Chapter Text
Katsuki sits in the Oncologist's office, knees shaking ever so slightly, waiting for the inevitable. His health has been deteriorating the past few months. Nose bleeds come like the weekly door-to-door salespeople, bruises painting his body like a blank, untouched canvas. He had even started taking less patrol shifts due to feeling constantly tired, and a gnawing ache in his entire being over a normal eight-hour day. Usually he could go up to a twelve-hour shift, go on a late night walk with Izuku and be one hundred percent the next day. Katsuki is well aware he has been off his game the past few months but pays it no mind. Just a rough patch; a hurdle that he must overcome and get over with.Realistically the blonde knows he'll be fine. After all, he fought in a war when he was sixteen; and defeated Japan’s worst villain on his lonesome. A couple bruises and nosebleeds isn’t the worst thing the blonde had to endure. Being impaled, arm getting decayed by Shigaraki, and any other bull shit caused by villains in the past thirteen years of life after being involved in the hero kind of life don't even scratch the surface of needing to go to a doctor.
After telling the nerd about how he has been feeling, Izuku advised him to get checked out by a medical professional. Which Katsuki didn't agree with. Does the nerd still think he's pathetic and weak? He doesn’t need to go to the doctor, it's probably just burn out. Right? Why would he need a doctor over a few bruises and nose bleeds? It can't be that serious he's Katsuki fucking Bakugou a little nose bleed won't hurt him in the long run. Even if he went to get a check up the doctor would most likely tell the short tempered man that he needs to take it easy for a week then get back on his feet. Katsuki was going to hear none of that out. Izuku knows that with Katsuki everything, every single syllable that the greenette says goes in one ear and out of the hearing aid needed, partially deaf ear.
After graduating from Tokyo University’s hero course; Katsuki went straight to hero work paving his way to eventually have his own hero agency. After only two years in the field working under Best Jeanist his mentor since his first year in high school. When Katsuki was twenty four and eligible to open his own hero agency "Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight's agency". Then last year, at twenty-six he was ranked the second hero in all of Japan following Lemillion, so no way in absolute hell was Katsuki listening to advice from a high-school teacher that specializes in language and hero history about his health. Maybe if the nerd ended up as a doctor or anything higher in the employment hierarchy. Izuku and him are twenty-seven now; he's a full grown adult, he didn't need to bother going to the hospital. Little did the blonde know the most humiliating experience was about to occur nearly a day later in the wind chilling November afternoon.
A few days back while on the third hour of his eight hour shift; Katsuki was on patrol when he caught a stupid, numb nut of a teen who decided to rob a poor old grandma of her pink Coach purse. He was milli-meters away from grabbing the guy's hood and yanking him to the floor when he was struck by the gods with a massive surge of every bone aching and pulsating. Muscle cramps and Charlie horses don't even compare to what he was going through. He felt a violent pain in every joint, ligament, and bone in his body. Katsuki jolted so fast he ended up slamming into the ground and eating concrete. Face down ass up, like a loser vigilante with no hero license and a dream. Thankfully Half’n half was in the area and managed to apprehend the villain without much trouble. The heterochromic eyed man saw a massive crowd and he quickly discovered it was an unconscious wild Bakugo in the middle of the circle. The ranked fourth hero rushed the unconscious man into urgent care. Carrying Katsuki in a bridal style; his head leaning on Shoto's chest. Katsuki’s bloody nose seeping into the other's hero suit. The blue fabric became stained with a dark maroon colour. Shoto never would have thought in a million years that he would be carrying Bakugo to the hospital. Heroes get injured, but Katsuki was a tank; a different breed. Someoe who was mad as if he was invincible. After work there may be bruises, cuts, or worst case a sprain. Shoto knew whatever happened on the street back there must've been bad.
