Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The fresh air ruffled his sweaty forehead as the rays of sunlight passed through his golden spike, offering an ounce of rivalry to this bright shade in the sky above his head.

The sun himself should find this offending, especially when the taller man’s presence was the center of attention and the source of many whispers on many lips. The blond’s name was well known on the campus for a few reasons, one of them being essentially centered on his particular job, but the taller man ignored their whispers. The only thing that mattered at this moment was the delicate rhythm crossing his ears with his headphones until his calloused hands rested against his eyebrow to cover this blinding sight. A slight grin crossed his lips as he authorized himself to skip guiding his shadow in the huge building. 

The leaves that escaped their home earlier, decided to give the highlight to the impressive figure, letting the wind catch his groan and observing his fingers finding the card inside his pocket. Katsuki was sure he had left it in the right one before leaving the house, trusting his old habits, but he was probably distracted to forget such a detail. His crimson eyes stared at the taller figure in front of him, crossing his arms, checking each shadow crossing this entrance until the next shift. The golden-haired man recognized this face all too well, it was the same extra who followed him the entire time during his first visit to his new job, letting him know how a single mistake might erase the smirk on his face. 

The lyrics of the song kept playing inside his ears, leaving one headphone on his sensitive skin, and the other free to any comment or extra background noises that might catch his attention. He might be stubborn, but he cared a lot about this job, which brought him an ounce of interest in this notion that was “life”. The taller figure put on his knees to expose the stuff he kept hidden inside his back, feeling the breeze against his sweaty skin until he found the secret spot of that precious card. A grin crossed the corner of his lips as he showed his ID and the small keys he kept in emergency cases, for emergencies, or some crazy shit like that. 

The security guard simply nodded and opened the door, followed by the blond mumbling a light “Thanks”, following the last beat of the song. The calloused hands took his headphones away and put them back in his bag, keeping them safe while turning his phone off. After all, it’s not like he got an important call at the end of the day; it was just him and the bunch of extras who didn’t seem to be there yet. Perfect, this gave enough time to prepare his small comfort until the loud noises transformed this peace into a forgotten memory. 

The sound of his slow footsteps echoed in the silent room, his fingers ruffling the interceptors to turn the light on and see a bunch of stuff from the last night. Katsuki rolled his eyes when he saw Pikachu and Ears’s cans on the side of the table, with a note apologizing for the mess. He shouldn’t be surprised; these two had been glued to each other. The blond was happy for them, but he got sick of these two idiots, especially when Shitty Hair and Pinky taught him how being in love could be annoying. Seriously, he didn’t need to have someone by his side and act all clingy when he was fine on his own…After all, he didn’t need heartbreak and shitty misunderstandings. 

Despite the numerous attempts to get him a partner, the blond always refused, putting his hobbies as main priorities over some extras that weren’t worth the try. Some might think this was harsh reasoning, but Katsuki’s close friends agree with his statement: If the blond was the most popular host of their station, it was for a good reason. Keeping this popularity was their advantage, especially when the golden-haired man didn’t need to censor himself to let the listeners understand when it became either too long or too personal for his liking. Luckily, Mina was here to bring a softer and more amusing atmosphere when Katsuki was out of reach. 

The taller man opened the windows to let the air refresh this room and erase the previous dust he saw on the wooden table, admiring the silence. Katsuki never thought he would end up in a situation like this one, where he’d be the center of attention for many reasons, but his casual habits became his safe place. When the university was too harsh on his mental health, he liked to have random talks with strangers over the phone, learn about their lives, and even express his complaints. The group was impressed to see how comfortable the new recruit was on his first try, almost like he had always been made for this career! It helped a lot to be accepted by these extras until they all created some kind of unique bond over their mutual job, which was pretty unusual for someone like Katsuki, who had a hard time tolerating strangers.

The bright sunlight passed through the windows, highlighting the material within his reach and the welcoming atmosphere of the room. Katsuki rolled his eyes when he found another note from Mina, explaining how she’d solved the mic issue they had two days ago, causing some delay in their original program. At least Pinky was competent to stay serious about her job, compared to her shitty boyfriend, who preferred to joke around some shitty stuff. Katsuki remembers the first time he met his boss; an older man in his forties with bags under his eyes and black hair, reflecting the tiredness on his face. His name was Aizawa and he made sure to remind him of the rules, a gesture the blond took very seriously…even if naming Shitty Head as his second lead was a bad decision. 

His calloused fingers grabbed the closest chair and rested his back against the plastic material, which was enough for his back pain.. His fingers grabbed the pen he kept inside his pencil case and the bunch of paper he got inside his bag, in case those idiots were running out of them, once again. Katsuki decided to focus on his program of the day, the songs he was supposed to play, and the last details to make sure he wasn’t lost after his distracted mind. The ink marked this blanket page, transcribing the blond’s thoughts until he heard the background noises of the door and familiar voices. 

He rolled his eyes when he put the note aside and pushed the chair with his legs, taking a glimpse at the group standing a few centimeters away from him. The first thing his crimson irises noticed was the presence of the two couples, with their arms wrapped around each other’s necks, some shitty blush or laugh, under the exhausted expression on Sero’s face. At least the blond wasn’t alone in this hell, especially when he couldn’t blame people for falling in love, a sentiment uncontrollable for the most vulnerable spirits. The black-haired man was the first to make a nod when he sat beside the blond, explaining how he couldn’t wait to let the station start to get back to their job. Hearing Sero making such a request was rare, and when it happened, it only meant that he got really tired of Kirishima and Mina, who acted like teenagers who hadn’t seen each other for years. These two got an apartment, so why were they obligated to ruin his day by acting like lovebirds? 

“Sorry for the delay, it was hard to find a place in the parking, but we found a new song to play,” the pink-haired woman explained with an amused tone. She crossed her fingers when her glance met the blond’s, who only ignored her as the rest of the group moved into the different areas, repeating their casual habits. The station was about to start in ten minutes, which gave free time for the preparation and checking if everything was alright.

 The previous silence was now filled with a bunch of conversations from every side of the room, as everything started to form, mixed with the same apprehension of a potential mistake, and the excitement to do something they loved. Katsuki Bakugo was the one who joined the group at the very end, observing different kinds of interactions between the members. 

The first person who approached him was Mina, with her big smile and excitement rising all over her face, explaining how happy she was to have another member in the club. She made the presentation and pointed out the rules, explaining how sometimes some exceptions could be made, knowing Aizawa wasn’t here to control each of their actions. The blond didn’t know how he ended up here, but before realizing it, the annoying extra who introduced him to this world of Radio Hosts became the closest friend he ever had. Pinky might be special and have her own world with distinct values, but she was here when he needed help, and never let him down, even at his lowest. Each time he made a mistake by accident, she was the one who took the blame and was warned by Aizawa, but she insisted on protecting him especially when she saw something that was rare nowadays, according to her statements. 

The second person he naturally met was Pinky’s boyfriend, Shitty Hair. It was easier to use a nickname to describe him than to use his real name. That day, Katsuki replied with a middle finger and Kirishima simply pretended to be hurt, This dynamic was established between the trio, with Mina and Kirishima hanging out together, being lovebirds, and Katsuki on the third wheel. The red-haired man did save him a few times and was a good friend, despite being as annoying as his girlfriend. 

However, his hope in humanity left when he met Pikachu, who was here to entertain the rest of the group and be seriously devoted to his special section. Denki didn’t hesitate to introduce himself, explaining how it was refreshing to have new faces, and easily showed his personality, surprising the taller man with his patience to tolerate this dumbass. Don’t get him wrong, Denki wasn’t a bad person and was respected when he wasn’t the clown of the group, he showed more than once how he was ready to take a break to help his friends and be the shoulder to cry on. Katsuki liked to mock him and reverse the joke the shorter man used against him, but it was touching to have this amusing tone in the most serious moments to change their minds. 

Sero presented himself as someone who took his job too seriously and wasn’t paid enough for this mess. Katsuki didn’t understand what he meant until he observed the black-haired man play the babysitter for the rest of the group, realizing how this poor soul had handled them for too long. The blond noticed how his role was different from the others, mostly hidden behind the glasses and preparing the most annoying stuff, often helped by Denki’s girlfriend. Katsuki respected this huge amount of work the black-haired man had to do, compared to him who simply stood on a chair and listened to people, or pressed buttons from time to time. 

Finally, Katsuki became acquainted with Jirou, the final member of the group. Despite being introduced as Pikachu’s girlfriend, she proved her worth and convinced the new recruit about her skills, more discreet but efficient enough to catch Katsuki’s attention. The blond was surprised to see how Sero and she had done a good job together, with Jirou preparing the special events and Sero making the plan B or checking the last details before going live. The purple-haired woman was smarter to take this “leader” role Kirishima was supposed to have, but she always denied how this role was “too serious” for her when she was just having fun. The group about how the pay at the end of the month was low, but the thousands of souvenirs they created together were better than money. 

Katsuki Bakugo used to be a solitary shadow in the crowd, but he felt at ease with this bunch of idiots who made him feel safe in a job he would hate under different conditions. The taller man sighed, feeling Mina’s fingers ruffling his spiky hair to get his attention, wishing him good luck for his show. Katsuki replied with a middle finger, as he took a glimpse at his surroundings. He grabbed his bottle and took a powerful sip as the freshwater fell on his throat. It was refreshing enough to change his mind, as he sat on the cozy chair and faced the material.

At first, he was afraid of messing up with the bunch of buttons, but the group taught him the basics, which became a routine until his body was mesmerized by the gesture by heart. Now Katsuki didn’t have to be afraid, as his calloused hands grabbed the headset and put it on his ears. The previous noises were now muffled by the light fabric against his skin, as Jirou checked the sound, before seeing a thumb in the air. Katsuki’s heart started to beat faster when he saw the timer on the screen, knowing he would rather be in this recording studio than alone with his thoughts. 

The countdown echoed in the background noises, being shouted by the red-haired man from afar as everyone made their final checks. The sudden silence filled the room, as the soft music started to play as an introduction, until the red button appeared on the screen, informing them that they were live. At this moment, the group stayed focused on their jobs as the blond introduced the theme of the day, the next host, and the most important part of the day: The free call. 

It must be his favorite part of his job, when the antenna was silent, despite the late hour, and only the awakened soul listened to strangers’ rant. It was reassuring to have people calling for whatever reason, no matter if they wanted to share their last heartbreak, recent convention, or just talk to someone. It was the best place for lonely souls who needed a shoulder to cry on, a gesture that asked a bunch of courage, knowing each of your words was listened to by strangers. However, Katsuki liked to see how some people liked to answer the listener’s call and offer their help, creating a conversation between the three of them, in a relaxing atmosphere. 

—----

The darkest colors easily erased this previous sky, announcing a distinct atmosphere at night. The blinding light that warmed the shadows during the days was now erased, letting this midnight sky take the lead, with the stars observing their shadows still awake at this late hour. The station had always been calmer at this period of the night, being the final moment of peace when the songs’ choices became lighter and the previous worries faded away. 

Katsuki yawns with a hand on his open mouth, losing his fingers inside his spiky hair before staring at the clock on the wall. Despite this special routine, he hated returning home alone, explaining why he liked having some idiots driving him home to make sure he was safe. If Katsuki didn’t express his gratitude with explicit words, he often replied with a grin. 

Mina finished the sip of her drink, hoping it would give her some strength for the next two hours. Tonight, Denki and Jirou left earlier due to their early classes tomorrow, leaving the trio alone in the huge building. A quick glance was necessary to see how the security guard was still here to keep their protection until the end, even if it was a different person. The pink-haired woman pinched the blond’s shoulder with a smile, wishing him good luck. Katsuki rolled his eyes and ignored the slight snore of the red-haired man in the other room, taking the best nap of his life in the worst condition possible.

“I guess it’s my time to shine,” he sighed.  

His crimson eyes stayed focused on the red button on the screen, reflecting how each of their words or even breaths was diffused live to the night hollows. They weren’t as numerous as in the early afternoon, probably thirty or fewer compared to the hundreds they got earlier, but it was fine. It represented less pressure on their shoulders, especially under those conditions 

“Alright, night hollow, it’s not surprising to see some of you awake at this hour. Don’t you have class or something to prepare for the early morning ?” Katsuki asked, checking the first calls that appeared on the screen. A slight grin crossed his cheeks, amused by the situation. “I see we have some regulars, already calling the line before making a proper introduction to the new listeners. I was about to explain the rules but maybe we should let actions convince people if they want to stay or not, Let’s hear our first case of the night.”

Katsuki’s fingers moved in the air, making a sign to the pink-haired woman to give the antenna to the first call. She was here to keep an eye on the situation, but trusted her friend for this job, especially when the most loyal people stayed up this late to have the blond’s advice.

“Hum hi….Are we alive?” The stranger’s voice asked with a hesitant tone. This person was holding back their tears, or at least tried to convince them when Katsuki and Mina had been working in this job for too long to distinguish this kind of behavior. 

“Sure, Pinky selected you to be the lucky person to introduce this part of the show. Is it your first time here ?” He asked with a curious tone, resting his back on the chair, and crossing his arms against his chest. 

The duo stayed silent as the poor soul continued their speech, explaining how they were afraid of making their coming out, having the impression of being forced by their surrounding. The taller man realized that he started with a strong case, he wasn’t a licensed therapist but could bring some sense into people’s minds. 

“This line is anonymous, and we obviously don’t know anything about you, but listen to me,” Katsuki explained with a low tone, trying to bring reassurance and convince the new people to trust him despite his harsh behavior. ”You did confess this personal secret to a bunch of extras who have sleep issues or terrible night routines. In the end, the action is all yours and no one is forcing you to fit into some shitty category. Be whoever you want to be, as long as it’s legal, and take the lead in your own life.”

“But what about the others ?” The shaking voice said with a curious tone, and the blond noticed how the person on the line seemed interested in his words. 

“Respectfully, we don’t give a shit about what they think,” he confessed with brutal honesty, being one of his qualities and the reason why he was so appreciated. “You started this on your own and you’ll end up the same way. The people you’ll meet on your way will be some forgotten memories depending on the narrative you choose to share. If I let some fucker tell me what to think or do, I’ll be already doomed to a shitty life for a long time but I’m here, taking calls from strangers in the middle of the night and living my job….What’s stopping you from being true to yourself ?”

“That’s….” The slight took a breath at the previous comment, realizing how Katsuki was right. The blond didn’t need to hear what the stranger had to say to guess the relief at the tone of his voice. “That’s pretty helpful, thanks for your help. I know I’ll have a lot to work on, but I have a starting point.”

“Therapy is also an option, try to look into it when you have time, I know it helped many people,” the taller man affirms, feeling the pride grin on the woman’s face from afar. It was the moment she enjoyed the most when her friend showed his true self and let the world see how he wasn’t a harsh person but a human with empathy and compassion for others, compared to popular beliefs. She made a sign to let him know how the call had just ended, and the blond nodded at the gesture, understanding what he had to do next. ”Got it now extras? If you want to be noisy about others' dramas or just confess whatever crosses your mind, you've found the perfect station.”

The series of calls continued until the clock on the wall revealed it was 1:30 am. The blond tried to continue his role of an anonymous friend who listens to many stories and sometimes gives advice. In all honesty, he had a good start with this confession at the beginning of the show and his drink was half empty on the side of the table, similar to Mina’s who changed her cans for simply water. They both felt that the next 30 minutes would be the longest, but they could survive for the night.

The red button appears on the screen, informing the blond that someone was still awake at this hour, and ready to talk. He found a better position on the chair and his pillow he had brought earlier for more comfort, and gave a sign to his friend to accept the call. The sudden silence in the room was filled with a heavy breath on the line, putting them on their guard. They wanted to ask who was stupid enough to make a late-night walk, but they decided to wait until the stranger regained his spirit. The slight breath on the line was replaced by some silence, and the crimson eyes stared at the screen, ready to ask if everything was alright until the stranger finally broke the previous silence.

“Oh hi, I…am I at the right station ?” The voice asked with a curious tone, regaining his breath as he closed the door of his apartment. Katsuki and Mina were used to crazy situations, but something was different with this one, and the 30 minutes left didn’t seem so long anymore. “The one where people talk about everything crossing their mind ?”

“Exactly, but may I ask what happened to have such an unforgettable introduction? No offense, but you look like you’ve run a marathon,” Katsuki said, losing his hands in his spiky hair. The previous pillow found his ass, regaining a better position. 

“Because I did,” the stranger explained with an embarrassed tone. The blond didn’t need to picture this extra to see his hands meeting his neck with embarrassment. Indeed, a part of his job consisted of using his imagination to see the people’s reactions to his advice or comments, even if some of his expectations weren’t necessarily accurate to reality. He, somehow, succeeded in discerning some cases more easily than others, and this stranger fit into this category. “I was chased by some guy who followed me to my apartment. It was scary, but look I made it alive, isn’t it amazing ?”

The crimson eyes widened at the comment. Mina’s face turned pale at the previous revelation, realizing how this call might be more interesting than they expected. Katsuki almost choked on his water, wondering what was so exciting about being chased by someone with bad intentions, and what was so funny about it. He definitely needs to dig this situation to his advantage and understand the other’s reasoning. After all, the station was closing in less than an hour and he had nothing to lose.

“Are you mentally sane ?” He asked, brutally honest but he caught the surprised voice on the other end of the line. “You told me this as if it were another episode of your favorite show when your life was on the line. I bet the drugs you took must be strong, not to see how dangerous this situation was.”

“Oh- Sorry I’m not into this kind of addiction but I think there’s a misunderstanding,“ the shorter man replied with a sigh, and Katsuki swore he could feel a smile on the other’s face, even if they were too far to confirm this strange sense. “I’m relieved because it was the scariest thing that happened to me. It was like these horror movies you pray to don’t see in real life, but when it happens, you shit in your pant. Trust me, I had the scare of my life but I’m proud of myself for returning home safely.” 

“Then why do you act like a brat who got his favorite toy at Christmas? You do know that ten people are listening to your story at the moment and probably consider you crazy, right ?” As always, Katsuki Bakugo knew how to be brutally honest, but it was too late and he lost control of his rational thinking. It might explain why his existence on the radio created so many controversies, from the people who appreciated his presence in the show, to the ones who despised his character. “I mean, I’m glad you’re safe and good for you, but are you alright ?”

“I’m trying to process what happened, but I felt the need to share this victory with someone,” the voice justified with a hidden laugh, creating more mysteries about his case. “A friend of mine recommended this line and I wanted to share my story to offer my life-saving advice! You see, it’s very important to have some spray near your reach, it won’t completely stop this individual with bad intentions, but it’ll slow them down. My favorite trick is to let them know they won before kicking them in the nuts, but don’t tell this to anyone…”

“That’s pretty useful, but the next time, try to grab something stronger,” Katsuki affirmed with a sigh. He had to admit how this was impressive, especially when the idiot on the line was still acting excited at the praise. He bet this extra was probably smiling, but the blond wouldn’t wish for a better way to end this night shift. “Some people can avoid the spray, and use their brain and muscles with the hope that this was the first and last time. Try to let this asshole taste his own stupidity by sending him straight to the cops.”

“That’s very interesting, I’ll definitely keep that in mind, thanks mister the stranger who took the time to listen to my rant,” the shorter man said with a smile, putting his back against his couch. His scarred fingers held the fabric of his pillow closer between his knees, realizing how his previous assumptions about this radio station were wrong. The host might be kinda harsh, but he gave pretty good advice and didn’t ignore him, which was better than nothing! 

“You want me to congratulate you for surviving this? I wish I could, but it was a survival instinct, even if you did a decent job at protecting your own life,” Katsuki pointed out with a grin appearing at the corner of his face. It was based on meaningless details, but the guy’s pride could be felt in the tone of his voice, even if they couldn’t see each other. 

“Thanks, I needed to hear it,” the shorter man whispered with a soft tone, losing his fingers into the closet blanket to bring it back to his cold body. His scarred fingers made sure to have a comfortable position with his head against a pillow, waiting for the stranger’s answer. Maybe it was his loneliness taking the lead, but Izuku was happy to have someone to talk to, especially at this hour. “I didn’t know this station existed until now, but it’s really nice and I bet you’ve received a bunch of calls. Aren’t you tired? I mean- it’s personal but this late shift must be tough.”

“I’m exhausted as fuck, I miss my bed and wish I could kick some ass in my dreams if that’s what you want to know,” the blond confessed with an amused tone, hearing a soft laugh escaping the other’s lips. A simple glance at Pinky told him that it was time to hang out soon. “It’s a miracle if I don’t have bags under my eyes tomorrow, but at least I know you're safe from some twisted mind.” 

“You don’t know anything about me,” Izuku said with an interested tone, bringing the blanket closer to his shoulders. He felt how the words naturally escaped from his lips, especially when he spent his time talking to a stranger who would forget him tomorrow. 

“Congrats you can use your brain,” Katsuki sighed with an unimpressed tone. He wondered how this guy might react from afar, a disadvantage to not being face-to-face with the listeners for moments like this one. He felt his body getting more tired than usual and knew he would reach his limits soon, but he didn’t want to sound too harsh on this stranger who probably had a lot to say for being this talkative. “I may appear as a dick but I don’t want to return home and know someone else got tricked into the charming spells of the night. We don’t know the messed up shit that happened once we put our guard down, especially in this place; it would be a shame to see another drama in the newspaper.”

“I appreciate the gesture,” Izuku whispered, resting his head against the pillow. His emerald eyes checked the clock on the wall of his kitchen, realizing how he was probably pushing this poor guy’s boundaries by staying up so late on the phone with him. “It’s getting late and I should probably sleep-”

“No way, you can finally make a good decision,” the blond replied with a grin that could be felt on the line. He wasn’t against some rest after the tough day he had, being grateful that tomorrow his morning classes were canceled. Katsuki didn’t know if it was the tiredness taking the lead over his rational thinking and reasoning, but he was convinced to hear a light chuckle leaving the guy’s lips on the line, wondering how this extra wasn’t tired at this late hour…another night hollow he might never understand. 

“Hey, that’s mean,” the shorter man complained with a frown, a sign the radio host couldn’t see from afar. His fingers held the smooth fabric of the blanket against his body, putting his phone on the wooden table beside him until he heard the other’s voice, filling the silence of his empty apartment. 

