he felt from warming his insides at the sight.

Katsuki remained seated on his lap, curling his tail inward as he focused on the way Izuku handled the fabric—circling it around his arms. Izuku brought the wrapped arm down to his lap next to Cat-Katsuki. The kitten sniffed curiously at the fabric before glancing back up at Izuku.

Cat eyes, red and intense, now held a faint trickle of concern and something else Izuku wasn’t sure how to identify. Cat-Katsuki craned his neck and sniffed at the bandage some more—Izuku suspected it was because of the alcohol, but then Katsuki butted his head against Izuku’s arm and purred soundly.

This was… strange. Ochako gave him a look, but Izuku just shrugged his shoulders as Cat-Katsuki rubbed his head some more—purring silently before realization eased him into a halt. His red eyes widened like they had before and in a flash of events, the soft caressing of blond fur had shifted into that of a stinging bite as sharp teeth sank into the bandage—drawing blood once more.

Izuku tried to pry the growling cat off him for the umpteenth time that day and hissed in agony, not knowing what had caused for such a switch in mood. “Quit that!” He yelped, putting cat-Katsuki back onto the mattress.

The little devil appeared somewhat satisfied now as he whipped his tail playfully and licked his paws, not meeting Izuku’s scolding gaze.

“You’re a cat now, you can’t go digging your teeth into me every chance you get!” The cat, however, didn’t seem to care as he continued grooming, rolling across the bedsheets as its short-term kitty attention was now dragged to its fluffy tail whipping from side to side, playfully.

“You’re unbelievable...” Izuku sighed. Ochako shuffled towards the door to retrieve her shoes. “I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” She eyed the cat with a glint of interest before cupping a hand next to her mouth. “I’ll keep your secret.”

“Thanks, Uraraka-san.”

With that, the door to his room snapped shut, and all that engulfed the silence was the soft purring of the devil’s incarnate gnawing at the pillow on his bed.

Somehow, Katsuki’s feisty attitude was even worse in cat form. It was ridiculous, and though Izuku wished the other would just turn back already, he couldn’t deny it wasn’t the least bit funny. “Maybe I should take pictures to show you later,” he whispered with a chuckle.

Izuku’s mind wandered off to earlier, and how the fleeting moment of affection shifted into utter hostility instead—as if Katsuki had realised something amidst the deed of his actions, had grown conscious of what was happening and willed himself to stop with the bit of common sense he still had.

The thought of Kacchan subconsciously letting his true intentions seep through the cracks of his cat façade made Izuku feel a little giddy.

If only...

This could only point to the fact that Kacchan was in fact aware of what he was doing, but because he was a cat now, his actions struggled to find a balance in what he wanted, and didn’t want to show.

He had rubbed his little fuzzy head so affectionately against Izuku’s arm; it made Izuku wonder whether that was Kacchan himself, or the cat finding satisfaction within. Not pushing aside the possibility of an apology that might’ve lingered in the gesture.

Or maybe Izuku was just reaching.

Maybe he just sought for a reason to be worthy of Katsuki’s unfiltered affection.

Whatever, it was still an adorable courtesy, and he would so taunt Katsuki with it once the blond came to.

Izuku was smiling to himself as he brisked over to the closet to grab some extra blankets and his sleeping attire.

Day had relented to night as pinks and oranges, which once occupied the free canvas of the sky outside, bled into hues of purple and dark blue twilight.

He was getting sleepy now, and if the dramatic yawn opening to the sight of many sharp-edged teeth revealed anything—Cat-Katsuki was too.

Izuku peered at the clock on the wall above the door—its hands pointing to nine. Well past bedtime for human Katsuki. It was endearing to Izuku how, despite the change in shape and form, the essence of Katsuki’s character still filtered through.

Izuku giggled as the little ball of fluff righted himself into a sitting position on his pillow. Approaching the bed with the blankets for Cat-Katsuki, Izuku shook his head. “You can’t sleep on my pillow, silly. I’ll get a neck ache in the morning.”

But Cat-Katsuki didn’t budge as he huffed and plopped down into a ball, back turned to Izuku as if he had no care in the world. “Uh, Kacchan?” Izuku hesitated, reaching to nudge Cat-Katsuki with the tip of his finger, but retreated quickly, fearing the bite he was sure to initiate.

He sighed, grinning despite the bratty, catty behaviour. “Fine, but only because you’re so adorable,” Izuku chuckled, the way cat-Katsuki’s ears twitched and curled-up body tensed going unnoticed as Izuku lifted the pillow to push it closer to the wall—finding his position in the space it left behind.

Izuku retrieved the small blanket where it lay discarded on the ground, moving over to tuck Cat-Katsuki in it. Or, well, the pillow surrounding him; it resembled some sort of nest, and Izuku giggled a little at the absurdity of it all.

Here he lay with Cat-Kacchan next to him, though maybe slightly different from what he had hoped. Looking at the little fur ball, Izuku resisted the urge to grab him and cuddle him closer to his chest, liking how the blond fur had gently grazed his skin prior in the afternoon.

He could only imagine how comforting it must be to fall asleep like that, the warmth, the softness. He had never had a pet before, so Izuku was curious, to say the least. Perhaps it could help ease his nightmares or even take them away entirely.

He gazed over at the bundle of fluff perched atop the pillow, its tail hanging gracelessly off to the side and wiggling contentedly in relaxation. Izuku bit his bottom lip, truly debating on just grabbing Cat-Katsuki and snuggling up into his soft furs this time around.

But he couldn’t possibly…

He can’t!

What would Kacchan think? God, that would be so awkward.

This is still Kacchan.

Izuku sighed, pulling his own blanket closer to his chest until he realized he had never changed his clothes. But he was too lazy to get out of bed now, so he made do with just taking off his shirt; sleeping in his joggers was no big deal.

There was an unwashed cat in his bed, after all. Not that he would ever accuse Kacchan of being dirty.

Sneakily glancing towards the occupied pillow, Izuku grinned at the sight of the rise and fall of Cat-Katsuki’s tiny frame. So… this was really happening. Kacchan looked so undeniably cute! It wouldn’t hurt if he just softly grazed his fur, right? As long as he didn’t wake him—if Kacchan didn’t know…

Kacchan wouldn’t mind.

Izuku heaved a breath of courage and wriggled an arm out of his blanket, reaching over to pet the little fluff of cat-Katsuki’s back. Pressing down onto the blond, feather-like fur, Izuku sighed in content and smiled softly. It felt as though caressing a cloud—if he could make a bold guess of a cloud’s texture.

