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The sun was just barely setting, making the sky take on a rosy almost sun-burnt hue. Deku would have stopped to enjoy how it reflected off of the various skyscrapers making the light refract and bend in a multitude of ways making it look captivating if not for the vicious cough that ripped through him for the tenth time today.
This one wracked his body with even harsher pain than the ones he had gotten used to. It ripped up from his gut, turning his lungs to fire, and scraped against his throat as his body forced up yet another daffodil petal. This one, bigger than the last, and the usual bright white was darkened by the brown and red stains of blood.
“Great, it’s getting bigger,” Deku muttered, shoving the petal into his yellow backpack with all of the others. The mix of red and white bloody petals bruised and decaying at the bottom of his bag.
“Why if it isn’t little Deku. Our little All Might wannabe.” A dark, scratchy voice chuckled.
Deku cursed. He couldn’t get one moment of peace, could he? ‘Well, if you would just go back to UA…’ He quickly pushed away the thought. He couldn’t go back. He left for a reason. He didn’t want to push these feelings onto him, not when they all had so much to deal with.
He pushed his mask back into place as he whirled on the newcomer. Deku narrowed his eyes and sneered through his mask. “You have one chance to walk away. Or else I have no choice but to fight you and you’ll find yourself looking at the inside of a jail cell.”
The villain laughed again. Deku recognized this one, he was on the list of wanted criminals that the police just posted at the beginning of the week. Wanted for petty theft and assault if he remembered correctly. His quirk was nothing too strong, just the ability to levitate and move small objects.
“If you come with me, I can try and see if I can get them to give you a lighter sentence.” Deku tried to reason.
The villain snorted as he uncurled and curled his fists to flex. “Hard pass. But I’ll gladly take you down a peg by putting you ten feet under!” He yelled, charging forward, his black overcoat swaying as he struck out with a right hook.
Deku jumped back and blocked the punch, twisting the villain's arm around his back and slamming his face against the cool brick of the alley wall, preventing all further movement. Deku almost smiled. Bakugo had taught him that move when they had sparring practice a few months ago. That longing feeling clawed at his chest again but he shoved it away once more.
“Let’s get you to the police station now, hmm?”
The villain merely spat out a series of crude words in response.
***
Deku blew out a long breath as he quickly dropped off the villain in front of the police station, quickly moving away as not to draw attention. Stretching out his arms, he looked up at the night sky. The stars were sparkling like little beacons of light, contrasting with the dark, black canvas that was the night sky.
“It’s pretty late now,” he sighed and ran a hand through his messy green hair. Deku decided since it was nighttime and not many people were around he could safely have his hood down for a moment.
“Izuku?”
Deku froze and his eyes widened as he heard the voice of the reason why he left UA months ago in the first place.
Next thing he knew, his body was moving on its own, breaking out into a run. He had no clue where he was running to; all he knew was he had to get away from that area fast.
“Izuku, wait!”
Deku kept running until his chest burned with a familiar pain, making him slow down and turn into an alley right in the middle of two looming skyscrapers. He leaned against the cool glass and metal, trying to catch his breath to no avail.
Violent coughs started wracking his system once more, but these were worse than usual. They burned fiercer, making him feel like his entire body was filled with lava as those damned petals tried to claw their way to the surface once more.
He coughed even harder and spat out blood. And then the next cough that wracked his system had him falling to his knees as the usual petal made its way to the surface. But to Deku’s surprise and horror as he spat it out…it was a full daffodil. The half red and half white flower obvious to anyone who saw who he harbored unrequited feelings for. His heart started to race in panic.
“So this is why you left. You’re suffering from the hanahaki disease.”
Deku’s eyes widened as he pushed himself up off of the ground, leaving the dreaded flower limp on the floor.
“I thought you wouldn’t find me.” He muttered.
Shoto stepped forward until he was standing right beside Deku. “I’ll always find you, you should know that by now.” Shoto placed a hand on Deku’s arm making him flinch slightly. “I’ve been looking for you since you left.”
Deku felt his heart stutter at Shoto’s words and his breathing became slightly lighter. Could he possibly…? Then what Shoto said when he first came into the alley flashed in his mind, making him turn fully to the white and red-haired young man.
“You…knew?” Deku’s voice was barely a whisper.
Shoto lightly cupped Deku’s cheek. “I figured it out eventually after you left and said you weren’t coming back. That decision was so unlike you to abandon all your friends. I did some digging and found out the true reason.” His brows furrowed as he frowned. "You saved me during the sports festival... Now it's my turn to save you." He clicked his tongue and did something Deku never thought would ever happen. That he’d die long before he ever experienced it.
Shoto Todoroki kissed him.
Izuku felt his heart soar. The tightness and pain in his lungs that he had gotten so used to over the past months completely disappeared. The weight of unrequited love no longer existing.
As they pulled back, Shoto looked Izuku in the eyes and a small smile spread across his lips. “So, will you come back now?”
For the first time in months, Izuku actually smiled. He nodded and hugged Shoto. “Yeah, I’ll come back. As long as I’m with you I'll be okay.”
Shoto’s smile turned into a rare grin. “Of course, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”