“It’s soon 2 am, do you expect me to be tender? I just want my bed.” He didn’t have anything against this listener who stayed up with him until the end, knowing he was just another lonely soul who needed a late-night talk… but he better have plushies because Katsuki Bakugo felt himself falling asleep on the spot.

“I understand…thanks for the advice and goodnight !” The voice on the declared with an ounce of excitement., There wasn’t any shade of hate or bother with the slight change of his tone, just a single smile that was transcribed with the choice of his words. 

“Whatever,” he simply replied, putting his hands on his forehead. He declined the call and stared at the silent room. 

The least he could say was how their mutual relief could be felt as both figures left their respective roles, even when Mina made a slight thumb in the air to say how the station was off. Usually, the blond would say a last word before closing the calls, but he was too tired and thanked the pink-haired woman. The crimson eyes glanced at the landscape drawing with delicate frames, observing how the stars seemed so far and close at the same time, probably listening to their narratives and sharing them with the moon. Katsuki liked to think the stars were old souls who lost themselves in time and became guardians of the next lives living there; they weren’t gods, but protective enough to know the story between each shadow leaving this maternity at least once in their lives. 

He moved to complete the last check on the list, while the pink-haired woman cleared the room and materials. A last check was necessary, especially with the doors and potential intrusion that happened in the past, forcing Aizawa to be more than serious about this case, especially when it wasn’t some material that could be afforded on the market for a cheap price….

“This guy was something,” the blond pointed out with a sigh. He looked at the silenced town from afar, wondering how many people were still awake while his calloused fingers closed the windows with double security, making a final check as Mina simply stood there, texting on her phone with her bag on the back. 

“Good thing Aizawa doesn’t listen to this part, we’ll be doomed otherwise,” She seemed amused by the previous comment and couldn’t agree more, but it wasn’t the first time they received this kind of confession. Since Mina worked there, she had a lot of funny anecdotes to share about the listeners she had, and it only increased after Katsuki’s presence in the group, especially when his strong personality attracted the unique narrative “ I’ll wake up Ei and we’ll drive you home, but hey….you did a great job, Kats.”

“If you say so,” Katsuki said with an unbothered expression, ignoring the slight smile on the woman’s face. 

He didn’t need to share explicit words to express his gratitude to have friends by his side, especially when he never planned any of this, but it was enough to continue this unique job. The calloused hands moved to the corridor to grab his bag and take the last snack he left in the pocket; it wasn’t the luxury he expected, but his stomach called for help for a few minutes and he needed something to eat as soon as possible. 

Once his fingers grabbed his jacket, he took a quick glimpse at the pink-haired woman, who stood beside the sleeping figure, her hands in his hair and whispering how he should wake up. Katsuki wanted to be selfish and say it was none of his problem to see this kind of scene, but he wondered how it might feel to be loved by someone in this tender way… Maybe he’ll never know, but at least he got his job to change his mind.

——-

Last night, Izuku Midoriya called the radio station to share his crazy story.

Earlier in the day, he heard some of his friends mention this famous radio station on campus, animated by students from different fields. The freckled man was naturally interested in the conversation, to his friends’ pleasure, who shared every detail they knew. After all, Izuku was amazed when he heard about this concept of letting people share their stories or ask for advice in complete anonymity. 

The green-haired man was a curious soul and kept this idea at the back of his mind, as the day passed by in the blink of an eye. It was only when the bright sunlight was replaced by a fresh breeze against his curls, that he decided to leave the library and reach his home. He liked his small apartment near the campus, with transport a few meters away, due to his nonexistent desire to drive his car, unless for rare occasions. The small place he had wasn’t luxurious, but he liked having a roof over his head and a few things in his fridge to please his stomach. 

Alright, he might eat the same thing every day but he was a simple guy and liked pasta with some sauce, bringing him an impression of novelty in his redundant habit. After all, being a student in the psychology field was pretty hard, especially in his second year with this constant selection and complex assignments with pressure on his shoulders. He liked the most basic things such as having his headphones and playlist to change his mind, texting his friends, or watching an old movie on his computer after a tough study session. The final exam was getting closer, and he was afraid of not making it; the first session might be the same for everyone, but he had already experienced the second chance, and based on his experience…it was harder than the previous one.

In this environment of constant selection, he was forced to stay focused on certain things and put his cocoon aside for a few days, if not weeks. He was glad he wasn’t alone in this chapter of his life, and wouldn’t mind hanging out in town to forget about the future awaiting him in the next years. The last night, he let his scarred fingers grab his headphones and press “play”, as his shadow moved in the familiar streets he used to see under a clear angle during the day.

He naturally mumbled the rhythm of the song as he got closer to his apartment when he heard some noises behind him. He took one headphone away and turned his head, seeing a strange shadow in the background. He naturally guessed it was another lonely soul who returned home at this late hour but he decided to walk faster and pretended a little longer with the hope the stranger didn’t doubt his acting. His heart missed a beat when he took a quick glimpse behind to see how the stranger was still there, and the simple comment about him being alone at night succeeded in bringing chills to his body.  This man had bad intentions and he needed to escape from here as soon as possible, even if this meant being in jail, which might be better than his current situation….

Izuku pushed him away and let him know how he wasn’t interested in conversation, pretending to have his roommate coming very soon, but the stranger didn’t believe him. His attempts became clearer when the freckled man had no other choice but to grab his gas bomb and immediately press it closer to the other’s face, hearing a loud groan of pain. Izuku held his breath while his fingers found the keys in his back and took the chance to give an efficient kick. The stranger cursed his name, and Izuku ran as fast as possible, with thousands of theories crossing his mind about the worst-case scenarios. His shaking fingers finally succeeded in putting the keys in the handle, with heavy anxiety rising inside his chest with each second passing by.

He took a final glimpse behind him to see the stranger waiting at the entrance, scaring the shit out of the freckled man, who rushed up the stairs. Izuku was afraid, but an ounce of pride filled his chest as he finally reached his apartment. A heavy breath escaped from his lips as he realized what had happened, wondering if he should call the police, who probably dealt with this situation thousands of times, or his friends. Unfortunately, none of them were available, and he felt the need to talk about it-

Izuku Midoriya was stupid, and he understood this self-realization when he pressed his fingers on the screen and typed the number he heard earlier in the morning. He didn’t have any explanation but was surprised to see how the radio host was somehow harsh in his reaction, with an ounce of empathy and concern about his state. The freckled man knew it was ridiculous, but he found some relief in this small conversation he shared with the stranger on the line, knowing it was his job and was another name to forget on the list.

Maybe he should give it another try tonight….

Chapter Text

Katsuki thanks the stars who heard his complaint about his poor lack of sleep. 

He was usually the kind of person to have an early morning consecrated to his assignments until he had peace of mind to prepare the program awaiting him on the Radio, but this morning was different than the others. This time, he took his time to rest a little longer in his bedsheets, against the soft pillow, and welcomed the light passing through the curtain of his closed windows. 

Don’t get him wrong, Katsuki knew it wouldn’t be enough to catch the precious energy he lost since he started those late-night shifts, but it was better than nothing. At least, that’s how he tried to convince himself about this situation while staring at the time on his phone and realizing that he needed a shower. A groan escaped from his lips, forcing the taller figure to leave the warmth of his bedroom to reach the living room. Katsuki had lived there since his first years of college, being used to this solitary life and being close to his work and campus. 

When most of the extras took the transport, he chose the toughest option by walking by himself every day, another advantage to get some exercise when your apartment was located a few meters away from your university. He was aware of this privilege he had to have his fridge full for the week and be more comfortable than the others, but he liked it that way. After all, he also started on the same path with an unfurnished room, help from his parents, and the first bills he had to pay with his previous job which gave him nothing more than pasta for the rest of the week. It was tough, but he succeeded in transforming this complicated situation into his biggest strength, especially after working his ass on a few more jobs to pay the rent, but everything changed when he started working for the Radio Station. 

The calloused hands turned his phone off as he put it on the sink, with his towels and brush against the glass. He quickly entered the shower and felt the hot water against his naked skin, resting his back against the walls as his strong hands spread shampoo all over his muscles. His fingers lost themselves in the spiky hair with the rest of the shampoo to have a fresh start. Katsuki didn’t have anything special planned for the day, being relieved that most of his assignments for the semester were done, and he would spend the rest of the afternoon at his workplace. Technically, his planning informed him about his obligatory presence at three pm, but he liked to stay there and make sure the other idiots didn’t mess things up and get late for his program.

The taller man left the shower by bringing the towel against his hips, erasing the slight drop of water on his skin. A sigh escaped from his lips when he felt the light breeze of the open window against his exposed skin, realizing how he needed to grab some clothes before preparing something to eat. He was lucky to make his own food, but he learned from his lesson and decided to prepare some backup in case either he or the idiots needed some refreshment. 

No wonder why he was loved by everyone in this group, he was their personal cook and helped them to reduce their addiction to shitty cans or snacks. He should be paid for those little extras that took a bunch of his free time, but he knew his friends enjoyed the attention, despite their constant teasing. His fingers wiped the blur away from the mirror, looking at the first hint of bags under his eyes, but he could make an exception for the day….

After finding some more tolerable clothes, he put the food in his bag and checked the last messages with the group. Katsuki was careful with the potential change of plan, especially when he needed to be ready for each situation. It didn’t take him too long before he grabbed his headphones while closing the door of his apartment. He glanced at the sunlight heating the fabric of his clothes until he made his apparition at the entrance of the familiar building, with the same guard who welcomed him yesterday. 

This time he presented his card with a grin, thanking the extra who only did his job, as annoying as it must be. The taller man finished the end of his song turned his phone off and put it inside his pocket, rolling his eyes when he heard familiar voices from afar. Obviously, the rest of the group was already there, making endless conversation about silly topics that were none of his business. Despite their noisy conversations, Katsuki enjoyed the latest news that happened in their lives, relating how they all had their own narrative outside this building.

Katsuki Bakugo was just a name among thousands, but he appreciated how his everyday habit became his source of comfort, even when he was welcomed by the faces of these idiots, sitting on the chair with their latest meal and drinks on the side. The blond rolled his eyes when Pikachu asked him another dumb question until Sero made a comment about him being extra tired this morning. The only reply he got was a middle finger, making the group laugh, while he joined the conversation.

“-Talking about the show, what did we miss last night ?” Jirou asked with a curious tone, taking an interested glance at the two figures. After all, it was rare to leave Mina and Katsuki alone, but their change of plans caught them off guard and they were the best hosts to save the rest of the night. The golden-haired man noticed the guilty expression on her face, but the pink-haired woman put her hand on Jirou’s shoulders, letting her know that it was fine.

“Just a weirdo, nothing interesting,” Katsuki explained, remembering the last call. Thinking about it now, he wondered if he hadn’t been too harsh on this poor soul who only wanted to share his story and keep him company. This moment of doubt was quickly erased by the reminder that this idiot was the one who called a forgotten radio station rather than the police….

“We missed the show, but to offer proper apologies for last night, we decided to stay there until the end of the shift, isn’t it amazing ?” Denki said with an amused tone, almost like this was a miracle when it was the bare minimum. Katsuki and Mina shared an understanding tone, realizing how this promise would only be biased once Pikachu closed his eyes after midnight, but at least he tried to play the game. 

“No way, you learned how to do your job,” he replied with an unimpressed tone. Usually, the blond would use his late-night shift to justify his behavior, but today he was in a good mood to let Pikachu know how he shouldn’t mess up with him if he wanted to run home safely tonight. “Unfortunately, no money at the end of the month will bring back your lost brain cells. You’ve been a lost cause a long time ago, I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do for you.” 

“That’s harsh but at least I have a girlfriend, compared to a certain someone,” he fought back with a prideful smile, wrapping his arms around the pink-haired woman. Jirou only rolled her eyes at the gesture and stepped back, leaving the shorter man to groan at the sudden loss. The group observed the interaction with pleased expressions on their face, appreciating their current dynamic and how this place felt like a second home, despite the pressure of work, awaiting them soon.

“Say that again and I’ll make sure your body will be hidden six feet underground,” Katsuki threatened with a middle finger, savoring his victory. His crimson eyes glanced at the clock on the wall, indicating how the group needed to get back to work to make the last check. Technically, the other members could return home, but they liked to stay here!

The red button appeared on the screen, while the Red-haired man started to introduce the program of the day, with Mina preparing the future songs in the background, and the rest of the team working on the small but meaningful details. Katsuki stood by Pinky’s side and helped her with a bunch of stuff, hoping the night would come faster… 

—----

Suddenly, the lively atmosphere in the room became more silent, surrounded by the small lamps and the darkness outside the building. 

The huge wooden table in the center was marked with their bags on the side, phones turned on with notifications for some, and the rest of the food they shared earlier. As expected, the idiots thanked the blond for giving them an ounce of proper food for their ridiculous stomachs, and almost took the role of Big Brother. 

For the occasion, Mina insisted on doing it herself since she knew all the tricks, and was pretty curious to see if this weird guy would be there to give a shot back, or just disappear like the previous listeners. It wasn’t her intention to mess with her friend’s “relationship” if she can call it that way, based on the lack of infractions exchanged between Katsuki and this guy on the line, but no matter who he was….he definitely attracted her curiosity.  

Kirishima and Sero were resting on the chair, sliding on their phones while Jirou took the lead and helped the pink-haired woman if necessary, leaving the spotlight to the blond.

Katsuki took a deep breath and repeated the same process from the night before. His heart became lighter as the previous song reached its end until a bunch of people were ready to call when the show hadn’t even started. His back found the chair in a comfortable position as he introduced himself to the new people, knowing they probably had curious souls discovering their radio station every night. 

“-Alright, looks like there’s a bunch of extras who are ready to yap the entire night, your stories better be interesting,” he explained with a grin, enjoying this slight excitement rising inside his chest. “Let’s start with our first listener, We have a long night ahead of us.”

His thumbs met the air to inform Pinky to let the first person be a part of the conversation. The blond waited with crossed arms against his chest, until the stranger finally revealed itself, catching the two figures by surprise. It was the exact same words as yesterday, but Katsuki and Mina’s eyes immediately met when they recognized the familiar voice of the same idiot who marked this fateful night.

“Wait, are you the weird guy from yesterday ?” Discretion had never been one of Katsuki’s qualities, and won’t plan to be one for a moment. The question was simple and yet, enough to catch everyone’s attention; it was easy to say when someone was calling a few times to share their stories or vent about their days, but it was rare to see the crimson eyes being genuinely stunned at something. The group shared a curious glance, wondering what was so special about this missed call, based on the interested expression on Mina’s face and the shocked ones on the blond, almost like he had seen a ghost. 

“You….You remember me ?” Izuku’s voice echoed in the other’s line, catching him off guard. The freckled man felt his heart missing a beat at the idea that the mysterious host of the previous night knew his existence. It was stupid, but this small detail brought a smile back to his face while resting in bed with the small lamp by his side to keep him company. He wished to have someone by his side to bring this timeless affection he heard about in others’ narratives, but he didn’t mind the radio host company, changing his mind for a while. 

“How could I forget, you left an unforgettable impression for sure,” he replied with a teasing tone, amusing to the point of erasing any misunderstanding between them. Katsuki would let him know how this was probably the best interaction he had with people since he started this job, but he wanted to know what kind of bullshit the other made this time. “What’s the reason for your call this time? Another piece of advice to kick some ass or new pride you got in the last twenty-four hours ?”

“I wish, but I wanted to thank you again for the advice you gave me yesterday,  I know it’s a part of your job but maybe all superheroes don’t wear capes. I’m glad to discover the existence of this radio, I’ll listen to it more,” Izuku explained with a soft tone, wondering what the host's reaction might be behind the screen. Based on his previous assumptions, this guy was probably around the same age as him based on the hints of his voice…which was already a good beginning. 

“Yeah, a bunch of people often say that about us and my co-host,” Katsuki answered with a grin, being actually proud of his strong reputation. He knew most of the praise came from him and his presentation, but some of the extras had the right to claim the same victory too. After all, they were a team working together and their efforts deserved to be recognized or heard, instead of being forgotten by the strong shadow of the blond.  He didn’t even try to contradict the guy on the phone, liking the previous praise that could be seen as flirting. 

“You aren’t working alone? That’s pretty impressive, I bet they’re as devoted as you on this job, at least I would be !” Izuku added with a slight joy at the end of his sentence. Katsuki was surprised to see how this guy wasn’t aware of this fact since everyone on the campus knew about the members, but it was almost touching to see Izuku’s curiosity. 

“Say that to Pikachu who deals with the fake news, it’ll bring him back to earth,” pointed out the blond, who rolled his eyes. His ears heard some chuckles from afar, making the shorter man more offended at the wooden table. 

“Hey!” Denki gasped only to see Katsuki replying with a middle finger, facing the offended expression on Denki’s face until the shorter figure gave up. He was too tired to fight back and knew this would only make his situation worse. The taller man was brought to reality when the stranger’s voice on the line asked him an unexpected question that caught him by surprise. 

“Can I have a full presentation ?” Izuku asked with complete innocence. After all, it was the first time he got more information about the other people working here, and he wanted to appreciate their work too! He might be a complete stranger, but the freckled man was selfish and wanted to stay on the line with the radio host as long as possible….

“I’ll make it short, Pinky is preparing the songs, Shitty Head likes to Co-Host but work in the background, Pikachu is a co-host to his own part of the program and a lazy ass, Sero and Jirou are actually the most respectable here,” the golden-haired man respected the confidentiality contract he signed when he got the job by giving the most basic information. As much as he wanted to develop them and their distinct roles, he didn’t have enough time. He lifted his head to meet the understanding faces in his friends’ group, who seemed happy to know how their works were taken into account. 

“Wow, that’s a lot of people, tell them I say hi!” Izuku's naivety was his biggest charm and flaw at the same time. It was unmistakable how genuine happiness and excitement could be heard at the slight change of his voice or the formulation of his sentence. No matter who this guy was, he was a ray of sunshine, for sure!

“They can hear you don’t worry,” Katsuki said with a grin at the tip of his lips. He ignored the whispers in the room when he softened his voice, almost like spending time with this listener was revealing a softer version of his personality. Don’t get him wrong, the blond wasn’t attached at all, but he appreciated the fact that this idiot took the time to learn more about the Radio, and the people working here, and thanked him for the messy calls yesterday. 

“Well, I…I shouldn’t take up too much space, especially when there must be a bunch of other people who want to have your service. I just came to say hi and let you know how yesterday was nice,” the freckled man explained, putting the sheet closer to his chest. Suddenly, the previous loneliness in the room faded away, almost like this unexpected call succeeded in bringing him the lullaby he missed from his mom. 

“Depending on your definition of nice, but it was tolerable,” Katsuki never tried to hide how hard it would be to let him expose his feelings in the most explicit way instead of using some jokes or sarcasm. No matter how hard the others tried, they always failed but got used to this temper they learn to appreciate it!

A slight laugh could be heard on the line from Izuku’s side, catching the blond by surprise. He welcomed the slight grin that crossed his lips until the freckled man broke the silence. “I guess we’ll see if fate is in our favor… I’m sending all my strength to the team for the rest of the night, You guys are doing a great job, keep going.”

If the group simply smiled at the compliment and unconsciously thanked the stranger for his support, Katsuki rolled his eyes. What do you mean this idiot was giving his support to the extras when he was the one keeping people awake until two am and messing up his sleep schedule? Don’t get him wrong, he liked the respect this guy had for the people working in the building, it was admirable, but his ego was hurt-

“What about me ?” He asked, realizing how the words left his mouth in a few seconds. If Mina and Karisma simply laughed at the situation, Jirou and Sero made a slight grin at the scene, followed by Denki who simply scrolled on his phone. 

“I was about to mention it, greedy much ?” Izuku teased with an amusing tone, almost provoking the last brain cells that fight inside the blond’s head. The freckled man wouldn’t mind digging more if this meant having more interaction of this kind with the stranger who erased his worries. 

“Fuck you,” despite not showing it, he hoped the extra on the line could feel his middle finger.

“Alright, I guess it’ll be the last words before I decline,” the shorter man affirmed with a hidden laugh, playing with the blond’s nerves. The previous empathy he had for this idiot immediately faded away, wanting to let this extra know his ego was hurt by this childhood game.

“You-” Katsuki barely had time to finish his sentence before being hung up on by the phone call. He lost his fingers inside his hair and took back the mic, ignoring how Mina and Jirou seemed amused by the situation. It was the first time someone declined the conversation with him, and even worse…Mocked him in front of his listeners. There was no doubt, if he find this idiot, he’ll kick his ass! “I can’t believe this fucker hang out on me, the audacity and stop laughing at me Pinky, you’re not helping- Let’s receive the second person with the hope it’s better than this idiot earlier.”

The station continued until the clock on the white wall informed him it was time to go. Katsuki didn’t seem to forgive what happened earlier and the previous humiliation, even if the atmosphere calmed down. He simply stood there, listening to his friends who made a last check and mentioned the previous event, with useless comments on the way.

“I like this guy,” Kirishima said, with the approval of the group. They didn’t need to take a glance to notice the way the blond made a groan of disappointment, with his bag on his back, and jacket on his shoulders. It was clear this guy made a strong impression on the other for his kindness, but he also had a rival with Katsuki, who wouldn't hesitate to let him pay the next time…if there was one.

“I hate him,” he replied with an annoyed tone, ignoring the constant teasing of his friends from afar. He showed his middle finger in the air, wanting to get his apartment as soon as possible. A part of him wondered if this fucker regretted his actions, unaware that Izuku Midoriya was having the most peaceful night of his life, with his plushie inside his arms and sweet mumbles in his sleep.

—------

Two weeks later, 

The season of exams was about to reach its end soon, but the sacrifices were worth the try if this meant getting the rest they deserved. Aizawa was understanding about their current conditions with all the stress they had to face and decided to make things easier for his employees. Despite not seeing them most of the time, he often made checks on their production and considered them human beings: For the occasion, the old man and his team revisited their schedules, with schedules to make sure they fit everyone's advantage until they regained their old habits. 

If Katsuki didn’t say anything, he was glad to know his boss unconsciously gave him a  few more hours of sleep, especially with the chaos awaiting him at home. The changes were announced as early as possible in May, with more songs to fill the blank, and less presence of the radio host, even if they all kept their respective roles. Kirishima and Mina continued their special part of the show, Denki’s one was reduced from 30 minutes, and Katsuki’s was reduced to twice a week. Everyone seemed to agree with this new organization, but it didn’t stop them from coming to the building with their notebooks and note sheets.