After hesitant caresses, Cat-Katsuki didn’t budge, so Izuku applied a bit more pressure, enjoying the feeling of the feathery texture beneath his palms. It felt ticklish, but his heart warmed at the way he succeeded. He was petting a cat! A cat in his bed! A cat so soft and cute, he just wanted to squish it in his arms. A cat who was—

Kacchan. A cat who wasn’t a cat, but Kacchan.

Izuku retrieved his hand faster than the speed of light at the realization and closed his eyes. That was silly. He vowed to not do it again. It’s not like Kacchan had given him permission to either.

He didn’t want to overstep his boundaries.

Perching his arm beneath his head, Izuku mimicked a weak attempt at an uncomfortable pillow. Behind him, he could hear the soft purrs and exhales of a sleeping Kacchan. He shouldn’t be as content as he was right now—the brat stole his pillow!

And yet, as he peeked one last time to the side, seeing the slight shift in position as Cat-Katsuki had turned to face him instead; sharp cat-eyes closed, Izuku couldn’t help but feel a warmth from bubbling in his chest where it spread into the pit of his stomach.

He turned to face Cat-Katsuki and as they lay nose to snout—Izuku could feel the soft huffs of kitty breaths tickling his skin. He basked in it until sleep washed over him, unaware of the curious red eyes peeking at his sleeping form.

Night had fallen and the sounds of crickets seeped through the open window. Singing their nightly song in a calming harmony, welcoming the dewy September air.

The relaxing atmosphere wasn’t enough to stop the terrors of the night, as it did nothing to ease the loud mess that was Izuku’s mind.

This had worsened throughout the years, an aftermath of his status as a teenage veteran. There was nothing he could do except for growing himself around his fears, becoming stronger in every emotional aspect.

How he would achieve such an ideal was the underlying question, though. And he felt as time passed by, such a future only slipped further out of his grasp.

Where he had once felt serene and at ease, Izuku was now startled awake in a cold sweat, puffing out ragged breaths from the anxiety inducing nightmare he had narrowly escaped from. He raked a trembling hand through his hair as he gazed at the ceiling.

Sometimes, he would wake up remembering the dream in vivid detail, but other times, all that lingered were emotions of dread and distortion.

He closed his eyes, willing his heart to slow its erratic beating, but the attempt, unfortunately, proved to be fruitless. “Shit.” He rarely cussed, but this was getting ridiculous. These dreams were unrelenting, coming and going as they pleased, owning his mind like parasites.

Sometimes he had periods where no dreams accompanied his nights at all, and sometimes they did. It was completely out of his grasp.

And when they did, they weren’t very merciful.

He’d lost count of how many sleepless nights he has had to endure over the years. It didn’t help how it was indefinitely Kacchan in the centre of it all.

Izuku exhaled shakily as he grabbed his head between the icy grasp of his hands, slapping a few times until his cheeks reddened. It wasn’t helping. His chest hurried in the rise and fall, and his breath grew slightly pitched and rugged. Shifting to his sides was of no help, the failed attempts only fueling his panic.

But then there it was: a gentle nudge against his cheek.

He slowly opened his eyes and turned his head to the side as green locked on the prettiest shade of red he’s ever seen. It was as though the features of a cat, and the slitted shape of his pupil, made the eyes staring back at him all the more intoxicating. And, momentarily, he didn’t see the cat he had grown to affiliate with the hues of scarlet and ruby. Instead, he saw a curved nose, rosy lips tucked in concern and apprehensive eyes searching his own.

Just as fast as it had come, the image dissipated, like water flowing into a stream, and the cat returned, though the expression of worry still lingered.

“I’m okay, Kacchan.” Izuku cusped the little cat’s face in his palm, stroking the fur behind his ear as the feline blond closed his eyes and leaned in with a purr. “It was just a dream. I don’t even remember it.”

He frowned a little as the images of a barren battlefield flickered through his mind, a boy lying on the cold concrete, a cavity where his heart was supposed to be, skin cold to touch and derived of all colours.

Izuku shivered and closed his eyes, trying to push the sickening imagery down before it resurfaced in a clearer, more vivid picture. He felt another nudge against his nose before a rough, sandpaper-like touch grazed his cheek where a tear had spilled.

Had…Had Kacchan just asked him for permission to wipe his tears?

Izuku’s eyes sprang open, gazing into those of Cat-Katsuki’s which were blinking innocently back at him.

Was he… Was he not aware of what he had done?

Red eyes blinked, slightly delayed in their movements. Long whiskers tickled Izuku’s face as Cat-Katsuki sniffed his face. It was then he just decided on leaving it for what it was—cat tendencies. Yeah, that’s probably it. Cat-Katsuki purred and sniffed some more at his eyes. “No,” Izuku chuckled softly, “I won’t cry.”

“Promise.” Izuku rubbed their noses together. When Cat-Katsuki didn’t back away, Izuku just kept his nose there, eyes closed, and sighing out a soft breath. Cat-Katsuki purred and nuzzled his nose against Izuku’s cheek. “Yeah, let’s go to sleep.”

With the announcement, Izuku closed his eyes as his free hand continued to play with the fur behind the cat’s ear.

Kacchan allowed it, judging by the sing-song of gentle purrs, and Izuku wasn’t about to pass up the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Goodnight, Kacchan,” he whispered.

Cat-Katsuki buzzed happily as he curled into a ball right next to Izuku’s head, the small puffs of air against his curls and the vibration of kitty noises lulling him into sleep.

Finally at ease, Izuku was not further disturbed by any nightmares that night.

-

It was time for class and Aizawa had discreetly warned him not to lose Cat-Katsuki from view, but how the hell was he going to manage that if he had to be present? Besides, it was still unclear when Katsuki would return to himself and, in case he needed help then, Izuku wasn’t comfortable about leaving him alone.

Raking a distressed hand through his hair, Izuku watched pensively as little Cat-Kacchan stared at him with expectant and curious eyes. It was sweet how his curiosity seemed more apparent now that human complexity didn’t cloud his feelings. Instead, there was just a pure, innocent and simple interest.

Izuku bellowed a chuckle, “I can’t take you! Aizawa would kill me.” Cat-Kacchan jumped off the bed and circled Izuku’s bag before sitting right next to it, staring up at him with wide, expectant eyes. “Take you with me in the bag?” Izuku eyed cat-Katsuki warily. “We both know you’ll hate that… What is your real reason for coming along?”

