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Izuku lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling and counting the stars Kacchen and him put up when they were little.
These weren't the same stars, as he had his own apartment now, but they were close enough. Izuku closed his eyes, allowing himself to forget the world of pain and heartbreak, and drifted off into his memories.
He could still remember it as if it was yesterday, they had come home from school together, heading over to his house to play heroes. His mom had surprised them with the stars then, telling them to go have fun. They had run up to his bedroom, sticking them up half-hazardly.
***
"Kacchan!" Izuku cried out as he slipped, the ground rushing up to meet him as he fell, calling out his best friend's name. Kacchan would save him, he always did.
And yet, he was still pleasantly surprised as strong, warm arms scooped him against his chest, Kacchen holding him close. "Stupid Deku. Can't even balance on your own two feet." Kacchan's words were rough, harsh and unforgiving, but Izuku could hear the concern laced underneath, hiding just below the surface.
Izuku looked up into his deep crimson eyes, his own emerald reflecting back to him. "I'm s-sorry Kacchan."
***
It was all his fault. He should have been more clear. Maybe then Kacchan would be here next to him, not off with someone else.
Not off with Kirishima. Maybe it was better this way. Kirishima was better than him anyways. He deserves Kacchan. Izuku doesn't. He never did. All he deserves was to lay here in the cold, his window open blowing ice and snow into his dark apartment and freezing his tears to his face as he gave in to sleep.
***
Bakugo scowled as Kirishima held up another gift. "NO FOR THE LAST TIME ROCKHEAD NONE OF THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH!" Kirishima sighed putting down the plush he was holding. "Look Bakubro, if none of this is good enough then why not just give him yourself." Bakugo stopped, glaring at Kirishima. "I don't like the nerd. He's a stupid Deku."
Kirishima raised an eyebrow at that, clear not believing him. "Uh-huh... We've just spent the past 5 hours trying to find something to give him and you said every single thing wasn't good enough. Say what you want man but if you really like him just go for it."
Baku stormed off, mumbling 'whatever' under his breath. He hated to admit it, but Kirishima had a point. Izuku clearly liked him, so why not just shoot his shot?
***
Bakugo slammed the door open, almost breaking it in the process. "Deku! Where are you? Why won't you answer your phone!" He shivered, rubbing his hands up and down his arms. Why is it so cold in here? Deku always kept it warm and cozy.
He arrived at his bedroom door, trying the handle. It was locked. "Deku! If you don't answer, I'm gonna come in there and kill you myself!" He pounded on the door, feeling the cold seeped through it.
"Deku!" He's tried again. Screw it. He's going in. He stepped back, rearing his leg back and crashing it through the door, hearing a satisfying crack echo throughout the small apartment. He reached through the small hole and opened the door normally.
He sighed in relief as he saw a small shape on the bed. Only to freeze in horror as he realized why it was so cold, the window was open, the strong winds blowing snow through it.
He turned to Deku, turning him over, only for his eyes to widen in shock at what he saw. Izuku's eyes were closed, his face as pale as a ghost, snow flaking across his skin like extra freckles lining his face, but the most concerning thing he noticed?
His lips were turning blue. Bakugo's face drained of color, almost matching Izuku's, as he quickly scooped Izuku up and carried him out of the apartment into his a few doors down.
***
Izuku couldn't remember the last time he was this warm. It seemed like all he could remember was ice and snow.
His eyes fluttered open, taking in the apartment before him. It seemed almost familiar, the soft blankets wrapped around him, the bookshelf in the corner, Kacchan humming a soft tone as he cooked, the smell drifting from the kitchen...
He almost sank back into the black blanket of sleep before he realized something. This was Kacchan's apartment. He yelped and tried to scramble out of the blankets, only succeeding in falling off the couch and getting more tangled.
The humming stopped as Kacchan heard the commotion, and Deku heard him curse before addressing him. "DEKU I SWEAR IF YOU JUST FELL OFF THE COUCH IN A PANIC I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Izuku blushed as Kacchan walked in to find him almost upside down, trying to claw himself out of the blankets.
Kacchan just sighed, reaching in and grabbing a blanket, tugging slightly. Izuku yelped as he was released from its hold. "S-sorry Kaccan..." He snorted, glaring at Izuku as he helped him up.
"You should be. Now tell me why you tried to kill yourself." Izuku gazed at him in confusion, tilting his head slightly and making his green curls bounce. "W-what do you mean? I d-didn't try t-to..." He trailed off.
Kacchan wrapped a blanket around him before replying surprisingly gently. "Don't think I haven't seen your scars Izu. What was I supposed to think when I had to break down your door to find you with your window down and a layer of frost covering you?"
Izuku melted into the warmth, hiding his face in shame. He thought he had hidden it well enough. Kacchan grabbed his face, pulling up his chin so he was forced to look him in the eye. "Hey. It's okay. But I don't want you hurting yourself, alright?"