Katsuki didn’t understand how they found the concentration but it was touching to see the group helping each other during their study session. The blond was fine on its own but didn’t mind helping the others when it was necessary, being a surprisingly good teacher despite his harsh personality. 

Katsuki definitely needed to write a “thank you” note to his boss for erasing the bags under his eyes and terrible sleep schedules. However, Katsuki didn’t mind staying in his chair, wearing his headset, and listening to people’s stories. It often represented his favorite moment of the day and he was surprised to see how this idiot who played with his nerves, called multiple times.

It seemed like this stranger had this habit of staying on the phone with Katsuki for a long time until he felt reassured about whatever happened on his side. The blond never asked any personal questions, knowing some people could be uncomfortable about that. Complaining about his day at work or crazy stuff was fine, but having a breakdown direct was often redirected to Shitty Head, who always handled this kind of situation.  

Katsuki didn’t want to admit it, but he started to get used to the presence of this mysterious guy on his radio station. This stranger never said anything about his situation, but the blond could easily guess that he was around the same age. He didn’t want to get attached to a faceless voice, but he appreciated how the nerd stayed up until this special section of the show to have a talk with the blond. The rest of the group often explained how this guy tried to make it through the other sections and interaction with them, but it was different when he was with Katsuki. The blond ignored the comment, but couldn’t deny how this strange bond he created with a person he’d never seen. 

It was the risk with this job and he didn’t regret any of the things he either said or did until now, especially when he found some comfort in waiting for a certain person and knowing about his day. Tonight, the slight breeze caressed his forehead, as the song reached its end. The pink-haired woman was out for the night, doing study sessions with her boyfriend and Pikachu in the isolated room, leaving no other option than Jirou replacing her with Sero, checking on the material. It was refreshing to have a switch, especially with Aizawa’s new schedule.

The final melody filled the silence until the blond’s voice filled the previous blank, taking the first call. The stories often repeated themselves but he wanted to make sure they were listened to, no matter their current situation. Some narratives were amusing, others sadder than usual but the welcoming atmosphere could be transcribed in the choice of his words, making sure the extra was relieved at the end of the call.

Izuku didn’t know why he got so attached to this voice and this invisible face, but his face softened when he heard the radio host occupying his empty apartment.  The freckled man wanted to figure out why he was waiting for each of Katsuki’s shows with impatience, almost like he had the impression of knowing him personally. It was stupid, and the green-haired man should move on, but he wanted to make an exception for the night, with his computer on the bed with the pause screen. He was in the marathon of this new series staring at his favorite actors, to change his mind until the time on his screen reflected a sweet number. He rested his back against the closest pillow he put it between his knees, creating a sweet bubble for this moment of the night he waited the most. 

A slight smile crossed his lips when he pressed the familiar number and heard the ringing on the line. An appeased expression crossed his face when he heard the blond’s voice, explaining how he was on live. This was one of the new features they added to avoid the recurrent mistake of asking the same questions every single night…a great change in some. Little did he know how Katsuki was reassured to hear the familiar tone of his voice on the other side, realizing how he appreciated these slight bonding moments between them, coming from different worlds but being connected through a simple station and curious circumstances. 

“Look who we got there, isn’t our regular visitor? I wonder what kind of thing happened to you today,” he said with an amused tone, rubbing his fingers into his spikes and having a sign from afar that everything was fine. Katsuki didn’t know why he felt delighted to hear this voice, it’s not like he cared about him, but he considered his presence in the show as something entertaining. 

“It only happened twice, I wonder if the new people discovering this station for the first time believe in your bullshit,” Izuku replied with an offended tone, and the blond could almost picture the annoyed expression on his face. Their dynamic became something unique that couldn’t be transcribed into words. They liked each other’s company despite not saying it out loud or making this statement explicit and acting like friends who caught the lost time after being separated for too long. 

“Your words against mine, now you tell me what’s recently happened to receive another late-night call,” he pointed out with a grin, cutting his mic to take a last sip of water. When he turned it on, the nerd was still talking in his mumbles, until he started to get to the main point, to everyone's relief.

“Nothing important really, but today I went to a convention to change my mind before the exams. I really loved this place and it was pretty amusing but being on its own is annoying,” This guy was a mystery to Katsuki’s eyes, How could someone so authentic in his speech be able to transcribe such sadness with the choice of his words? He wondered how this person behind the line must be in real life and if he’ll be able to find the peace he deserves. The blond wasn’t a therapist, but he noticed enough hints to recognize when someone was hiding some unresolved conflicts….. 

“Did you try to bring some of your friends?” He asked, trying to get some reaction from the nerd. If Jirou and Sero noticed the change in the tone of his voice, they didn’t say anything and simply agreed about how this mysterious guest might be beneficial for their friend’s state too. 

“I tried but I thought they might be annoyed by it….but it was nice and I even got a picture with one of my favorite artists,” Izuku explained with a smile behind the screen, hoping the light joy at the choice of his words, erasing the worries that might cover the host’s mind. He never wanted to reflect on his inner demons, but he liked being around this voice that, somehow, erased all his worries and gave him the impression of having a longtime friend. 

“Bet this extra is also a nerd,” Katsuki said glad to know the nerd felt better. It might be nothing to the world, but it was an important detail for the blond and the team working in the station, especially when Izuku became their favorite listener. The taller man sighed, checking the time on the clock, Tonight he was supposed to finish early due to the new schedules, but an exception of a few minutes wouldn’t hurt anyone….

“Pretty much, he’s well known for drawing All Might’s art, his drawing skills are impressive!” Izuku added with this genuine joy in his voice, making everyone smile. 

It was strange how one really knew anything about this guy and his identity, but he made sure to let everyone care about his happiness in their own way. Katsuki wondered what the stranger might look like on the line, with probably shining eyes, reminding him of the amazed glance a child gave after seeing his favorite actor on screen. However, it took him a few seconds to realize what he just heard, he never thought it would be possible….“Wait, you’re an All Might fan-”

“I mean, everyone is, unless they have bad taste, but are you ?” He replied with a serious tone, which quickly followed with a soft chuckle. 

It was an evident truth to Izuku’s lips how everyone heard about this man and his amazing career, with some hating him for a single breath, and others being really admirative of his works. The marks he left with his projects were unmistakable, even if he tried to bring back the old days by doing recent projects that didn’t necessarily work or created controversy about him against his will. To be fair, Izuku was stunned to see the fond tone in the host’s voice, almost like this was an unexpected revelation when he considered this as something obvious with his fanboy behavior. After all, rare were the people who claimed out loud how they were fans of this inspirational figure who marked generations, afraid of being judged by the public's eyes, but Katsuki didn’t care about any of this... 

“It’s a stupid question to ask,” Katsuki replied with a grin at the corner of his lips that could be transcribed into each of his words. 

He never thought he would talk about his hobby and interest in personal detail, but it was pretty late and the last five listeners were the only people left before closing the line. Having Izuku as his last call was relaxing enough to put this pressure away and have a light talk with this stranger who, somehow, became an important part of this routine. The freckled man simply smiled at the answer, having the impression of feeling a new kind of bond between them. He should probably thank All Might for that, but he needed to see if this host was a simple fan who heard his name from time to time or a real devoted and passionate soul with a huge collection like Izuku’s. 

“I owned the limited collection of golden age movies in my house, including the dedicated posters. My old hag got it right in time before the closure of the website, and the resellers were sealing this shit for a lunge, got pretty fortunate by the timing.”

“Oh my god, this is amazing !” Izuku’s gasp reflected his genuine joy at the news. The background noises echoed louder in the previous blank, when the shorter man found a better position, putting the blanket on his legs, with shining eyes. He couldn’t help but be naturally amazed by the previous revelations, especially when those objects were considered the rarest to this day, and he easily got jealous of the people who got them back in the day. “You’re so lucky, I couldn't get a hand on one of them, they were already sold out. I should’ve tried to get one but as you said, it was really expensive and I didn’t want to be scammed….but that’s funny, I never knew the rude host could be a nerd like me.”

“First of all, shut up,” the taller man pointed out with an annoyed tone, making the freckled man laugh. It was touching how Katsuki tried to cover his real self when there was no need to: Izuku would’ve loved to meet him earlier and maybe the two of them could’ve been friends since childhood. The blond, on the other side, ignored the warmth rising inside his chest and decided to play the card of annoyance, when a part of him was glad to know they both shared the same passion. “Second, I’m not a nerd…just passionate about some stuff, we’re not in the same category.”

“You can’t lie to me, I’ve been a fan for too long to recognize when someone is really amazed by something that means a lot to them. Unfortunately, as much as you refuse to admit it, you’re one of them, such as me….which makes us on the same board,” he added with a cheerful tone, holding his pillow closer to his chest. For the first time in his life, the freckled man had the impression of returning to his old self, where he used to hang out in his old neighborhood and play with another child who lived in two houses near his home. 

“I’m really happy to meet another fan, especially someone who has the same energy as me about these things. It’s getting harder to have free time to think about the next object you’ll get in your collection, but tell me, how did you discover him and what is the most precious object in your collection, except the ones you’ve told me earlier?”

“You’re pretty noisy tonight, don’t you have an exam to study or important shit like that ?” Katsuki asked, crossing his arms against his chest, waiting for an answer. He usually didn’t care about the stranger’s business outside their calls, but there was something special between this stranger and him, a certain thread he couldn’t properly discern yet. The interrogation stayed stuck in the corner of his mind, being a mystery to solve later, but he needed to do some research first…

“I was supposed to, and then we started to talk about All Might and I couldn’t decline the call, I got too excited…I’m ready to stay up until you answer my question,” Izuku announced with a determined tone that reminded him of the kind of joy he used to feel in his youth. The blond wasn’t a nostalgic person, but the guy on the line seemed to be attached to his narrative. 

“You’re pretty tough, I guess I have no other choice,” he sighed, realizing how he was about to give some details about his personal life, but he didn’t care. It’s not like his five listeners will be able to remember this moment or spread it around the internet, knowing this part was usually reserved for the radio only and not the replay on the website. “It all started when I was a brat, one afternoon my parents couldn’t find a babysitter so they asked their neighbor to watch me for a few hours. I don’t really remember anything about this period, but the lady was nice and let me watch the television with her son, and then, I liked the character until it followed me into my big age. I said my version, tell me yours, nerd ?”

“That’s really sweet, it actually reminds me of a similar story I had in my childhood,” Izuku added with a smile,  putting his speaker on while charging his phone with a low battery. It was rare to look back at his old souvenirs with his mom, but he cherished those moments and wondered if she should give her a visit soon…. “I was like what, probably four years old when I accidentally took the remote while my mom was cooking, and found this old channel that put this show before dinner. My mom was in the kitchen, with the sweet scent of the Katsudon reaching my curious nose, but I watched one episode and another…until she watched it with me.”

“This explains your messy sleep schedule then,” Katsuki pointed out with a teasing tone, feeling a slight frown on the other’s line. Don’t get him wrong, he wasn’t too harsh on this stranger, who turned out to share the same passion as him, but he couldn’t expose his soft spot!

“Very funny, but it’s how it really started to catch my attention,” he said with a soft tone, revealing his evident nostalgia. “Many people consider me crazy for being such a huge fan, but none could really understand how he helped me when I was at my lowest, and followed the tender souvenirs of my childhood. I’ll forever recall that afternoon when I sat, with amazed eyes at the television for new episodes, with this kid I often saw in the entire block. I don’t remember his face, but I know we used to make theories together.”

“You weren’t the only weirdo in the neighborhood but I found it amusing how your story is similar to mine,” he pointed out, chasing this strange feeling inside his chest away. Katsuki needed to be rational and not jump to conclusions, even if the simple expression on his friend's face seemed to let him know that he had misunderstood something. Whatever, it must not be important to be remembered, and he didn’t answer the other’s question, which might be more than important! “About my collection, it’s pretty blurry due to the amount of stuff I got since my youth, but I think my untouchable piece must be the photo card dedicated by him after the premiere of his movie.”

“Wait…. you’re telling me you actually saw All Might with your own eyes? How was it? Was he tall? Shy? Confident? What premiere was it- I tried to go to each of them and bring my poor mom into this mess, but it was sold out already,” Izuku didn’t even know how to properly react to the news. He knew he was envious of the blond’s collection, but he was definitely jealous of the fact that he saw his childhood idol with his own eyes. it must be an extraordinary event, and maybe they both talked, took pictures, and- Shit, Izuku didn’t want to be seen as a freak, but he was so happy to know someone in his surrounding knew what his idol look like outside the cameras.

“The Silver Age, the final one of the saga,” he said with pride, even if the guy on the line couldn’t see him. The rest of the group simply exchanged a light grin, knowing they had already lost the blond with his endless discussion about this topic, but it was moving to see how he found someone who matched his craziness. Maybe these two had more common points than they thought…. 

“No freaking way-” Izuku gasped, with shining irises, recalling he followed the premiere online with a glitchy live before sleeping, in his teenage years. He wished to be there on-site to live his biggest dream, but he was stuck at home. The freckled man didn’t get any bad souvenirs related to this event, except for his slight jealousy, he was happy to see all those fans who took pictures with his idol and even talked with him! “And how was it? I’m only asking this because I watched it on a website with glitches and tolerable video quality, which wasn’t the best-.”

“Nothing impressive,” the blond said, acting nonchalant about it when he was secretly proud of the idea that the nerd was ready to listen to his endless stories. “A bunch of people yelling, trying to get his attention, and an interaction that only lasted a few seconds. He was actually taller than the movies and interview tried to portray him, which was very surprising, but he signed my card and took  a picture with me.”

“I bet you were one of them, at least I knew I would be emotional about it,” Izuku already teared up at the picture he made inside his mind, hugging his childhood idol and explaining how much he meant to him. If the radio host was pretty calm about it, the freckled man was convinced he was as excited as him when it happened. Izuku knew he shouldn’t find this poignant, but there was something captivating about the host’s voice and how he tried to hide his real self but was betrayed by the slight change of his voice when he mentioned something he cared about. There is no doubt, the two of them will make great friends if they see each other in real life! 

“Don’t make assumptions about people you don’t know about and of course, you would lose your mind over this,” Katsuki added with a teasing tone. He turned his head to meet Sero and Jirou’s face making a thumbs-up in the air to explain how it was alright, before looking at the three sleeping figures on the couch from afar, lost in their imaginary world. What a shame Pinky couldn’t see this, she would’ve lost her mind and teased him for the next years…

“You know, you should be careful or I might find your address and steal your precious treasure at night,” Izuku said with a soft laugh. He really enjoyed the interaction with the host and wished to learn more about him and his real self, but he was a nobody

“Don’t you dare, unless you want to be buried six feet underground,” threatened the blond He rolled his eyes when the shorter man laughed at his failed attempts to be imposing with his exhausted voice, admitting his defeat. Izuku respected his job, knowing he would’ve already fallen asleep a long time ago: the only reason keeping him awake was this special call with this mysterious host that started to take an important part in his life.

“I get it….” Izuku whispered. Katsuki didn’t like the silence that followed the previous comment and yet, he pretended to be offended, even if it betrayed his desire to know more about the nerd.

“What are you thinking about ?”

“You already read into me like an open book,” Izuku added with a soft tone, losing his fingers inside his messy curls. “I was just wondering about your name. I asked about the others, but you never told me yours, and I understand if you don’t want to. After all, it’s silly, but in case you feel comfortable -”

“Katsuki,” he said with a sigh, being touched by the attention from the nerd. After all, this guy might be the only one who cared about the team and his identity, but staying up past his bedtime wasn't as bad as he thought. This wasn’t a huge hint either, but it was tender enough to be appreciated as a cute bonding moment between us. “Katsuki Bakugo.”

“Katsuki….that’s a cute name for a personality like yours, don’t ask me how but I can feel it,” the freckled man affirmed with a slight smile at the tip of his lips. 

It was strange to feel this connection with someone he didn’t know, having this kind of parasocial relationship that turned into genuine affection Izuku couldn’t transcribe this impression into words, but it was similar to an unreachable dream; despite not meeting his childhood idol, he ended up crossing the road of this stranger who brought him back this genuine admiration, the one he owned for someone unreachable as his childhood idol.

“However, I’m a nickname guy so I’ll go with Kacchan. Do you have anything against this final proposition? Unless you want me to go for grumpy boy but I’m not sure it’ll be very pleasing for you.”

“The more bullshit you say, the more I want to kick your ass….but you’re not going to change it, am I right ?” As much as he hated to admit it, the nerd got a victory. What was the point of fighting when they were both stubborn and gave foolish nicknames to each other? It never happened with any of the extras who participated in his show before, but there must be a first for everything…..

“You know me so well. You’re not curious about mine ?” Izuku knew it was none of his business to ask such a personal question, especially when it was not his role to force the host to give such information. Receiving his name was a miracle, but he didn’t feel any guilt after releasing those words out loud, satisfied with the answer despite not having heard it yet. Maybe it was this unique dynamic between them that guided each of his decisions or another reason his heart didn’t know yet, but it was worth the try. 

“It’s not my job to entertain the mystery, but if you want you can share it, nerd,” Katsuki added with a smirk. Playing the hard-to-get became a habit, but he found some freedom with this extra who somehow, caught his attention in the last fifteen minutes. He didn’t know how many times he had until Sero and Jirou made a sign from afar, explaining that it was the last minute. 

“It’s very tempting, I have to admit it…But I like the nickname better,” he added with a teasing tone that covered a soft one, based on the light changes in the tone of his voice. 

Don’t ask Katsuki how he was able to make such guesses and assumptions about a stranger he hadn't seen before, but his instincts convinced him they already knew a lot about each other. When the usual listeners ended the conversation on good terms and thanked him, this guy was entertaining this mutual conflict that covered an unknown bond between their mutual teasing. It was refreshing, especially for an old soul like Katsuki’s, who needed novelty….almost like their fate was meant to meet, but it must be by a strange coincidence, right?  

“Whatever crosses your mind, mister the forty-year-old man-”

“Hey, that’s mean,” the freckled man groaned in annoyance, hearing how the radio host was amused by the situation. “I’m a uni student, a different field for sure but a 22-year-old man. I could show you my ID card but it’ll ruin the mystery about who I really am if that’s so entertaining to you.”

“Say that to my ass, it’s time to close the radio anyway, any last words you want to share with the team ?” Katsuki asked, checking the time on the clock. It was probably one of the rarest times when he wanted to stay a little longer, something that never happened before, but time was running out and if Aizawa found out about them cutting the station five minutes late, he’d fire them. 

“Goodnight is enough to stay polite, even if I wouldn’t mind teasing you a little longer but I’ll look forward to the next show, Kacchan,” Izuku was a simple guy and didn’t know how to conclude this with sentences like most radio host do, but he appreciates the fact that his new friend gave him the last word. Don’t get him wrong, the freckled man wasn’t considering this as a victory - maybe a little, but he felt relieved to end on a good note. This long call wouldn’t bring him back the genuine joy he missed since he became an adult, but having Kacchan by his side was reassuring….

The taller man declined the call right in time when Sero’s hands, who previously acted as the countdown, closed. Katsuki didn’t have any regrets about this selfish choice he made earlier, especially when he succeeded in bringing a smile to the other’s face. He took his headset to the wooden desk; he couldn’t believe he had finally finished his job, but instead of being reassured to find his home, he felt this strange sensation inside his chest that he couldn’t explain. 

It must be something unimportant; he can deal with it later! The sound of a moving chair resonated in the silenced room, soon filled with snores from the three sleeping figures on the table, and the footsteps near his reach. Katsuki whipped his eyes and moved closer to the two shadows, who gave him a summary of his performance earlier, before writing the last information on the log. 

Based on the visible document, he did a decent job, even if the part with this mysterious caller was the most interesting. Jirou and Sero made teasing comments about how the blond probably found his other half based on their interactions and similar behavior, followed by his middle finger. To be fair, he deserved it after nitpicking but they were lucky to be considered as tolerable people to not receive any threats, even if it was a clear favoritism. 

When Katsuki returned to his apartment, he immediately rested his body against his bed, ignoring how he was still clothed, too lazy to take his shoes away. The blond felt reassured to make it home and thanked his friends for the ride until he remained on his own with his secret thoughts. Katsuki Bakugo had always loved this job since the first day, but recently, he was more excited to reach this building and do his late-night calls. He didn't want to put the blame on this guy who could easily understand him and tease him without any guilt, but he knew this nerd was related to this strange feeling for some reason he couldn’t understand. 

The blond closed his eyes and forced himself to change into comfy clothes, wondering what this crazy guy was doing. Izuku didn’t seem to have any problem on his side, with his pillow and mumbling in his room, highlighted by the plushies he held tight against his chest. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki wanted to get away from this place. He loved his job, but if the extras make another joke or comment about his dynamic with this stranger on the line, he’ll lose his shit. 

He knew they didn’t have bad intentions, and would stop if the blond asked to, but another week had passed since the famous call. The nerd was as stubborn as he was when it came to his passion, and one of them was to tease the blond to get a few reactions, and potentially picture what he might look like inside his head. Giving evident details about their physical appearance might compromise this anonymity that the blond wanted to keep. Despite not having any name at the moment, the taller man had fun with the variety of nicknames he could find to annoy the other, offering small victories. Today wasn’t different from usual, with the exception that he wanted to kick some ass.

“-He said he was a student in a different field, he must be on our campus for sure,” Mina explained with a curious tone, taking a quick glimpse at the blond. She knew how annoyed her friend might be about this investigation, but she was observant and noticed the slight change in what this mysterious guy had on him. His casual temper became calmer, especially with the slight hint of hope rising inside his eyes every time he saw the live button on the screen. 

“Maybe we walked into his classes without knowing it,” Kirishima added, putting his fingers on his chin and wondering about the thousands of possibilities near their reach. Indeed, they only have the most basic information about this guy: the only one able to ask for more details was Katsuki, but the blond insisted on how the nerd would give them by himself instead of forcing it, making the situation more uncomfortable. 

“He could be in the literature field, or the language one….I bet he had a thing for sociology, but I know a bunch of people in my field and none have the same tone of voice,” Sero affirmed with good points, catching the surprised but approving expression crossing the other’s face. It was impressive how this mystery surrounding a complete stranger was more interesting than their actual life, as redundant as it seemed.