Cat-Katsuki looked to the side, transfixed by something Izuku couldn’t see when he followed the mindful gaze. He then shifted his attention back to Izuku and hissed, and Izuku could’ve sworn he heard it translate to ‘what’s it to you, nerd!’

He pondered over it, glancing from Cat-Katsuki to the bag and back at him again. “You’re sick of being holed up in this room, is that it?” But the small fluff didn’t reply, just stared through slitted red eyes, as if the fact uttered couldn’t be any more obvious.

Izuku huffed a sigh, hands perched atop his hips. Cat-Kacchan was small enough to fit in the bag, but Izuku had a feeling this wouldn’t end well.

“Don’t come at me if you end up hating it.” Izuku hesitated where stood crouched before the feline blond. He carefully slid his hands underneath cat-Katsuki’s paws where his hands clasped around the cat’s chest for a better grip. The feline creature hissed quietly, “You asked for this,” Izuku mumbled as he set Cat-Kacchan down into the bag.

“And don’t—” the sound of a gag and a fixed angry stare from furry ruby eyes. interjected him as Izuku could’ve sworn the brat had quirked a brow at him. “—d-don’t complain about the smell. I forgot to take out the leftover tuna onigiri over the weekend, so now the smell is still— “

Cat-Katsuki figuratively flipped the bird on him by turning his back and sinking down into the bag with a small huff, tuning out Izuku’s excuse for the horrid smell. “T-this was your choice!”

He picked up the bag and slung it over his shoulder, but pulled it to his chest as a loud screech sounded from within. He opened the drawstring of the bag to peer inside as a nasty yap of a paw kicked him in the face, followed by a series of hisses.

“You chose this!!” He retorted in annoyance, but the feline blond wasn’t having it, snapping back just as agitated. “Okay, okay. Jeez, I’ll just—” Izuku cradled the bag in his arms held before him, “—hold you like this.” As they left through the door, Izuku silently prayed Kacchan would have mercy on him.

-

This was a bad idea. Izuku sat in the back of class, empty seat in front of him usually occupied by a certain blond now empty. His classmates occupied the space around the empty table because atop of it sat a feisty fluff ball, hissing and growling whenever someone as much as looked at his fluffy tail.

“G-guys… I don’t think—”

“He’s soooo cute! Midoriya, why didn’t you tell us!” Mina chirped excitedly where she sat crouched in front of cat-Katsuki’s desk, peering at him with big needy eyes translating her want in the urge to pet him, but she knew better, obviously.

“I wasn’t sure how he’d react, haha..” Izuku scratched behind his head as he shared an apologetic look with the red eyes staring up at him, hoping the other would note how sorry he felt about the current situation.

Wait. Sorry?

No, no, no, this was on him. Kacchan wanted this and now he pays the price. Serves him right for all that guilt-tripping earlier today.

“Oi, Deku! You need to see this.” Denki shoved a phone in his hands, and he had to squeeze his eyes in order to focus on what he was looking at. “Tweeter? Oh, I don’t have—” Ochako shook her head where she surfaced from behind Denki, “—No, silly. Look at the post.”

He blinked up at her and then back down at the object in his hands. On the screen he could see a post from someone with a strange username, ‘dynadekus’ it read; followed by a bunch of weird dividers of bows, stars, and crosses next to it.

How would someone be able to remember a username like that? A fan page is supposed to be recognisable, right? How silly.

He scrolled further down to expand the post and discovered a strange picture of him and Katsuki back in the botanical gardens. Wait, this is... His eyes widened in recognition as he whipped his head back up at his friends surrounding him.

“They post about their victims?” This was absurd. What type of villain would blatantly post about their criminal activities on a website as widely visited as Tweeter? He focused back on the post and read through its contents.

‘Oouhh, can you guys guess who my next targets are? That’s right!!! It’s going to be our beloved love birds DNDK~ I’m so excited for all the hc’s being brought to life with this one! It will be a feast. Let the fantasies run wild, post on AO3, draw your fanart, because DNDK will be Akitofied!! Anyway, here’s a sneak peek:’

Izuku quizzed a pensive look. He hadn’t the slightest idea what all the weird slang meant—it had been a while since he delved into his fanboy tendencies after all. It was just so strange to him how unserious this villain was, posting about their activities. This was just sport for them. A twisted fantasy. “I don’t get it. What do they get out of this?”

Ochako shrugged, scrolling further down the post until it revealed a hefty number of comments. Some were morally correct and defended the heroes’ privacy, but there were tons of replies which encouraged the twisted behaviour.

It was harmless since the ‘Fruits Basket’ case fell under the category of a ‘trolling villain’, but that didn’t change the fact how it was a pain for those affected by it.

The comments read many concerning things:

‘Mirkosbunnyears commented: Oh, no... she strikes again... Don’t you realize how much consequences you’ll follow once they catch you?’

‘Dekusleftoenail commented: Pack it up Akito, this is getting old. Leave my husband alone.’ Izuku blushed at this. He rarely read comments on social media, but what was up with all the weird usernames…

He scrolled some more, keyboard warriors defending his and Katsuki’s lives, but what caught his attention were the misplaced encouragements of people with even weirder nicknames.

‘Dynadekucanonbecausejesussaidso commented: Please dooooo!! Cat Deku canon UwU <3333’

‘Dynamightsleftbuttcheek commented: cat might! cat might! cat might!’

‘Dekuswife0988 commented: if dynamight still don’t want deku-cat, I’ll gladly let him come over and—’

“Aaaaand that’s enough. Thanks, Uraraka.” Truly, people could be so incredibly shameless on the internet. Another reason he strayed far away from it.

“So, this is just a troll.” He muttered shakily, but felt relieved as the knowledge eased the worry he had before.

“Akito’s known for her drive in wanting to spice up the dynamic between popular pairs. She’s succeeded a few times.” Ochako said as Denki rushed over to the table occupied by Cat-Kacchan where a commotion had started. Izuku briefly wondered if everything was alright, but he heard no menacing hissing, so all should be good. He diverted his attention back to Ochako, ushering her to continue.

“Remember Weather Girl and Laundry Hero? The same thing happened to them.” Izuku blinked as Ochako smirked at him, raising an eyebrow. “They’re married now.” Her suggestive tone caused for a heat to creep its way up the back of his neck, his eyes looking anywhere but her knowing gaze.

He stumbled over his words as his knee bounced up and down beneath the table, “W-what are you—”

A booming yell cut through the suspicious silence which had befallen the classroom and a low growl sharper than a knife ringed in the remaining emptiness.

