Archive of Our Own ^beta

That morning, the delicate breeze of the wind caressed the messy curls on his forehead. The comfortable bedsheet highlighted the slight movements made by the shorter shadow, mumbling in his sleep. The bags under his eyes were lighter after his last night shift at the hospital, he truly admired the patience of his lover for taking care of him under every condition!

The scarred fingers held the bedsheet against his skin, turning around with a low groan. It’s not like Izuku complained about this lifestyle, on the contrary, he loved the fact that he had to spend the rest of his life with the man he loved and the sweet scent of pancakes that crossed his nose through the half-open door. A smile drew itself on the alpha’s lips, realizing how he wouldn’t exchange this casual morning against anything.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes, mumbling about his secret wish to stay in bed, but he needed to save the world in his own way….and it’ll start by making sure his husband was still cooking his favorite recipe. The roof over their head represented one of their dreams, a new project to accomplish with their naive devotion toward fate, and a bond strong enough to survive the toughest obstacles. 

Izuku and Katsuki Bakugo had a rhythmic lifestyle but never complained about their tender habits. The stubborn omega didn’t fight back against the unexpected cuddle sessions on the couch or tender lovemaking. It was their favorite moment of the day, when the world continued to move around, and their shadows stayed embraced in this comfortable warmth, the same one that guided their souls into new beginnings.

The shorter man sighed, opening his eyes to see the familiar bedroom with the watch Katsuki offered him for his last birthday, and the ticket to this trip they’ve been waiting for years. The couple saved enough money to celebrate their seven years together in a destination that caught their eyes since they were children:  It was the accomplishment of a meaningful project, but each wasted tear was worth the try if this meant finding their happiness. The green-haired alpha made a groan when he felt the coldness of the floor against his feet, but he followed with blind eyes the same road he had known for seven years. 

A quick stop at the bathroom gave him the occasion to take a glance at the state of his body, with his messy curls and bags under his eyes. He knew his mate loved it when he looked like a mess, one of Katsuki’s guilty pleasures that melted Izuku’s heart. After washing his hands, his shadow left the cozy bedroom to cross a bigger room: This time, the light almost blinded him, but this uncomfortable sensation was erased by the delicate scent of pancakes in the kitchen, mixed with the mumbled complaints from his lover. 

The freckled man, amused by the sight, decided to move closer to the taller figure, trying not to get caught. He didn’t want to bother his husband, who’s already made enough sacrifices to offer this peaceful life, especially this notion of a happy ending that Izuku’s desperate soul has been looking for since his early childhood.  He decided to surprise his lover by putting his arms around the taller man’s waist and resting his head against his shoulders. Izuku was selfish when it came to love, and he didn’t mind covering his mate with endless marks of affection rather than letting overthinking ruin this indelible bond between them. 

The taller man rolled his eyes and stopped his previous mumbling at the familiar scent ruffling his skin. Katsuki Bakugo was someone who cherished his precious sleep schedules and morning routine, and being welcomed by his childhood friend with this gentle smile easily became one of his favorite moments. The pancakes that previously caught Izuku’s attention became forgotten, while the alpha dropped light kisses on the blond’s neck, near his mating bite, a spot he reserved for special treatment in their intimacy. The scarred fingers held the omega’s waist closer, explaining how he missed him, but were quickly met with an absurd comment from the blond.

Izuku laughed at the stupidity of the previous words, but kissed the exposed neck and released a welcoming scent. The calloused hands left the handle of the pan to rest against the gentle fingers, which easily intertwined with his. It wasn’t a secret that the two men were each other’s weakness, and delightful moments like those forged this golden thread they’ve kept alive since their very first meeting. Izuku’s fingers gently ruffled the ring on the omega’s skin, being grateful to know they belonged to each other in this lifetime, with great projects to come. 

“You’re sappier than usual. Did you have one of these dreams where you eat a rotten chicken without noticing it ?” Katsuki asked with a teasing tone. The omega simply rolled his eyes and started to tease the pouting alpha.

“You know it happened once, I thought we would never talk about it,” Izuku replied with a sigh, but he managed to move behind the taller figure to grab one of the fresh pancakes resting near his reach. His stomach desperately called for help, but his attempt was immediately stopped by the blond's fingers. “Come on, I’m hungrier than ever, why can’t I have a taste- We both know Kacchan’s cooking is amazing!”

“I thought you said it was my ass, I see how you quickly changed your mind,” the taller man pointed out with unimpressed eyes, making the alpha chuckle at the domestic scene. Izuku knew they had been through a lot of obstacles, but he would never regret diving into this joy that filled his chest every morning after seventeen years of mutual love and pinning. 

“Because you’re not making this easier for me, idiot,” Izuku replied with an annoyed tone. He wanted to pout a little longer, but easily broke his shell once the tender scent of his mate crossed his nose. “And no wonder why everyone thinks I’m the alpha in this relationship, look at you being a brat,” He faced many facets of the nerd’s personality, but this one was his least favorite…hopefully, he knew how to fix this situation. Izuku didn’t know when he started to blush, but he welcomed the blond's lips against his neck and scent gland: the gesture was tender enough to send him chills until he melted into the touch. 

Suddenly, all his problems disappeared in the blink of an eye, holding the strong hands around his waist and praying to stay in this warmth until his dying days. Maybe he was late for his morning cuddles, but he knew he cherished each second as if it were the last, until reality returned under a cruel reminder none could ignore.  

——-

A sudden shot forced the alpha to wake up with a huge gasp, realizing how his body was shaking with sweat falling down his forehead. His instincts begged him to directly check his surroundings to see if their bases hadn’t been invaded during their sleep, or if Katsuki wasn’t hurt. His heart missed a beat at the idea of losing his husband again, refusing to see the terrifying frames that marked his darkest nights, and the scars that’ll never heal after this terrible event that forced the survivors to sacrifice their last ounce of humanity in order to stay alive a little longer. 

The darkness surrounding him didn’t make his search easier, having the impression that each second separating him from the truth was unbearable. His emerald eyes looked at his shaking palm, being relieved there wasn’t any blood on the floor, knowing it could’ve given a precious hint about their location. After all, the two men had already moved from their previous spot against their will after a previous threat on their doorstep. 

A sudden movement caught his attention- He moved his head to find the source of this sound, until a soft smile crossed his face, reassured to see the sleeping figure beside him.At least one of them had the chance to enjoy this rest without being eaten by the fear of waking up in a tide full of blood….

The gentle fingers caressed the golden spikes with a restful expression on his face. Once again, his husband was safe by his side and had never looked prettier: This world tried to erase everything from their past lives, but their quest for a better future will always remain stronger than accepting death with shaking arms. Izuku smiled, moving his hands behind the omega’s ears, until his skin, ruined by the wasted blood, cupped his cheeks. He didn’t want to wake him up, especially after the last days and how chaotic they’ve been due to the lack of resources in the area.  

Izuku couldn’t help but wonder when the two of them will have the opportunity to sleep on a comfortable bed without bugs or risk of being caught by vultures, who wanted to take them down at the slightest occasion. He missed the old days when the two of them could’ve stayed in their bedroom the entire day and talked about their projects Today, many things have changed, but Izuku was ready to take the world down for a glimpse of his husband’s grin, even if they became rare nowadays. 

The shorter man tried to move, but the stronger arms held him captive with their gentle grip. Izuku rolled his eyes with an amused expression, noticing how the blond held onto him like a child looking for his favorite plushie after a nightmare. The green-haired man stole a quick kiss against the golden spikes, releasing a reassuring scent to appease the sleeping omega, who released him with ease. The emerald eyes stole a glimpse at the marks on their naked bodies, being a gentle reminder of the previous night: They took a huge risk by putting their guard down during their sexual encounter, but the couple didn’t mind releasing all their worries into a meaningful gesture like this one. 

Last night was probably the best they’ve had since the arrival of the apocalypse. The freckled man didn’t regret confessing his love for his childhood friend under the teary crimson eyes, who replied with gentle kisses… forgetting about their worries about death for precious minutes. The sight of those hickeys on each other’s bodies remained a selfish pride, even if some times were harder than others.  

As much as he hated to admit it, the previous frames weren’t a simple dream but souvenirs of a life Izuku missed more than anything. He remembered a world where happiness was highlighted by golden memories, compared to the ashes and lifeless bodies residing on the ground in this empty town. The dead were now forgotten a long time ago, the graves at the cemetery became a place to keep their memories alive…and an annual meeting for Izuku and Katsuki, who wanted to honor the memories of their families, who passed away. 

With delicacy, Izuku put the blanket over the sleeping body, with a kiss against his cheeks, explaining how he’ll be back soon. He hated the idea of leaving his mate alone in such a vulnerable position, but the morning was about to come and the past years taught him how the hunt was more effective before the sunrise. Once the sun started to show its brightest rays and convinced the naive souls to trust its seductive spell, the world started to sing another song, with forgotten names in a cemetery. 

