Chapter Text
“This is the third time, Katsuki!’ Mitsuki yelled at her son; who was standing in front of the couch, snarling at the ground. Masaru wasn’t home from the store. While the two were home Mitsuki got a call from Inko that Izuku had gotten hurt again after sneaking out with Katsuki.
“Don’t you care for Izuku?” She shrugged her shoulders mockingly. “I know you do…then why do you keep getting him and yourself hurt?” Mitsuki’s arms fall to her sides in defeat. Katsuki can hear the desperation in her words, the way she’s not angry but worried. Katsuki doesn’t see why.
His mother ran her shaking hands down her face, taking a deep breath.
“I don’t get the connection you and Izuku have and maybe I never will but… I just want to know what’s wrong.” Her voice was delicate, like a bridge beginning to collapse, the sealed cracks revealing. “You don’t have to tell me exactly what’s wrong, I just want to know if you're sad or angry, please.” Mitsuki pleaded.
The floor creaked as she stepped close to Katsuki, her arms hesitantly reaching up to Katsuki’s face. Her fingers wrapped softly around Katsuki’s sharp jaw. She gently raised his head to see her tear stained face and puffy eyes. Mitsuki’s lip quivered and her gaze could’ve told a million stories if Katsuki paid enough attention. Katsuki gulped as his eyes quickly flicked to the side.
Katsuki was almost as tall as Mitsuki at his age. He thinks it’s crazy how they can’t see eye to eye the closer they get to being able to. He hated how his mother went silent, the way the yelling only lasted what felt like a second. That’s what he knew.
“Okay, Katsuki.” Mitsuki lowered her hands and wiped her tears with her palm. “I don’t– I don’t get why you hurt the ones you love, maybe I’m the reason you’re hurting.” Katsuki tuned out the last of her sentences, the first part echoing. His back stiffened and his brain fought between confessing or running.
Mistuki must have noticed the way Katsuki sucked in a breath. She hiccuped before speaking, “Am I?” Her tone was absolute devastation, like this was the worst thing that could be true. Katsuki immediately shook his head whilst lowering it toward the ground.
It wasn’t her fault he was like this, or maybe it was. Katsuki only knew he didn’t want to see his mother sob because she thinks it’s her. Thinks it’s her fault Katsuki is different.
Mitsuki just stared at him incredulously. “Katsuki?” She bent down to see Katsuki’s face before standing up. A pair of hands laid on Katsuki’s shoulders, lightly gripping at his shirt. “Please say something.”
Katsuki was unresponsive. He understood his silence wasn’t helping, but what could he say. His lips parted, nevertheless no sound came out. Whatever he had in mind vanished and he was left with a warning. If he spoke he’d cry. Katsuki was going to cry. Katsuki wanted to cry. Katsuki needed to cry.
But his mind thought differently.
Mitsuki’s hope was dwindling as the stillness of the air stood strong. Her mind raced with things to say, but she threw them away. No word could hold enough power as her emotions.
She embraced Katsuki into a firm hug. His body flinched faintly. She loosened her grip, planting a kiss on Katsuki’s forehead before holding him like his life depended on it. Mitsuki gave up waiting for Katsuki to do or say anything, she just wanted him to know she was here.
“Mom…I–” Katsuki’s sentence stopped abruptly as if his voice wasn’t letting him speak. His mom went to look him in the eyes, Katsuki’s gaze didn’t fray this time.
“I-I don’t know why I’m like this.” Katsuki blurted out, he couldn't believe he said that. He could see the way his mom’s heart sank in her chest. Even so, Katsuki kept talking.
Mitsuki was silently sobbing watching her son, wondering what he could mean by that statement.
“I don’t mean to hurt everyone, I just do.” Katsuki's voice shook, making it harder to make out his mumbles. Katsuki is as surprised by his words as Mitsuki. His eyes stinged, got watery, preparing to be visited by tears.
As soon as a drop of water left Katsuki’s eye, he nudged his mother away. He faced away from her, rubbing his eyes red from non-existent tears. Katsuki choked on his sob. Mitsuki ran to him, taking him into another hug even though Katsuki fought it dearly.
He weakly tried to push Mitsuki away, but her hold was stronger than his in many ways.
“No, mom–stop! Go away–stop. W-why don’t you walk away?” His force started to burn, becoming scrawny headbutts to her shoulder. “Mom. Mom, no. I–cant…I’m not–” His voice was like a loud whisper before erupting into sniffles and hiccups.
He felt suffocated by himself, like his body was taking control, leaving his mind behind. Katsuki gripped onto his mother’s shirt as she whispered sweet nothings in his ear. The sound of crickets was drowned out by Katsuki wails and broken gasps of air.
Mitsuki held her breath while talking, worried that she might just go crazy. How could she go this long without noticing her little boy was going through this, thinking he wasn’t normal. Oh, how she may have taken tough love too far. Katsuki can hardly let out anything but anger because of her representation. Mitsuki predicting Masaru’s soft outlet of emotions would give him a good mixture of both. Parenting isn’t about predicting though, it’s about seeing what's happening in the moment. And right now her son happened to need her now, so she’ll be there. Until the day she dies.
Her shoulder was damp where Katsuki placed his face. His hands held onto the back of her shirt like it was the last thing he could still have in his grip.
Katsuki’s legs wobbled. He started to lower slowly, his knees giving out from the imaginary boulder he was carrying. Mitsuki crouched down with him until he was to his knees, her hand placed against his spiky blonde hair, rubbing circles onto his back.
They both were crumbling from the weight, the weight they carried alone and were now falling together. As Katsuki weeped like a baby, clutching onto his mother, he knew there was no turning back from this.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — –
A door clicks to the house. The sound of bags rustling fills the placid silence. Masaru places the groceries on the counter. A dim light was cut on, illuminating the room with an orange tint.
“Katsuki can you…” Masaru shut up his shouts when he spots blonde hair on the couch. He inches closer to the couch; Mitsuku was sitting on the couch with Katsuki laid across the sofa, his head resting on her lap. Katsuki had his legs balled up and one hand atop of Mitsuki’s while the other hung off the couch.
The scene reminded him of Katsuki’s younger days, how he missed seeing the two together. He smiled faintly and went to put the groceries away. Masaru hummed a tune as he put the food in their respective places, and by time he was finished he scratched the idea of making dinner.
A noise came from the living room. Masaru turned his head, tiptoeing to see Katsuki shifting in his sleep. He walked to the storage closet, grabbing a blanket for Katsuki. Masaru laid the blanket over him, placing a kiss on his forehead.
When looking back up, he was welcomed by Mistuki’s sleepy eyes meeting his. His hand rested on cheek when he leaned in to kiss her and rested his forehead on hers.
“Go to sleep, honey.” He requested softly, his breath rustling on her bangs as he kissed her forehead. Mitsuki eyelids fluttered shut whilst a small grin appeared on her lips.
Masaru seemed pleased with himself as he walked to the lightswitch, letting darkness envelope the house.