Izuku hastily pushed his chair back and ushered everyone to the side before picking Cat-Katsuki up and dragging him out of reach before he was seriously going to hurt somebody.

After they had left for the hallway, Izuku could hear the faint echo of Mina scolding Denki for pushing the cat to its limits. Izuku laughed, figured the electric boy must’ve pissed Kacchan off from the way the cat was seething with anger in his grasp. Izuku shushed quietly, pressing his lips close to Cat-Katsuki’s pointy ears, which somehow pissed the feline creature off even further.

It had worked yesterday, why not now?

Izuku quietly cursed beneath his breath and tried his best to ignore all the stares and hushed whispers. He was sure everyone knew of the ‘Akito’ situation by now. So much for being slick.

A gust of fresh air welcomed him outside as he reached the building’s entrance. He sighed a breath of relief and hoped the ball of anger wriggling in his grasp would find it just as refreshing. Maybe the stuffy classroom air had just been too much for his sensitive kitty senses.

But when Kacchan didn’t react, Izuku’s frown deepened as the squirming devil in his arms continued snarling and growling.

Izuku groaned, “Relax, Kacchan. People are watching…” he smiled awkwardly at those giving him inquisitive looks just as cat-Katsuki slyly charged an attack and bared his teeth—red eyes glinting with menace and pure evil intent. Izuku yelped when kitty claws scratched the skin of his jaw, leaving a stinging in its path.

The feisty troublemaker then dug his teeth into the palm of Izuku’s hands, not too hard to draw blood, but agonizing enough, it brought tears to his eyes. Cat-Katsuki growled. And the high and faux intimidating pitch would be almost laughable if it didn’t hurt so damn much. “Careful, your teeth are sharp, Kacchan!”

Izuku regretted ever wishing for a cat. He wasn’t sure how much more of this he could handle.

Having enough of it, Izuku shook his head and rounded a corner, leading them into the back of a dumpster alley—away from the hustle and bustle of the busy school grounds.

Maybe that would calm both of them down. The stress coursing through him was so intense it could penetrate all possible universal planes.

He cursed the internet again. What a useless place.

Wikihow claimed that softly blowing on a cat’s ear would calm them down, but it had done no such thing, instead it had only led him to biting and growling.

If anything, it only fueled the seething feistiness brewing within cat-Katsuki, so either he had somehow messed up, or Wikihow was one big hoax.

Leaning against the dumpster, Izuku tried his best to shield them both from prying eyes as he huffed in a breath of air after the suffocation of humiliation. He instantly regretted it, though.

It smelled so awful his nose stung with every inhale, but it would have to suffice for now. He put cat-Katsuki on top of the dumpster and hadn’t failed to notice the scrunch of his pink button nose.

“You need to stop doing that. Your teeth—” He pulled up his upper lip to point aggressively at a canine tooth to further prove his point, “—are incredibly sharp.”

The feline blond gave him a look as far as a look could go from a stark cat-like face and moved on to grooming—glancing annoyedly at Izuku’s hands every once in a while, which were clasped on either side to refrain the cat from running away.

The look gave Izuku the slightest idea of the thought process probably circling through Kacchan’s mind. He could picture exactly what the other would say, ‘you don’t have to mimic it out, nerd, I’m a cat, not a doofus!’

Izuku sighed, and trusting the other wouldn’t ditch him, released his grip from cat-Katsuki’s shoulders—only to regret it almost instantly. The blond bolted, face set in gruff determination, but was fruitless in his attempt to escape as he slipped through the rotating flaps of the dumpster, landing amidst heaps of dirt and molded food.

A hoarse wail echoed in the tin container as Cat-Katsuki tried to pry himself out of the greasy darkness, looking at Izuku with both pleading and angry eyes which translated to ‘What’re you standing there for? Fucking do something!’

Izuku just burst out laughing, wrapping his arms around himself as he nearly doubled over with glee.

Meanwhile, the wailing grew louder, prompting Izuku to step in and help as he wiped his tears, catching his breath from the laughing fit. “You’re gonna stink,” he said, cradling the cat back into his grasp.

-

They were standing side by side in the dorm bathroom, with Cat-Katsuki seated on the counter of the sink. They stared at each other through the mirrors, both expectant for they knew what would come next. The ball of energy tightly wrapped in socks and shirts to stop him from running off.

How Izuku had succeeded in wrapping Cat-Katsuki up like that was a mystery in itself, but he had done it; if only with the slightest of scrapes and scratches.

Cat-Katsuki had put up a fight, running around, throwing stuff onto the ground with almost pushing one of Izuku’s All Might figurines off a stand. Except, upon noticing the object, his cat eyes widened, and he had carefully stepped around it. Being mindful of Izuku’s special collectible only to continue his franticness in running around the room, slipping out of Izuku’s hold every time he’d finally got hold of him.

The tiny fluff ball was now finally sitting on the countertop, fortunately lacking any trace of detectable malice. “So you’ve finally come to your senses, huh?”

Although his feisty attitude had luckily eased since the dumpster incident, replaced with indifference and a façade of tranquillity, which actually screamed: ‘You better not put me through this.’

“You know what has to happen, Kacchan.” Izuku flipped the handle of the sink, plugged the bowl and poured a trickle of soap into it.

“You can’t sleep in my bed like this. You’re all smelly and gross.” Cat-Katsuki hissed as Izuku made a move to grab him. The cat turned to face the wall as a tiny frown tugged at his furry brows, whipping his fluffy tail defiantly, as if what Izuku had stated was a load of crap and bullshit (or so Kacchan would say if he had the voice).

Izuku hesitated briefly as he tugged at the knots of socks and fabric wrapped around Cat-Katsuki’s limbs. “I know you won’t like this, being a cat and all, especially with my hands being all over you…” Pointy ears twitched, “—but if you don’t do this, I will have to take my pillow back by force or use you as one.”

Kacchan, however, offered not a single reaction as he continued staring stubbornly at his own reflection in the mirror. Izuku studied him quietly, wondering what was happening behind those fiery eyes of ruby as they took in the cat staring back at them.

The little fluff then raised a paw, sniffed it and gagged. He craned his neck towards Izuku, blinking once and then twice before waddling over towards the sink—loose fabric of socks, which Izuku had previously untied, trailing behind him; causing the cat to almost trip and fall forward into the water.

Cat-Katsuki grumbled, collecting himself from the fleeting panic which had clearly rushed in before glancing over at Izuku with a fixed stare. “Are-, are you sure?”