“What if y’all are wrong and he’s actually in statistics and that kind of stuff ?” The pink-haired woman said with a sparkle in her eyes, having the impression solved the mystery had been solved when it hadn’t even started. Mina was involved in this case, due to the fact that she had been there during their first meeting and many things had changed since the first interaction! The stubborn blond slowly opened himself up about his hobby, something he took a long time to do with his actual group of friends, and was obviously attached to this “nerd”.

“What if you stop making assumptions about a stranger you’ll never meet and focus on your actual job ?” Katsuki replied with an unimpressed tone, exhausted by their bullshit. This group might be the most supportive, but they also were the stupidest people he had ever seen, and he knew a lot of names on this list. All those theories of finding out about the guy’s identity were bullshit, especially when the enemy won’t be able to give such precious information so easily.

“I think someone is overprotective, don’t worry we won’t take him away from you, Kats,” Denki teased with a punch at the other’s shoulder, facing the death glare in his crimson eyes. No wonder the blond was angry at them, it was almost considered a blessing if this stranger shared Katsuki’s personality. At this point, this poor guy had already done the hardest part of convincing the blond to listen to more than two words in his conversation!

“As if I care about this idiot,” the golden-haired man mumbled with a sigh“The first time he called he only yapped about his dumb victory instead of calling the cops, what kind of irresponsible person does that ?”

He wanted to pretend he didn’t care, but it was useless, especially when he started to feel like a strange loss when the nerd wasn’t around. What kind of trick does this idiot put into his words to seduce his corrupted soul? It doesn’t matter: He had his friends, as much as he despised them, his studies, and future projects to keep in line with his career. After all, September will be the most important step of his study and a single mistake wouldn’t be tolerated…even if this meant changing his plans, but it wasn’t a topic to mention for the moment. 

“Katsuki is right, it’s none of your business even if I’m joining the dark side to know more about this stranger who caught your attention, It’s pretty rare to see you so invested,” Jirou pointed out with a soft laugh, ruffling the spiky hair. Katsuki rolled his eyes, desperate to see how he ended up with a bunch of idiots who would rather take care of an unsolved mystery than plan for their career

“Not you, I thought you had some decency but y’all are doomed to stupidity,” Katsuki affirmed with a disappointed tone, stepping back to grab the snack hidden inside his bag. His stomach called for help for a few minutes, and he discreetly used those seconds of inattention to grab the only thing that’d never disappoint him: Food. His calloused hands took the plastic off and put the first bite in the chocolate bar, lifting his head to meet the mocking expression on Pikachu’s face.

“At least we’re not grumpy like you,” this fucker had the audacity to say, but he was lucky Katsuki was occupied by eating his food, knowing he would’ve already kicked his ass a long time ago. One of these days, Denki will regret being born on this planet and return to maternity to get a refund, for sure.

“Shut up,” he replied with how mouth full of a chocolate bar, exposing his middle finger. If some of them laughed at the scene, others stayed quiet and admired how the blond had changed. Mina and Jirou didn’t know how, but the effect of this “nerd” was pretty positive, but this was a detail they couldn’t mention….at least, not yet.

Tonight, everyone knew what to do and often checked their phones during the slight break to see if they got the results of their exam. A month had passed and this moment of the year was the most stressful, especially when the result might define the rest of your future. Being in a different field helped me to see the priority on the list, especially when Denki in language, got his first and validated his year, when Sero and Jirou, being in sociology, got theirs a few days ago, being accepted with great delight. The only ones left were Katsuki and Mina in their different fields, praying for a miracle….

“Someone's excited for tonight,” Sero mumbled with a grin at the tip of his lips, catching how the taller man simply stood on his chair while scrolling on his phone. “Do you think he’ll call ?”

“You really have no will to live…” Jirou answered with a sigh, glad the blond hadn't heard any of this. 

However, she did notice how something was wrong with the taller man, based on the hidden movements made from afar. It was an unconscious gesture, made by his eyebrow which often frowns when he is occupied by something else inside his mind or preoccupied with a certain topic. It happened more than usual since this guy started to call, almost like Katsuki denied as long as possible how the bond between them was real, even if it was unconventional. Maybe it was a way to stay in touch with reality, and the fact that he didn’t need to get attached to someone he’d never met, or someone who’d forget about him in a few years…and she couldn’t be mad at him. 

—----

Indeed, Mina talked to the purple-haired woman a few days ago, when Kirishima and Denki were occupying their part of the show, with Katsuki and Sero checking from afar.  That night, the two women stayed outside for a few minutes to get some air, talking about many things, including the sudden change of behavior in Katsuki’s personality. 

After all, the group remembered how he was harsh at the beginning, but slowly opened himself to the others and became a great friend…. repeating the same process with this stranger on the phone. Seeing him getting calmer and more excited with his hidden grin was appealing, especially when he seemed to find another reason to get there when he had never acted that way in the past.

“Kats is a good guy,” Mina said, with the fresh breeze covering her forehead and her cigarette at the tip of her lips.It was refreshing to see this silent town from this angle with an appeased mind and a slight smile on her face. She didn’t stay too close to the purple-haired woman, who simply sat on a brick wall, with her legs above the void, knowing how she didn’t necessarily like the scent. “It’s touching to see him change after this curious happenstance, almost like this was meant to happen. Who would’ve known that someone as stubborn as Katsuki would fall for a stranger he had never seen?”

“He’s attached to him for sure, the hints are unmistakable,” Jirou pointed out, taking the cold can in the palm of her hands. The blond would definitely kill both of them if he knew about them taking risks for their lives Bad habits are hard to change, and despite their efforts to change, they remained vulnerable. “He has always been important in the group and likes to act like the big brother, even if he would kick my ass for saying such things. He has a lot of qualities, but I wonder if he’ll allow himself to get the future he wants….”

“Do you think he’ll realize his feelings one day or will be stuck in denial for the rest of his life ?” The pink-haired woman asked with a soft tone, releasing smoke in the air. She put her boyfriend's jacket closer to her shoulders, staring at the endless landscape surrounding them. It was strange to feel like simple dust in this huge universe with unsolved secrets…“How can you be so sure he’s fallen for him ?” She said with a curious tone.

Jirou didn’t need more than her loved ones and a successful career, but sometimes life liked to trick her into tough obstacles, forcing her to make some difficult choices. Having Katsuki by his side as moral support was the best thing that ever happened to her, after her stupid boyfriend obviously, but she really appreciated the bond she created with Mina over time.

“Oh sweetie, the hints are obvious, but he’s the only one who doesn’t know it yet,” she affirmed with a laugh, evident to everyone’s eyes. “Don’t you remember when you used to look at Kaminari that way at the very beginning of your relationship? Kats has these sparkles in his eyes when this guy is talking with him on the phone, and he often moves his fingers against the chair when he’s anxious about the other’s state. This idiot didn’t even notice it but his body betrayed his thoughts and it’s pretty touching when a slight grin crossed his face once he knew he made this guy feel better. Based on the other’s voice, this feeling is mutual, that’s a crazy thing to say, but I think they’re meant to be with each other in our circumstances.”

“I never saw this under this angle, but now you’ve pointed it out…it makes sense,” the purple-haired woman confided with a breath, recalling all those moments when those gestures appeared on her vision field. Maybe the boys already noticed it and didn’t say anything, or they were simply blind, but the two women wanted to keep the secret for the moment. They’ll be there if something goes wrong, with the hope of seeing the man they care about experiencing joy in his life before his grey hair.

“I’m always right,” Mina said with a blink, quickly followed by a laugh. The silent town helped him to regain this serenity inside their chest, as the taller man put her cigarette in the ashtray and Jirou left the brick walls to stretch her legs. The pink-haired woman thanked her friend, who offered some perfume to cover the scent and avoid a crisis once they were inside the building.

“Hey, do you think Kats will be fine with this situation ?” She asked with a concerned tone. Jirou wasn’t necessarily afraid, knowing fate would be in their favor, but she wished Katsuki realized his sentiment as soon as possible to make a move and figure this out Facing heartbreak was difficult, and it would be painful to see Katsuki being isolated with a bad coping mechanism….

“The only way to know is to let time pass by,” Mina explained with a reassuring tone, putting her hand on the other’s shoulders. She smiled when Jirou regained color on her face, even if they were both worried about the blond's state. “I trust him and know he’ll be fine on his own, I don’t know how…but he will, it wouldn’t hurt to see him smile and get the happiness he deserves. The world might be harsh on him, but he’s strong enough to make himself unforgettable-”

A sudden scream echoed from afar, catching them by surprise. The two women jumped on the spot, and the security guard was about to break in until they stopped him and explained it would be fine. It wasn’t the first time it happened, and a soft chuckle escaped from their lips when Katsuki’s voice resonated in the room, wondering who this poor soul was who fell into the blond's nerves.

“I think we need to go before someone dies and we make it the news,” Jirou said with an amused tone, giving a can to the security guards. This poor man had to suffer the entire time in a redundant job and Katsuki’s presence was the least they could do to thank him for his patience. The taller man made thumbs in the air at the present and accepted the gift as a way to let them know their secrets were safe. It wasn’t a real corruption, just a little arrangement between them…

“I take the bet it’s either Eijiro or Kaminari,” Mina joked before opening the door, while their shadows slowly disappeared in th building, with a corrupted guard, who had a slight smile on his face with his precious can.

—---

Keeping a secret from Katsuki was hard, especially when he let them know a few times how grateful he was for their friendship, but Jirou and Mina promised to keep their promises to be the shoulder to cry on.  For the moment, the women simply changed a nod from afar as they prepared their material and started the recording. 

Katsuki was obviously stressed for his part of the show, something he shouldn’t feel after being used to this job for so long, but he knew he had a good backup. He rested his back in the familiar position and held his breath as Pinky made a thumbs-up in the air, and his voice filled the silence.

“I really appreciate how you are all excited about this part of the night, not that I take credit for it….even if I’m the reason for his popularity, but can you chill before ruining the service with your calls? If you need to talk so bad, go check a therapist,” he said with a sigh. 

His comment might be seen as harsh for some, and amusing for others, but it was clear that Katsuki didn’t have any bad intentions, or he would have let them know earlier. A part of him hoped that the nerd was on this list of people until he got disappointed when the first extra to speak didn’t have the same tone of voice as him. As strange as it seemed, Katsuki became so used to this guy’s voice that he could recognize it anywhere, being probably one of his strange superpowers….

The night happened in the most casual way, with people thanking him for his help, a slight break of music that represented his break, and a strange feeling inside his mind. Katsuki shouldn’t be impacted to not hear the nerd’s voice; after all, it’s not like this idiot was here every night, but this habit of waiting for a certain someone occupied a part of his tormented chest.

Tonight, Denki was the only missing member, explaining how he needed to wake up early, leaving the keys on the plants, in case his girlfriend needed to find them. His fingers brushed the wooden table beside him, as the last person finished his speech, and declined after five minutes, with a casual goodbye. At this point, the blond shouldn’t be surprised by his own expectations, based on casual habits but he wondered why he felt so sad about it……

He reached the next number, preparing himself for some extra he’ll probably forget tomorrow, but he was taken by surprise when he found the familiar voices on the line. Sudden sparkles crossed his crimson eyes, with color regaining his face and a casual smirk crossing his lips. Mina and Jirou shared an understanding glance, a reminder of their conversation, seeing the obvious hint. Katsuki didn’t know why he felt like a child excited to get his Christmas gifts, especially when it was a simple call, but there was something relaxing about the nerd’s voice.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry for calling this late but I actually have a good reason this time,” Izuku said with a sigh, resting his back against the seat of his car. He couldn’t believe he almost missed his favorite moment of the night, but he was reassured to know the host’s voice immediately changed after his apparition. It wasn’t a secret if Izuku listened to this part of the live and never missed a bit, it was the first thing that crossed his mind when he rushed into his car and turned his phone on with his headphones. His heart arched at the change of tone in the blond's voice, almost like he was waiting for something….or someone. The freckled man wasn’t discreet, but he appreciated the sudden changes, especially when he heard the previous calls… “I apologize to the people on the line, but I have a lot of things to say and I'm not planning to stop until Kacchan knows everything about it.”

Katsuki’s face turned lighter at the mention of the nickname, hiding his grin with the hope that no one saw this vulnerable state. Maybe he couldn’t have a face-to-face conversation with this guy, but he was convinced the two of them were friends, and maybe the best of friends in another life. It was a miracle if their paths met in this lifetime, but no matter the identity of the man behind the line, the blond refused to let someone as interesting as the nerd leave his reach!

“Looks like you finally show up,” Katsuki ignored the obvious hints he left with his excitement, to the point that everyone in the room couldn’t deny how vulnerable he sounded. Using his harsh tone won’t be able to fool his surroundings, who knew his real self….and this guy seemed to also find the trick and use it to his advantage. 

“Did you miss me, Kacchan ?” Izuku asked but secretly knew how this teasing would only make the host more annoyed. He didn’t have any issues continuing this game until they got close enough to hear the blond exclaiming out loud how they were friends. “I wasn’t this technically I was but distance is a notion different for many people, depending on the situation or the kind of relationship you have with your surroundings. I do think distance is a good thing when you need reflection, but it can be unconsciously harmful to your loved one if you disappear overnight, it’s not like-”

“Nerd, back to earth,” his voice shortened with a sigh, hearing the soft laugh leaving Izuku’s lips. No wonder who was this guy behind the screen, he needed to know how his chuckle echoed like a melody to the blond's ears- What was he even saying? He needed to focus on his job instead of dreaming about some unreachable shadows. “If I wanted to have a monologue I would’ve watched a TED talk, but you’re scaring the other listeners.”

“Oh sorry…” The freckled man mumbled in his beard. He took a quick glance at the landscape outside his car, hoping not to see the familiar figure he wanted to avoid at all costs. Izuku wasn’t the kind of person to end up in this kind of weird situation, but at least he could share the news with the radio host, even if this statement was strange out of context. “I’m just relieved to talk to someone, today has been emotionally intense and it’s the only moment of rest I finally got. Did you know how waiting for exam results is so stressful? This morning I nearly found a grey hair and I’m too young for this !”

“I know what you’re talking about, I’m still waiting for mine but whatever they’re doing in this administration, they fucked up,” he pointed out with rolled eyes, sensing how the stranger-not so stranger anymore, shared the same opinion as him. It was tempting to ask about his field and shut the extras down for their conversations earlier, but it was not the time for that. “Want to talk about what happened today ?”

“Nothing to be worried about, but I appreciate the attention,” Izuku explained with a smile, hoping Katsuki could feel it through the change in his tone. The question was easily solved when the taller man made a hidden grin, similar to a smile, after the other’s comment. “It was my day off and I decided to pay a visit to my mom. She's getting older and has become more afraid of me leaving the cocoon. It’s my duty not to disappoint her, but these grades are stressing me out. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not enough and my world could fall apart for such a thing as a garden when it’s one of the numerous obstacles, but it’s….scary.”

“You’re overthinking,” he said with a direct tone, catching the sudden gasp on the other’s lips. Alright, maybe he went too far with this one but he’ll try his best not to scare his new friend away. “Don’t expect some kind of tender words because I’m not good at it, but I know one thing: You might have the impression of being lost and giving up, but it doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try.”

“How can you be so sure? It’s just….so much pressure from society and our loved ones, they might want the best for us, but at what cost ?” Izuku wished he could hide the sad tone in his voice, but he trusted Kacchan about this topic. He refused to have a breakdown in his car, but he wanted to stay by someone’s side until he felt better: Luckily, he found a new friend on the way and knew he could share his worries without being judged. 

“It’s your mom, of course, she would love you the same, even if you were a worm or a brat not making his nights,” The comparison wasn’t as lovely as he pictured it inside his mind, but it didn’t stop Katsuki from trying. At least, it made the nerd laugh, which erased some worries rising inside the blond’s chest, realizing how he might not be the most gentle with words, but he got someone to support this harsh behavior and stand by his side. “Parents are complicated, but your mom seems loving enough to care about your well-being without putting some pressure on your shoulders. She would probably be proud to see how far you’ve achieved, and if you have any doubts, you can always ask her.”

“I see….You know, you tend to underestimate yourself. Explaining out loud how you’re not good at reassuring people when you made it your whole job, take the role of therapist and confidant for lonely people like me, and yet….bring a smile back on their faces. It’s very honorable of you to do that, you should be proud of that too, Kacchan.” 

Izuku knew his mom was his best supporter from day one, even in the womb after his father left, but he tended to forget how he wasn’t alone. All this pressure he accumulated on his shattered soul should be mentioned, especially when Inko had the ability to give him the best hugs. “Tell me, you talked about my mom but what about yours, Is there anything I can do to help you ?” He chose to switch the topic and return the card to get to know Kacchan better. Izuku was taking a huge risk, but he trusted the radio host to reject his question and switch to another topic if this made him distant. This conversation strangely felt like a heart-to-heart talk with a longtime friend, even under the amusing circumstances and the bond they created with a simple voice and assumptions about each other’s identity. 

“How did you know it was complicated between us ?” Katsuki asked, raising his eyebrow. His face turned sadder at the mention of his relationship with his parents. Everyone in his surroundings knew about the complex relationship the blond had with his parents, but he always kept secret this past he tended to erase with new memories.

“The tone in your voice, I had the same when I was afraid of leaving my only family behind at uni, but the choice is all yours-”

“There’s nothing interesting to say, people who tried their best to give you a proper life but sometimes fucked up and give you some scars that’ll never heal. In the end, you might notice the efforts, but a part of you will always remember their darker side, making the relationship more complicated for both of you: your parents for being lost, and your own spirit for hating them after a mistake they committed and never apologized,” the taller man confessed with a low tone, afraid to get caught by the wind crossing his forehead and exposed skin.  

He never really talked about it with anyone except the voices in his head, but there was something reassuring about the nerd’s voice being interested in his life outside the radio station, showing how he was more than sincere in this friendship. 

“It doesn’t matter your age, in the end, your inner child might be hurt by what happened, and never or rarely forgive the owners of your deeper scars….the ones that even thorns couldn’t reach. It shouldn’t be a thing, but you have no other choice than move on and accept the past, even if it fucked up your present and future.”

“I’m sorry…” Izuku whispered in a low tone. 

The freckled man felt a sudden arch filling his chest at the previous speech. He was lucky to have a good relationship with his mother, but not everyone was born in this tender jail, where comfort was not a luxury that everyone could have. Katsuki put his hands against his forehead, feeling guilty for making the nerd emotional after his story that was too personal to be shared in public. He didn’t need to move his head to feel the encouraging expression on his friends’ faces from afar, being there if he needed anything or a shoulder to cry on. 

“You did nothing wrong, shit happens all the time and sometimes it’s better to take distance as you said,” it was a huge surprise for everyone to see the stubborn blond break his shield and expose his humanity to the most curious ears. However, it was touching to see how Katsuki remained a human with a soft spot for this stranger who succeeded in bringing a hidden smile back to his face. 

“I’m not an expert either, and I will never claim out loud how I understand your feelings because you’re the only one who can do that but listen…” Izuku Midoriya struggled with proper communication, but he tried his best to reassure Kacchan. Maybe they didn’t know anything about each other, but this bond was somehow stronger than any meetings he had until now; even Izuku couldn’t explain the reason behind this sudden connection, but he trusted his instincts and they never betrayed him before. “You don’t need to forgive them and their actions. Some people can do or say crazy things when they’re mad and regret them later. It’s all in their choices to either apologize or never talk about it, but no matter what happened in the past, you have the choice to keep the distance or not. Don’t let anyone take away the most precious treasure you have: your freedom.”

Oh.

Katsuki didn’t know he was crying until his vision became blurry from the tears. It was pretty clear how the nerd’s words impacted him in a tender way, healing some of the injuries he was afraid to expose to the public eye. He wiped his tears away with his hands, lifting his head to meet the understanding glances in his friend’s faces. If his parents messed up, it was their fault for letting anger take the lead and saying things that would haunt the blond until his old days. The nerd was right, he wasn’t obligated to figure out their errors, but take hindsight about the past years, and see if their behavior calmed down after the event. 

“You’re kinda good at this shit, did you ever think about helping the others ?” It was rare, even a miracle to hear the stubborn Katsuki Bakugo praising someone else. His group of friends tried every way possible to get this kind of comment, but they always failed their missions! There was no doubt, this guy had a secret trick to win Katsuki’s heart. 

“Actually it’s my current field, so I know a few things,” Izuku added with a laugh, putting his hand inside his messy curls. 

Sometimes he wanted to have Kacchan by his side to read each expression on his face, but he needed to wait for a day that would never come. Little did he know how his answer actually brought a smile back to the team in the studio: their question was answered in less than twenty-four hours, realizing how the blond was right since the beginning. This explained a lot about his understanding behavior and reassuring choice of words, and maybe Mina could be the secret agent now she knew she was in psychology too…

”I should be the one returning the compliment after what you said earlier. I knew you weren’t annoying all the time and had a human heart.” Shit, Katsuki hated how this idiot could transform a cute bonding moment into a stupid joke, ruining the mood. His crimson eyes quickly checked the screen above his head, realizing how Aizawa wasn’t there and only 20 people would hear about his next curse.

“Fuck you,” he replied with a nonchalant tone.

If the blond pouted on his chair and ignored the comments from his friends from afar, Izuku simply smiled. Usually, he would find this kind of behavior rude, but it was Kacchan and he had always been the exception since the moment he erased Izuku’s worries with his stupidity. Being this harsh was a part of his personality, a portrait he started to create with a few pieces, like a painter loving after his muse for his final work. 

 A sudden klaxon made the freckled man jump in his car. His curls almost hit the roof, as his lips escaped a groan of pain at the uncomfortable sensation on his head. The shorter man sighed, glancing around to see the calm street at night. It was refreshing to see this darkness with the breathtaking illusion of stars above his head, sharing thousands of stories at once. He always wondered if his would be entertaining enough for the curious wind and intriguing moon, so far and yet, so close to bring the reassurance he needed during his loneliness.

“Shit, what was this noise? Are you sure you’re not in the middle of the road ?” Katsuki asked with a teasing tone but was genuinely concerned about the nerd’s state. Knowing his brainless ass, this dude probably put his life in danger, being a real source of worried for the blond and his sensitive heart.

“Actually, that’s pretty funny, you’re gonna laugh about that but….I’m in my car,” he mumbled like he was afraid to get caught when he was already stuck in this mess. Izuku didn’t know how Kacchan would react to this news, but he needed to be honest! It wasn’t pleasing for him either, but he didn’t have a choice….. 

