Work Text:
“I’ll see you later, Kacchan!” Izuku says as he waves his goodbye to Katsuki. In that moment, Katsuki stares from a distance as Izuku gets further and further away from him until he disappears—like he’s gone forever. Katsuki didn’t want to admit it, but he felt like his heart had broken when Izuku declined his offer to join his hero agency. He didn’t just want to compete with him to see who’s the best of the best, but he also wanted to fight alongside him. Now it feels like he's walking away from him, and can't reach him.
“Bakugou?” Eijiro’s voice interrupts him from his thoughts. “We need to get going, Midoriya will be okay.” He pats Katuski on the back as a sign of reassurance.
“Yeah, whatever,” Katsuki mumbled bitterly as he turns around and backs back to the car.
“Come on you damn idiots! Get in the car or I won’t take you guys home!” Katsuki yelled at both Mina and Denki as they wander around in a drunken state.
“You know, it was quite kind of you to offer to drive us,” Eijro mentions.
“Yeah, yeah whatever. Now let’s go.”
After Katsuki and Eijiro finally got Mina and Denki inside the car—and the two beginning to sing along with the radio horribly—he drives them back to their homes.
“Thanks again, Bakugou,” Eijiro says.
“Don’t mention it. I’ll see you later, it’s getting really late.” Katsuki brushes off.
Eijiro chuckled. “Yeah, see you too!”
Katsuki waits as Eijiro walks in his apartment before he starts his car and drives away. Katsuki thinks about the events that happened that day.
—
“I’m gonna ask him,” Katsuki says.
“Ohhh!! You’re finally asking him out?!” Mina yells excitedly.
“No, you dumbass! I- I’m gonna ask him to join my agency!” Katsuki shouts, hiding the fact he started to get flustered, yet a little disappointed.
“Really? That’s so awesome, man! He would seriously say yes to that!” Eijiro congratulates him by giving him a playful push on the shoulder.
“What if he declines?” Denki asks. Everyone turns to stare at him.
“Ha! Him say no? Did you forget who we’re talking about here?” Hanta snickers. “This is Midoriya we’re talking about! There’s no way he’d turn down Bakugou’s offer! The dude’s crazy over him.”
“I guess you’re right,” Denki shrugged.
“Exactly, you idiot! There is no way De- I mean, Izuku wouldn’t want to join my agency! That damned nerd always wanted to be a hero, even when he didn’t have a quirk!” Katsuki remarked.
“Aaand… you helped him with his hero suit! Well, we as a class did. But it was because of you!!” Mina cheered.
“See, there’s no way he’d turn down my offer,” Katsuki declared confidently. “Tonight, I’ll ask him.”
“Go for it man!” Hanta encourages.
“Yeah, Bakugou!” Denki followed.
“He’ll say yes, I’m sure of it, man,” Eijiro says.
“YEAH YOU GOT THIS, BAKUGOUU!!!,” Mina cheered, giving him a playful hug.
The conversation replayed in Katsuki’s head, haunting him by each second. He was really sure Izuku would join his agency.
Katsuki decided to reroute his usually way to his apartment to drive a little longer. He usually would drive the shorter route so he can get home quicker to get paperwork done early and sleep at an earlier time. However, he felt like wanting to be on the road longer to clear his mind.
He doesn’t know how long he’s driving nor how far he’s going, but what he knows is that he feels this burning ache in his chest and he hates it. He fucking hates it so much. He should’ve considered Izuku declining as a possibly, right? But it doesn’t make any sense. Why would Izuku decline? Wasn’t their dream to work alongside and fight together? Sure, Izuku is a teacher at UA right now, but he can make out some time to work at an agency, right? Or was Izuku really not needing him anymore?
“Uraraka, huh…” Katsuki says with a slight bitterness to his voice.
“Yeah...” Izuku blushes nervously. “After the war, we’ve been supporting each other. Her and I went to therapy together after what happened. She was pretty devastated with what happened with Himiko Toga. Though that inspired her to make the Quirk Counseling Expansion Project, to help children have easy access to quirk counseling so they can understand their quirk and know how to use it. She doesn’t want this generation’s children to suffer the same fate as Himiko Toga. She also wants them to feel safe. She’s really amazing.”
“Yeah, she’s really inspirational and admirable. A lot of guts in her, huh. Do you guys get to see each other?”
“Well, sometimes. But yes, we do, occasionally. Actually, we’ve been trying to make time to be able to talk, but we’ve been so busy lately, it’d be miracle if we got a free time slot at the same time.”
“I see….”
In that moment, Katsuki knew Izuku’s feelings for him had changed over the past years since they graduated--and he hated it. Katsuki knew Ochaco was a strong and admirable woman. To make an organization in respects to Himiko Toga was very heroic and noble of her. Truly shows how society was terrible back then, and here she is as the “light of hope” to help children in need of quirk counseling so they won’t be hurt like her. Truly amazing.
However, he can’t help feel a tingle of jealousy rise up inside him. He hated it, he doesn’t understand why he was feeling this way. Izuku is allowed to be with her, he doesn’t have to be with him, but why does it hurt so much?
Is he still Izuku’s first choice? He wishes he was…
—
Katsuki shakes off that memory of that small conversation that was lingering in his head. He turned his focused more on the road in front of him.
He soon noticed that it was his childhood home. Where both him and Izuku grew up together. They have always played together back then, before he got his quirk.
He remembers that memory of going to the river to camp when they were younger.
The time when they celebrated each other’s birthdays.
Or when they played games like hero and villains fighting.
That time they pulled silly and harmless pranks together.
When they watch All Might’s videos together.
Shared figurines and cards.
That memory of them getting exclusive All Might cards. That said All Might card was still kept in his pocket where ever he goes. It was like his lucky charm. To make it feel like Izuku is close. Like he was his home.
As he drives away from the neighborhood, he stopped his car on the side of the road and hung his head down on the wheel. He feels hot tears blurring his vision. He punched the wheel in frustration.
He wished Izuku picked him.