- Two Days Later -
Katsuki woke up in a blinding white room. The fluorescent lights were fully convincing him he had finally died and gone into the after life. Maybe the Gods had thought he had dodged death one too many times and finally picked him, Katsuki was certain of one thing. Whoever his guardian angel was is genuinely built differently; they must have been ready to quit like ten years ago. If they are even a real thing. He remembers hearing the girls talking about them in their first year at lunch, he also remembers wanting to slam his head into a table after hearing others talk about such a ridiculous topic. Katsuki always thought it was stupid anyways. The room was so overwhelmingly bright Katsuki scratched the afterlife thought, since realistically there was no chance he would end up there. Maybe he had ended up in some psychiatric ward? He can be batshit crazy sometimes but things don't add up. He feels his wrist get tugged back by an iv, a slight pinching feeling lingers in his left arm. The blonde feels his eyes shut without his permission. Katsuki spends another couple hours asleep; time turns into fluid as he drifts off. Each hour unconscious drips away like raindrops falling off of a roof. His mind feels so awake but his body doesn’t seem to cooperate at all.
As he opens his eyes properly, instead of the small squint he had looking at the ceiling he finds a large window on the right of him which wasn’t opened before. The sun shone brightly and the sky dyed in beautiful hues of hot pink and radiant orange. His body felt like it was anchored to the bed, was he really that exhausted? He could barely even wiggle his fingers. He tried to look around with the limited energy and out of the corner of his eye he spotted green messy curls. The blonde immediately shuts his ruby eyes as faster than when he opened them, not wanting to look or talk to him because he was in fact right about needing to go to the doctor. Yes, Katsuki is indeed that petty and will go as far as pretending to still be in a coma to avoid the nerd confronting him that he was actually right.
"Kacchan?"
A voice he knows too damn well to be mistaken as anyone else says quietly in a raspy tone. He should tell the nerd to drink some God damn water. His throat sounds drier than the Sahara Desert. Izuku’s voice sounded like someone shoved sand paper down his throat.
"Kacchan, I know you're awake."
Izuku says, his voice is gentle as if Katsuki were a glass vase and speaking too loud would break him into pieces. He cautiously opens his eyes one-by-one to find Izuku looking down at him with red puffy eyes. He was sporting a light blue All Might Hoodie and baggy grey jogging pants. His hair is a ruffled mess of curls that are frizzy, and are looking like an overall disaster. Katsuki tries to talk but nothing comes out. Being forced to keep quiet by his own body, probably a way to keep him from saying something obnoxious.
"What's wrong? Are you in pain!? Should I call the nurse?"
Izuku said, slightly panicked. Katsuki uses his shaky hands to motion for a drink, his thumb and pinky up pressing his thumb to the corner of his mouth. which Izuku mistakes for a phone somehow but gets it right on the second try. He carefully helps Katsuki sit up, his hand supporting the blonde’s back. While his other hand holds the cup of cold water, the greenette slightly angles the cup so Katsuki can drink slowly. He ends up finishing the cup and Izuku helps him lean back in a more comfortable position.
"Th..thank.."
Katsuki rasps out. Izuku smiles softly, his tears finally drying leaving his eyes with a red underline and flushed cheeks. Is it even normal to blush when you just helped your childhood friend drink water? For Christ’s sake nerd.
"Kacchan what happened?"
Izuku asks, breaking the awkward silence and moves to sit in front of him on the small hospital bed. Katsuki looks into those emerald eyes. Hell, he could get lost looking at them if he was honest. The greenette once said the eyes were the gate way to a person's soul and he was in fact not wrong; again
"..'Zuku I don't..even know.. one minute I'm chasing a guy..next I'm eating...the fucking...ground."
Katsuki's voice is rough due to his sore throat which is killing him slightly hypocritical based on what he thought about the nerd earlier, but he doesn't complain for the first time in his entire life. Izuku looks into the blonde's ruby orbs and laughs, his laugh fills the air, it's like a perfect harmony to him not that he would ever tell him. Also, what the hell is the dweeb laughing at? Katsuki could’ve died on the street.
“Ah! Sorry for laughing Kacchan, it's just your face that was hilarious!” Izuku spits out mid laugh, chest heaving, his eyes creasing into perfect crescents as he laughs the day away. Katsuki stares blankly at him, even cracking a small microscopic smile.
"They took some tests to try and figure out what was wrong. I'm sure you'll be okay though Kacchan, since you're the best."
“Damn right I am.” Izuku smiles while doing his best to reassure the blonde, his eyes scrunching up into little crescents again. His beautiful freckles that decorate his face like star constellations in the night sky, everything about him is perfect to Katsuki.
What the hell am I thinking?