The shorter man made sure to close the door without bothering the peaceful omega, sleeping on the small pieces they’ve found, considering it as a homemade “bed”. The fresh breeze ruffled his sweaty forehead, wiping it with how forearm while grabbing the closest clothes near his reach, ignoring whether they belonged to the blond or him. Once he was dressed enough to cover the marks and hickey on his body, the alpha reached the empty room of this deserted house, taking a glimpse at the hidden weapon The couple knew they needed a backup, but it wasn’t the object the alpha was looking for. His hands reached into the drawer to grab some pills, making a sigh when he realized how he needed to find some as soon as possible. 

The pharmacy was deserted enough to find old, untouched products. 

It was the number one spot the survivors reached once the attack calmed down: the indelible trace of blood on the ground and dead bodies informed the presence of fights under the most heartbreaking circumstances. It was a veritable gold mine for Izuku, who used to work in the medical field in his past life. However, their heat and ruts suppressant became rare and despite using condoms, the couple couldn’t take the risk of sacrificing an innocent who’ll sign his death warrant the moment he makes his first cries in this new world. 

The green-haired man ignored the suffering that previously filled his chest and held his fist tighter, focusing on the silent house they decided to occupy hoping it would last longer than the previous one. After swallowing the pills, the shorter man lost his hand inside his messy curls, admiring the view: Under a certain angle, the scenery of this silent town echoed as beautiful cinematography from the most unforgettable movies, the same ones that disappeared due to the destruction of cinemas.

 Holding onto nostalgia wasn’t the best strategy but there was something relaxing about the moving leaves in the air, meeting the ground of continuing their journey, like the shattered souls who had no other choice but to follow the same path. Sometimes, Izuku could hear the wind whispering to his ears, until he understood their language, guiding them into their new happy ever after…in an imaginary place. 

—---------

It all started with a simple accident, a sick patient who rushed into the closest hospital in town, becoming the center of attention for a while. Everyone thought it would be over in a few days, but none really knew how those precious hours before the disaster would be their last.  It didn’t take long before the next infections started to propagate….

It was heartbreaking to imagine how many people lost their lives, surrounded by a huge building like the hospital: The news was hard to see, with more deaths on the countdown each time the couple switched the channel. The outside world was panicking, remedies started to be searched but the lack of time became their worst enemy: Before realizing it, the confined infected in the hospital left their quarantine and attacked anyone on their path, marking the beginning of the end.

Everyone closed their windows and started to prepare their shelter. Izuku and Katsuki barely understood what was happening about the source of this sudden virus, but the media already warned the population to stay safe in their houses. The propagation reached each town, step by step until the last piece of media showed the road stuck with thousands of cars, with their families explaining how they were joining another country to escape from here. It didn’t take long until those same roads became empty, haunted by the ghosts of deceased people and rotten cars, with a nature that took the power over their forgotten existence. 

The two childhood friends realized the emergency of the situation when their native town became the target of multiple attacks by the infected. That day, the glance they shared once they’d prepared their stuff and taken their bags away, reflected the fear of leaving everything behind. After all, it was the hardest goodbye they had to make to this place that held too many memories of discrete laughs and smiles, gentle handholds and promises of a new beginning. Leaving everything behind was difficult, but they had no other choice, closing their door for the final time, leaving the plushies in the isolated room taking dust with their past souvenirs. 

The first thing they did was to reach their parents’ house knowing none of them answered their phones. They started with Inko Midoriya, but the only trace of the older woman was a last note explaining how she was sorry, with blood all over the house, and a deceased infected on the ground. Izuku didn’t know when he started to have a breakdown in the blond's arms, the shaking hands held his husband closer, knowing it was too late. Katsuki was marked by this heavy loss, but he realized how serious it was when he saw his parents in his living room. He knew they could do stupid things, but the most heartbreaking detail about their death was the family album resting beside their deceased body, blood splashed all over pictures of Katsuki as a child. 

When it was the omega’s turn to get vulnerable, he left an unforgettable impression.  Izuku expected some tears, but the omega simply turned his back, covering their bodies, like they did with Inko earlier The teary emerald eyes wondered what was happening inside his husband’s mind, until Katsuki explained how they needed to take as many resources as possible before leaving. The freckled man didn’t object and followed the taller figure, even if he asked his mate if he was alright…realizing how Katsuki was covering his pain with a semblance of determination. 

Izuku’s heart ached at the sight, but he chose to be the shoulder to cry on when the time came. With a final glance toward their childhood houses, the two men regained their breath and decided to move into town. The radio explained how a few groups of survivors were ready to welcome the lost souls if they needed shelter after those hard times. Izuku and Katsuki didn’t think twice before running into this town they used to know by heart, now replaced by blood, vegetation, and infected around every corner. Their survival instincts weren’t the best, but they got saved at the last minute by a man, who shot an infected person right in the head, the same one who planned to attack the couple. 

“You two could barely survive one week with this shocked face, welcome to our new hell,” the guy explained, wiping the annoying blood from the infected body, decomposing on the ground. It was the first time Izuku and Katsuki realized the harsh truth of their world, holding each other’s hands tighter and understanding how they refused to let the other go. “I assume you’re here for the shelter, follow me there’s a bunch of people waiting there.”

Little did they know how this encounter would signal the beginning of the end. 

Back in those days, Izuku and Katsuki believed everyone’s words: They recalled their discoveries of the deserted building, with special codes. The first thing that caught their attention was the presence of people of all ages, from children held by their parents, to people not older than sixty. Izuku assumed that the oldest ones probably died against those monsters they barely knew- The simple existence of this thought broke his heart, unconsciously holding their calloused hands tighter. The two childhood friends knew they would barely survive a world without each other, but their presence in this building showed how they remained as humans as the survivors who lived here against their will. Everyone simply acknowledged their presence with a simple nod, but what truly set him apart was the first gesture that Izuku shared with the lost souls. 

Their guide explained everything in detail, making sure the new visitors knew more about this place. The golden-haired man was usually distant about those news rules, especially imposed on them, but it’s not like they couldn’t refuse their existence either….The taller man nodded with understanding until a sudden sound caught the alpha’s attention. His eyes naturally fell to the presence of a family, mostly consisting of a mother holding her six-year-old child in her arms, with a big sister disoriented by the situation. The oldest seemed injured, but the small girl kept crying inside he mother’s chest, explaining how she wanted those chocolate bars she used to have in her bag at school. The big sister mumbled how there was none and it was too late, until her eyes met the emerald ones, revealing how the shorter man listened to their conversation. 

Izuku noticed their apprehension, as the smaller girl kept tearing up with a hungry stomach. 

It was rational to consider him a threat after everything they’ve been through, but the green-haired man rested on his knees and searched in his bag until he offered the last snack he stole from his old house. He remembered when Inko instead of buying more, knowing her son was eating most of them with excitement, due to the amazing taste of the chocolate and the colorful packaging. Thinking about his mother broke his heart, but he simply offered it to the small girl, who immediately calmed down at the familiar sight and thanked him with shining eyes. The strangers looked at him with relief, and accepted the water bottle offered by the welcoming alpha, knowing it probably belonged to him.

Izuku made a slight smile and wished them good luck until he returned beside the two shadows, who looked at him with a soft glance. If the stranger was surprised by this kind gesture, Katsuki simply grinned, ruffling the messy green curls. 

“You know your kindness will cause your death one of these days, freckles,” he pointed out with a tease, bringing his arms around the alpha's shoulders. The messy curls rested against his shoulders, aware of the sacrifices he made, but he needed to keep his humanity as long as possible before this new world was consumed by selfishness. 

“I’m well aware, but I would take the risk for anyone who deserved help, even your stubborn head, Kacchan,” he replied with a soft laugh, until the previous conversation continued. That day, the two men learned about the origins of this shelter: This building was originally deserted by its original owners after the sudden rise of the virus that caused chaos in town, and finding it in town was a treasure to cherish! The new leaders quickly made their way and imposed basic rules to keep a safe environment for everyone joining this community, even with the limited resources concerning contact with the outside world. 

Izuku and Katsuki were impressed to see how many people lived here, despite the uncomfortable conditions to find proper sleep, but they shouldn’t complain….not when their cozy habits belonged to the past The couple met a bunch of people, learned their stories and offered their help in the process, with a light “thanks” as a reward for their behavior. Having Izuku as a professional in medicine was a miracle, and Katsuki easily gained the hearts of many people with his tattoos, bringing a slight amount of joy to this redundant lifestyle. The least they could do was to use their knowledge from their previous life to bring a smile to everyone’s face no matter if it was through medical pills or ink transcribed into skin into multiple drawings and meaningful symbols for others. 

The months passed by and the couple met the leaders who offered this safety. They were relieved and shared their congratulations for these huge sacrifices, but something felt wrong once their eyes met the blue ones of the older woman. They naturally continued their treats until the first missing people started to be the center of attention: Many came to the conclusion that they had changed their mind and left overnight, others explained how they probably gotten sick and chose not to infect everyone, but the truth was more heartbreaking. 