“May I ask what you are doing here?” If Izuku was surprised by the question, mostly due to the natural calm in the blond’s voice, Katsuki simply sighed. He should’ve prepared himself for those revelations; after all, this guy really had the talent to put himself into this shit, but a part of Katsuki found this endearing…..

“I kinda….ditched my date ?” Shit, Izuku didn’t know how to put it into words without being seen as the bad guy. He had good motives to justify his act but was embarrassed when he put his hands behind his neck, staring at the empty street. Great, the freckled man knew his misfortune and clumsiness would lead him to his death….

“Excuse me ?” In all honesty, Katsuki Bakugo expected a bunch of explanations but he never thought about this one!  

The genuine shock could be heard in the tone of his voice, ignoring the curious glances around him in the room. It’s not like he should care about the nerd’s life and do that kind of personal stuff, but it was strange to imagine someone like him being with another person, who’ll probably see him as a romantic partner. The blond sighed, ignoring this strange sensation inside his chest at the idea that the nerd was out in town with some extra, it’s not like the two of them would have the chance to meet so why was Katsuki so bothered by this idea? 

“Alright, let me explain,” Izuku added, being amused by the host’s reaction. If a part of him was glad to know Kacchan was ready to listen to his story instead of rejecting him, the other wondered if he would change his mind after this narrative. “My friends planned this blind date because they got tired of seeing me being single at my age. They didn’t have bad intentions, but it turned out that this guy wasn’t interested in any of my speech, and when he replied to me, it was to talk about himself !”

“What a loser,” Katsuki didn’t realize the comment naturally slipped out from his lips until a chuckle echoed in the room. His crimson eyes stared at the pink-haired woman and her boyfriend, before replying with a middle finger in the air. However, this strange feeling inside his chest seemed to fade away after the previous explanation,  believing the nerd’s version instead of the one shared by his overthinking. 

“Kacchan, that’s mean,” Izuku tried to sound offended by the previous comment. After all, if Kacchan was tired of him he would’ve let him know a long time ago, but the past months they’ve spent together with their long conversations brought them closer. Still, the freckled man has to agree with his comment: It was the first time it happened to him but he was glad his new friend spilled the words out for him after his frustration! 

“I don’t know him, I can do whatever I want,” he added with a grin, a gesture the freckled man could feel behind his screen. 

“Anyway, that’s not how the story ends. I wasn’t really interested in him so this blind date was more of a bother than a good surprise, which meant I needed to find a way to get out of there. I’m pretty bad at lying so I pretended to go to the toilet at the break-”

“You didn’t-”

“Yeah, but I have no other choice !” Izuku replied with an offended gasp that made the blond smirk. ”I don’t usually do this I didn’t have a good feeling about it. Don’t worry I paid my part at the restaurant because the food was really good, you should get there one of these days.”

“When I’ll be interested in something else than my job maybe, but it won’t happen,” This decision could be seen as pretty harsh, even though his loved ones wanted his happiness Katsuki was stubborn. When it come to love, he didn’t really have time to mess with this shit, new sentiments, or even the potential heartbreak it might cause to your soul. Staying away from this endless circle was the best decision for him, and it’s not like he was interested in someone….

“Come on, don’t say that, I’m sure you’re a good person” Izuku added with a soft tone, resting his back against the seat. “You always take time to hear my stories and reassure me, it’s really sweet and a lot of people are looking for these qualities in romantic relationships.”

He smiled when he pictured Kacchan, inside his studio with an invisible face, and his friends in the way. It was none of his business to ask such personal questions Izuku would be there to listen to him if he needed advice. However, it was heartbreaking to see how someone as amazing and interesting as Kacchan was alone. There was no doubt, that anyone who knew his real self would be the happiest to stand by his side, even if he was slightly different from expectations. 

“Because it’s my job, idiot,” he replied as if it were the most evident thing, ignoring the slight blush crossing his cheek. It was surprising how this nerd could see qualities that even Katsuki didn’t distinguish himself, but he’ll go along instead of making a scene, being secretly touched by the compliment. “Maybe I can be a good friend, but I’ll be a terrible partner.”

“You can’t say if you never had the chance to give it a try," the freckled man affirmed with a confident tone.

It was stupid, getting attached to a voice able to create so many sentiments inside his heart. This guy wasn’t an angel coming from the sky to keep the stubborn man safe based on his last brain cells, but a curious happenstance that brought new hope into the blond's life. Katsuki knew he shouldn’t be pessimistic, but he wanted to wait for the right person at the right time…...

“Speaking from experience ?” It was the only thing that escaped his lips to avoid a heavy silence in their conversation. “Unfortunately no- Wait, I think I saw him leaving the restaurant,” Izuku’s voice suddenly turned panicked as a bunch of background noises filled the blank. The blond frowned his eyebrows at the mess caused by whatever the nerd was doing in his car and was relieved when this mess stopped. “Alright, promise me not to laugh, but I’m currently hidden under my seat to not get caught. Did you know that it was uncomfortable and not practical for your back? The person who invented it should be suited for my back pain-”

A laugh escaped from the line, but this time it wasn’t Izuku's but Katsuki’s. Every glance stared at the taller man from afar with disbelief after hearing a sound like that, especially when the blond liked to make some jokes, but he never went further when it came to his vulnerabilities. They couldn’t be mad at Izuku for being the one to be the source of this sweet scene, especially when he had no idea how he changed Katsuki’s life in the best way.

“Kacchan, you promised not to laugh at me! That’s me-” The freckled man immediately stopped when he realized what had just happened. 

Usually, he would be annoyed by this kind of reaction, but this time it was different. 

His heart missed a beat when he heard Kacchan’s laugh on the other side, the kind of melody that welcomed you in the afterlife and charmed your corrupted soul. Izuku was just a simple guy stuck under the seat of his car, but he succeeded in hearing the most magnificent sound with a simple question. The green-haired man’s face turned redder when he understood how it wasn’t a mocking laugh but a genuine one, the kind of moment your heart and soul will never forget due to its ethereal beauty. His scarred fingers lost themselves in the fabric of his shirt, and his face softened when he heard a silence in the line. A part of him wished to hear more about it and see the tender person who made his universe a colorful pairing instead of gray ashes. 

Katsuki, from his side, regarded his breath. His heart felt lighter than ever and his heated cheeks were exposed to the warmth of the room. The unconscious gesture he made with his hands about his worries for the nerd dissipated in the blink of an eye, realizing how it was probably the first time he had a genuine laugh and a good moment in years. He forgot how great it was to have fun and be surprised by fate, the same force that brought these two strangers together, and observed each page being filled with an indelible ink.

“And you would rather stay here with me on the line instead of returning home ?” He simply said with a sigh, The golden-haired man never really liked this blank between them, but he didn’t need to worry about that, especially when something in his chest convinced him the nerd tried to digest what happened.

“I think he’s gone, remind me to never accept any blind date again if this means being humiliated,” he mumbled, making noises that informed everyone about him leaving his dusty spot. “It’s silly, but yeah…I would rather stay there with you than be stuck with some stranger.”

“But you don’t know me,” This point was clearly a reminder of their current circumstances, but a softer atmosphere filled the air. 

Suddenly, the clock on the wall was forgotten, such as the shadows in the background who made this moment possible….it was only the nerd and him. Katsuki didn’t even notice when his voice, usually rough, became suddenly low, almost like he wanted to be heard by this special person. He didn’t know what happened tonight, but he was more emotional than usual, and no matter the spell used by the nerd, it was pretty strong to bring the warmth he genuinely missed. It started as a joke, but now, Katsuki Bakugo had the impression of finding someone important to him, almost like this idiot was the missing piece of his incomplete puzzle.

“Maybe, but I like your company,” Izuku whispered in a gentle voice. “It makes me happy to hear your voice, and I just discovered how you have a really cute laugh.”

He wanted to dedicate those words to Kacchan and share his truth, similar to a love confession without having any idea about the kind of sentiments that filled his chest. His scarred fingers met the messy curls, putting them behind his ears with a slight blush crossing his freckled cheek. At this moment, Izuku Midoriya realized how he would never get tired of Katsuki Bakugo, even if their path were meant to be reunited again in the next decade. 

“Whatever….What is your next plan, James Bond?” Katsuki ignored the rising warmth in his chest, switching the topic. He was convinced something had happened between them in this fateful call, but he couldn’t point out what exactly, and it was the most frustrating part.

“Returning to my apartment safely, it’s getting darker there I assume it’s time when people go back to their homes,” he said with a soft tone and didn’t even acknowledge the smile on his face. After all, there was nothing to be happy about, but he simply trusted his heart about releasing the unknown sentiments that guided his soul into Katsuki’s arms.

“Be careful” the golden-haired man whispered in a low tone, almost like he wanted to be heard by the nerd and only him. 

Both men knew it was impossible due to the current context and their eyes focused on each of Katsuki’s movements, but it was enough to reassure them. The blond didn’t need to ask to feel how the guy on the line was probably relaxed, being a callback to their first meeting and showing how their relationship improved into a genuine friendship. It was new for Katsuki to expose his weakness, but he would rather let the world see his real self than pretend with a nerd.

Izuku’s smile became more radiant, noticing the sincerity in the tone of his voice. It was stronger than any tease they shared until now, a sentiment that guided their hearts and reasons into a delicate journey, marked by their new beginning. Their worlds were separated by an invisible barrier but connected by an invisible string. His fingers ruffled the fabric of his shirt in a delicate movement, holding back his tears at the genuine happiness rising inside his chest. It was a dangerous game to fall for the unknown, but both men were ready to take the risk….

“I will, don't worry and if something happens I’ll follow your advice,” he replied in a low tone. The green-haired man didn’t need any answer to know he convinced Kacchan with a simple sentence like this one, especially with a bond as strong as theirs. “Now  I need to get away from here without being spotted by the cops. It would be crazy to call you from jail after they misunderstood me as a strange guy with bad intentions.”

“Especially when you wouldn’t hurt a fly,” the tease in the blond's comment made Izuku relax, appreciating how they kept their casual cat-and-mouse games. It was strange to have hindsight about how a simple call transformed their entire lives, but they wouldn’t wish for a better story than this one. 

“You know me so well Kacchan, it’s scary,” he said with an amused tone, taking a quick glimpse at the streets. As much as he hated it, the freckled man needed to return home as soon as possible to rest in his welcoming sheets “I think I should go, I wouldn’t mind staying on the phone with you but you’re about too close and I don’t want to be your problem with your boss.”

“Sleepy eyes don’t listen to this part of the program, but check the hours. I appreciate the gesture to save my ass but I’ll be fine,” he assured, being moved by the fact that the nerd didn’t want to put him in a complicated situation After all, Katsuki already did a lot of things to cheer him up and change his mind, it was the least he could do to return the favor and have his back if necessary! 

“I never doubted that,” he whispered with a soft tone, “If your friends can hear me, spread the message that I say hi and wish them goodnight !”

“Whether…drive save,” jealousy wasn’t even a sentiment he considered possible until now, but he secretly wished this word was addressed to him. Don’t get him wrong, he loved how the nerd gave attention to the extras in the background, but he wondered if this guy would accept Katsuki’s flaws, knowing he pictured him as a white knight in his wildest dreams. 

“I will….goodnight Kacchan,” Izuku whispered with a gentle voice, smiling at the tender bond between them. He might have a few words with the rest of the team, but he’ll always take his time to say goodnight to his favorite person…..

“Goodnight nerd,” Katsuki answered with a low tone, too soft to be taken away by the wind ruffling his face. 

The golden-haired man had the right to be touched by the gesture, as it was something personal between them during their recurrent interaction in the show. In the past, he would easily drop out and sleep at night without his final words from the nerd, but now it has become a habit….The blond could sense how it was more than reassuring words to his shattered heart, looking for answers in the unknown. His calloused hands took his headset off, making a slight groan at the sweat falling down his forehead. His crimson eyes meet the shadows in the room, with a shocking expression on their face.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you see a ghost ?” He asked with rolled eyes, wondering what was going on inside their mind. 

He might’ve betrayed himself with his sensitive side in front of his friends, but Katsuki didn’t care about that, it’s not like it was a big revelation either. If Mina and Jirou simply pretended to be naive about that, the three men were stunned by the previous scene. 

“No, it’s just….You really have no idea what’s going on ?” Sero asked with a serious tone, almost like the blond had committed some crimes. 

Katsuki couldn’t see where he had messed things up, especially when he had always been perfect at his job. If Sero had some doubts for a few days, all of his theories confirmed themselves after the unique show under his eyes. It was obvious how Katsuki Bakugo fell for this guy on the line, by giving a special nickname, and smirking when his voice crossed the room. This question wasn’t as innocent as it seemed, but based on the answer, he immediately knew he needed to keep this secret a little longer…

“Why would I? You’re acting weird, he just needed someone to talk to, don’t make it a scene,” Katsuki affirmed with an annoyed tone. 

His fingers slipped in the air to find his bag and grab a water bottle he kept in the conference as a last resort, ignoring the others’ comments. Pinky and Jirou were strangely quiet about that, and his instincts tried to warn him about exploring some kind of dangerous territory…but he didn’t care, he was fine on his own! 

“If you say so…..” the red-haired man sighed, looking quickly at the blond beside him. 

Denki simply nodded when he realized how they were both thinking the same thing, connecting the dots. It was evident how the atmosphere in the room became lighter once this mysterious guy called the stubborn man, almost like he immediately tricked Katsuki into a seductive charm with his tempting promises. It would be stupid to make a bet about the time it’ll take for Katsuki to realize his feelings, but maybe Denki and he needed to keep their own secrets…

Katsuki simply ignored the strange expression on his friends’ faces, while Mina put her hands on his shoulders. She congratulated him for surviving the night, without making any comment about the previous call….which was really odd coming from her, but it was none of his business. Jirou simply hit her boyfriend’s hair to get his attention while Pikachu was looking for a new meme to share, and the rest of the group finished the last checkup

That night, Katsuki Bakugo returned home with a lighter heart and a smile crossing his lips. He didn’t even notice it until his crimson eyes met his reflection in the mirror while brushing his teeth. The blond was confident about the state of his relationship with the nerd: This guy was as insane as him when it came to his childhood hero, seemed interested in his life, and even offered moral support. Many people would’ve run away a long time ago after this harsh behavior, but he stayed and welcomed him into his life. 

Maybe this was a side impression and the nerd was sleeping with two eyes, unaware of the mess happening in the blond's mind…

Chapter Text

In the silenced town of Mustafu,

That night, Izuku Midoriya couldn’t find sleep, being too mesmerized by the gentle sound he had heard earlier. He didn’t know anything about the person behind the screen, but he would love to spend an entire lifetime with him to discern each of his secrets  It wasn’t in his habit to fantasize about this kind of thing, especially when his previous attempts at chasing after someone were reduced to miserable fails and wasted tears. The freckled man felt a sudden familiarity inside his chest, rising like the flowers showing their brightest colors during the new season to catch the most captivated glances in the crowd. 

The green-haired man didn’t have anything more special or unique than the others; he was just a simple college student who prayed to get a bright future after graduation. Escaping from this repetitive lifestyle was the least he could do to change his mind, explaining how he ended up appreciating this strange bond with this voice that erased his worries with a single comment. His friends would probably consider him deranged for sharing a mindset like this one, but Izuku was convinced about the presence of unknown sentiments he was ready to welcome, hidden under thick layers of “what-ifs” and illusions to cover the truth. 

It all started with a simple call, a curious happenstance that brought their souls closer at the least unexpected. 

A single night of tease, and before realizing it, it became a reassuring habit. The first thing the freckled man did once his emerald eyes reached the time on his phone was to grab it and compose the number he knew by heart, acting like a child who was impatient to see his parents returning home after a long time. He never thought he would be able to feel butterflies in his stomach, especially for a stranger, but this innocent bond transformed those strangers into friends, even if Katsuki wasn’t ready to admit it…yet. Izuku Midoriya liked to play with fire but everything was strangely easy when it came to Katsuki Bakugo.

He liked to hear those silly comments, the imaginative figure behind the line, and lose himself in his own expectations of someone who’ll never remember him in the early morning. He was surprised to see how this voice that laughed at his stupidity the previous night remembered him. Everything started to make sense when the calls became recurrent things, and Izuku found a certain confidence despite not being able to see him in real life: It didn’t change the fact that the person behind the phone was real, such as the change of tone in his voice and the genuine laugh he heard a few hours ago. 

It took him by surprise, but this unexpected sound echoed like a delicate lullaby to his ears. His heart naturally fell for the easiest solution to get attached to this unreachable shadow but he had no other choice than to find reassurance in those invisible arms. This warmth that resonated from each of their interactions felt like home, a sentiment he hadn’t felt for a long time and was pretty refreshing for his lonely soul. Don’t get him wrong, he was glad to have supportive people by his side, but there was something differentiating his group of friends and Katsuki Bakugo: It was as invisible as a thing string connecting their lives, able to break at a single mistake, but slowly became stronger through their meaningful interactions. 

Katsui had a good impact on his mental health, almost like he was this white knight who’d been chasing after him. Izuku somehow felt how he had already heard this name before, he couldn’t figure out how or where it felt strangely familiar at the tip of his lips, almost like he had already pronounced it thousands of him in his youth, but it wouldn’t make any sense, right? The entire time, he had a clear idea about what “being in love” feels like, but this illusion faded away, replaced by sincere sentiments, He wanted to believe this was real, in a way that only he and his body knew about this happiness rising inside his chest when Kacchan’s voice crossed his eyes like a soft lullaby sung by his mother when he was a child. 

He stopped counting the numerous times when he unconsciously waited for a sign, a call that’ll never come but he liked being the first to make a move and hear the excitement in the other’s voice. Izuku was stuck inside his bed, fingers holding the sheet tighter as a relieved expression crossed his face. He knew it was strange to fall for a complete stranger or even the representation you had of this person in your imagination, but it was too late. Izuku didn’t need to express out loud how he was in love with the kind of emotions brought by a single voice, but it was a path that was worth the risk. In all honesty, he was lost with his expectations and real-life events, reminding him how everything was temporary, but he’ll always hold onto those tender memories of this unreachable savior who brought a smile back to his face. 

Izuku knew he was doomed and accepted his fate. 

He welcomed the scarlet color on his heated cheeks, catching the sunrise appearing outside the windows of his apartment Despite thinking about the multiple occasions to get personal information about the man behind the mask, there was nothing else he could do. Maybe he was stuck at being a simple listener to his favorite radio station for the rest of his life, but he knew he was ready to wait thousands of decades to hear this voice again, even for the last time.

The green-haired man couldn’t help but close his eyes and picture what this stranger might look like.

 It was pretty hard to get information about this kind of thing, leaving every single possibility within his reach. The shorter figure moved his messy curls against the welcoming pillow, bringing the sheet closer to his body, knowing it wouldn’t be enough to protect him from the doubts inside his chest. Nothing assured him that the stranger on the other side of the call wasn’t a red flag, but he quickly chased those theories away when he remembered how Katsuki took the time to reassure him. No matter the person or their physical feature, the freckled man was convinced he was enough for his heart, even if he liked this game of picturing what this perfect man might be inside his head.

Once again, the freckled man might take a nap later in the day, but he didn’t care. At the moment, the only thing that mattered to him was the sensation inside his chest. Izuku Midoriya had the tendency to find himself in complicated situations, but falling for someone he had never seen before was a first to his list: Many people might have their words to say about this situation and call him delusional, but he knew this bond between Katsuki and him was guided by something stronger than simple promises.

—---

The bright sunlight passed by the delicate leaves of this old tree, revealing its brightest color as summer finally opened its door to changes. The shadows in the crowd tended to easily lose themselves in their own discussion, with stolen laughs and secret smiles exchanged in the street. 

The exam season was finally over, and the results dropped out Izuku and his friends decided to celebrate this amazing news by hanging out in town. Those sweat and prayers were finally heard once they were accepted on the campus for their final year. The group of friends decided to change their minds, without being concerned about their plan B. Izuku realized how much he missed hanging out with his loved ones, even if this mysterious voice and hidden identity never left his vulnerable heart.

Everything seemed so easy now that he admitted the nature of his feelings, wondering when the next call would be. The scarred hands held his cold drink with a sip, and background noises of loud chatting and delicate laughter crossed his ears, reminding him of that fateful night when he realized his sentiments. He wouldn’t wish for a better situation: After all, he had great friends by his side, a certain someone to call almost every night, and peace of mind outside his work.  

His emerald eyes glanced at the shadows surrounding him, laughing at some jokes one another said, before switching conversations. Everyone has their own drink and some aperitif, almost like they were all forty years old and met after a game of petanque, with their drinks and genuine joy of being alive. Their topics of conversation were essentially centered around their projects this summer, explaining how it would be fine to make some festival, even if some planned to work to get money or simply travel with their loved ones. 

Izuku didn’t know what he would do for the next two months: He could change his mind by hanging with his friends as much as possible, depending on the period, or get another job since he broke his contract a few weeks ago. One thing was sure, now he had the entire summer, he wouldn’t have any excuses to miss Katsuki’s show!

“-Himiko said she didn’t mind helping with money for our trip, but I feel guilty about it,” the brunette said with a sigh, resting her hands against her forehead. Ochako was one of the first friends he met in college, introducing him to the rest of the group. Izuku didn’t mind listening to her stories about her girlfriend and how their sapphic love was everything she ever wanted with its ups and downs sometimes. “She insisted but she’s pretty stubborn when it comes to us and our relationship. Don’t look at me that way, I promised I’ll pay her back with something else-”

“We don’t need to know what happened in the bedroom,” Tsuyu said with a fake offended gasp

“Stop being perverts, I was implying dates and a few gifts from time to time,” she added with rolled eyes, under the unconvinced expression on the other’s face. She moved her head to meet the appeased glance on the freckled man, almost like he was occupied thinking about something else. Ochako wasn’t naive and noticed how something was different with Izuku, but it only became clearer once she saw the hints under her eyes. She never mentioned it out loud but liked to tease the shorter man about how he seemed…in his mind recently, noticing how his theories were right when his freckled cheeks blushed at the comment. “Talking about that, you’ve been pretty quiet since the beginning of the conversation, Izuku… what's your excuse this time ?”

“Can’t I be happy to hang out with my friends and enjoy the moment ?” He asked with a curious tone, knowing this was half of the truth, and the brunette knew it too. If the rest of the group looked at each other with an amused expression on their face, Izuku put the blame on the heat in town, and definitely not because he was caught thinking about Kacchan. 