He meowed.

Kacchan meowed. This was the first time in 24 hours that he had uttered anything other than violent hissing or low growls and grumbles. Izuku cooed reflexively but stopped immediately at the glint of pure killing intent, which had settled in those intoxicatingly red eyes.

Izuku further unfastened the knots and ties, hesitating with the last bit as he locked eyes with Cat-Katsuki. “I trust you to behave.” He whispered, voice laced with a mild apprehension. He wasn’t looking forward to being cut up any more than he already was.

Cat-Katsuki meowed softly and Izuku couldn’t help but grin, eyes crinkling in the corners as he melted on the spot. Swooned behaviour earning a bemused look from the cat. “I’m sorry, Kacchan, you’re just so cute this way. I hope you never turn back.”

At this Katsuki whipped a paw and hissed, a tiny frown pulled tight on his furry face, “Just kidding, of course…” Izuku corrected fast.

And so, he started with cupping his hand in the water, raising it towards Katsuki as he reluctantly dipped his paw into it, “Good temperature?” Red eyes blinked and gazed into green. Izuku took that as a yes and poured a little water over cat-Katsuki’s head to allow him to grow familiar with it, cat eyes squeezing shut as he allowed the gesture.

“Good Kitty.”

Katsuki’s eyes opened abruptly but were immediately screwed shut as Izuku poured some more water over him, not noticing the quiet shock he had instilled in the feline creature. “There, that should be enough. Go into the sink.” Katsuki gave him a look of disdain, sharp eyes blinking lazily.

“…Please?”

The fluffy blond did as he was told and trudged closer towards the sink in a meek step. He gazed over at Izuku from the side. Izuku encouraged him, “Go on. You want that pillow? I know you do.”

If cats could roll their eyes, Izuku was pretty sure that was exactly what Katsuki had done when he turned his head back towards the soapy sink. The cat hummed softly, ears pushed back as he heeded the monstrosities about to go down. From the mirror reflection, Izuku could see mild concern mingling within the hues of ruby in Katsuki’s eyes.

Katsuki closed his eyes and carefully climbed in, whimpering quietly as paws came in contact with water. Kacchan was the cleanest person Izuku knew despite his quirk focusing on the produce of sweat, so he had the faintest idea of the inner conflict, which Katsuki was most likely facing between him and his cat-self right now.

When he noticed a flicker of fear in the way Katsuki’s ears twitched, Izuku rushed in to lend a helping hand, cupping a ball of soapy foam and placing it on top of Katsuki’s head—squished between his pointy ears.

Red eyes stared up at him. But this time, Izuku couldn’t identify the emotion within them as he worked the soap through Katsuki’s fur. “This… isn’t weird.” He rubbed in circles, being mindful of the areas he’s read cats didn’t like to be touched.

Not the belly, not the belly, not the—oops.

He had grazed Cat-Katsuki’s furry belly and immediately screwed his eyes shut to heed the violent whacks of sharp claws and surprisingly brute strength, but, surprisingly, none came. Instead, Katsuki was still staring at him with that same undefinable look in his cat eyes.

“Sorry.” Izuku uttered, rubbing gentle circles across the blond fur.

Now… Paws.

“I know you’ll probably despise me after this, but I need to wash your paws. It might be a little uncomfortable, as it is for most cats, but I promise I’ll be gentle and won’t disturb you any further after—”

A meow interrupted his rambling as Katsuki willingly raised his paw, head turned to the side as his paw went limp in Izuku’s hold. Pointy ears twitched as red eyes shot a series of meek yet curious glances at the way Izuku worked his hands.

“So, you are aware of your human nature?” The meek glances turned into a full-blown stare of disbelief and then one of disappointment. Katsuki sighed and turned his head away again, bopping his paw in a motion that implied for Izuku to hurry the pace.

He did as the cat had instructed and carefully kneaded Katsuki’s toe beans, ridding them of dirt and sticky residue as the water around him coloured brown.

Yeah, good thing Katsuki was so compliant.

Soft purring raised in volume as he took to the other paw and continued the same ritual: knead, rinse, repeat.

-

Izuku wrapped a second towel around Katsuki before the feline blond shook them off rather harshly and started snuggling into them on the bed. Growling and purring as he dried himself off whilst Izuku readied himself for bed, shrugging into his pyjamas.

He pulled a T-shirt over his head and spun on his heel, sighing in contentment as he took away the discarded wet towels and dropped them on the floor beside the bed.

Katsuki was now curled up on the makeshift nest, which was truly just Izuku’s pillow and some blankets. Izuku settled in his usual empty spot, neck still aching from last night as he pillowed an arm beneath his head.

He gazed over at cat-Katsuki like he had done the night before, watching the rise and fall of rapid and short kitty breaths. Izuku doesn’t know what drove him to utter the words he did next, but they spilled anyway, “I forgave you; you know?”

He closed his eyes. “I did so a long time ago. Even before that time in the rain when you all came rushing to save me.”

Eyes remained shut as he heaved in a breath. Izuku didn’t know whether to blame it on the ease and peace that came with nightfall, or if it was the indirect way of speaking to Kacchan in his cat form, but something compelled him to continue.

Izuku wasn’t sure how much the latter actually processed and how much his kitty instincts clouded his mind, so there was that too.

“You mean so much to me, and I’ve always looked up to you. I always wanted to be like you, cool, strong, and smart.” Izuku sighed as he whispered the last words, “I don’t think I could ever hate you. I-I guess you could say you were my hero.”

Chilly night air seeped through the window, tickling his nose before it floated back out the window, taking his worry and concern with it. He felt a sudden pressure in the crook of his neck where Cat-Katsuki had nestled, shutting him up and putting him in a stunned daze instead.

Was this really happening?

The fluffy hairs of Katsuki’s fur tickled his chin as he wriggled his little head in small rubs, a soft purr rumbling in the silence which now penetrated Izuku’s thoughts as pointy ears grazed his lips. He fought the urge to place an affectionate peck then and there. This was still Kacchan!

He was at a loss for words, but remained silent, not wanting to ruin the moment.

Izuku sighed, retrieving a hand from beneath his blanket and placed it on top of Katsuki’s fuzzy head, stroking behind his ears. He now noticed they weren’t as pointy and sharp as he thought. The ears curved softly on top and curled slightly inwards as though their weight fought against the rules of gravity.

The purring beneath his chin played a rhythmic tune with the songs of the night, mingling with the quiet howl of the wind and the crickets harmonising outside of the window. Cat-Katsuki yawned with a whispered growl, head butting against Izuku’s chin. “Being a cat must be tiring, eh?”