It became clear when the victims became people the couple knew too well. 

The first person to leave without a final goodbye was the same man who welcomed them with a smile a few months ago. Tadashi talked about changing his mind not like he hated being here, but he sensed that something was wrong. Izuku and Katsuki were aware of Tadashi’s meeting with the leader about his proposition to leave this place, but it became clear when the whispers around his name described what really happened. This poor Tasahi was kicked out of the shelter without any resources- the leaders threatened his life and shamed him for thinking differently, leaving him to a painful death.

The second people who chose to escape from this hell were the trio Izuku had saved earlier. 

They became closer over the past months and started to care about each other, but one day everything changed. After a quick visit in town, the single mother returned with teary eyes, cursing the leaders who took her children away: The story was terrible, in order to save more lives, they decided to sacrifices the six years old child and her twenty years old sister, who succumbed to their death, under the heartbreaking scream of their mother. Izuku and Katsuki did their best to share their apologies for what happened, but the older woman was silent, holding the chocolate bar inside her hands, refusing to eat anything. 

The two men decided to stay close to this stranger who became their friend over the past months, in order to make this grief more human for a poor woman who lost her entire world. After a few days, Suzume decided to speak: The conversation was heartbreaking, talking about how much she missed her daughters, with the reassuring couple by her side who listened to each of her words. Each shadow who ended up here owned a specific narrative that deserved to be heard, and Suzume appreciated the presence of the couple who made sure to cheer her up, even in the darkest time, until they confided one of their secrets, knowing she had no reason to doubt their truths.

“You know, there used to be a life before the infected and all these losses,” Izuku whispered with a sorrowful tone, recalling the light frames that crossed his mind. The calloused hands held the scarred ones in a gentle movement, letting him know he was there as moral support. “Many projects and unreachable dreams in people’s minds, the impression of having the ability to change the world when our time was limited….getting married was one of our projects, a pillar if I could say.”

Suzume’s eyes glanced at the ring on their fingers. They looked like real wedding alliance without an ounce of doubt, but it doesn’t make any sense with the previous revelations….

“Kacchan and I wanted to prepare the best ceremony, where we could bring our loved ones and celebrate the new beginning,” Izuku mumbled with a low tone, holding the calloused hands tighter, feeling the blond kissing his messy curls and encouraging him to take a break if necessary. “He proposed in the most beautiful way, we prepared every detail and were excited to see each other in costume and taste the cake, but it disappeared before it even started. The infection started, our friends went missing, our families became ghosts in a cemetery, and instead of giving up we did something stupid….”

“Despite not having the ceremony of our dreams and not being legally married, we chose to hold on to hope,” Katsuki added with an understanding tone, bringing the shorter man closer. “Since that day, we keep calling each other’s husbands, as a promise of some kind of reassuring future. It’s probably what happened when your daughter looked at you with these shining eyes, knowing they loved you until the very end.”

Suzume didn’t know when she started to tear up, but she made a slight smile, thanking them for the emotional support. The two men knew she would never survive this loss, but they decided to help her until the very end: They included her in their plans to escape this shelter and save as many people as possible from those tyrannic leaders, until the D-day had come. Once the night had fallen and the couple prepared their bags with all the resources necessary to survive a few weeks, they sent a last glance at the older woman, who stood there with a calm expression on her face. When Izuku and Katsuki asked her to join them in this adventure, she simply refused, explaining how her world had already fallen apart, and she was destined to die soon.

However, she returned the water bottle offered by the shorter man during their first meeting, thanking him and his husband for the help they brought to these people.

Katsuki was an observing shadow when Izuku thanked Suzume for this support, but he was also there when they both ran as fast as they could in those empty streets, with the fresh breeze against their forehead. The scarred hands held the calloused ones until the couple found a safe spot, with a small light: At this moment, the freckled man released his tears of relief to know they’ll be fine, while Katsuki expressed himself for the first time since his parents’ death. It was unfair how so many people had to die in this cruel world, but they found strength in each other’s existence, holding on to it until their final breath.

—----

The sun started to make its appearance, highlighting those footsteps echoing in this silent forest, followed by the mumbling of the alpha. His fingers grabbed his pen and sat on the ground to note each update about their situation, representing a source of comfort since they escaped the shelter. Izuku often think about the people he left behind, including Sumuze, but he hoped they all survived and found a place in heaven, near their loved ones. However, his emerald eyes stayed focused on the page concerning the origins of the infected and this propaganda, unable to find the truth to this question. Katsuki and he did try to search around and ask many questions through the radio with other survivors, but none really knew who caused this downfall of humanity….

He grabbed his spray paint and marked his passage on the tree, ready to localize this spot during their next escape. Izuku’s goal was to find every secret spot, no matter if they contained an empty box of important resources, or even weapons to use against the infected. The simple idea of thinking about them made him angrier than ever, knowing they needed to pay for what happened to his husband! The shorter man sighed, focusing on his surroundings: this place looked similar to the ones he had seen a million times in their journey, but there was something almost welcoming about this forest, almost like it was the last spot that wasn’t touched by this apocalypse. 

The leaves left their home to find their way into the messy curls, while the soft scent crossed the alpha’s ears. He stayed on his guard with his weapon, the same one he used to kill innocent animals who became their dinner when they didn’t have enough cans: He remembered the first time he killed a deer, the pain was unbearable and Katsuki helped him to make a grave for this first target, that'll become the first of a long line. The green-haired man looked around, focusing on every potential hint of a secret spot, until his feet reached a strong rock. The shock revived his survival instinct, immediately grabbing his weapon, until he moved closer to a series of leaves, different than the others. 

This detail caught his attention, putting his weapon down until he brushed the ground and found a wooden trapdoor. With an efficient hint by his elbow, the lock became weaker, until the metallic weapon finished the last part of his rubbery. The freckled man groaned in pain at the blood falling down his skin after the previous injuries, knowing his husband would be mad at him for being ignorant, but the result was worth the try. The emerald eyes widened when he found a bunch of cans and bottles hidden on the ground, realizing how they might have enough ot survive a few weeks with this discovery.

After putting the leaves back in the same way and covering the spot, he walked by the same path, knowing he had some good news to share with his childhood friend. 

—--

Katsuki Bakugo was in a bad mood:  He knew his husband was careful about their safety, but god, the omega hated being so bratty about not waking up beside his mate. If his parents were watching him from afar, they would’ve probably been disappointed by his stupidity, the same one that caused their death. 

The taller man sighed, knowing the nerd wasn’t naive and would immediately notice the change in his scent. He decided to change his mind and grab some water on the counter, catching the glass empty: It’s not like he accepted this departure either, he hated the fact that Izuku could leave and never return without a final goodbye. In the worst-case scenarios, some fucker might use his curls as an absurd trophy, but the freckled man had his reasons…a gesture the blond understood more than anyone.  

Their personalities have changed since the infection, transforming their naivety into a forgotten memory in this endless maze of new discoveries. The couple missed the old days when they used to hang out in town to watch their favorite movies, talk about their future date in an arcade, or prepare for their upcoming wedding. Holding onto nostalgia won’t make things easier, but Katsuki longed for an ounce of novelty that would bring a genuine smile back to his face, instead of the gray color on his face each time he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He missed his parents and wondered if they would’ve been proud of him if they were still alive, but having his childhood friend by his side was better than surviving on his own, especially with the nasty scar he got on his arm.

He should’ve been more cautious when he left the house that day, trusting his husband to keep the surroundings safe with a good weapon. The two men made a good team together, and their previous results proved how strong they had become since they’d left the shelter that had erased a part of their hope, the same one that had died with those innocents sacrificed for the sake of selfishness. Izuku and Katsuki learned against their will how humanity would bring nothing but damage to this cruel world where surviving was more than necessary…explaining why they worked better as a duo, with their flaws and qualities. 

Unfortunately, a single second of inattention costs them huge damages. 

It happened in the blink of an eye when Katsuki’s groan of pain echoed in the forest, catching Izuku’s attention: His face was struck with terror at the explicit scene of an infected biting the omega’s arms, with nothing to do to go against this sudden force. The shorter man didn’t think twice before killing the infected with a shot to the head, making the birds sacred for their nest, while the concerned alpha immediately moved to check on his mate. The panic in the emerald eyes was more than concerning, but Izuku insisted on taking care of him a little longer before the infection started to spread in his muscles. 

Those years of notes inside his silly notebook taught him the precise process of propagation, it could be a question of hours or days depending on the injuries and the spot. A glance was enough to know he needed to be fast, using his medical knowledge and silently begging the stars to keep his husband safe. The entire time, the blond was feeling himself getting weaker, until the tear-emerald eyes explained how everything would be fine…a lie he wasn’t determined to believe until he saw the proof by himself. 

