Work Text:
“Pro Hero Deku has been declared dead after a devastating villain attack in downtown Musutafu. While no body was recovered, the explosion site left no hope of survival.”
The news played on every channel for days.
All Might couldn’t hide his grief. “He was like a son to me,” he whispered to the press.
Shoto Todoroki refused to believe it. “I won’t stop searching,” he told the reporters. “Not until I find his body.”
Inko Midoriya cried herself unconscious every night, until Mitsuki Bakugou had to move into her danchi just to keep her from collapsing.
Katsuki Bakugou said nothing. Unlike Shoto and All Might, he didn’t give any statement to the public.
People assumed he must had felt the most hurt. Besides, everyone knew how close Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight was to Pro Hero Deku, so they left him to grieve in silences.
But no one knows the truth.
Not even his mother.
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A My Hero Academia Fanfic
Mine To Protect
Don't like, don't read
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“Welcome home, Kacchan!” Izuku beamed. He wore one of Katsuki’s old shirts that looked too big on him that it slipped off his shoulder. “You’re late. Dinner is ready.”
Katsuki had just taken off his boots on the genkan. Still wearing his hero uniform, he walked forward and pulled Izuku into his arms.
“Missed you, Princess,” he muttered against soft hair.
Izuku giggled and hugged back. “Missed you too, Kacchan.”
Now, they sat across from each other at a small dinner table.
“I tried your spicy chicken recipe,” Izuku said, pouting at the blackened chicken. “But I think I burned it.”
Katsuki chuckled. “We’ll try again tomorrow.”
“You always say that,” Izuku mumbled. He toyed with his fork. “But you never let me come with you to the store. I wanna choose the ingredients too.”
Katsuki’s smile faded.
Izuku noticed. His shoulders drooped. “S-sorry. I just thought… maybe one day, we could go out together?”
Katsuki stood slowly, walked around the table, and knelt beside Izuku. He cupped his cheek gently.
“Baby,” he said quietly. “I told you. It’s not safe out there.”
Izuku’s gaze dropped. “I know.”
Katsuki kissed his forehead. “Maybe next time, okay?”
Izuku looked hesitant, but he nodded. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
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[FLASHBACK]
“IZUKUUUU!”
Katsuki dropped to his knees beside Izuku’s motionless body in the smoking ruins. His gloves were gone and his kunckles were bleeding from clawing through concrete and stell.
“Don’t you fucking die on me!”
Izuku wasn’t breathing.
For a moment, Katsuki thought his world was torn apart. He quickly pulled Izuku’s close, pressing his ear against his chest.
… thump … thump …
Thump … thump …
… thump … thump …
There’s a faint heartbeat.
Katsuki collapsed in relief, tears falling silently as he cradled Izuku like something precious and breakable.
‘Hang on, Izuku,’ Katsuki whispered. ‘You’ll be okay.’
He reached for his comm to inform the medics --
[‘Are you going take him to the hospital and let the doctors to patch him up‘]
--and stopped. A voice that didn’t belong to Katsuki spoke in his mind.
‘[Are you going to let them put him back on the frontlines to fight villains again? To save people?’]
His hand hovered above the button.
[‘Are you going to let Izuku do it again?
And again?
And again …
... until it killed him?’]
Katsuki realized something then.
Izuku would never stop to sacrifice himself for others.
Not unless someone made him stop.
He gritted his teeth. He couldn’t lose Izuku again.
And for the first time in his life, The Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight made a decision that would change Izuku’s life forever.
He gently scooped Izuku into his arms and vanished into the smoke.
.
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After the dinner, Izuku stood by the window in the living room. The city lights were distant, blurred behind heavy curtains.
“Kacchan?” Izuku asked gently, not turning his head.
Katsuki was behind him, toweling off his hair from the shower.
“Hm?”
“Why do I feel like I don’t belong here?”
Katsuki crossed the room, pulled Izuku into his arms and buried his face in the crook of his neck.
“Are you thinking of going outside again?”
Izuku turned slowly to face Katsuki. His expression was unsure.
“I mean, I know you said it was dangerous, but I feel like … I don’t know … like there’s something I’m missing. Like there’s a part of me out there.”
Katsuki stayed silent at first. And for a brief second, Izuku wondered if he’d said something wrong.
But then, without saying anything, Katsuki picked him up and sat him down on the couch, comfortably placing him on his lap.
“Baby,” Katsuki said slowly. “There are still bad guys out there who want to hurt you. I was lucky to find you once, but what if I couldn’t save you next time?”
“But who is --”
“I can't forgive myself if something happens to you again.” Katsuki cut him off. “You’re safe here, baby and I’ll make sure I’ll --”
“-- All Might?"
There was a sharp, heavy silence.
Katsuki didn’t even blink
“Where did you hear that name?”
Izuku hesitated. “I think … in my dream,” he murmured. “I’m not sure. There’s just always this person that shows up in my head … someone who used to say ‘I’m here!’ to me.”
Katsuki stared at him for a moment, then he looked away.
“Do you know him, Kacchan?” Izuku asked carefully. “Was he … someone I knew before I lost my memory?”
“I haven’t heard of that name.” Katsuki replied coldly.
There was a silence again.
“You’re not lying, right?”
Katsuki leaned in, whispering. “You trust me, Baby?”
Izuku closed his eyes. Something inside him recoiled. But his lips said:
“Of course I do.”
Katsuki smiled.
“Good boy.”
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That night, the house was quiet.
Izuku was curled up beneath the blanket when Katsuki slid in beside him.
“Can’t sleep?” Izuku asked.
“Not without you,” Katsuki murmured.
He kissed Izuku’s exposed shoulder. His hand slipped under the hem of Izuku’s shirt.
Izuku gasped softly. “Kacchan—”
Katsuki silenced him by kissing him deeper. He held Izuku’s hands above his head, whispered things that made Izuku shiver. “So good for me… all mine… no one else gets to touch you…”
Izuku let out a moan. Katsuki touched him like he knew every inch of his body.
“Izuku … Izuku … My love …” Katsuki breathed his name like a prayer.
When it was over, Izuku buried himself in Katsuki’s chest.
Katsuki kissed his hair. “You’re mine,” he whispered. “Only mine.”
“Yes, Kacchan.”
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After the sex, Katsuki watched Izuku sleep, safe and sound in his arms. He traced a finger on his cheek. Izuku didn’t stir
“I’ve got you,” he whispered. “No one will hurt you ever again. I promise.” He kissed Izuku’s hair. “The heroes don’t deserve you.”
Then he smiled to himself. “But I do. Because I keep you safe.”
Outside, the city lights flickered in the distance.
And Katsuki held onto the only thing he ever loved, even if it meant keeping him locked away.
Forever.
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Epilogue :
Weeks passed. The outside world was still mourning.
A memorial was built in Izuku’s name. All Might visited it regulary. Shouto continued searching for him.
And Katsuki kept his secret.
He kissed Izuku each morning before patrol and came home every night to the one thing he could protect.
Even if it was built on lies ...