Izuku nodded, already drifting off to sleep. The last thing he heard as he fell asleep was Kacchan, "I broke both your doors by the way so you're staying here for a few days. We also have to be up early tomorrow. I'm taking you to get food."
***
Izuku woke up, smelling pancakes and bacon. He sniffed the air loudly but didn't want to open his eyes or get up. It was too comfy and warm here.
Eventually his hunger dragged him out of the bed he was lying on. He was in a large T-shirt and shorts, which wasn't what he fell asleep in. Izuku blushed.
Shaking his head to clear the thoughts he should definitely not be having right now, he looked around, surprised. He wasn't in the living room anymore.
He was in Kacchan's bedroom. And he slept in his bed.
***
Bakugo stretched as he sat up from the couch he had just sat down on after cooking breakfast, only to yell in surprise as Izuku's beautiful emerald eyes greeted him.
“WHAT THE HECK DEKU!” Izuku blinked in surprise as he slid away from Kacchan. “S-sorry Kacchan, but I have a question?”
Bakugo waited for him to continue, eventually getting fed up. “Well?! Spit it out already!” Izuku yelped before blushing and mumbling something under his breath. “What?” Bakugo prompted.
“I-i was j-just w-wondering how I g-ot on your bed?” Bakugo smiled on the inside, he loved Deku's stutter. “Simple. I picked you up and put you on my bed.”
Izuku's blush deepened, highlighting his freckles perfectly. “But w-why didn't you sleep on i-it?”
Kacchan chuckled before replying. “What? You wanted me to sleep with you?” Deku squeaked, hiding his face and mumbling what sounded suspiciously like, ‘I wouldn't have minded it.’ before finally squeaking out an answer.
“No! I mean why didn't you just leave me on the couch?” His gaze suddenly sharpens, locking onto Izuku's. “Why on earth would I do that Izuku?”
The sudden use of his name stopped him dead in his tracks, flinching back into himself. Bakugo noticed immediately, and switched tactics.
“Hey how about we get some food? I have some clothes you can borrow, and you can use the guest bathroom to get ready.” Izuku brightened at the mention of food, but his mood quickly soured.
Kacchan raised an eyebrow, “What's wrong?” Izuku glanced around nervously before replying. “Didn’t you already make pancakes?”
“Yeah. Why? We can just eat them for dinner.” Izuku nodded slightly before standing up from where he had been sitting…practically on top of Kacchan.
***
Izuku fiddled nervously with the edge of the shirt he borrowed as he sat on Kacchan's bed, waiting for him to come out. What he did not expect was for him to come out with nothing but a towel on.
Bakugo barely glanced at Izuku before grabbing some clothes and heading back to the bathroom, but the damage was already done.
Izuku had seen the perfectly toned abs lining the bottom of Kacchan chest, as well as the muscles rippling underneath his smooth skin as he reached to grab his clothes.
The clothes that perfectly fit him, highlighting his muscles without seeming like he was showing them off.
Izuku melted into the clothes he was wearing, breathing in the sweet, yet salty, caramel smell of Kacchan.
***
They sat down across from one another, Izuku too distracted by gazing around at the cozy little café they were in to notice.
“Hey Deku!” Izuku snapped his head over to Kacchan, eyes wide and alert. “Jeez, calm down nerd. The waiter was asking you what you wanted to order.”
“Oh! O-of course! I-im so sorry! I'll just have a cupcake.” Kacchan finished ordering as he went back to staring around.
It was a cute little café with lots of pink and plants, there were a few people scattered about, but it was relatively empty.
Bakugo watched as Izuku stared around the café, not at all upset that he wasn't talking to him. It meant he could count those freckles again, or maybe even lose himself in those deep beautiful eyes…
They stayed like that for a few minutes, Deku watching other people and Bakugo watching him, before the waiter came back with their food. They thank her before digging in.
“Deku.” Izuku looked up at Kacchan, still chewing on a cupcake. He tilted his head like a puppy, clearly telling Bakugo to go on. “Why did you leave your window open?”
Izuku ducked his face out of sight, swallowing the cupcake before replying. “I d-didn't r-really mean to, I w-was just d-distracted.”
Kacchan didn't pry, and waited for him to continue. Izuku's voice got stronger as he continued, “I guess I just thought since i-it doesn't matter…”
Bakugo really shouldn't cut in here, but he had to. Trying to keep his voice calm he cut in, “Your life? Your life doesn't matter?”
Izuku didn't even react before continuing. “Well, you have Kirishima so…” Kacchan's eyes widened in realization.
“Izuku. You do know that I don't like Kirishima like that, right?” Izuku, who clearly didn't know, squawked in disbelief.
Kacchan snorted, leaning over the table and wiping a smear of frosting from off Izuku's face with his thumb, bringing it to his own face and licking the frosting off. “Idiot. I like you Deku. I always have.”
Izuku's face turned strawberry red, and he clearly didn't know how to respond to that, so Bakugo did it for him, crossing across the table and dragging Izuku over to him before pulling him into a kiss.