After a two week period Katsuki was able to leave the hospital. Thankfully during his time at the most boring place on earth Izuku stayed with him everyday, only leaving to shower and get snacks for the two of them. Eijirou even dropped by the other day to check up on his best ‘manly’ friend. As vulnerable as Katsuki felt when they saw him weak and in bed he was happy that he wasn't by himself. Even though he would rather have to die again to show it. He knows Izuku did not have to stay there but he chose to and that made Katsuki feel the warmest he's ever felt in his chest.
Although Katsuki is eligible to go home now, he still needs an extra hand and just in case anything happens, someone is there to watch over him. Izuku immediately volunteered, while the blonde immediately opposed the idea. He didn't want to bother Izuku anymore. The man already dedicated the past two weeks to be in the hospital with him every waking hour of the day. Katsuki would not let Izuku waste anymore time on his sorry ass. He used so many sick days to watch over and entertain Katsuki, he didn't need him as his little maid. His students probably missed their teacher mainly thinking of Eri and Kota, plus he didn't want the nerd to be behind in marking, planning classes, and other teacher shit.
Katsuki lived in an apartment on the top floor, one bathroom, two bedrooms, a kitchen, his study, gym, and a living room. All though the apartment was a very fancy living space; he never needed more than that but, now that Izuku is practically living with him for who knows how long they were going to be cramped like sardines in a can. Even thinking about it made him feel claustrophobic. Katsuki needed space which Izuku was breaking into like an invasive species in a habitat that it's not supposed to be in.
The next day the blonde wakes up happy to be home. He dives back into his usual routine. Brush teeth till gums bleed, take a cold shower, change, eat break- a knock at his apartment door echoes throughout his home. What dumb ass would bombard his morning routine? One hour of peace is all I ask of this world, Katsuki internally shrieks in his head. The blonde grumbles his way to the front door, face in his usual scowl and swings it open ready to yell at whoever is bothering his morning routine.
Izuku stands at the doorway, a bright smile plastered across his stupidly beautiful face. A yellow backpack slung over his shoulder, and a small suitcase plastered in stickers in his other hand. He stands at the door wearing his red running shoes, baggy black jeans, and his white t-shirt that has ‘t-shirt’ written across in bold and the blonde couldn't forget the nerd’s heart-warming, room brightening, life changing smile. Katsuki has never witnessed another smile that did that to his chest. He felt his chest tighten at the sight of Izuku as if his smile were grabbing his heart and squeezing like a child thirsting for lemonade. What the fuck was that all about?
"Hey Kacchan! I've missed you!"
Izuku exclaims as happy as ever. The blonde pushes up his black framed glasses from the tip of his nose and stares the greenette up and down with his ruby red eagle eyes. With a loud over dramatic sigh he lets the teacher into his abode.
"Yeah yeah yeah, Nerd I saw you yesterday." He mutters scratching the ever loving shit out of his scalp. Katsuki steps aside to let the greenette into the apartment, leaning on the wall. "Kitchen is right there." Katsuki points to the room right beside them. “Down the hall, gym in the right, left is the bathroom. At the end of the hall on the right is my bedroom, you can stay in the room on the left. Oh and my study the door in the living room. Don't go in. It has all my work and stuff I can't show to the public.” Katsuki quickly shows Izuku the layout of his apartment. White marble floors, windows floor to ceiling. Beautifully painted black walls with few picture frames decorating them. Izuku nods along like a bobble-head. "You interrupted my breakfast." Katsuki sits down in his seat, picks up his fork and continues munching on his eggs and bacon. Izuku looks at him with an odd look displaying on his face.
"I'm not gonna starve you nerd, you can eat. Plates are in the cabinet to the- no the next one idiot." The blonde says harshly. Izuku fumbles around the kitchen before sitting across from the red eyed man. He sheepishly picks at the bacon as Katsuki is about to finish up.
"Are you mad that I'm here?" Izuku poses the question that he's been dying to ask since he's arrived. He looks at Katsuki, making direct eye contact with the blonde. "I mean, I understand why you would be upset Kacchan but..I really don't mi-"
"I'm not mad 'Zuku. I'm just frustrated with myself for even needing help." He sinks back into his seat, looking away from those emerald eyes.