Katsuki woke up the next day with a headache, under the worried emerald eyes of his mate, who carefully made a check on his state: They’ve both established how the freckled man saved his childhood friend’s life right in time before the venom touched the vital organs. The transformations were known to be painful, consuming the last ounce of humanity until you became one of theirs, and Izuku would rather die than let such a thing happen to his lover!

 It took a few more days to have the confirmation that the omega was feeling better without any sign of transformation, reassuring his mate who couldn’t stop holding his missing half, afraid of losing him a second time. Unfortunately, the injuries were already there and the muscles were damaged by the last venom that weakened some of his muscles, reducing some of his ability. His ability to run was also impacted by this second of inattention, which made the blond more annoyed: After all, he wanted to protect the man he loved at all costs! Since that day, Izuku became overprotective, until the omega lost his mind and started to release all his frustration, under the shocked emerald eyes. 

 “Stop playing the babysitter, I don’t need help,” he shouted with an angry tone. He wasn’t mad at Izuku for taking care of him and treating him like a child, but at himself for being unable to keep his promises to protect his lover. The freckled man was strong on the outside, but one of these days he’ll break and give up, a fate that should never happen, even if the blond needed to sacrifice his last breath.

“I’m doing this for our own sake, there’s no way I’ll let you leave this place and fight these monsters without a final goodbye!” Izuku replied with a shaking tone, welcoming the tears falling down his cheeks. He understood his husband's frustration and would feel the same if the roles were reversed. They have so many things to make and, Katsuki needed to stand by his side until the very end. “I might be a pain in the ass, but I have a promise to keep and I wouldn't mind killing myself if this world takes you away from me. The infected can eat me alive until I’m nothing but bones in a lifeless body, it would hurt less than losing you and-”

“Tch, come here dumbass,” the taller man whispered with a sigh, admitting his defeat. 

That day, the omega held his lover in a tight embrace, realizing how the shaking figure cried on his shoulders for endless hours until sleeplessness took the lead. Since that meaningful conversation, the blond understood how Izuku wasn’t treating him differently due to his weakness, but he wanted to make sure he was safe without erasing the sparkle inside his eyes, the same one that caught his heart during the proposal years ago. The taller man sighed, walking closer to the doorstep, and noticed the shadows arriving from afar. He was ready to ask questions later, knowing he was relieved to see his husband alive, with his messy curls and freckled cheeks, excited to see him awake.

“Look who’s showing up, I thought you left a note,” he teased with a grin at the corner of his lips, noticing how the shorter man’s face softened at the previous comment. This world might try to take every ounce of happiness away from their souls, but it’ll never erase this genuine love the blond had for his childhood friend, the same one that made him survive for so long in this hell. 

“Kacchan,” the freckled man’s voice echoed in the short distance between them. A smile drew itself on his fragile lips at the sight of those crimson eyes looking at him with an unimpressed tone. His body moved on its own to rush into a sudden hug, acting like they hadn’t seen each other for ten years, when it’s been a few minutes. The taller man didn’t complain and held the shorter alpha back, making sure their embrace reflected their mutual relief of being in each other's warmth. “I’m glad you’re awake, you’re known to have a deep sleep, that’s why I decided to explore the surroundings but you’ll never guess what I found!”

“Surprise me,” the blond added with his fingers ruffling the messy curls, noticing how his mate was amused by the touch. Since that fateful day, Izuku had been the one taking care of the hardest chores and missions, having a constant pressure on his shoulders, the same one he refused to share with his lover. Katsuki simply accepted this statement, trying not to make his mate angrier, but his crimson eyes noticed the recent injuries on his elbow, wondering what kind of bullshit he had done to get this. 

“You know what….Maybe I’ll keep it secret for the moment,” Izuku said with a tease, stepping back to steal a quick kiss against his husband's forehead. 

“Dumbass, what’s the point of telling me about that if you keep the mystery ?”

“Because I like this stupid grin on your face when you’re surprised,” the freckled man replied with a soft laugh, pinching the omega’s nose. 

The calloused hands pushed his shoulders as a response, but he followed the shorter man inside the house after closing the door. The light sound of their stomach calling for help caught Izuku’s attention, looking around to see if they still had any food in their bags from their last expeditions. His hands found a chocolate bar and threw it at the omega, hearing Katsuki’s groan of pain. His husband could be grumpy, but he deserved to be annoying with his stomach full!

“How do you feel? Any back pain? Unusual injuries or noises ?” Izuku asked with a curious tone. 

He moved the chair against the used floor and got rid of the dust on the wooden table to rest his bag and precious weapons. For the moments none of them were used, but it was a question of time until some infected started to bother their peaceful day: If the green haired man felt guilty for taking an infected life at first, he quickly realized how the only way to survive was to become a demon himself, especially if this meant protecting the only family he had left. 

“Everything's safe, except for my ass,” Katsuki pointed out with his chocolate bar in his mouth, making another groan of annoyance when the freckled man punched his shoulders at the comment. 

The crimson eyes noticed the different spots located on the cart, some marked with question marks, others with a cross, and a bunch of mess that only the nerd understood. From what he learned, the proximity was safe for the moment, but some traces had been found in the area, indicating the presence of a recent visitor during one of their explorations. This hint was enough to stay on their guard, even when the taller man carefully ate his chocolate bar with relief, knowing this resource was rare nowadays. 

“Kacchan!”

“You know what you did last night, don’t act like an angel,” the blond replied with rolled eyes, catching the slight blush rising on the freckled cheeks. The frames of their previous encounter were more than distinct from their old memories, a rare moment of pleasure the two men authorized during their weakest moments, aware of the risk it would cause.

“You started it…” the green-haired man pointed out with a grin, stealing the rest of the chocolate bar from the blond's mouth. 

Katsuki didn’t fight back and saw his food being stolen by his husband, who mocked him with a grin on his face, knowing he could lose every battle against this god that gave him the best of care. Izuku enjoyed his victory after finishing the last part of the energy bar, noticing the curious crimson eyes and exposed scars on his mate’s body. His heart missed a beat at the sudden sight of the one caused by the infected bite: The worst thing about this situation was how everything could’ve been taken down in a few seconds if he was too late, but Izuku Midoriya promised to protect his childhood friend at all costs! He lost his glance at the pills on the counter, realizing how he forgot to give them to his mate, as displeasing as this might be. Katsuki noticed how the shorter man made a quick kiss against his lips and left the room to return with some medicine the omega recognized too well. 

“Talking about your horny mess, you should take this, I don’t know where the next pharmacy is, but we’ll look for another box” he affirmed with an understanding tone. This wasn’t easy for him either, but Izuku and Katsuki had no other choice, being forced to make sacrifices they wouldn’t do under different circumstances.

“Is this really necessary ?” Katsuki’s voice asked in a low tone. 

His hands ruffled the medicine with a concerned expression filled his face. Shit, Izuku hated the terrible reminder of this scene, but none of them could escape the pills, no matter if it was to avoid an unexpected pregnancy or slow down their hearts and ruts, which represented a moment to put their guards down. The shorter man made a sign to move closer and the blond obeyed, until the scarred fingers cupped his cheeks and they both figure sat on the uncomfortable floor. It wasn’t the best conditions to have this kind of conversation but they didn’t care…as long as they had each other.

“Kacchan, we already talked about this….”

“I know, and I agree with you, but sometimes it hurts,” Katsuki replied with a distressing tone. 

Don’t get him wrong, he understood the heavy implication of pregnancy in their complicated lifestyle, but he remained vulnerable to the idea of having their own family. Izuku was understanding every time this topic was mentioned, but the heartbroken alpha said it himself “if there was another way, we would’ve done it years ago”.

“I understand, it would be a lie to say I don’t feel the same and wish for better circumstances but we can’t take any risk,” Izuku whispered with a soft tone, covering his own sadness. 

The gentle fingers met the porcelain skin having the complete attention of his mate. The freckled man never wanted any of this, but it’s not like they had the ability to prevent the unknown either…they were simple visitors in this lifetime. They shouldn’t be more heartbroken by such news…not only for them, but for this innocent who didn’t deserve such a cruel world, even with the best of care from his parents. 

“It’s just….I don’t like this.”

“I hate this too, but we have no other choice…I promise this hell will stop once we find a new beginning, love.” 

Katsuki stayed silent and simply took the pills with a sip of water. Izuku stood by his side, losing his hand behind his lover’s back and resting his head against his shoulders: It was unfair to erase so many dreams that used to be their source of comfort, but it was riskier to give birth to a child in this harsh universe, knowing he wouldn’t survive as long as his parents.

 It had been proven before, and the couple saw with their own eyes the tears falling down the parents' cheeks after they buried their children, either killed by the zombies or the lack of resources. This world wasn’t meant to be kind to them, and only the roughest ones could handle this suffering, but it didn’t stop the two men from hoping for a better future, where they would have a safe place they could describe as their “home”, and thousands of new souvenirs to create. This situation brought a bitter taste to their lips, reducing the risk of committing a mistake that would cost their last ounce of hope about this important project that meant a lot to their shattered hearts.