“This doesn’t work with us, but you’re hiding something,” She added with a determined tone,  knowing she wasn’t giving up so easily. “Were you thinking about someone? Come on, you can tell us, it would be great for you to have someone to cuddle instead of your plushies. It’s not like you’re unlovable too, but something tells me you’ve already found this person, right ?”

“How did you know ?” Izuku admitted his defeat, putting his hope in high standards when he should simply accept the fact that it was temporary…. Maybe Kacchan will remember in the next years and also have regrets about not chasing after him.

“It’s just a girl thing,” the brunette added but realized how it was touching to see her friend being vulnerable when it comes to love. After all, Izuku was everything someone would want as a perfect partner, but he only found people who didn’t see his potential: It was refreshing to see his face regaining color and his cheeks blushing at the mention of this person who occupied his mind. “Now it’s your duty to tell us about this person, and don’t miss a single detail !”

“Fine, but it’s nothing important, really,” The freckled man knew he had underestimated the situation, but he shouldn’t be afraid of being judged by his friends, especially when they offered their support in circumstances crazier than that. It was strange to explain the entire story for the first time to someone else when he used to share this narrative with the voices in his head, but denying his sentiments any longer meant being a liar to his real self, something he wasn’t and never swore to be. 

“You already went beyond the limit the moment you started blushing for this topic,” Tsuyu added with a reassuring tone, punching the other’s shoulders. Izuku simply smiled and accepted his fate, not like he didn’t try to fight against their attempts either.

“It’s pretty stupid, but you remember the night when I was stalked by someone? Well, since you were out of reach, I decided to make a call to this radio station you keep mentioning. Much to my surprise, it happened pretty well and I kinda continued this tradition of calling this guy every night…” Izuku knew how surprised and excited his friends were based on their reactions, but it was pretty reassuring to know they had his back. “It’s often based on silly stories to entertain the show at this late hour, but it became a source of comfort. As strange as it seems, I discovered new things about this guy and started to like him as a friend until it eventually became something stronger, and I know what I’m talking about. You should’ve seen the way his words succeeded in erasing each of my tears and bringing this once-novelty I’ve been looking for. I made peace with the fact that I’ll never see him, but it feels great to be in love…for once if it’s not the first time.”

“Oh Izuku, why didn’t you tell us about this earlier ?” Ochako said putting her hands on his shoulders and noticing how he seemed appeased at the understanding glances on his friends’ faces. It was alright to fall for the unknown, it was how most of the stories started, including hers, but seeing someone as vulnerable as Izuku being in the same place as them was great. “We could’ve helped you to meet this guy or do our research, especially if you’ve never seen his face and only heard this voice. There’s nothing wrong with that, and your romance is as worthy as the thousands of people who lived the same things as you…”

“I don’t necessarily need to see him in real life, it might be a one-sided thing, where he only considers me as a simple friend,” he explained with a sigh, being realistic about his chances of being in a romantic relationship with an unreachable name in the middle of the night. “It’s uncommon, but I really appreciate this bond Kacchan and I forged, almost like we’ve been reunited by sort of fate to meet in this lifetime, as impossible as it might be. I like to consider things that way but don’t repeat that, or he’ll call me a dumbass.”

“You even gave him a nickname, that’s adorable !” Ochako added. “I think it’s pretty cute to see things that way, and as long as you don’t have a broken heart, it’s the most important thing to us. We only want your happiness, but if this guy is a dick, I’ll murder him on the spot and make him pay.”

The freckled man appreciated the support offered by his friends, especially in a situation like this one. It’s not like it was impossible to meet the love of his life at the least unexpected, but he would rather stay realistic about his chance to meet the man behind this mystical voice, than project some kind of unrealistic future with this stranger. Maybe it was all in his head and things would differ if fate was in his favor, but Izuku prepared himself for a potential heartbreak, even if he was down bad for this stranger.

“Actually his real name is Katsuki Bakugo,” he pointed out with a laugh, meeting the stunned faces of the others. It’s not like he said something dumb, it was just a simple name he heard once and never forgot about it, but even the brunette looked at him with surprise. He wanted to ask what the origin of this sudden reaction was, but the answers came faster than he expected

“That’s crazy because my boyfriend Sero works with him,” Shoto expressed with a calm tone. This poor soul was unaware of the mess he caused in Izuku’s chest, catching the wide emerald eyes looking at him while the rest of the group stayed silent, accepting previous revelations. “He’s working in a popular radio station, right? I know a few names, but I think I probably met him before. It’s funny, if I had known earlier maybe I would’ve presented both of you…Why are you looking at me that way? Do I have something on my face ?”

“What the actual fuck-” Ochako whispered with a gasp. Don’t get her wrong, she was used to Izuku’s hopeless romantic mindset, but this curious set of circumstances was definitely a slap to her face. “And you never felt the need to share this earlier? Who knows, maybe Izuku would’ve been in a relationship at the moment !”

“I’m still here guys,” the freckled man said, resting his hands against his forehead. Alright, he needed to process the previous information: Not only was his friend in a relationship with one of the members of the radio station, but he could’ve also met Kacchan ?! This simple statement sounded impossible to his ears, and his heart missed a beat when he pictured the idea that maybe he already saw this man, but haven’t been able to recognize him- Shit, everything was blurry in his mind, but he needed to stay calm. “To be fair, it’s pretty surprising, but what are the odds our paths already met? After all, there are a bunch of people on this planet, and I can’t find him by coincidence.”

“I can ask Sero for some help if it’s necessary,” Shoto said with a curious tone, taking a last sip of his drink. He really wondered why everyone was so stunned by the news, but he would rather not ask the question and let them mind their business. “He already asked me to visit the studio a few times, I never had the time to accept but maybe you can come with me the next time ?”

“The offer is tempting but maybe things might go wrong and he’ll hate me or find me unattractive. I think I’ll be fine on my own, but I appreciate the gesture and I'll reach out to you if it’s my last option,” he added with an understanding tone.

The previous conversation was a shock, but Izuku knew he had taken the right option. It was strange to imagine a world where Katsuki and him already met in real life but never knew about each other’s existence, but the rest was his wildest fantasy and imagination. It made him jealous to know how Shoto’s boyfriend had the occasion to see Katsuki in real life and work with him when the freckled man was stuck with his unsolved questions….but it’ll pass with time, right? 

The rest of the afternoon passed by with simple conversations and shadows discovering the lost spots of those two they knew by heart. The green-haired man felt more at ease and even participated in the talks until the heated sunlight colored his exposed skin into a shade of red with the sunburn. Those streets succeed in keeping their charm despite the time passing by, owning their original narratives stronger than the frames erasing themselves in a museum. Those buildings echoed from a temporary time journey, where this silenced town found itself alive during this part of the year, welcoming more visitors who heard about its praise from the common word of mouth. However, a single gaze caught his entire attention when his emerald eyes lost themselves in the background, noticing a sudden shadow in the crowd. 

Emerald eyes met the crimson ones, and Izuku noticed the prettiest man he had ever seen: His golden spikes reflected similar shades to the sun burning his exposed skin, his irises were as mesmerizing as the most breathtaking jewels, and his natural charm was able to seduce anyone crossing his path His freckled cheeks became redder when he felt how the other stared at him with the same surprise, almost like he also felt this strange sensation of deja vu. The green-haired man wasn’t the kind of person to make a gay panic in public, but he put his head down and covered his blushing cheeks as their shadows crossed each other, wondering if Katsuki would be as gorgeous as him…. 

If the group noticed how something was strange with the green-haired man, they cheered him up until the sun went down, unaware that Izuku’s heart missed a beat each time he thought about Kacchan owning this stranger’s face. 

———

One month later, 

Sometimes Katsuki wished he could freeze time, but he had no choice but to be a simple spectator of this show. It’s not like he had anything special planned for the rest of summer, even if his friends tried to convince him to go to a party, but the blond denied it. He liked the small comfort in his apartment which started to feel too small for him.  

For the moment, he followed the new program made by Aizawa, staying up until two am, being justified by how “summer was made for the night hollow and lonely souls who like inner reflections”. He received his results from his exams last month and celebrated them with his friends once he got accepted, being glad to continue this adventure and get his diploma the next year. This was an important step in his study but he often took a break during his special section of the show, with the extras giving him indications from afar. 

The casual conversations with the nerd continued, and their interactions became more intimate as they officially established their relationship as a sincere friendship, making the freckled man happier than ever. Katsuki couldn’t help but grin when this guy decided to reveal his first name, with five listeners during a peaceful night. If the blond didn’t say anything, he wasn’t surprised to see how “Izuku” seemed to fit with his personality, even if his chest gave him this strange sensation of hearing this name before. 

The teasing from his friends continued as simple jokes even if they didn’t have bad intentions. The group knew how Katsuki fell hard for Izuku, and decided to trust fate for an unexpected journey. It was none of their business to get into the blond's personal life, but they appreciated how Katsuki became immediately gentle when the familiar voice crossed the room, being the center of attention until the end of their shift. 

However, this didn’t stop Katsuki from applying the nerd’s advice and paying a visit to his parents. He hadn’t seen them a long time ago, and decided it wouldn’t hurt to say a quick hi….but when he left the door, he simply watched his old hag and man offer a hug, explaining how they were impatient for the next visit. The blond would’ve never done this by himself, but his meeting with Izuku made him stronger. When he shared the news with the nerd, Izuku was so excited and proud of him, being the source of a slight blush on his cheeks. 

He couldn’t stop thinking about the day when he met this stranger with the most beautiful face he had ever seen. His green messy curls were as delicate as the wind ruffling them against his forehead, his freckled cheeks were highlighted by a charming blush, and his emerald irises were the prettiest gems he had ever seen. He never thought he would be able to find someone attractive, but this random meeting was the only exception he tolerated, especially when this man was a work of art for his vulnerable heart. He wondered what Izuku might look like, and if he would be as pretty as him, who occupied most of his nights. Katsuki often regretted not asking for this stranger’s phone number,

It doesn’t matter, it’s not like their paths would meet anyway.  

The calloused hands ruffled his spiky hair and made a last check on his material. The song was about to reach its end, losing the slow rhythm into complete silence until the blond's voice was live. Tonight, only Pinky, Shitty Hair, and Pikachu were there, which mean he needed to tolerate their asses. The blond was convinced Izuku would call, it became an instinct to know the nerd by heart, and those moments often transformed his lonely nights into more reassuring ones. He didn’t want to admit it, he was glad to have someone like Izuku by his side to make his job more tolerable and cheer him up when he had difficult days, even if the nerd wasn’t aware of this last detail. 

Mina made a thumbs-up in the air as he started to take the first call after the quick presentation. He was amused to recognize some of the previous listeners he had heard before, almost like the nerd gave them some courage to fear their worries to let their presence be known more than once, and find their ease. Katsuki always treated them correctly, but everyone, including the listeners, knew that they’d never bad as important as Izuku who always brightened the host’s voice. The hour passed by quickly compared to the last time, and the blond made a nod after the pink-haired woman pressed the live button.

“You’re in direct, what do you have to say?” Katsuki asked with his casual tone, knowing most of the people were used to this sentence he repeated too many times for his liking. The taller man was about to ask if this extra was here, ready to decline, until he heard a slight sob on the other side. He wasn’t used to public breakdowns and started to panic until his face turned pale when he heard the familiar voice. His heart immediately knew it was Izuku, and the previous anxiety became unbearable. If there was one thing he hated more than himself during hard days, it was the fact that the person he cared about was suffering in silence. “Oi, what’s wrong? Are you alright ?” 

“Sorry, I didn’t want to bother you, but I had no one to reach and I hate being alone,” the freckled man mumbled in his beard, wiping his tears away as he found a more comfortable position in his bedsheet. He didn’t even know how he ended up here and what caused all of this sudden breakdown, but he wanted to blame the ghosts of his past. The shaking fingers didn't hesitate twice before typing the number of the radio station, hoping Katsuki wouldn’t be mad at him for holding his tears for so long….but he didn’t want to ruin the mood. 

“You also have the talent to find the perfect timing with many listeners on this live,” he said in a low tone. Something in his heart arched at the idea that Izuku reached his final straw, to the point of reaching out to him from all the people available in his contact list. Usually, the blond would be flattered and comment on it, but he immediately recognized the severity of the situation when the nerd was holding back more tears.

“Oh, maybe I should decline, I don’t want to bother you,” he whispered with a shaking voice. After all, Kacchan was right, and making a call about his problem was stupid and-

“It’s okay, but maybe you shouldn't make it public…do you mind getting my phone number and continuing this conversation in private ?” Katsuki interrupted with a soft tone, another habit he used since his calls with the nerd. His calloused hands held the fabric of his shirt in tighter movements, as he imagined how the nerd’s situation was from afar. Shit, if only he got his address or his phone number, maybe he could fix this in private and be there to physically reassure him!

“Are you sure you’re okay with this ?” Izuku asked, unsure about the situation. “You must be occupied and-”

It was his fault for causing this mess and being the one to call for something as ridiculous as his emotional breakdown, but Katsuki was his only source of comfort at the moment. He would do anything to stand by his arms and feel this embrace against his shaking body, something that even his plushies couldn’t offer him. His smaller body found the bedsheets and wished it were the other’s warmth despite not knowing what he looked like, but being in love led to a desperate solution. He naturally pictured this stranger with his charming crimson eyes being worried about him, having Kacchan’s voice and maybe…maybe he would’ve loved to lose his shaking hands into his spiky hair and have someone to hold on to at this emotional distress. 

“I’m sure Pinky will find a way to get your number based on the data, but I’m sure the other idiots can deal with the rest of the calls for the night,” Katsuki said with a concerned tone, moving his head to check the two men standing there beside the pink haired woman. 

A single glance was enough to know what they needed to do as Mina nodded from afar, understanding this emergency. Usually, they would’ve resolved this case with calm and patience, but Izuku was someone who became important in the team, no matter if it was his kindness or the joy he brought to Katsuki’s face since his arrival. This last plan was often used for emergency cases, but the data were well known to save the phone numbers of people who recently called, and simple research was efficient to find something as personal as their numbers. They never used it, but the shaking tone in Izuku’s voice and concerned crimson eyes were all they needed to know that this was a situation to take very seriously. 

“Oh….that’s really nice of you, kacchan. I would love to, and I really need someone to talk to,” he confessed in a low tone, acting like a child who had been punished after a mistake. The simple change of tone in his voice scared the taller man, who held his breath and realized that it was the first time he had gotten worried about a listener. Izuku wasn’t a simple stranger but a shadow who transformed his life into a mesmerizing tale, but the blond refused to give up on someone as amazing as Izuku, even if he needed to get fired for this. 

“Don’t worry, I got your back, nerd,” he replied with a reassuring tone, feeling the slight smile that crossed Izuku’s face on the line. 

It was nothing, but he knew the rest of the team could handle the situation, as he left the chair and reached out to see the others. A song was filled the background while the group tried to solve the situation, with Pikachu and Shitty Hair replacing him in this post after a short brief. The crimson eyes stared at the clock on the wall, praying to freeze time and make this as fast as possible: He hated this distance between them with him doing his best in this isolated building while the nerd was probably tearing up for whatever happened on his side. 

The fact that he didn’t know what caused this intense reaction was terrifying to his vulnerable heart, Kirishima and Denki took the lead as they replaced the blond and took the other calls, trying to be as good as him in this role, while Mine announced the great news that she had found the number. Katsuki thanked her as he wrote it down on a piece of paper and put it in his pocket, explaining how he would pay her back later for this service. 

The taller figure left the room with a heavy breath, taking his jacket on his shoulders and reaching a spot he used to go for his break. It was discreet enough to be exposed to the fresh breeze of this late night, with the wind ruffling his sweaty skin and the moonlight highlighting the concern inside his crimson irises. A quick look at the corner of his phone indicated that he had enough battery for the rest of the night, even if this conversation on the phone might take longer than his casual shift. There was no way Katsuki would let Izuku suffer in silence when the nerd had already covered him with meaningful gestures, it was his turn to return the gesture and let him know how their relationship mattered to him.

His shaking fingers immediately turned his phone on and typed the number on this precious paper, cursing the ringtone on the line. After all, what if Izuku didn’t answer his call due to them not having each other’s numbers? What if he missed the opportunity to be the shoulder to cry on as he promised? Shit, so many questions, and bad scenarios crossed his mind, feeling his legs moving against the cold wall. His hand rested on his golden spike, covered by the darkness of the midnight sky, while each second separating him from this reunion felt like hell. A few curses left his lips when he was forced to decline and call the number again: If they can’t properly communicate with texts, he could use the call option multiple times to let them know it was with him.

His theory confirmed itself when his worries immediately left his chest after hearing the previous ring being replaced by silence on the line. 

“Kacchan…Is that you ?” The freckled man wiped his tears away as he felt his heart missing a beat at the idea that Katsuki was calling him on his personal number after the previous disaster he caused at the radio station. He should have apologized for the mess he caused, but a few colors regained his face when he heard the blond's voice, reminding him how it wasn’t a dream…but his reality.

“Izuku, you scared the shit out of me,” he said with a brutal honesty that made the shorter man smile. Izuku rested against his pillow, holding back his tears, and simply waited until Kacchan filled the silence. “I know it sounds crazy but it looks like you need a shoulder to cry on.”

“I can’t believe you did this,” the freckled man confessed in a low tone. The pain inside his heart was still there, being as strong as an annoying reminder of his current life, but he felt slightly better to know someone was by his side. It was touching to see how the stubborn blond, who mocked him for his stupidity, ended up being the one rushing his own show to take care of him. Izuku felt new tears falling down his cheeks at this statement that he was loved by Katsuki, maybe in a platonic way if things went wrong, but it was better than being ignored in a situation of distress. “I’m a nobody-”

“A nobody who needs help, and tonight is your lucky day, because I’m all yours,” Katsuki explained,  catching the fresh breeze against his face. He didn’t mind confessing his truths without second thoughts, almost like they belonged to Izuku in the first place. The great Katsuki Bakugo who refused to believe in love, became another one of those hopeless romantics who said lines he usually despised, being something pretty surprising..

“That’s really nice, I don’t know how I should repay you for everything you’ve done to me,” There was an ounce of guilt at the end of his sentence, a sentiment the blond wanted to erase at all costs. Izuku was someone important to him, and he shouldn’t feel bad for the decisions that Katsuki made on purpose to cheer the nerd up. He didn’t need to be seen as a savior either, but he wanted to stay up as long as possible to bring a smile back to Izuku’s face and know the source of his inner conflicts that caused too much damage to his beautiful soul.

“First, you can start by telling me what’s wrong, I’ve got all night for that,” and it was true. He didn’t care about the bags he’d have under his eyes or the way this conversation would change their current dynamic….Izuku was more important than all those meaningless details. 

A sudden silence filled the line, making their common anxiety higher than it already was. The freckled man welcomed the tears falling down his cheeks at the previous words. If he hadn’t fallen for this guy a long time ago, he would’ve definitely melted under his charm a second time. There was something ethereal with the choice of Katsuki’s words, and the compromises he was ready to make to help someone as useless as Izuku…almost like he was ready to take the world down for him. The green-haired man knew it was an illusion inside his head to comfort his loneliness, but he was desperate and needed to shut the voices inside his mind down once and for all.

“I usually don’t mind spending my birthday alone, but I don’t know…I started to be worried and panicked for no reason. It never happened before and I was afraid,” he said shaking tone, recalling the beginning of this breakdown. 

It started with a simple glance at the time on his phone, his emerald eyes staring at the roof over his head, and too much self-introspection at this late hour. His friends weren’t there to celebrate due to their couple's trip and his mother was the only one who wished him a happy birthday before falling asleep. The day just started and Izuku had never felt so lonely, and this accumulation of overthinking became so hard to handle, that it naturally led to heavy tears. 

Katsuki’s face turned paler at the revelation. 

He didn’t know it was Izuku’s birthday and he couldn’t be aware of it if the two men had never mentioned it. The nerd wished him a happy birthday a few months ago, but when the question was returned, Izuku simply chose to stay mysterious and say “It’s in a few months, it’s not very important”. The taller man simply accepted and moved to another topic, but it became a slap in the face when he couldn’t escape it anymore. If only he had known earlier, maybe he would’ve made something special for himself, and who knows what happened today to transform this special event into a terrible one? 

“Oh….I never knew what kind of relationship you had with this event, but it’s sweet to know you naturally reached out for the Radio’s number,” he whispered, trying to process the news. Katsuki wasn’t the best with words, but he swore to be the most inspiring writer to deliver breathtaking poems and songs to his muse.  

“It was the only place I could go, I hope you don’t mind,” the freckled man mumbled, knowing he would’ve been ignored if it were true. Katsuki showed him more than once how he genuinely cared about him and his presence transformed his lonely night into a good laugh between friends. Izuku would be eternally grateful for this sensation of tenderness, reinforcing the statement that he would fall in love with him all over again, no matter the circumstances.

“I wouldn’t be there if I didn't care about your case. You might be a recurrent listener, but I couldn’t leave you behind, especially how panicked you were….I think Pikachu and Shitty Hair are doing a good job without me,” he added, trying to reassure the shaking man on the line. The blond knew how the nerd had the tenancy to be worried about many things surrounding the main problem, but it was Katsuki’s job to remind him how his existence mattered…

“I heard about their section, it was really good…But I do have some preference for yours,” Izuku confessed with a soft tone, pulling his lost behind his ears. He didn’t have any trouble flirting with this stranger who occupied his mind the entire time, even if he wasn’t courageous enough to make a love confession. Maybe he was digging his own grave, but at least he would’ve had the chance to die with the illusion of being loved until his final breath…

“Don’t try to change the subject. We can’t ignore it, and god knows how I’m never doing this shit unless it’s important to me,” he pointed out with a sigh while resting his back against the closest wall to find a cozy position. 

“Sorry, it’s a bad habit,” the shorter man explained holding the pillow closer to his chest. The bed sheet covering his body brought an illusion of warmth, being nothing compared to the one growing up inside his chest. He should probably thank his new friend for being a magician who easily transforms his worries into ashes in the air. Izuku simply hoped he wouldn’t do the same with his romantic feelings if he had to confess….