As if on cue Katsuki's phone buzzes. He picks up his phone off the table to ignore the interrupting call when he reads the caller id.
"Musutafu General Hospital"
Shit.
He shoots up out of his seat to answer the call. Izuku wearily watches the blonde, taking a small piece of breakfast into his mouth. He walks to his room and shuts it quietly; picking up in the fifth ring.
"Hello. Is this Bakugou Katsuki I'm speaking to?"
A nurse's or doctor's voice rings in his ear. A soft tone that sounds worrisome.
"Yes, that's who you're speaking to." Katsuki mutters.
"Can we have you come in as soon as possible?"
"What for?"
"It would be best to tell you in person Mr. Bakugou." She says quietly into the speaker, Katsuki is slightly impressed that his shitty hearing was even able to hear what she said.
"I'll be there right away then."
Katsuki starts to change out of his pajamas. He pulls an orange hoodie over his head and dark blue skater jeans. picking up his keys off his stand and hurriedly putting on his shoes. Slipping each foot into black court graffik shoes. He opens the door without a second thought, ready to leave with his phone and clammy hands.
"Uhm..Kacchan? Where are you going?" Katsuki cranes his head around to look at the confused nerd sitting at the table.
"What was the call about?"
The greenette uses his curious tone that the blonde adores but would never admit. The greenette gets up from the dining table seat and walks over to the blonde with a worrisome look across his adorable face.
"S'fine nerd I'll be back. It was just my hero suit. Pink hair finally decided to fix some of the kinks I've been telling her to fix." He hates lying, especially to Izuku. But what could he say? “oh, I'm just going to the hospital for some unknown reason.” absolutely not. Lying it is.
"Oh alright be safe! Call me if anything happens! I'll just set up my stuff. See ya Kacchan!" Izuku smiles
"See you Izu'."
Katsuki drives to the hospital, which isn't too far. Only thirteen minutes aways to be exact.Throughout the drive he feels a knot in his chest and a gnawing ache in his stomach. His mind unravels like a string of thread on a spool, spinning and spinning till there's nothing left. He tries to make his mind think of something else, trying his best to not think of a future that doesn't result in death but that doesn't help at all. The doctor just wants to check in to see how the blonde is doing. Totally. That's why he's driving all this way. He sees the medical building and pulls into the parking lot. He decides to go in the back to further delay what will be told in the next hour. The blonde parks his black Jeep wrangler, taking off his seat belt with unsteady hands. He needs to take a breath because what the fuck.
Why am I so nervous? There's nothing wrong, it's just test results. He gets out of the car and presses his keys to lock his car, not moving till he hears the familiar ding.
Katsuki trots into the hospital with heavy steps, carefully watching the people around him. Posters about washing your hands and how to prevent sickness from spreading; decorate the off white, eggshell coloured walls. The stench of death radiates from the walls and hell, even the floors. A pale man with an iv pole passes him and gives the blonde a smile. He has a hospital gown on with some sort of slip on shoes, and a beanie covering his head. Katsuki nods at him before continuing his way to the desk.
Ever since the war he hated the hospital. Everything always went wrong there. He still remembers when Izuku was laying unconscious after fighting villains from their teens. While Katsuki stood there practically unharmed compared to the other. What truly haunts Katsuki is when he stood in the nerd's hospital room after the war and was told Izuku was quirkless, again. He's never cried so damn much. Nothing good ever happens at a hospital. Is what the blonde has learned from over the years.
"Oi, one of the nurses called me here." The blonde leans forward on the edge of the desk looking down at the only employee he's seen in this gigantic establishment.Tapping on the surface of the desk impatiently with his index finger. The lady, most likely mid-twenties, looks up from her computer screen to look at the ruby eyes staring down at her. Katsuki scoffs as she looks like a deer in headlights, she stares intensely at his face. Her messy bun and glasses at the tip of her nose permeate the aura of a twelve hour shift.
"Ah yes Mr. Bakugo was it? Bakugo that name sounds familiar.." she mutters the last sentence to herself.
"Yeah that's me, now where the hell am I goi-"
"Oh my goodness! Dynamight?!"