The two childhood friends had already talked of the idea of having a family once the time came, with potential names and even brought gifts for their imaginary children. Unfortunately, they had to leave those precious souvenirs behind when they ran to get some help, realizing how these untouched plushies would never find their owners.

 Izuku had no doubt his mate would be the best dam, loving their pup with the best of care and protecting them against the slightest form of danger, such as Izuku’s and his protective instinct. The most heartbreaking part was to say goodbye to those shadows holding their newborn inside their arms, share bedtime stories, and watch this small figure grow with them until they got grey hair. Enough tears have been wasted about the “what ifs”, but it didn’t stop them from holding onto this unreachable dream….even if this might never happen in this timeline.

The scarred fingers met the fabric of the omega’s clothes, until their fingers met. They truly wished to have a family on their own, a little boy or girl, able to wear their genetics with those adorable freckled cheeks and blonde curls, begging them to play together in the living room. In their imagination, the three of them would’ve shared thousands of laughs until they stopped counting, and endless “I love you” whispered to the unreachable shadow that would be the center of their world. It happened to cross some toys in those deserted streets or lost plushies, making them sadder than usual at the idea that innocents left this world against their will, refusing to let their first child be one of them. 

Katsuki didn’t need to ask a thousand questions to know what his lover was thinking, holding the shaking hands tighter. The omega wanted to experience this dream as much as his desire to wake up without the bitter taste of death on his lips, but it was impossible. If a child were born to their true love, they would’ve been loved like the prettiest person the couple had ever seen, and the biggest treasure to cherish. Fate stole this happenstance away with this terrible apocalypse that erased all their hope like ashes in the air, and the wind shared the tears that previously fell down their cheeks. 

Izuku was the first one to move, losing his fingers to cup the omega’s cheeks. This wasn’t the life they’d expected, but their biggest strength remained their existence in this apocalyptique world, even if this meant making heartbreaking sacrifices. The omega learned into the touch, under the soft smile of his husband, who didn’t think twice before stealing a kiss against his lips. Words wouldn’t be enough to describe this pain rising inside their chest at the idea of saying goodbye to their little miracle that would’ve brightened their world under different circumstances…but they needed to move on. 

“I know,” he whispered in a low tone, feeling how the blond rested his head against his chest. The scarred fingers caressed the omega’s back, releasing a reassuring scent despite the sensibility in the previous conversation. “I know this is unbearable, but we’ll survive….just you and me against the rest of the world, love.”

Katsuki didn’t answer and simply held the shorter man closer, knowing his mate was patient about this specific topic. The gentleness of those fingers against his skin brought him memories of their previous night and how delicate Izuku was, knowing the alpha would never let him down, even at his lowest moments. As much as he hated it, staying focused on something they couldn’t have was a waste of time, even if their feelings were valid. The green-haired man held the shaking figure closer, whispering how they’ll be fine, a lie that became bittersweet as the years passed by….

“I’ve discovered new spots, are you in the mood for a small walk ?” Izuku asked with an understanding tone, trying to appease the situation. 

The taller man stepped back and welcomed the scarred hands rubbing his golden spikes, under the amazed emerald eyes. There wasn’t a day when his childhood friend wasn’t looking at him as if he were his everything, a treasure the omega cherished more than any victories on this battlefield that became their native hometown.

 This world might be fucked up, but Izuku and Katsuki forged an unforgettable story: It was unbearable to imagine a universe where the other was out of reach, leading to the easiest solution by choosing death without a second thought, explaining the overprotective behavior in their dynamic. They became the result of too much conditioning in this lifeless town with fear eating them from the inside every single day, having no other choice than surviving with the price of innocent blood on their broken hands. 

“Only if you agree to give me something else than cans, I have a diet to follow,” he replied with a lighter tone, catching the relieved expression on his mate’s face. It was this exact painting Izuku wanted to see until his dying days, the form of his husband’s smile, the slight joy inside his shining irises, the same one that brightened his world during their proposal and first kiss. Their chances to get a pup in this universe might’ve been stolen by the unfortunate fate, but the couple secretly prayed to have better conditions in their next lives, hoping they’ll be reunited in the afterlife. 

“Sorry darling, but we have a short selection today…maybe another time,” he exclaimed with a soft tone, ruffing the golden spikes. “We know you’ll still beat anyone’s ass, even if you’re thinner than a spaghetti or have the most comfortable bulge that would be the best pillow.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes at the previous comment and replied with a middle finger, pretending he wasn’t touched by the genuine care offered by the tender words. Izuku wasn’t stupid and noticed how the omega unconsciously learned into him, almost like he was looking for warmth to reach in this terrible reality that became their new future. The sacrifices they’ve made for this peace were huge, but leaving this world without their significant other was worse than staying alive and admiring a cold grave with an unreachable name.

The two men simply prayed for a next lifetime where they could get the chance to have the perfect wedding and family, even if they’ll be simple ashes in the air to see their dream come true. Izuku stayed silent and brought his husband's wrist to his lips, kissing this delicate skin as a reminder of their timeless promises. They already talked about it: If one of them had to leave this world, the other wouldn’t mind taking his own life to find eternal happiness in the afterlife if necessary. 

Izuku and Katsuki longed for a time where each of their laugh could be transcribed into the wind, hidden smiles shared under a midnight sky, and kisses followed by confessions instead of fearing their final “I love you”. Their old world disappeared, replaced by this new reality that forced tough decisions, making the freckled man realize how it’s been a very long time since he had seen Katsuki’s genuine smile. Don’t get him wrong, the couple was happier than ever by each other’s side, but they forgot the last time they felt truly alive. 

A sudden idea crossed the freckled man’s mind, bringing a slight smile to his lips. There might be a way to use this ounce of nostalgia wisely….and organizing a small surprise for his husband wouldn’t hurt anyone. 

After all, it’s just Izuku Midoriya and Bakugo Katsuki against the rest of the world. 

—-----

Something was wrong with his mate 

Katsuki was used to his unusual behavior, but it was different: Even a blind person could notice the suspicious behavior from the nerd with the change in his voice. The shorter showed him the path he took earlier, marked by the white painting bomb, leading to more observation in their surroundings. During their youth, the two childhood friends used to hang out in the park and create amazing adventures about superheroes with powers, saving the world from bad guys. Years later, they ended up becoming their own survivors, accepting this role of “hero” as their number one priority toward their significant other….

Hanging out in a deserted forest was peaceful and almost appeasing for their tormented chest. The constant worries about not surviving the night occupied each of their thoughts, pushing their own happiness aside. It might explain why this date idea was exciting, being excited to finally do something new that changes from their casual habit. Each time his emerald eye met the curious crimson ones, he remembered how this story started…

It happened with a simple meeting in kindergarten and this became their favorite tale. Two children sharing the same universe with common passions, being each other’s best friend in unforgettable frames. The series of late-night sleepovers, secret games at the park, or plans to be the most inspiring heroes the world had ever seen, forged their strong relationship, which became a pillar to their current universe. 

They ended up growing up and becoming each other’s biggest hero, until fate decided to separate them in the last years of middle school after a terrible happenstance. The accident that burned half of the building forced some parents to take their children away from school, including Mitsuki and Masaru, who forced their child to leave without a final goodbye to the shadow he considered his best friend, and missing half.

The next years had been tough, living with the ghost of his childhood friend as a reminder of a precious frame he left behind, but Izuku tried his best to survive. The inconvénient of not having a phone back in those days was the inability to have Kacchan’s number and stay in touch, wondering if the blond had forgotten about him. Their high school years happened in the calmest way with stress from exams and graduation, until fate decided to bring them back together. This stranger they unexpectedly met in the street became a familiar figure that highlighted old feelings inside their chest, as their eyes shone brighter than a midnight sky, and they started having a drink to catch the lost time.

That day, Izuku and Katsuki learned about each other’s lives: Izuku chose to continue in the medicine field despite its rough times, and Katsuki followed a career path to gain some knowledge, even if he wanted to be a tattoo artist. The two souls reconnected with multiplied meetings and constant hangouts to the point of being inseparable, until romantic feelings made their appearance. The two men liked playing around with each other until one of them broke the ice and decided to confess, facing a decisive kiss that started the favorite chapter of this narrative. 

Izuku and Katsuki have been so far and yet, they still have the impression of discovering the unknown. The taller man moved closer to the alpha, pushing his shoulders to bring him back to reality; once again, his mate pushed his rational thinking aside to simply look at him with a gentle expression on his face. It wasn’t rare to see the man he loved reminisce about their love story, and the blond wanted to blame the nostalgia for this sudden change earlier, but something in his chest told him he was wrong….

“No matter what you’re planning, I’ll figure this out like I always do, freckles,” the omega said with a sigh, catching the unimpressed glance on Izuku’s face. The shorter man stopped on his path and crossed his arms, looking at his husband and the pretty ring that resided on his finger. There was no way Katsuki Bakugo could be this beautiful and yet, the alpha chose to keep his gay panic hidden, even if his husband was amused by the reaction. 