Izuku grinned softly, caressing the tiny poofs of hair barricading the front of Katsuki’s cat ears as the little fluff hummed contentedly, curling further into Izuku’s warmth so his soft back was now aligned with his chest—head still in the crook of his neck.

“Good night, Kacchan.” Izuku conceded, his instinct to kiss anything cute he laid eyes upon taking over as he leaned down to plant a small peck on cat-Katsuki’s fuzzy ears, not noticing the way they twitched and turned at the gesture, his fluffy tail moving in slow, controlled wags.

Vibrations of kitty purrs penetrated through the fabric of his shirt and entered the chamber of his heart, serving as a maestro controlling and directing the steady beating.

-

Sunlight seeped through the thin blinds, shading his eyelids in splotches of orange and pink, and waking him from a gentle dream. One he held no recollection of as it had faded into an echo of a memory with the arrival of dusk. But he knew from the way his skin felt warm and his chest fuzzy that it must've been a good one.

The bright rays of the sun warmed the side of his face, welcoming him into morning, the brightness of the sun growing sharper as more minutes trickled by. Izuku groaned and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, not fully prepared to find out what would happen if he were to open them to the blinding sunrays. 

He yawned, muscles contracting as he stretched his limbs, pushing the sleep out of his body with a small relieved hum. Sleeping without a pillow had proved to be utter agony, if the bothersome headache was anything to get by. 

Izuku wasn’t sure for how much longer he could make do without one.

He made a mental note to retrieve one of the extra pillows from the storage room once he got up, but snuggled further into the blanket. Figured there was no rush to do anything right now. 

Since it was the weekend, so he wasn’t planning on rushing anything at all, to be frank. Saturdays were slow days by societal law and Izuku was no rule breaker—or was that supposed to be Sunday?

Whatever, it didn’t matter. The truth still stands that he’d planned on taking things easy today if the little brat next to him would let him, that is.

Green eyes peered through heavy eyelids still weighed down by sleep, and Izuku hummed, nuzzling his face into the back of spiky blond hair, breathing in the sharp and fresh scent of burned caramel and something smoky. He always liked how Kacchan smelled, and couldn’t stop his instincts from dipping his nose deeper into it.

Circling his arms around Katsuki, Izuku hummed into the back of his neck. “…smell so nice,” he slurred, tightening his grip around Katsuki’s bare waist and circling a leg around his hip.

…

That was strange.

Izuku moved the arms clasped around Katsuki up and down, feeling, and prodding at the soft skin beneath his fingertips. He then softly traced the several dips and curves of tight muscle.

Wait…

Hold on, muscle? Bare skin?

The blanket rustled where it slipped off the bed and Izuku opened his eyes in astounded horror, as red, human eyes stared back at him. “Hi.” Katsuki said hoarsely, if not a little hesitant, and Izuku could only offer a mere blink in response, arms still tightly wrapped around the other.

They gaped at one another, because there was not only one, but two profound revelations drowning out the colour from their faces.

Their human faces.

Kacchan was human.

Cat-like features all his own and any feline presence now replaced by humane features. They were still sharp, but Izuku could note a firmer roundness to the curves and hooks he once considered to be edgy.

Katsuki heaved in a breath, lips pulling in taut as he blew air out of his nose, turning his head back so Izuku was now left staring at the back of his flushed neck. “Ka—

“—our leg.” Katsuki cut in curtly. Izuku gulped, glancing at his leg, which was still draped over—oh!

Kacchan might’ve turned back, but his clothes certainly, obviously, hadn’t. Izuku slowly unhooked himself from the other’s sticky skin slicked with sweat, and he cursed how he hadn’t considered the possibility that once Kacchan came to return to himself, he would be exactly that—naked, in all capitals.

Face flushed, Izuku quickly untangled from Katsuki. “Sorry I-I’ll just…er? Haha, I’ll—” a choked yelp, a soft thud and Izuku was on the floor beside his bed, rubbing at his head as if the friction would ease himself out of his embarrassment.

Katsuki peered over the bed, head leaning on his shoulder where it rested on the mattress. Izuku gaped at him with an uncertain stare, green locked on red, before they trailed downwards to Katsuki’s naked torso. And then towards the dip of his hip bone leading to the small curve of his—NO.

His gaze fell back onto Katsuki’s face, but he wasn’t entirely sure whether that was any better as he faced a sharp and intoxicating stare instead.

Izuku felt his face flush and tugged off his pyjama pants, flicking them at Katsuki’s face, “P-put this on!” The blond grinned a little wickedly, “Why—don’t like what you see?” Red eyes hooded with exhaustion, but Katsuki’s playful nature was fully awake as he sported a lopsided smirk.

He wasn’t ready for this so early in the morning.

Waking up to a jump scare like that, God. He needed at least an hour to process it all.

“Relax, nerd. It’s not like your hands weren’t all over me yesterday.”

“To bathe you!” Izuku cut in, huffing a laugh, “Since a certain someone thought it a good idea to hop into a dumpster.” He shot back. Katsuki scoffed in response, and turned on his back as he skidded closer to the wall, out of sight to put on the pants; presumably.

Though he was still much to underdressed, at least this allowed Izuku for some sanity. He fiddled with the threads of the carpet as he looked everywhere but at the blond sitting on his bed.

Something nudged his shoulder and Izuku fought to jump at the sudden touch.

“I’m sorry.” Came in a whisper.

His still flushed ears perked up, whipping his head to his left to look at Katsuki, who was back to leaning on his elbows on the bed, gazing down at Izuku with a strange glint in his eyes. Tanned, muscled skin on full display, but that wasn’t what caught his attention this time.

“Huh?”

Katsuki nodded towards the bandages around Izuku’s arm, a small frown gathering between his brows. Izuku followed his gaze and chuckled as he stroked the fabric on his arms.

“Kitty tendencies. It’s okay, Kacchan.” Izuku grinned softly, sharing a silent stare with Katsuki, one full of words they wouldn’t have to utter. Ruby red, and forest green eyes speaking for themselves. Katsuki grinned lopsidedly.

The stare went on for a bit too long in the deafening silence of the room as Izuku broke the tension by clearing his throat, raising himself up from the ground. “I guess I should, er.. dress up?” Katsuki leaned back onto the bed—head perched on top of the curve of his arms as he momentarily stared up at the ceiling.