“Maybe a flaw for you, but a charm for me,” he mumbled with a soft tone. It’s not like he already shared that kind of feeling in the past, it happened more than once and Izuku never said anything about it…so Katsuki naturally assumed he could continue that way. If the nerd asked him to stop, he would respect his decision, but a part of him was proud to know that Izuku was still standing by his side, even after everything they’d been through.

“Kacchan…” The freckled man mumbled whispering this nickname out loud that nickname that brought comfort to his reality.

He wasn’t alone, not anymore and if things went wrong, he’d be forced to accept a potential distance between them, but Izuku liked this present, and secretly wanted to be his future. It will be hard to find the right words to describe his internal conflict but he trusted Katsuki more than his own life.

“It’s pretty stupid, I’ve always enjoyed birthdays, even when I was a child. I adore the All Might themes, the amazing cakes my mom used to cook when she asked me to make a wish. I don’t really know when things started to change, or when I started to take life seriously but it transformed this peaceful day into a stressful one. Each year passing by reminds me of another number being added to the candle, another wish to make, and people entering or leaving your lives, with or without explanation.”

“And what’s different this time?” He asked with a curious tone. The calloused fingers naturally moved into his golden spikes, revealing how his previous anxiety had faded away. The blond wasn’t used to this new sentiment that owned his chest for a few months, but he was sure Izuku was the source of this change. “From what I understand, you always liked it….what happened to transform your innocent vision into a heartbreaking one ?”

“It just started and I feel so…out of reach,” the freckled man confided in a heartbreaking tone. It was natural for Katsuki to notice this kind of detail in the change of his voice or chosen words in conversations, but it was heart-wrenching to see someone as radiant as Izuku confess such a thing. The golden-haired man decided to let him talk and wait to find the right words to cheer him up. “All my friends are established with their partner and their love lives are as touching as the kind of cliches you find in romantic movies. Everyone seems to have their future figured out when I’m here, stuck in a redundant lifestyle with no plan B, a job to change when it becomes too overwhelming for my mental health, and a shitty life. Seriously, even when I try I can’t do anything correctly. How do you want me to survive another year without giving up on life? What’s worth the fight that’ll bring me back to enjoy these small moments of life that used to make me smile as a child ?” 

Izuku welcomed the tears falling down his cheeks. 

He was tired of keeping their existence discreet, not when this sadness already took too much of his energy! He wanted to return to the old days when he didn’t have any worries about the rest of his life, but his birthday became his new source of fear, due to the time passing by without stopping this machine. The freckled man would’ve never been able to handle this emotional distress on his own, and finding the right words with Katsuki was appeasing to his shattered heart for a while. It won’t erase this overwhelming pain, but he knew the night would eventually seduce his desperate soul into charming tricks…..

“I never knew you had so much pain inside your chest, no wonder why you freaked out, I would lose my shit too,” the taller man mumbled, but discreet enough to reach the Izuku’s sensitive ears. The two men were used to this habit of staying on the phone with silly comments, but it was probably the first time it felt so real to their souls. “You shouldn’t deny their existence until it explodes like a no-return bomb, because some damage is irreversible.”

“Maybe it’s better this way,” the green-haired man admitted with a sad tone. He knew it was easy to come to this conclusion, and really loved the moral support offered by the blond but everything was so…complicated. He simply covered his sobs against his pillow, with the hope of making them discreet enough not to make Katsuki concerned about his state. 

“What do you mean ?” He used to make silly comments, but he wasn’t joking when it came to mental health. Hearing Izuku saying this kind of speech acted like a slap in the face: He wished to be there by his side and offer this physical support the nerd needed, but this distance and current situation forced them to trust each other’s words. The blond didn’t even notice when his vision became blurry from the tears, the first ones he shared since the beginning of this conversation. 

“Spending your entire life in the same habits, forcing you to stay in your golden jail until you reach your final straw, and face freedom once your time here is over. Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do, yeah I might have succeeded in my exams…but what is the point of trying if there’s nothing to reach out at the end of this fight ?” Izuku asked, knowing he wouldn’t be able to find the answers to his questions overnight. 

It takes time, sometimes years to accept this statement, but when will he be able to prove himself wrong? Izuku even put himself in a tricky situation where he fell in love with a voice and an unreachable shadow fed by his desperate imagination. His life was meant to be disappointing, and he was ready for the day he’d lose Kacchan with nothing but regrets at the tip of his lips. Shit, the freckled man was supposed to enjoy his birthday but instead, he ended up crying on the phone for the nth time….He was ridiculous. 

“You want to be realistic? I’ll tell you what happens if you follow this path. You’ll be nothing but a shell of yourself, longing for a past you wished you could’ve changed earlier instead of wasting so much time with “What ifs”. In the end, it’ll be you against your bitter regrets on your deathbed, picturing a life you envied from the others, when you deserve to have your own happiness, even if it seems unreachable at the moment,” Katsuki pointed out with a serious tone. 

He knew this comment could be seen as cruel, based on Izuku’s previous confessions, but it was necessary. If this idiot wanted to follow this path, he’d need to know what was expected of him at the end, as depressing as it might be. 

“The final choice is all yours, but you’ll miss a bunch of things such as a shitty afternoon with your friends and a laugh coming out of nowhere after a terrible joke, a smile during your favorite movie of the fate guiding you to someone who’ll be able to read into your eyes like an open book. There’s always something worth a try, even if it’s invisible or unreachable at the moment….I’ll share a secret, promise me to not tell anyone, okay ?”

Using his personal experience and thoughts was probably a huge risk to convince the nerd about his reasoning, but he was honest: Katsuki used to be in the same mess as him and found himself stuck most of the time when he was at his lowest, but he found something, someone to hold on to. Don’t get him wrong, the blond was conscious about how difficult it was, with too much thinking inside Izuku’s small brain and no idea where to start, but it was Katsuki’s goal to guide him into hope, even if it took years to reach this slow step. If the nerd wanted to give up, the blond would also respect his choice and stand by his side until the end, no matter if this would break his heart to say a final goodbye.

If only fate was in their favor and they could’ve met earlier, maybe the two men would’ve been together at this moment Katsuki was making a huge effort to let his heart speak for itself and guide the words leaving his lips, catching the green-haired man by surprise, before bringing a slight blush to his face.

“Pinky promise,” Izuku whispered in a low tone.

He was old enough to stop using this childish excuse, but the freckled man wouldn’t mind having a meaningful deal with this unreachable shadow. He was happier than ever to have Kacchan by his side, especially when it was past two am, but he was curious to know what crossed Katsuki’s mind to be so open about his feelings. 

“You’re stupid,” the blond sighed with a smile on the corner of his lips. He had the impression of finding the old Izuku, the one making silly comments that melted Katsuki’s heart, It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good beginning, knowing the nerd he loved was still there….it just needed some time to calm the other down but the blond was willing to take the risk if necessary. 

“I’ve never said that to anyone, even to my friends or my parents when we had a good relationship. It’s very personal and I never had the courage to speak about it because I thought no one would understand me, but today it’s different. I’m here to share my knowledge and lessons I’ve learned from this mindset, and I don’t want to make this about me….but this is necessary.”

Izuku’s face softened at the previous comment and his fingers wiped away the last tears falling down his cheeks. At this moment,  he wanted to freeze time to stay in this tender embrace he shared with the man he loved, even if it was a virtual experience. 

“Is it selfish of me to want to know more about Kacchan? You’ve always been so discreet, it’s a miracle if you trust me,” the green-haired man confided in a soft tone. It was strange to feel so connected to someone behind the screen, experience so many emotions at once with a single voice, and fall for a complete stranger. Izuku knew this story was unconventional, but he didn’t mind praying to the stars to get a pushback from fate concerning the rest of this adventure. 

“I know you have a good heart, that’s what makes you more special than any extras I’ve heard until now. Listen, the truth is…I might seem confident in life, saying a bunch of bullshit and keeping people entertained, but once I leave this building, I’m nothing else than a lost shadow in the street. I don’t have anything special and I’m just like you, I have no idea what to expect in the future, what will happen tomorrow or even if I’ll continue this job in the next months,” Katsuki said with a sigh. 

It was hard to confess all his worries in a raw, the same ones that ate him from the inside until he became nothing but a shell of himself. The great Katsuki Bakugo might be energetic and keep a grin on his face around his friends, but he was still afraid of changes

“When it’s only me and my thoughts, I’m a complete mess and I keep pretending in front of the others. I was tempted, so many times, to give up and wait for the moment for my final breath: It was easier to picture a situation full of remorse when fear already took the lead over your hope. All these days were redundant, tears wasted with curses escaping your lips, wondering when it’ll be your turn to be the favorite. Let me tell you, it was complete bullshit: We can pray as much as we want for changes, but the one by one able to let them happen is yourself. It was hard at first, but once I gave it a try, I learned to appreciate the small things like foolish comments from my friends, or the casual call of certain someone who has some crazy shit to say.”

“I always thought you hated them,” Izuku replied with a soft chuckle. It was unfair how the nerd was unaware of the damage a single sound like this one was causing to Katsuki’s fragile heart, ready to welcome this lullaby for the rest of his life. 

“I never said that,” the golden-haired man pointed out with an amused tone. 

A slight smirk appeared on his lips at the stupidity of the situation, with him being past his sleep schedules, talking with someone he had never known who’d become an important pillar in his life. He wondered how the nerd felt on the other side: If his expectations were right, this guy probably had this ounce of innocence on his face, untouched by the damages of life, when his smile was probably covering the nasty tears that ruined his porcelain skin at night. Katsuki tried to avoid the wrong assumptions, but no matter how hard he tried to ignore this impression of deja vu, his mind always led him back to this gorgeous man he saw in the street that dayKatsuki wanted to understand what was so special about him that made his heart and soul resonate with this shadow he saw once and occupied his mind most of the time-

“But you thought about it,” he added, trying to get a reaction from the blond. 

 Izuku felt better now that he heard the reassuring words of the man he loved and the unmistakable statement that he was here to make him happy. Many people would consider this gesture a casualty between rivals, but Izuku and Katsuki had a special relationship, unable to be described in words, but intense enough to let their souls know how serious it was, especially in bonding moments like this one. 

“Stop jumping to the wrong conclusion, that’s how you ended up here with a late-night call that started this mess,” the blond rolled his eyes, annoyed but touched by the previous moment. “There might not be a stalker, but maybe this monster is worse than everything you have faced until now because it’s someone you trust and fear the most…yourself.”

It was reassuring to see how the two men could naturally return to their old dynamic, erasing the previous worries, and transforming this bonding moment into an unforgettable experience. During a few minutes, both men got the impression of standing in the same room with the television playing a forgotten show in the background, and their two figures acting like childhood friends who wanted to catch the lost time. 

“And it was my biggest pride if this meant meeting you, especially when you take your time to comfort me when someone else would’ve already dumped me a long time ago,” Izuku added with a gentle voice, almost loving if the blond stayed focused on the slight change of tone at the end of his sentence. 

“Shut up and let me talk idiot,” Katsuki pointed out with rolled eyes, making the freckled man smile behind his screen. ”What I mean is- Fine, I need to do this on my own since your last brain cells can’t think by themselves- you don’t need to have your whole life planned overnight. There are some faces that claim success out loud, but secretly struggle and no one knows about it,” he took a slight break to regain his breath, losing his fingers into his pikes with the fresh air meeting his exposed skin and vulnerable soul at this late hour. “In the end, you and I are the same person on different levels, but it doesn’t make us less worthy of this happy ending. Personally, I don’t care about that shit, but I know it probably matters to you and you deserve it. Don’t let some of those thoughts take away the future you want and stand on your own, even if it’s sound scary, but you’ll get through this shit….always.”

Izuku couldn’t help but feel a rising blush on his freckled cheeks. He knew it was a natural reaction caused by his romantic feelings, something that proved how being in love could be a blessing for your heart, but a disaster if things went wrong. The freckled man would rather stay delusional and cherish each moment as if it were the last, wishing to be strong enough to confess to this stranger who owns his soul and plan a meeting that would define if their chemistry in real life will be as strong as the one they have is the screen. 

”I really appreciate the effort to cheer me up, especially when it’s not easy for you but once again, you proved to me how I could trust you,” it was nothing more than casual praise the nerd repeated since their meeting, but the blond grinned at the fact that Izuku shares the same mindset, even during tough times. If only Katsuki would make the first step and let him know how strong he was instead of waiting until it was too late….

“Don’t throw me flowers, it’s just the bare minimum, I’m not your therapist, I’m just doing my job as a friend unless you pay me-”

“In your dream, I’m already broke, and as much as I love your company and persona, I can’t make an exception for you,” Izuku stopped him with a laugh, feeling his heated skin becoming redder at the realization that he acted like a teenager in love. There was no need to deny the nature of his sentiments, who became a source of comfort in the last months, and a second home for his shattered heart. 

“At least I tried,” the blond said with a sigh. 

He moved to sit on the cold wall, his legs lost the air separating him from the floor, being a few meters away from his current position, but he didn’t care. It felt more refreshing to feel the wind whispering to his ears that he didn’t need to deny his sentiments, guiding him into the craziest adventure he had seen until now. Katsuki knew the extras would have a bunch of questions to ask about this long call, but he appreciated the fact that they waited until he returned inside to drive him back to his apartment in complete safety. 

“Don’t you have the impression that some things weren’t caused  by accident and are meant to happen in this lifetime ?” He asked with a longing tone, putting his list curls behind his ears. To be honest, he had no idea where the conversation was going, but he wanted to let his heart talk and express himself for the first time without any boundaries. “You know, when we started this whole call thing, I never thought it would go this far. At first, it was simply a way to change my mind but I ended up finding a better treasure, something worth fighting for despite the crazy set of circumstances. I’ve already said this a million times, but I sincerely mean it: Kacchan, I’ll be forever grateful for everything you did for me and our meeting was probably the best thing that happened to me this year. Thank you, for everything…”

Blame Izuku and his ability to make a speech that sounds like a confession, messing with Katsuki’s heart. He was proud of the courage the nerd took to put his feelings into words and share them, even when he wasn’t sure about the kind of answer he’d receive. The golden-haired man was receptive to each of his attempts to get closer, more than any of the extras he had in his surroundings until now. He was selfish to be the center of his attention, receiving his praise, and imagining his blushing cheeks and adorable smile. Katsuki Bakugo might try to fight as long as possible against the existence of new feelings, but tonight, he wanted to welcome them. 

“See? You found something positive,” he added with a delighted tone, rubbing his fingers against his forehead The blond was glad to see how the nerd succeeded in finding his joy back, even if it was temporary, it was better than being the spectator of this cruel show. 

“Because it’s you,” Izuku confessed with a loving tone. He didn’t need to ask if Katsuki felt it behind the screen….because his instincts reassured him about this strong connection between different worlds. It had always been easy when it came to Katsuki Bakugo and this inspiring person he was, and there wasn’t a single universe where Izuku Midoriya wouldn’t fall for him.

“It doesn’t change anything, it’s still a good beginning. What’s stopping you from holding into new memories and that kind of bullshit ?”

Katsuki was right, and the freckled man was forced to accept it. 

If he stayed hidden for too long inside his worries, they’d take up more space to the point of consuming his last hint of hope, the last detail that kept him alive for so long. It wasn’t a question of facility, but serious research about past memories that can be considered timeless for his fragile soul: Izuku prepared himself for this tough quest and the sacrifices awaiting him for his happy ending, but he wanted to believe that a part of him deserved this joy, even if this seems unreachable for the moment. It won’t stop him from falling for his old demons, but even the strongest soldiers had to face the darkest side of their reflections…..

“A lot of things, fear and apprehension being some of them, but I can give it a try….” Izuku whispered with a caring tone. He underestimated how this simple conversation would turn his feelings into something stronger than they already were, but the freckled man wouldn’t mind making more discoveries about it when the time comes 

“What’s the sudden reason for this motivation ?” The taller man asked, letting his pride grin pass through the phone, being another of his superpowers.

“A certain someone,” Izuku pointed out, wondering what the blond's reaction might be on the line….It was insane the things he was ready to do to see what Kacchan looked like. “Starting as a complete stranger before becoming a second home for my tormented soul, the same person on the phone with me past his bedtime, and the one transforming my lonely night into my favorite fairytale.”

“I get it, nerd,” he mumbled, secretly touched by the previous confession. He’ll never get tired of their unique bond probably one of the best memories he forged since he started this new chapter of his life. “Hey….there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. You have my number if you need a shoulder to cry on, I can arrange my sleep schedules for you.”

“That’s impressive….What did I do to deserve such treatment ?”

“Nothing, you’re just my favorite listener but don’t tell this to anyone, they might freak out,” Katsuki admitted with a pleased tone, bringing a smile back to Izuku’s face. After all, all of this was possible by fate which bonded their lonely souls together and transformed this story into a tender narrative. “By the way….Happy Birthday, nerd.”

“Thanks, I wouldn't wish for a better present than this,” Izuku whispered with a gentle tone, melting the blond's heart. It was strange to see how a simple comment from a familiar voice that became a part of his everyday life, could bring so many emotions at once inside his chest. Katsuki Bakugo has his flaws but he was convinced the nerd also has a few hidden behind this layer of attachment, but no matter their nature, he’ll accept them.

“You’ve got the whole day to rest, treat yourself right, and tell me about it tomorrow, I would love to know about the new situation you’re in,” he added with a tease, hearing Izuku’s soft laugh on the line. The blond knew he did a good job when his worries disappeared, erased by the delicate melody of the wind reminding him of those existing feelings, and this lullaby guiding his nightmares away. 

“I could write a book at this point,” the freckled man added. It started as a simple joke, but maybe he could get some money with the incredible stuff he’d seen since his childhood. He might not have a therapist and need one very soon, but he wouldn’t mind sharing his anecdote with his favorite person… 

“And I’ll be your first fan,” Katsuki concluded in a low voice. Izuku easily recognized the delicateness of his voice, the changes, and how the man on the other line was as appeased as him. It was reassuring to know this conversation brought them closer after the confessions they’d heard earlier. If the shorter man prayed the stars to make this rapprochement happen, Katsuki simply accepted the idea and wouldn’t mind seeing the nerd from another angle, one he had never seen before. “You should get some sleep, I bet the bags under your eyes, are already terrifying.”

“That’s a nice way to wish me goodnight,” he laughed before resting his head against his pillow. His heart felt relieved by the fact that they went beyond the simple “listeners and radio host” relationship and transformed this curiosity into a memorable narrative. “But I will, I wanted to make sure you were alright too, even if we’ll talk about your case later. Don’t you dare think I’ll let such a thing escape from my reach when I’ll never let you go”

“Don’t reverse the role nerd,” Katsuki said, losing his crimson eyes at the endless sky above his head. He felt like a single dust particle in this huge universe, being thrown away by the wind that would transcribe his story to the most curious ears. For the first time in his life, Katsuki Bakugo put his mask down and welcomed any kind of emotions, being this child who needed a friend and a grown adult who found reassurance in some idiot who put his heart on the line. “Goodnight, Izuku.”

“Goodnight, Kacchan,” the green-haired man smiled, being a reflection of the happiness rising inside his chest, erasing those bleeding thorns away. 

He couldn’t be happier to have Katsuki’s personal number and see the huge progress they’ve made tonight! He didn’t want to be the first one to decline so he waited a few seconds where silence filled the previous conversation, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable…knowing they were both smiling on the line. Eventually, the blond was the one to decline the call against his will, losing his fingers against his spiky hair: He laughed when he realized what had just happened and how he couldn’t escape from his sentiments toward Izuku. He might’ve tried to deny them the whole time, but tonight he was honest with himself and stared at the midnight sky above his head, knowing the stars were probably mocking him for escaping this realization for so long. 

Katsuki Bakugo was in love with Izuku, and nothing could change this perspective. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki didn’t know the moment when he started to fall for Izuku. 

He was conscious of the apparition of romantic feelings after this special call that transformed their dynamic into something ethereal, too precious to be broken by fate, but cherished by time. The golden-haired man sensed something was different from the platonic relationship he handled with his friends: He would never feel such intense emotions for Pinky despite being his closest friend, but Izuku was more intriguing. He naturally assumed that this mystery around his identity, with hints being revealed step by step, entertained their casual tease and tender moments. 

His friends were probably the ones who had seen the signs earlier before but kept silent until he figured this out by himself. Katsuki wasn’t mad at them for thinking that way, especially when they didn’t want to interfere with his personal life: After all, the stubborn blond kept insisting on “never falling in love”, but he betrayed his own words when Izuku entered his life and changed his entire perspective. 

Katsuki Bakugo had always been a slow learner when it came to love. 

It took him many years before accepting how “I love you” wasn’t a bother but a proof of affection, how many people tried to give it a chance to be by his side but he only realized once he rejected their confession, and many stories similar to these ones. It’s not like Katsuki didn’t try either: The blond did his best to accept love as a sentiment that wasn’t meant to bring him down but offer some joy in his heart, protected by unreachable layers of coping mechanisms he couldn’t explain. The many years of therapy helped him to slowly break them until the strongest remained there, tempting him to repeat his darkest days.

Katsuki Bakugo never projected himself as being in a romantic relationship with someone, even if he tried, he often felt unworthy of this person or too exhausted to ever try, knowing his strong personality. He remained a good observer who saw his parents fight about important things for the name of “love”, and remembered when Pinky and Shitty Hair got a break before giving each other a second chance, with Mina tearing up on his shoulders. The entire knowledge he had about this notion was based on simple actions and opinions coming from the outside, imposing some vision of life that wasn’t meant to be universal….a rule he understood once it was too late and missed many opportunities. Now he thinks about it, Katsuki can try to recall in his memory the first time he felt that way for someone before meeting Izuku, but he would say it never happened. 

He was completely open to new opportunities, but a part of him was afraid of jumping into the unknown without preparation. What was he supposed to do now that he realized his feelings? Should he confess but maybe the nerd wasn’t sharing the same love as him? Facing rejection would be terrible for this future he built inside his mind, with the possibility of an eventual meeting if things go his way, before giving up on this idea. It was the first time he was making a bunch of theories about someone he met a few months ago…the same person who offered a new chance of mind for his redundant life. 

Maybe everything became scarier after the realization that the nerd was his first time jumping into this kind of emotions he usually ignored, but his instincts begged him to go further and see the outcome of these twists. He wasn’t even sure about the end of this journey, but he was afraid of putting his whole heart and ended up like Pinky on desperate nights. He knew it would happen, but Katsuki tried to push this possibility away from the rise of new emotions. After all, a few days ago, Izuku explained how he was the first one to reach his mind when he was at his lowest, but maybe it was a simple chance and the nerd only saw him as a close friend. 