“You can try reading in my mind but you’ll never find out about it,” he replied with a tease, moving closer to the taller figure. “While we’re here, try to be useful and search for some good spot to mark for a future map of the area. Try to take some wood on the way, I heard the temperature will be colder than usual tonight, and it would be ridiculous to die that way-”

“What does his highness want more? I can be your footrest if you’re in the mood,” Katsuki mocked with rolled eyes, noticing how the shorter man sent him an amused glance.

“That’s very tempting, but we have something else to do,” he corrected with fingers against his chin, noticing how his husband replied with a middle finger. “Stay close to me and use your code if something happens or if you find something, it’s very important-”

“I will, I promise,” he sighed, looking at the curious emerald eyes. “And you’re not going to give me a good luck kiss? How cruel of you.”

“You’re such an idiot, I wonder how I fell in love with you,” the freckled man added with a soft laugh, wrapping his arms around the omega’s neck. His lips naturally chased after the blond's, reminding him of the last night they’d shared together, until the taller man regained his breath and covered his blush. “Now let’s go, we don’t have all the time and we need to check the town soon.”

If Katsuki simply rolled his eyes at the comment, he missed the way Izuku’s face softened once his shadow was out of reach. The green-haired man was ready to spend the rest of his life with the man he loved, and his special goal was to find the perfect spot for their date!

—--

They did not find anything interesting in the forest, but the two men crossed their fingers to have more chances somewhere else. The freckled man was determined to reach this place as soon as possible, but he was interrupted by his husband, who insisted on healing his injuries, leading the alpha to simply complain about the gesture. Don’t get him wrong, Izuku knew Katsuki didn’t have any bad intentions, and his genuine concerns broke the alpha’s heart, but he decided to let his lover take care of him without fighting back.

 It took them a few minutes but their shadows finally appeared in the blur of the town. The weight of their bags against their shoulders forced them to take a break and observe this silent area. It felt strange to see those streets, usually full of life and loud conversations, being replaced by an uncomfortable silence. It seemed like life completely disappeared from this place, with Izuku and Katsuki being the last survivors who chose to stay in their hometown instead of moving away: After all, they shared their first breath here and will do the same with their last, this time, with someone’s hands to hold. 

The abandoned stores became rusty with the years, highlighting the vegetation that took control, transforming this area of the town into a reminder of their beloved past. This shop specialized in rare objects about their favorite hero, faded away with the last trace of blood on the ground, rotten bodies that were eaten by the flies, and lost items that will never find their owners. The two men felt like intruders, but they needed to use every resource as their last resort and raid this place to get everything they wanted. 

Their old selves would’ve been shocked to see how selfishness became their rational thinking, but Izuku and Katsuki learned through their mistakes and followed their own rules. The light that used to brighten the corner of the street made an uncomfortable sound due to their sensitivity and the breeze ruffling rusty nails ready to fall anytime soon. The library was ruined by the wind that threw away thousands of books that contained children’s stories, being either ruined or wet by the heavy rains that crossed the entire place last week. This sentiment of nostalgia kept growing inside the couple’s chest, realizing how they became the ghosts of a place that forgot about their existence, like the others. 

The scarred fingers held the calloused ones, erasing the slight tears that nearly fell down his cheeks. Izuku didn’t need to recall a time that’ll never come again! The past was already buried with their loved ones and forgotten dreams, and the more important thing was to stay focused on the present and the future they wanted to build in this new setting. The crimson eyes glanced at the vulnerable emerald ones, holding the shaking hands tighter, letting him know how he was here.

The freckled man regained his spirit, realizing how the sun was about to go down with a higher risk of getting caught. A slight grin crossed Katsuki’s lips as the green-haired man led the way, explaining how they would check each shop and take the maximum amount of stuff they could in their short amount of time. Katsuki nodded and went to the same store as his mate, knowing the research would be more effective, and Izuku thanked him with a nod as their two figures started to explore the surroundings. As expected this place was already robbed by the previous people who walked here, leaving them no other choice but to move on to the next ones.

The same process repeated itself until the couple succeeded in finding a spot with a few resources. Back in the days, many people were ready to steal this shop, being a famous signboard, forcing double security for each person entering the building. The owners probably died with the many survivors….but Izuku and Katsuki became the heroes of their own stories. The freckled man spotted a few resources that could be really helpful for his date tonight.

 In order not to get caught and see his surprise ruined, he decided to send his husband looking for food and a water bottle, while the alpha stole the blanket. The fabric looked comfortable despite the dust, and he immediately fell for this fake candle, noticing that there wasn’t any battery inside. With a quick glance, he grabbed one of the products on the shelf that seemed to work, knowing it wouldn’t be a huge loss.

“Why are you stealing this ?” Katsuki asked with a curious tone, making the freckled man jump with a light gasp leaving his lips. Izuku sighed, regaining his breath and hiding the previous objects inside the bag he took for the occasion, covering them with some food he had stolen earlier. He needed to use an excuse as soon as possible, knowing his husband had already connected the dots of his strange behavior!

“For the lamp,” he replied with a serious tone, at least he pretended to be. The taller man looked at him with an unconvinced glance, entering his game by using the “blind trust” card.“You found a few things, that’s great. I think we still have time to get the last supplies, and we can check another day…it’s not like this shop will be running out of things in this empty town.”

“Sending me away from your secret mission won’t make it more convincing,”  Katsuki should insist and let his husband explain what he was hiding, but he decided to check on him later. After all, he knew how important this secret must be to his lover, and if the nerd was involved in this idea, it was probably worth a try. 

Izuku only nodded and waited until the taller man left his reach to continue his plan. He didn’t think twice before grabbing the last bottle of alcohol, knowing it would be perfect with the glasses they had in their temporary house. He wasn’t sure if the taste stayed the same after all those years, but it was enough to bring some novelty…..

 The last thing that caught the shorter man’s attention was the familiar sight of an innocent flower on the ground: His heart missed a beat when he realized how it was Katsuki’s favorite, a miracle that fell at the perfect timing for his secret project. He knew he shouldn’t take her away from her home, but the alpha was ready to do anything to see how gorgeous his husband looked with the same sight that made him fall for his childhood friends' friends in their golden youth. The scared hands put the delicate flower in a thin paper he kept inside the pocket of his pants, until a sudden sound caught his attention. 

“Stop making this noise, we’ll get caught” the blond groaned from afar, raising his head to meet the messy curls on the other side of the shop. The freckled man moved closer with slow footsteps, trying to control the surroundings, but chose to answer with a slight tease, hoping it’ll appease this constant anxiety inside their chest.

 “I’m not, I'm on the other alley. Are you sure your ears don’t play tricks on you ?” 

“If this isn't you, then who is it ?” It doesn’t make any sense, the alpha was standing closer to him with his shitty argument of “constant protection”, but the origin of the sound came from behind the shop. Izuku wouldn’t go so far without his mate and their fear confirmed itself when the silence was filled with sound the couple recognized too well. 

Izuku immediately stayed on his guard, taking his gun and trying to locate the infected, while the blond held his breath. The freckled man and he noticed different kinds of infected, but the heavy scent of rotten coming from the one behind him indicated his specific type. Some infected could chase after a hint of blood, others by the sound while being blind, while the rarest ones only focused on the small details in the room such as fear in their target’s scent. 

The two men had to learn those clues against their will by observing strangers paying the price for their selfish curiosity, but those sacrifices saved their lives, even if it’ll never be enough to honor the memories of the people who contribute to their safety. Thefucker standing behind Katsuki belonged to the second category, including human’s breathing, which made this situation more complicated for the omega, who simply stared at the shorter man, ready to find the perfect angle to shoot. 

Crimson eyes met the emerald ones, understanding each other with a simple glance. Izuku used a bullet to hit the walls, distracting the enemy while Katsuki ran away during this distraction, letting the creature be cornered by two different weapons. The two men took the risk to make slow steps to not fail their plan, as a sudden boil of anger rose inside the alpha’s chest, remembering that day when his childhood friend nearly passed away. Katsuki glanced around to see if there wasn’t another one coming up, while Izuku didn’t think twice before shooting the infected in the head, his blood spreading all over the walls with his head half exploded from the previous bullet. 

Another gunshot echoed in the back room followed by a curse leaving the omega’s lips and a mocking laugh. The taller man returned with his hands wiping away the sweat from his forehead, under the understanding eyes of his mate. Thankfully, they succeeded in getting out of here before the invasion, with the hidden infected, attracted by the sound and blood of their comrade. Izuku and Katsuki didn’t think twice before using their last strength to run to the forest, letting this forgotten town be occupied by rotten corpses. 

—----

Izuku made sure to keep an eye on the blond the entire time, knowing his abilities were reduced since the bite, but the two of them successfully reached their house. Each second passing by felt like a closer step to their upcoming death, with the heavy sound of their footsteps in those isolated woods, and the slight breath they regained between their breaks. The freckled man was the one taking the lead in this run by catching the slightest noises in their surrounding, while giving a quick look at his husband, who wanted to return to their safe spot as soon as possible.