“Whatever, nerd—” A pause. Izuku shot an inquiring look with a flick of his brow. He could tell from the way the blond sucked in air through his teeth that he had more to say.

“Thanks, by the way.” Hesitant red eyes glanced over at Izuku with a mixed air of nonchalance, but Izuku knew that soft glint in those usual fiery eyes all too well. To merely brush it off as such would be foolish on his part. He smiled, heart warm and fingers tingling at his sides.

“No need to thank me.”

-

The lounge was empty as they sat on the couch with Katsuki playing a video game and Izuku nose deep in one of his stupidly comprehensive books.

Now and then, a giggle and a snort would sound and whenever that happened, a quiet ‘sorry’ always accompanied it. Katsuki shot a few fleeting glances Izuku’s way whenever the other got quiet. When the other wasn’t looking, Katsuki smiled at the way green eyes crinkled and button nose scrunched at something funny or embarrassing he’d read.

Katsuki pushed the buttons on his controller, twiddling his thumb, and pushing hard when his character got cornered, and eventually killed by the infected. Agitated by his umpteenth attempt, Katsuki turned the thing off.

What a stupid game.

He didn’t even like horror games all that much, but it was one of the few action packed games they had lying around in the dorm, and he just really needed to wind down after the hectic day.

Katsuki curled up on the couch, feet tucked underneath his thighs as he lazily watched Izuku flip a page, and then another, and another, and another—until curious green eyes peeked from behind the pages, dim lights reflected in deep viridian hues, coating them in stars.

“What’s wrong?” Izuku asked softly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful quiet.

Katsuki smirked in his palm where his head rested on top of it. “Doesn’t your arm hurt holding that?” Izuku rolled his eyes, humming softly, “It’s not as heavy as it looks.”

“Only a nerd would say that.”

Izuku scoffed, pushing his headphones—which he had previously discarded around his throat—back up his head, stray curls flying around where the thick material pressed down. Katsuki stared, lost in the serenity that was Izuku. He grinned softly before catching himself and fishing his phone from his pocket to serve as a distraction.

He did absolutely not just smile! And why couldn’t he stop staring? He figured it might have to do with the whole Akito situation.

Scrolling mindlessly on tweeter, Katsuki stumbled across a strange post. It had an unbelievable amount of likes and mentioned both his and Izuku’s names.

It read:

‘Our lovebirds should be back to normal by now. Sad to say I wasn’t able to sneak any pictures of them like I usually would, but there was one kind insider who did!! Did I low-key succeed, chat?? Anyway, DNDK CANON.’

Katsuki grimaced at the cringe and clicked on the picture attached to the post. He had to pinch his eyes to make out the shapes displayed; it was way too damn blurry. Did people really go haywire for this? He scoffed, shuffling towards the middle of the couch as he tapped Izuku on his knee—urging the freckled boy to come closer.

“What is it, Ka—… Oh!” Izuku shifted his attention towards the phone as he gently took it from Katsuki, fireworks igniting where their fingers brushed briefly. He glanced at Izuku and noted the blush blossoming on his freckled neck as he read through the post and clicked on the blurry mess of a picture.

“This was when we were running through the hallway.” He jerked his head up towards Katsuki, eyes wide and full of certainty. “I knew they knew it—that’s why they were staring. Unbelievable!”

Katsuki had long forgotten about the stupid picture with Izuku’s eyes all up in his face and so… so damn sparkly—how did he do that?

With his tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek, Katsuki averted his gaze, focusing on the red ‘Game Over’ message displayed on the TV screen. “It’s insane how these people think this sick type of matchmaking actually works,” he scoffed, while from his peripheral view, Izuku only nodded.

“Y-yeah. It doesn’t work at all.” From where Katsuki glanced to the side, he could notice the way a small frown gathered above Izuku’s lips. “We are, no, what we have…, it’s—” Izuku spared a fleeting glance at Katsuki. He then stared off to the side of the couch where his book lay discarded in a small dent he had previously occupied, “—too complex.”

Did it have to be, though? Katsuki thought back to his humbling moments as a cat, how easily he had let his feelings and emotions spill out. Both the extremes of anger as those of affection. Affection directed at Izuku.

He wasn’t sure how his instincts had taken a total turn like that, but it should count for something, right? He felt a bit silly thinking about it, but what if he just tried?

It had been so easy in his cat form and, most important of all; he had truly let himself feed into the longing that was Izuku, and he wanted to do so now too. He wasn’t sure how, but he was compelled to try.

Katsuki wasn’t ever going to admit this—if the way he behaved as a cat wasn’t enough of a tell—but he had quite liked being under Izuku’s care. He gazed down at the empty space between them, eyes landing on Izuku’s palm; open and inviting.

Perhaps what he did next was an aftereffect of his cat instincts still lingering in his adapting cells, or perhaps it had to do with the fact that he had longed for this for a while now. Truth is, he wanted to do it, nonetheless.

Cat or no cat, his feelings were the same in both forms. He knew that now, and he was sure Izuku had realized it too—he had literally kissed him.

There was no point in hiding it any longer.

Katsuki hesitated, looking off to the side as he lowered his right hand and hovered above Izuku’s, a pulling gravity shooting off sparks in the empty space between their palms.

He lowered his palm and rubbed gently against the rough calluses of Izuku’s hand with soft, feathery touches before lacing their fingers together and squeezing to finalize their embrace.

Katsuki turned his head towards Izuku, only to find a head of forest green curls obscuring a flushed face where it tipped downwards—if the rosy tips of his ears gave any tell. Katsuki drew in a sharp breath of air through his teeth, slowly raising Izuku’s head with the tip of his finger.

“My eyes are up here.” He gently lifted Izuku’s face; green curls parting to reveal a matching pair of viridian eyes, wide with disbelief, uncertainty, but that wasn’t all. Katsuki could see the longing in them all too well. He’d seen them in his own eyes too many times. Cat or human.

Izuku visibly struggled to try to utter the next words, “I-, uh… what are you…?”

Katsuki rolled his eyes and pulled Izuku into him, wrapping a blanket around them both as he swung an arm over the back of the couch, flipping through channels with his left hand. Next to him, he could feel Izuku hesitantly lean in, conceding to the train of thoughts which so clearly soared through his busy head.

The nerd was always overthinking everything, so Katsuki decided to just remain quiet and let his actions do the talking. Just like he had done when he was in his feline form. It had worked just fine then.

Katsuki reached around Izuku with his other arm, tucking in the sides of the blanket behind Izuku’s back as he leaned over him—fluffy curls brushing against his chin.