It would be a huge risk to directly ask the question, and Katsuki, despite his need to make things right, wanted to take his time. It would be harsh to push his own limits, especially when he had never been so invested in such a thing in the past. To him romantic relationships were stupid, but it became a new narrative when it was his turn to share his version of the story. 

Katsuki’s biggest fear was to share a one-sided love with this charming narrative that was offered on a silver plate in the palm of his hands, but those concerns disappeared when he recalled the souvenirs of this fateful night. How could he forget the moment when he released his first genuine laugh at Izuku’s stupidity after his date…with a man. Even if the freckled man never said anything about this personal topic, both men exchanged a few messages and the question concerning his sexual orientation came across the table. Much to his surprise, Izuku replied with the truth about him being bisexual, marking a good point on Katsuki’s side and when he returned the question, the blond said he was ready to accept love as it was without any norms. 

But falling in love with Izuku was easier than breathing, and before realizing it, he fell harder for this stranger who brightened his nights and charmed his soul. He often used the souvenir of his gentle laugh, sweet praise, and dumb comments to erase the worries in his chest during tough days. He also knew how this vision was heavily influenced by the stranger he met by accident, who had a face that perfectly screamed Izuku’s name, but maybe it was his imagination tricking him into desperate measures. Katsuki knew he fell for this voice who shared his crazy stories, biggest fears, and support since their first meeting, and nothing in the world might change the vision the blond had about this authentic bond between them.

He often heard his friend explaining how being with your significant other was a sentiment beyond words, and Katsuki never believed it until now…but he started to understand their reasoning. When casual couples could see each other’s faces, expressions, and smiles, Katsuki was forced to hold onto his imagination and a simple voice. This doesn’t change the fact that his love was sincere, but his situation tended to be more complex than a Romeo and Juliet bullshit! It crossed his mind to project Izuku’s physical features, but he held onto the hope of not being disappointed once the time had come. It was the risk of falling for a certain visual of someone that might be the wrong representation of the person: Katsuki knew the risk he was taking by falling for Izuku, but he promised to stand up until the end, even if the person on the other side wasn’t as he expected.

There was no doubt, that Katsuki Bakugo realized how serious this situation was and definitely waited for a push from fate. However, this didn’t mean he had to stop his casual tease. After all, those calls were his favorite moments, especially with their close proximity since that fateful night that changed their dynamic. 

———-

A few months later, 

The delicate breeze of the wind ruffled the curtain of this familiar room which recognized those shadows anywhere. 

The journey was far from reaching its end, it was only the beginning but so many things changed since July, bringing more souvenirs than the group expected: Those late sessions after their night shifts became heart-to-heart talk between Katsuki and his friends, having their support about this new chapter of their lives, and eventual ideas about getting closer to Izuku. It’s not like he was trying too hard to get something he already owned a long time ago, but it was reassuring to exchange constant messages and sometimes call each other when they had a rough day or simply share the good news. 

Mina and Jirou couldn’t help but tease the blond about his softer gaze at his (not) boyfriend, while the rest of the boys simply supported him in this realization. Katsuki shared many memories with his friends last summer, including this heavy talk about moving from his apartment, to get a room closer to the campus. Everyone gave him some advice and recommendations, but the possibility of sharing this place with a stranger crossed their minds. The tall man insisted on being on his own and made his own research, until he showed up at the Radio station two days later with a desperate sigh, forced to accept the idea of some shitty roommate. Sero proposed to be the one helping him, knowing the two couples already had their shared apartment, but the blond refused, explaining how he would rather have some weirdo than listen to Sero being all sappy over the phone with his boyfriend.

Eventually, his days at work became lighter as time passed by and each delicate night of this unforgettable summer was marked by the presence of the same voice on the line. At this point, everyone who stayed up this late for this part of the show knew how their calls would be easily forgotten when Izuku and Katsuki started to talk until work duties caught the blond’s attention. Their relationship became something unable to be transcribed into words, trusting this pen to trace indelible lines over these blank pages that shared their narratives. Izuku stayed the same, but each sound or praise leaving his lips echoed as a tender melody to Katsuki’s ears, dreaming about that day when he’ll be able to give a face to this unreachable name and the ghost haunting his dreams.

The taller man needed to admit how having the extras around helped in the relocation. 

They were of great help with the box, the cleaning, and the last check of the apartment to make sure it was as clean as the first day. Those weeks were hard enough to waste more sweat than drinks they got on this comfortable midnight sky, talking about late projects. It was probably the deepest conversation he shared with them and supported their bright future, knowing they’d have the chance to make it real, compared to him who liked to take his time. Nothing really changed since the heartbreaking confessions he made to Izuku back in July, but he slowly learned from his own lesson and enjoyed memories as a whole, knowing things weren’t meant to last forever.

It must be why he appreciated the chaotic days of relocation and preparing boxes with the extras, and late-night calls with Izuku to share the latest progress. The nerd was excited about this news, supporting him from the beginning and even proposing his help, but Katsuki denied it politely. He considered this as a potential “first meeting”, but he wanted to make things proper and avoid a blank between them! The freckled man respected this choice, he even stayed on late calls with him during the organization of the boxes acting like genuine friends. Katsuki couldn’t be happier at the fact that this story started as a simple accident, and became one of his favorite narratives, with silly smiles and hidden blushes behind a screen. 

The wind ruffled his face and his calloused fingers lost themselves in the spiky hair, being a reflection of the blinding sun. His crimson eyes checked the time on his phone to see how everything was perfect according to his preparation, especially when his friend helped him with the transport and moved boxes inside the new room. At first, it wasn’t the most luxurious place he expected, but it had enough material to survive!

“-And I think we’re done,” Denki said with a sigh, wiping the sweat away from his forehead. “I have to admit it, it’s touching to see you flying by your own wings, but if this new roommate is annoying, you know where to find us.”

“The answer is pretty easy when you always spend your time at each other’s apartment, I’m sure it won’t be hard to find the location,” Katsuki added with an unimpressed tone, realizing how the shorter blond simply pretended to ignore his comment. The crimson eyes meet Mina's and Jirou’s, as they both expressed with a simple glance how they were proud of him for this big move. “There’s a last box in the car, I’ll get it by myself. You’ve been a good help but I need to handle this on my own and prepare myself for this extra. At this point, I’m just saying they’re not a pain in the ass of I’ll jump out of the window within two months-”

“Don’t be nervous, I’m sure it’ll be fine, Kats,” the red-haired man affirmed with a reassuring tone, understanding the blond's worries, but it was a risk and maybe it could be a good thing to meet new people. “Stay in touch and don’t forget about us, I heard Aizawa will give us the new schedules for October soon, Let’s pray for a shorter night shift.”

Katsuki simply ignored the comment as he followed the group outside the building. They handed him the last box he kept inside his arms and waved until the blond was mixed with the crowd. The background noises of the streets crossed his ears as a song wishing him good luck for his new beginning, with this bright sunlight crossing his face and hope rising inside his chest. 

The taller man sighed, moving the box closer to his arms as he finished grabbing the keys in his pocket, ready to put them in the locker, until he saw that the room was already open. The crimson eyes frowned at the souvenir that was earlier, but a quick glance at the floor and his stuff was still there on the ground. The only thing that changed was the presence of another one that wasn’t on the list, resting on the empty bed with a writing he couldn’t read from afar. This should probably be his new roommate who made a visit, and he missed them on their way….

The blond put the last box next to the others and made a final groan. He whipped the sweat away from his forehead as he took a quick look at the new place he would call “home” for his final year at college calloused hands put his phone in his pocket and moved his head at the sudden sound coming from the stairs: It didn’t take him too long to catch the sudden shadow appearing on his vision field and wearing a bunch of boxes inside his fragile arms, ready to fall anytime soon. 

Katsuki didn’t know his first meeting with his roommate would be him playing the nice guy, but he had no other choice. This poor soul was about to fall out of the stairs anytime soon, and the blond was guilty of being a spectator of this scene. His taller figure moved closer to the stairs and noticed how this was a guy with indiscreet red shoes and some pants that were too big for him. His arms were holding the boxes as close as possible with a few mumbles escaping from his lips, but the first thing he noticed was the bunch of freckles on his arms, reminding him of someone….but it must be a coincidence. 

“Oh looks like you need some help with this stuff,” he pointed out with a curious tone, realizing how the shadow suddenly stopped. Katsuki probably wondered if this guy was ashamed to be caught, but the blond moved closer enough to see how the huge boxes hid his face, keeping the mystery a little longer. “Is there anything I can do to help you with this shit? I saw the door open so I assumed you were my roommate. Let’s shorten the presentation, I’m Katsuki Bakugo and you are ?”

A sudden silence filled the conversation, highlighted by the sound of a loud laugh from the outside street. The atmosphere in the building was uncomfortable, and the blond rested his fingers against his forehead. Great, his new roommate, let’s hope this extra doesn’t snore at night.

“Alright, maybe we can do this later,” he assumed, deciding to erase this strange sentiment filling his chest. It was the kind of situation he was afraid to face in this new beginning, but he couldn’t escape, not now he needed to keep his promise. “I bet you’re shy, Let’s take care of these boxes before you end up at the hospital. Guide me where should I put them once we reach the room okay ?”

It’s not like the blond awaited some kind of answer, but he was still disappointed. However, his crimson eyes noticed how the shorter man was shaking due to the light tremors in his arms, revealing a few scars on his goofy shirt. He put the blame on his being shy as his calloused hands grabbed the few boxes near his reach and walked in front of his new roommate, until he reached their shared apartment, waiting for the other to show up. His ears were a few mumbles from afar, inaudible as their figures stopped in the middle of the room with Katsuki looking at him with curious eyes. 

His scarred fingers pointed to the bed, and the blond expected a “thanks” for the help but was welcomed with complete silence. Maybe he did something wrong but the only way to know was to hear this extra’s voice! The most frustrating was how fast this guy was: In a few seconds of inattention, the boxes met the ground and he rushed into the bathroom, leaving the room half open. Katsuki wondered if he should make the first move or let a few minutes pass until the guy felt ready to talk, but a bunch of noises caught his attention. At first, it looked like this guy was sobbing, but this theory was erased when the mumbling became audible, almost like this extra was stressed on the other side.

“What’s wrong with you and why are you running away from me? I hope you know we’ll be forced to handle each other’s ass for the year. I’m not against loneliness, but if I knew I would’ve lived with Casper the ghost, I would’ve welcomed you with the Ghostbusters song,” Alright maybe humor was his thing but he tried to make some sense and be welcoming! Why was it so hard to be a decent human being and use his voice to reply to people? He couldn’t say he didn’t try… “Alright, if you’re not in the mood to talk I get it, but I know a bunch of things about panic attacks and how to calm them, in case you need some help there. I’ll wait there, it’s not like I have anywhere to go.”

The taller man sighed, mumbling in his bed how dumb he was. Of course, he would’ve tried his best to be a decent human being and had to find some weirdo who forgot his own name in their interaction. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the apartment, exposed to the most curious eyes, while the taller man prepared himself to leave the small corridor separating this ghost and him. The calloused fingers lost themselves inside his golden spilled hair, understanding how it was ridiculous. It’s not like they both knew each other and-

“I really have the talent to put myself into crazy situations, but I never thought our meeting would be one of them,” Izuku said with a muffled laugh, covering new emotions he couldn’t understand yet. He started to think he was cursed for ending up in the right situation at the wrong time, and he would’ve never known that the roommate occupying this room would be the man he loved! He rested his back against the cold toilet, pressing his scarred fingers against his forehead, and regained his breath, unaware of the existential crisis happening outside this door. 

Katsuki Bakugo trusted fate for many things, but he never thought he would freeze on the spot after recognizing this familiar voice. He could distinguish this tone anywhere, those changes between the choices of his words, and the way everything felt suddenly too real to his liking. He convinced himself it was something stupid, a result of his desperate imagination, but he ended up being stuck at his own game. The entire time, he fell for this, and yet, the same guy that caught his heart was standing a few meters away from him, in their apartment. It seemed unbelievable, but Katsuki wanted to consider this as a dream too good to be true. He was about to finally have the answer to his unsolved questions, but he was anxious to know what the nerd looked like shit…he didn’t want to fucked this up, especially with the expectation he created in mind the entire time! 

“Izuku…Is that you ?” Katsuki felt like an idiot for asking such a question when the answer was obvious, but he wasn’t in his right mind at the moment. His heart missed a beat at the intense sensation inside his chest, between genuine excitation, apprehension, and joy to know the moment he waited for the most had finally come. He started to understand why the nerd reacted that way on the stairs, especially when the stubborn blond was as stunned as him after the previous revelations. His lips opened to ask many questions about how he ended up here, but the only sound that escaped was the unbearable silence.

“Surprised Kacchan I bet you didn’t see that coming,” the freckled man replied with a laugh behind the door that echoed like the most mesmerizing song to the blond's ears. He had already heard it a million times before, but it was ethereal to consider this as his new reality, being too stunned to speak. It felt strange to see the man he loved standing so close to him when they used to be so far from each other, “To be fair, I didn’t either, but here I am, stuck in the bathroom…This wasn’t the kind of reaction you expected.”

“No it’s just, I have a hard time realizing you’re so…close,” he confided, moving to the half-open door. The voice inside his head begged him to open it in a sudden movement and see the nerd’s face, but another part of his soul, the more reasoning one, convinced him to take his time. His calloused hands ruffled the cold handle of the door, being hesitant to open it until Izuku explained how it was fine Katsuki held his breath and pressed his heated skin against the handle, ignoring the open door at the entrance and the boxes on the bed. 

The atmosphere in the small bathroom became anxious when the sound of footsteps echoed on the cold floor, realizing how none of this was the result of their imagination. Katsuki had so many secrets to discover, but Izuku simply kept his head down. The sound of their fast heartbeat echoed ten times louder in their chest, as the previous distance became a few centimeters, as the taller man slowly sat on his knees, in front of the compromising position.

Izuku held his breath when he felt sudden hands meeting his messy curls, discovering them with a gentle gesture that brought a blush to his freckled cheeks, almost like Katsuki had already treated him like a treasure to cherish. The movements were delicate enough to give him chills, feeling those fingers lost behind his lost curls to reach his heated cheeks and his chin. The emerald eyes noticed how the stranger’s hands he pictured the entire time were familiar to the one he saw that day in the streets, with those calloused fingers that slowly lifted his head to let their face meet. 

Emerald eyes met the crimson ones, and time stopped. 

A bunch of emotion filled their chest as the two men tried to process what had just happened: Izuku Midriya was usually a patient man, but he lost himself in the most breathtaking painting under his eyes. His body got chills at the sensation of calloused hands moving to cup his cheeks, with charming crimson eyes that looked at him with admiration and pride, despite it being their first meeting. His scarred hands didn’t hesitate to leave the fabric of his shirt he previously held due to the stress, and moved his fragile fingers into the golden spiky hair, as radiant as the sun lighting their room from afar. The freckled man wanted to tear up at this happiness rising inside his chest. He was so used to the assumptions he made about Kacchan’s identity, the genuine smiles he brought to his face, and how he naturally fell, once again for this man. 

He felt like he had known this person his entire life, and this impression of deja vu was easily solved when frames of his childhood filled his mind, recalling the same child with those adorable features, sharing his theories about their favorite artist on screen. No wonder this nickname sounded familiar, especially when he used to say it every single time during their afternoon together before the blond moved away. It broke Izuku’s heart, considering this an important loss, especially when it concerned his first friend!  If only his younger self knew how this was a question of time before being reunited together and falling for each other in the most amazing way…

If Izuku was freaking out at the idea that the man he loved was standing in front of him, being prettier than ever under this angle, it was different for the blond. 

Katsuki Bakugo got used to this naive representation of a complete stranger he met once in the street that never left his mind, but he never knew how he would consider this as his biggest treasure when he stood in front of him at such a close angle. He immediately knew it was the right person when he recognized those messy curls and familiar mumbles he adored more than his own life. Now that he had the full painting under his eyes, he was happier than ever to know he had fallen in love with someone as gorgeous and inspiring as Izuku. 

He never had the chance to admire under a close angle how his emerald irises echoed to a captivating forest charming the corrupted soul, the way those cheeks were highlighted by freckles of distinct forms against his skin, and the same scarlet color he saw that day. There was no doubt, this was the prettiest man he had ever seen, and he felt himself blushing at their close proximity, recalling all the moments they’d shared together. It was insane how they went into all this mess to be reunited after chasing each other in this lifetime. 

“So it was you…The entire time,” Katsuki whispered with a low tone, catching how Izuku’s smile was prettier than anything he expected. This single expression on his face, with this rising blush on his porcelain skin and adorable expression on his face, was worth any fights. The blond didn’t know he could fall in love a second time with the same person, but he was convinced never to let Izuku go, not now that he had finally found the man who brought his soul back to life. 

“I’m as stunned as you, but I don’t think it was a coincidence if everything was familiar,” he confessed with a soft tone, losing his fingers to the blond's cheeks to return the gesture. It felt strange to stand this close and yet, process all the previous revelations: the two men could get used to it and wanted to thank fate for reuniting them in this universe, knowing they had a lot of things to catch. “It became clear the moment our eyes met, but you’re probably wondering why I’ve never shared my last name. I used to think it was too personal in direct, but now I can say it…Nice to meet you, I’m Izuku Midoriya.”

The crimson eyes widened at the sudden frames crossing his mind. 

After all those afternoons spent with this child in the neighborhood, those good times, and the impression of the first friend he had….he finally connected the dots. He should’ve known better instead of forgetting such an important detail! Now he finally has the chance to admire the nerd’s natural beauty and adorable freckled cheeks that haven't changed since their youth, knowing a single glance was enough to share their mutual relief. The taller man used his strength to stand at the same height as the nerd, catching his curious emerald irises, until he pressed his head against his shoulders. Izuku’s face turned redder at the sudden embrace but he immediately rested his head against his golden spikes, holding him closer. 

During a few minutes, their two shadows could be seen holding each other as if their lives were on the line. Shaking fingers held Katsuki’s back closer, messy curls ruffling his exposed neck as a smile crossed Izuku’s face. He couldn’t be happier to know that the man he fell for, was the same child he had known since his childhood and the gorgeous man who caught his attention months ago. It felt too good to be true, and both men knew they needed more time to accept this difference between their habits over the phone and the natural chemistry between them: After all, the mystery about the host's identity was now resolved with the taller man standing by his side, such as Katsuki’s favorite listener looking at him with a radiant smile on his face. 

Shit, Katsuki knew his friends will definitely lose their minds if they knew about this twist in the narrative, but he was relieved to know he found his happy ending at the least unexpected. He was ready to bring the world down if someone hurt the man he loved, but the blond knew this love was mutual from the moment their eyes met, and a genuine pride filled their glances. Calloused hands left the other’s shirt to brush the messy curls against Izuku’s forehead, and put them behind his ears, under the charming blush coloring his skin. He’ll never get tired of it and yet, their heart knew they needed an important talk about the rest of the journey from now on… 

“Nice to meet you, I’m the annoying radio host who tolerate your ass for months but since you’re prettier than I imagined, I can make an exception,” he whispered with a soft tone, hearing the gentle laugh that left the freckled man’s lips. Izuku’s forehead met the blond's in a delicate movement, losing his fingers and wrapping them around his neck. 

“I hope you're not nice to me because of my beauty privilege...Is there something else? I thought we weren’t supposed to keep secrets from each other, Kacchan,” the shorter man added with a gentle tone. It wasn’t a love confession either, but their souls recognized this natural chemistry between them, as strong as the one they had behind the screen. The freckled man refused to let someone as amazing as Katsuki escape from his reach, not when he finally found the love of his life and planned to never let him go!

“Calm down, freckles. Let me accept the fact that you’re real and we’ll talk about that,” it wasn’t a rejection, being considerate as a promise to keep, while his face softened at the previous answer. If Izuku had doubts about Kacchan’s feelings on the phone, they all disappeared the moment their worlds became one, and their bodies embraced each other’s warmth with this mutual affection.

“Alright….but it’s not because we’re both roommates that I’m gonna stop listening to your show,” Izuku pointed out with a soft tone, closing his eyes and losing his fingers in the golden spiky hair. He couldn’t believe he had the chance to feel Katsuki’s warmth, hear his heavy breath, and see his gorgeous smirk that crossed the tip of his lips! 

“Are you sure you don’t want to make it private between us? ” the blond whispered, holding the stupid shirt closer, letting Izuku know how he wasn’t ready to leave…not now he found his missing piece.” I wouldn’t mind mesmerizing your face for the rest of my life and capturing each of your laughs as my favorite song. Is it pretty early to let you know how lucky I am to stare at your eyes and wonder what kind of spell they reserved for my curious soul ?”

“For someone who doesn’t know how to use his words, you’re doing a great job at convincing me to fall for your gentle promise. I have to admit, the offer is tempting….Maybe I can reserve the most private ones for you, but I have a reputation to keep,” he added with a chuckle. 

Both men knew it’d be strange to talk about their past experiences on the phone and everything they’d been through, but it was an unexpected surprise in this new chapter of their lives. At first, Izuku was supposed to move into another building for transport reasons, but now that he had found his childhood friend, he knew he wouldn’t mind staying up late past his bedtime to welcome the man he loved with a bright smile on his face. 

“Shut up,” Katsuki mumbled with an annoyed tone that didn’t convince the shorter man. 

Izuku pretended to be offended before offering another hug, being happier than ever when he felt the blond's chest against his. After all, they already knew so much about each other with their conversation on the phone, it was time to take the next step and see if they could work together as roommates until they felt ready to be a couple with the benefits…. 

“It’s okay, I’m here,” the freckled man confessed with a loving tone. He closed his eyes and buried his face in the crook of Katsuki’s neck. His trembling fingers naturally lend themselves against this black shirt, a source of comfort after this emotional roller coaster they’ve both experienced.  If the blond stayed silent he simply blushed and cursed the nerd, making the green-haired man laugh at their interaction, he cherished more than his own life. 

It all started with a simple call that transcribed a curious meeting, transforming their assumptions into tender frames of their new reality. Little did they know how this curious happenstance would become their favorite tale soon. At least, they both know what kind of story and ethereal promises they’ll share at the altar….

-end-