 Their world finally calmed down the moment the scarred hands closed the door without a second thought. The fast heartbeat inside their chest echoed ten times louder in their ears, and the previous pressure faded away after realizing how they both arrived at their final destination. The emerald eyes glanced at the taller figure, standing against the counter with sweat falling down his forehead: Each time Katsuki got closer to an infected, the freckled man recalled the moment when he almost lost the love of his life, knowing he would be haunted by the “what ifs”. Izuku moved closer, putting the bags on the wooden table and ignoring the sound of the bottle of alcohol, muffled by the other cans. 

“Hey, are you okay ?” He asked with a serious tone, putting his hands on the omega’s shoulders. Katsuki moved his head to meet the concerned emerald eyes, reading into him like an open book. Sometimes, the blond considered this secret power a bother when he needed to be alone with his thoughts, but he was glad to have someone by his side after this previous scare. “Are you hurt anywhere? Any bites? The medicine is in the drawer if necessary.”

“I think I'm doing great, except for the next night of sleep I deserve after such a race,” he replied with a nod, noticing how the shorter man looked reassured by his answer. Izuku trusted him and would’ve known if something was wrong, but the two men were relieved to have a shoulder to cry on. “And you, any broken bones or shit like that ?”

“Except for the injury from this morning, I think I’m doing well too,” Izuku added with a smile, ruffling the golden spiky hairs.“We make a pretty good team, don't you think ?”

“The best of all,” the blond mumbled with a soft tone, bringing the shorter man closer. The green-haired man’s face softened at the previous comments, his hands meeting his mate’s waist and losing their fingers against the fabric of his shirt. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s going on, you’ve been acting strange the entire day and it’s my duty to be worried for my mate, as dense as he can be.”

Oh.

 Izuku wanted to offer a good experience, but the darkness had already fallen and it was a huge risk to be seen outside their home. The infected weren’t necessarily active during this early stage of the night, compared to the sunrise, especially in this area with traps all around the corners to prevent their appearance. However, the green-haired man couldn’t give up something that meant a lot to him so easily! He had a promise to keep and a secret spot he found earlier in the day to celebrate the rest of the omega deserved. The shorter man left the previous embrace to stand on his tiptoes and wrapped his hands around his childhood friend’s neck, stealing a quick kiss before mumbling how he needed to do a final thing before completing this crazy day. 

Katsuki looked at him unconvinced, but decided to believe his mate with blind trust. After all, Izuku seemed to know what he was doing and the slight excitement in his shining emerald eyes convinced the stubborn omega to simply fall for this charming trick. 

“Wait, why are you taking the bag with you ?” Katsuki asked with a curious tone, waiting for an answer. If this thing that occupied Izuku’s mind wasn’t as important as the nerd pretended, why did the scarred hands hold the bag so tightly, almost like he was afraid of letting it go?

“For…protection ?” He replied with a smile, hoping it would be enough to calm his mate’s curiosity, but he knew how Katsuki Bakugo was wiser than him sometimes. 

“Whatever, the faster you finish this shit, the faster you return home, I don't like being alone,” the taller man said with a sigh, resting on the chair to grab the notebook and the pen, ready to write the entries and discoveries they made today. 

At first, Izuku asked him to do all these chores he considered annoying, but the omega quickly found an appeasing aspect of putting everything down in a black page with this indelible ink, transcribing their adventures. Izuku’s face turned amused at the comment, giving a last kiss on the omega’s cheeks as a reward for his understanding. Katsuki ignored the scarlet color on his porcelain skin, falling for this trick for the umpteenth time.

“Thanks, I promise you won’t be disappointed! I’m so lucky to have the best partner I could ever ask for,” the amused alpha exclaimed with a soft tone, ruffling the golden spikes and grabbing his bags tighter against his shoulders. His hands reached out to the cold handle of the wooden door, determined to make this surprise date happen, catching the evident answer from his mate to the choice of his previous words.

“And the only one !” Katsuki shouted with an annoyed tone, watching his mate fading into the darkness of those silenced woods with an absurd but adorable smile on his face, and a glance full of hope….a treasure the blond considered lost. 

“Say this to me in our next lifetime idiot,” Izuku’s voice shouted from afar with an amused tone, knowing his husband was probably making a middle finger at the thoughts that their paths weren’t meant to meet in their next lifetime.

 It was bullshit, the two childhood friends knew how strong their shared bond was stronger than any obstacles they’ve faced until now: if their relationship was meant to fail, death would’ve already departed them a long time ago but they survived and wrote their own narratives. Katsuki sighed, resting his back against the chair, and turned the lamp on, hoping the nerd was safe with his risky idea. 

———

Izuku created the perfect spot for the occasion: he never thought such a silly surprise could turn into the most breathtaking scenery he had ever seen. 

All the pride came to him for organizing each detail with enough care, from the spot with the fake candle to highlight as much as possible, and the glasses he stole from the house earlier with this bottle owning an unreadable name. The blanket was probably made by someone’s hand due to the fragility and comfortable aspect of the fabric, with this bright shade of orange and yellow, reminding him of the old sunrises that used to catch Izuku’s attention when he was a child.

 The fresh breeze crossed the messy curls against his sweaty forehead, with the gun on his back, moving the food he found in the secret spot into the bags. The background noises of the river and waves meeting the ground echoed as a tender melody to the green-haired man’s ears, lifting his head to see a huge tree above his head, offering an ounce of protection through the apparent leaves in the air. He crossed his fingers, hoping to see his husband share the same enthusiasm as him about this surprise, which was meant to bring an ounce of joy to their redondant lives. 

Izuku didn’t remember the last time the couple took a break from their survivor mindset to bring another light to their relationship, except for the intimate encounters, but it wasrelieving to have an ounce of their past lives. 

The green-haired man remembered the delight at the idea of bringing his childhood friend to their cinema date, using the horror movie as an excuse to hold onto each other’s arms the entire time and ignoring the movie in the background. He cherished those moments more than anything: knowing Kasuki’s joy at their old dates, the confirmation that his omega would like the gesture was already determined. 

After a last glance at the surroundings, the shorter man left the hidden spot and walked toward the house, with a rising joy inside his chest. It didn’t take long before knocking on the door, hearing the blond's groan explaining how they can fuck off. Izuku sighed, using his secret code he shared with his childhood friend, and waited until the taller figure showed up with crossed arms against his chest, and tired crimson eyes. It was evident how Katsuki immediately noticed the change in Izuku’s behavior after his secret-not-so-secret not-so-secret mission, but it would be a lie to say he wasn’t curious about it. 

“Are you done playing hide and seek, I’ve stopped counting after ten,” the taller man affirmed with a tease.

“Very funny, but I actually have something to show you,” Izuku sighed, regaining his breath and surprised the omega by holding his wrist closer. Katsuki looked at him with curiosity, but welcomed the delicate fingers intertwining with his, until their heated palms became one. “I know this was probably long for you, but I promise the result is worth the try and you’ll like it. The only thing you have to do is to trust me!”

“What about the house ?” The golden-haired man asked, holding the scarred hands tighter as a sign of concern. Don’t get him wrong, he liked the idea of seeing the surprise made by his husband, and he was sure to love it, no matter the final result, but he was afraid of getting robbed. Izuku noticed the worries on the crimson irises and decided to cheer his mate up with a soft kiss on the cheeks, explaining how they’ll be fine for a few minutes, if not hours.

The taller man admitted his defeat and took a last glance at the silent house. He prayed nothing wrong would happen once they’re out of reach, but this new life also taught them how surviving means making sacrifices. The calloused hands held the scarred ones in gentle movements, listening to the mumbles escaping Izuku’s lips about how important this was to him. The shorter man asked him to close his eyes and Katsuki obeyed, until the two men stopped on their ways, with Izuku explaining how they reached their final destination. 

Katsuki was speechless at the sudden sight of this secret spot, reminding him of this cruel reality. The omega forgot the last time Izuku and him had a proper date, it felt like decades and yet, the enjoyment in the emerald eyes acted like a slap in the face: Izuku could’ve moved on to something else, but his mate took the time to organize this meaningful event, a symbol of this life they missed more than anything. All this time, the freckled man never disappointed him and always listened to his late-night conversation about their past, but this treasure under his eyes was probably the best present the nerd had ever received! 

The omega noticed the delicate details in the position of the objects, the mystery about the content of the box, and the empty glasses with a name he couldn’t pronounce correctly. A sudden warmth filled his chest, holding back his tears at the realization that happiness was possible in this new beginning, even if it was deeply hidden in heavy thorns and scars on their fragile skins. 

“Is this….” He turned around to meet the impatient nerd, who simply smiled at the breathtaking view under his eyes. 

Izuku didn’t know the last time he had seen his childhood friend being genuinely happy about something since the infection, and the alpha never thought he would see this amazing painting again…but the stars heard his prayers and made his biggest dream come true. The scarred hand held the calloused ones tightly, owning one of the most loving expressions the blond had seen on his childhood friend’s face, the same one that caught his heart years ago.