When he relaxed back into the seat and pulled the blanket tight around himself, Izuku huffed a breathy ‘thanks’. Katsuki hummed and picked up the remote, not realizing the turmoil he had instilled within Izuku by the uncharacteristic nature of his gesture from before.

“What do you wanna watch?” He asked as he filtered through the list of possibilities, reaching forward to take a sip of his water where it lay atop the coffee table.

And out came an almost inaudible “You,” from beside him.

Katsuki choked, water shooting down the wrong canal in his throat and Izuku jumped from the startling commotion; blanket falling to the ground as he stood up. “Oh my god, Kacchan, I—”

“What did you say?”

Izuku blinked, “…You? As in the—oh.” Panicky hands emoted in theatrical movements in front of Izuku’s face as freckled cheeks coloured a deep shade of pink. “No, I-I meant the show. I mean, I like watching you… too? but t-that’s not what I meant! Not that you’re not nice to look at!” He finished in a startled yelp as Katsuki pulled him back down onto the couch, where he collapsed with a thud.

“Relax, I know what you meant.” Katsuki retrieved the blanket from the ground and draped it loosely over them as he reached for his glass of water in a second attempt. Izuku blinked, “Then why…?”

“—wrong fucking pipe.” He cut in, hiding his face behind the glass, hoping Izuku wouldn’t notice the flush that was surely there.

They sat in silence like that for a little while before Izuku shifted next to him and leaned in. “So—” he turned his head upwards, catching Katsuki’s gaze as he quietly scanned his face, taking in whatever little detail of Katsuki he could find before settling back onto his eyes. “—you?”

-

“Izuku?” Katsuki knocked on the door and waited. He knocked again when there came no response, applying a bit more force. “Open up, nerd. I have your stupid pyjama pants.” A second passed, then a minute, then many more minutes, and then some more before he grew impatient.

“I’m coming in, so if you’re not dressed—” He braced himself, one knee raised as he took a stance of offence, fist locked in front of his chest as he took in a deep breath. “—that’s on you.” And then he kicked the door in, the frail wood wiggling with a pitched creak.

But the room was empty, orange hues of an autumn sunset peering through the blinds.

Or at least that’s how it appeared at first glance, but when his eyes landed upon the blanket on Izuku’s bed, he stilled. The fabric was moving where a tiny, elevated spot wriggled about. Katsuki gulped, not keen on getting jump scared, but he was getting really damn curious.

He stood back on his heels, trying to maintain a safe distance whilst stretching out an arm to lift the fleece blanket.

He heaved in a breath, “What did I tell you about keeping food in your room, you damn nerd! Rats dig that shit—” That, however, was not a rat.

It was fuzzy and furry, but it was not a rat.

Katsuki blinked, panic bubbling in his chest as he cradled the little green duckling in his palm. “Oh fuck, Izuku you’re—”

“—not a duck.” A voice came from the doorway and Katsuki craned his neck to his stunned surprise; green duckling still cradled in his arms as he caressed the fluffy feathers on its head. Katsuki opened his mouth and then closed it, only to open it again and repeat the same ritual. God, he couldn’t begin to imagine how stupid he looked.

A ticking on the window caught both of their attention as they turned to follow its direction. The rhythmic sound broke the stillness which had fallen upon them. Outside, the glimmer of sunset illuminated the scene, and then a sudden giggle followed by a snort sounded.

A girl with brown hair and parted bangs stood just outside, her face pressed against the window, mischief written all over her face. Her breath fogged the window as he drew lines and loops of letters they couldn’t make out the shape of from where they were standing.

“Uh, Izu—”

Before either could move, the blinding flash of a camera went off.

By the time they blinked away the sudden light, the girl was gone, the rustle of her retreating footsteps fading as they exchanged an equally stunned look, eyes wide, both unsure of what the hell had just happened.

Izuku just shrugged, “Security is lacking, I guess.” Katsuki gasped, “Huh!? Aren’t you supposed to go dog shit crazy over this? A stranger just broke our rights to privacy and you’re being all nonchalant!” He continued stroking the green duckling in his arms, feeling strangely akin to it.

“And where did you get this duck?!”

Izuku smiled, walking over towards where Katsuki stood cradling the animal as he reached out a hand to tickle the little thing beneath its tiny head. “Found it outside with this blanket.” He unfolded the fabric and set it down on his bed.

The image of a young girl with slightly dishevelled brown hair and presumably DIY bangs flickered through his mind. He gazed over at Izuku, their shared eye contact translating into a mutual understanding. “Do you think…” Izuku nodded, “I’m almost sure, but there’s only way to find out.”

Izuku looked down at the green duckling in Katsuki’s arms. “Poor guy. I’m sorry to have you all caught in this.” Katsuki snorted and Izuku straightened up, quirking a brow. “Pretty sure it’s a girl.”

Izuku crossed his arms. “How would you know? It’s a duck.” Katsuki caressed the soft feathers. “Females often harbour boring patterns. She’s a girl.”

Izuku gasped, eyes widened in shock. “Never took you for the type, Kacchan.” Now it was Katsuki’s turn to quirk a brow. “What type?” He queried curtly, setting the duck down on the blanket. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

“The ones who know such random facts. Ones about animals.” He teased, chuckling.

Katsuki gave Izuku a playful push, “Hush, I’m not a nerd like you,” and shrugged past him as he walked towards the door. Izuku turned on his heel, green curls bouncing as they caught in the movement, “Yes, you are!” He ran after Katsuki, who was already shuffling into his shoes. “And where are you going?”

“Getting some food for little Missy over there. By the way, she’s chewing on one of your novels.” Izuku’s eyes widened. “She’s what!?” He spun around with frantic urgency, only to find nothing out of place and ‘Little Missy’ was peacefully curled up on his bed. Sleeping soundly on the freshly washed sheets.

“I swear to god, Kaccha—” Katsuki leaned in, stealing a quick peck on the lips, before grabbing his jacket from the cabinet beside the door and leaving abruptly without another word.

-

‘Oh, do I have a scoop for you!! Since the Akito method didn’t work on our beloved boys, I managed to sweep a cute lady off the streets. She resembled our lovely hero so much; she could’ve been his mother, truthfully! Let’s hope THIS does the trick. I’m deadset on making dynadeku real, guys. This HAS to happen. Anyway, here’s a pic of our proud duckling parents:

(Before anyone comes for me or my ways, I’d like to remind y’all that I do NOT care, and never will. Akito, out!)’

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catcchan: