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There lays Izuku, with his back to the ground, clutching a fresh made hole over his stomach which could be compared to All Might's. He would laugh it off if it were another situation, but right now, his mangled body is producing a quickly growing blood puddle. Shouto lays a step away, his legs torn apart from his body, his system running with too much adrenaline to even care of the dull pain that overflows his equally destroyed being.
Shouto stares at Izuku's demolished almost corpse, his breathing labored, tiny whimpers get out from his mouth and big fat tears run down his scrunched up face. The blood puddle reaches his fingertips, and he notices he's been bleeding too.
They're not going to make it.
Shouto slowly crawls to Izuku's side, concentrating all the energy he has left on weighting himself on his bloody elbows, putting them on each side of Izuku's head.
''Midoriya,'' his voice comes out raspy and strained.
Izuku opens one eye to look at the blurry image of the man on top of him, be it for his tears or the tiredness, he couldn't tell.
''Midoriya,'' he tries again, his voice now breaking, he couldn't help the knot squeezing his throat shut, this might be the last time he sees Izuku. And he's dying. They're dying.
''Todoroki...'' Izuku chokes out, slightly smiling at the hint of relief on the other's face. ''Todoroki I-''
''There's no time for apologies, Midoriya.'' He swipes his head, frantically scanning the ruined city streets in search for a familiar face, or at least someone who could bring them help. ''We have to find-''
''I love you.''
Shouto stops for a second, staring into Izuku's usually oh so lively and determined emerald eyes, now red from crying and lidded, with a fond smile hanging on his mouth. Like he's trying to prove his point. Like he's admiring Shouto before he blinks and can't open his eyes anymore. Like he... Like he...
Like He Knows.
He has always known, hasn't he.
Something deep inside Shouto snaps, and he leans down to kiss Izuku.
It's fierce and needy, lips clashing together. Theres no tongue, no teeth though, just lips molding in a way to ventilate all the despair and ache pent up. Three years of yearning. Three years of what ifs, Three years of chest pains and the creeping thought that he would die some day and he would have never shown Izuku what he really felt, he would have never told Izuku the truth, shown him his affection.
This situation isn't that different from that one, though.
Shouto feels a hand being put weakly behind his neck, trembling fingers scrambling over his scalp, gripping at his hair. He kisses a little harder, a little more desperate, a little saltier... Oh well, that's his own tears right there.
When they pull back, Shouto collapses on top of Izuku's chest, elbows too weak to pull him up anymore.
''Shouto I love you,'' he hears Izuku mutter again, and again, and again. Until the hand on his neck starts to slip to the ground, and the breathing under his body evens.
He can feel it too, his life slipping away from his grasp.
''Izuku,'' He breathes out, tongue too heavy on his mouth, and lids too heavy on his eyes. He takes a last, deep breath and mutters into Izuku's ear, probably unable to hear a thing by now.
''I love you too.''