“I never shared what I found this morning, and since we found a few things in town, I decided to make a selfish use of these ones,” the freckled man explained with an amused tone. In all honesty, Izuku couldn’t stop mesmerizing this gorgeous expression on his husband’s face, wondering if it would’ve been the same if they shared it on the altar during a summer day, or in a labor room while holding their child for the first time. 

“Izuku…why ?” The words naturally left his lips, holding the scarred fingers with a shaking grip. 

Katsuki shouldn’t feel bad but he couldn’t enjoy this surprise without feeling any guilt toward his inability to return the gesture. As crazy as it seem, the more his husband cheered him up, the more useless he considerate himself: After all, Izuku was the one who mentioned the wedding of their dream, and often share endless mumbles about the names their children could’ve had…but Katsuki was unable to give him any of it. This world took almost everything away from him, and yet, the blond despised how unfair this situation was!

“What do you mean ?” The freckled man asked, noticing the hidden tears in the omega’s eyes. Katsuki Bakugo was born with a face able to be read like an open book, with each expression being explicit enough to transcribe his emotions, even the intense ones. The blond always used this quality to be selfish and get everything he wanted, but he knew he shouldn’t be afraid to show how weak…especially to someone as understandable as Izuku Midoriya.

His instincts begged him to erase this heartbreaking expression on Katsuki’s face, but they knew how letting the omega talk was better than using the wrong words to describe their conflicts and create a misunderstanding. However, this doesn’t stop the green-haired man from releasing a reassuring scent in the air, letting Katsuki know how his lover was here.  

“Why did you do all of that ?” The question was simple and the blond wished he could erase this rising sadness inside his chest. 

His body and inner omega acknowledged the presence of Izuku’s delicate scent against his nose, but it wasn’t enough to appease his shattered heart. Shit, Katsuki hated it when he acted like an idiot, ruining everything, especially this surprise that was meant to be a good memory for them. The more he tried to hold back his tears, the harder it became to pretend, until salty tears fell down his cheeks, even after hearing the heartwarming answer from his childhood friend.  

“Because I love you.”

Izuku Midoriya never lied when it came to sentiments, especially when it concerned his husband. He was ready to spend an entire lifetime explaining to his childhood friend how much he loved him, more than any trophy after a competition, and any infected killed in this shitty town. It was hard for Katsuki to accept, mostly due to his inner conflicts that resulted from their past years of separation and insecurities that took another form, stronger than the others. 

Katsuki Bakugo and Izuku Midoriya didn’t belong in the same world, but their differences became a common universe once they sealed their souls together. The scarred fingers left the shaking hands to move behind the omega’s ears, caressing his fragile skin until his thumbs met his cheeks, marked by the previous tears.

“I’ve already told you a million times how I adore each detail of your personality, your flaws became a charm to my eyes and I wouldn’t wish for a better lover than you. Our love is complex, full of unreachable layers for the public eye, but we both know this bond between us is stronger than any trick put by fate: You have the right to be distant when things become too overwhelming, but this is real,” he whispered with a soft tone, kissing the omega’s forehead. “Our rings are real, such as our promises and each smile we exchanged until now. This wasn’t what we expected, but it’ll never change how I feel about you, which is why I thought that planning a surprise would be refreshing…..”

“Tell me something I don't know,” the taller man pointed out in a low tone, wishing to stay in the alpha’s warmth for the rest of his life. Fuck this life with constant fear, he wanted to live in a world where he could proudly wear his childhood friend’s name until their hair becomes grey. Izuku’s previous words were reassuring enough to appease his fast heartbeat, but he wasn’t fully convinced…. “There must be another reason.”

“Alright, I’m doing all of this because I love your smile and stupid grin. It’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with you but I know things have been different since the virus…I only wanted to bring an ounce of nostalgia back into our lives and make you happy. It’s okay if you don’t like it, we can return home and do something else, or-”

“I love it, sorry if I sound harsh sometimes, it’s just…I feel like I don’t deserve this,” he pointed out with a sad tone, feeling how the gentle hands cupped his cheeks to catch his attention. Teary crimson eyes met the loving emerald ones, reading into each other like an open book, with their favorite line transcribed into each of their glances. 

“Don’t say that, you deserve all the love in the world and you’re actually under good care,” Izuku added with a kiss on his lips, pressing his forehead against the omega’s. Their scents became one and worlds started to merge into the most breathtaking narrative, written with golden ink through those indelible blank pages, ready to be filled with new adventures. “Plus, I’ve got a special drink I found in the shop. I’m not really sure if we can drink it, but I thought it  was fancy.”

“Let’s give it a try then,” Katsuki replied with a whisper. Izuku’s face softened as he made sure to bring his love closer knowing he would never let fate take this treasure away from him, even if this meant fighting until his last breath.

—----

The wine was, indeed, comestible, making the two men happier to know they won’t die from bad alcohol. Katsuki wasn’t surprised to see how the freckled man showed the food in cans with an amused tone, mocking the blond's diet and the previous comment he had made earlier. The stubborn omega simply groaned at the gesture and started to pout, forcing his mate to forgive him with a slight kiss on his cheeks and a pinky promise, like the old days. Despite the previous insecurities that filled Katsuki’s chest, the omega succeeded in enjoying the current moment, especially with the soft laugh escaping from their lips, stolen by the wind. 

The slight sound of the river crossed their ears while their shadows peacefully rested in their secret garden. At this moment, all their problems were forgotten, and the only thing that mattered was this mutual warmth in the other’s presence: Katsuki naturally rested his head on the nerd’s lap, catching the gentle fingers caressing his spiky hair with delicacy. Their stomachs were full for the night, heads filled with new memories and confessions that became the favorite narrative of the curious stars watching the show. 

Izuku couldn’t be happier to know his husband found appeasement with this surprise date that made them reconnect with a past that marked their journey. Chasing after nostalgia wasn’t a flaw, put in good hands it could transform this sadness into happiness, even for a few hours in a lifetime. Katsuki was ready to share a thousand apologies each time his crimson eyes met the emerald ones, falling in love all over again for this shadow that offered him this happy ending on a silver plate. Reminiscing about the past wouldn’t change anything, but the two childhood friends succeeded in transforming this crazy day into an unforgettable one, hoping the next ones will be as amazing as this one.

“I forgot the last time we left town to order a pizza…it seemed like a decade ago when you couldn’t make a choice between your favourites and we ended up taking both of them. Do you think we’ll ever taste food like that in this new world ?” Katsuki asked with a curious tone, staring at the endless sky above his head. 

If the question was innocent at first sight, it reflected the heartbreaking truth about their new reality. Each activity repeated itself with their loneliness, longing into nostalgia and creation of new souvenirs, as rare as they might be. The saddest part was how none of this new impression of happiness will ever cover the previous one they get lost, such as the genuine chuckle that escaped their lips after a bad joke, or a hidden confession under a midnight sky.

“I think there must be another pizzeria somewhere else in this world, we just need to look further…maybe you’ll even get your favorite by chance,” Izuku replied with a soft tone, kissing his lover’s forehead. 

He knew the blond understood the double meaning of his words, being a special language between them….something even death couldn’t take away from them. The delicate fingers ruffled the spiky hair with care, admiring how beautiful his lover looked from this angle, wishing to protect him as long as possible from the vultures who tried to tear them apart. 

“I hope we will, I don’t want to taste bitter ones in the afterlife,” the blond pointed out, making the freckled man smile at the comment. After all, this mission started in the most innocent way with their shadows running to the safest spot, unaware of how they’ve been each other’s biggest strength and weakness. “I can die tomorrow, at least I would've had these tender memories as my last.”

“Don’t say that,” mumbled the freckled man with a sigh. He didn’t like it when the topic of death was mentioned, but the omega seemed to find this amusing to tease his husband about something that often play with his nerves. 

“We’ll never know, but with someone as protective as you, it’s impossible to make this happen, I don’t have any worries about that,” he replied with a tease, moving his head to meet the touched emerald eyes. 

Izuku Midoriya had never been so pretty under this angle, with his adorable freckles on his cheeks and his beauty able to steal the moon with a single glance. It was the biggest treasure the omega owned, knowing his childhood friend chose someone like him for the rest of his life…a fate probably annoying with time, but a source of a happy ending for the nerd. 

“I’m just doing my job, darling,” Izuku whispered with a soft smile, stealing another kiss from the omega’s lips. 

Their finger intertwined and the fresh breeze caressed their shadows, sealing their fate with another proof of their endless affection. A light “I love you” escaped from the alpha’s lips, catching the slight blush rising on his lover’s cheeks, knowing the two of them were able to survive another night and cuddle like the naive souls they were. 

After all, Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo survived this long in these cruel conditions, but they’ll always remain those children who played in the park together, dreaming about a world by each other’s side. 

-End-