The receptionist interrupts him with a loud exclamation. Eyes blown wide, her blue eyes boring into his own ruby eyes. Could her eyes be anymore gigantic? Close them or something Christ. After she shouted his hero name, Katsuki died internally. He was praying silently that she wouldn't recognize him, especially after she was muttering like the nerd that was waiting for him at home. Shit! He needs to STOP thinking about him. For the love of everybody he just wanted to get checked out or whatever the hell the doctors needed from him and leave.
"I just need to know where I'm going." Katsuki rolls his eyes so hard he swears he saw his brain for a split second. “Wait! Can I have a picture?” She says trying to turn down the painfully high volume she just used. “I just wanted to see what the doctors need from me.” He snaps slightly, truly he did try to be polite at the lady but, oh lord was she horrid at her one job.
"Ah yes..third floor the oncologist office." She stammers not expecting that answer; the blonde says a quick thanks before heading into the elevator. Weird ass receptionist. His mind echoes the thought. Also what the fuck is an oncologist? The nerd's mom was a nurse, sure, but he never heard of an oncologist. He reaches into his pocket to search up the medical practice when he realizes he must've left his phone in the car. He hates how his stomach drops even more, if that was even possible. Great. Absolutely amazing! Fuckin fantastic! Just perfect. What the fuck is an oncologist?
He arrives on the third floor and follows the red arrows on the floor that navigate him through the labyrinth of what society calls a hospital. He finally and I mean finally arrives in the oncologist office. Katsuki finds the door slightly ajar and pushes it open with a little more force than needed. Causing the hinges to squeak like shoes on a basketball court. A smaller sized, elderly lady sits at her dark brown, oak desk. Her desk is cluttered with papers and small photo frames. The space is as cozy as an oncologist’s office can feel. On the right of the room is a red couch and small oak coffee table that displays rings of coffee stains left from mugs and cups.The left side is a shelf filled with an assortment of items.
"Hello, I'm Doctor Shūzenji Chiyo." She stands up and walks over to the blonde. Looking up, she offers her hand.
"Bakugo" The blonde looks down and takes her hand shaking it ever so slightly.
"Have a seat, I have your files right here.” She scurries to obtain some files while Katsuki sits in a red chair across her desk. He dissociates from reality for a second, eyes blurring as he dives into the depths of his thoughts. She sits across from him, her leather chair creaking slightly due to the weight distribution.
"I called you here cause we have got your test results." Her tone sounds off. Like she sounds sad. What the ever loving fuck is happening. Her face gives an almost sympathetic look.
"I'm good though right?" Katsuki tries to keep his cool. His voice was ever so slightly cracking.
"Katsuki, the tests discovered you have Leukemia. To be specific, Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Shortened as AML. It's a very serious, aggressive, and life-threatening blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and specific white blood cells."
"What?" Katsuki says out of shock. "I guarantee you the tests must've have been mixed up with a different patient cause I'm certain I don't have fuckin cancer." He spits out.
"Katsuki, I understand the shock. But I'm certain that your tests haven't been mixed or switched with any other patient. Let's discuss and try to find the best way for you to beat this alright?" Katsuki keels over and feels sick to his stomach. The lady gets up and places a garbage bin in his lap. Bile rises in the blonde's throat. Katsuki immediately puts it to use and throws up. He swears it doesn't stop, the seconds; no minutes he spends throwing up feels like hours. The silence of the room filled with the sounds of his gagging, disturbing him further.
Eventually he calms himself down and is feeling like absolute shit. He doesn't even look at Doctor Shūzenji. He stares at the ugly ass floor of the office that's in need of a sweep and mopping.
"Katsuki, are you ready to continue?" She's asked in the most gentle tone she's used since he was here. He nods slowly, looking up at her.
"In further detail AML occurs when a myeloid stem cell becomes cancerous, causing the production of diseased cells that multiply rapidly. These abnormal cells build up in the bone marrow and blood, crowding out healthy blood cells and making it harder for the blood to function properly. There are three main treatments I would recommend. First being Chemotherapy, which uses very powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells. Second, is targeted therapy which is when you are prescribed medications to take and hopefully purge the cells. And lastly, a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Usually the transplants are when there are no options but how you treat it is up to you. I'll send you home with some pamphlets and papers so you can read it over and figure out how you want to deal with it. Alright?"
She stands up and pulls out some papers from her shelf drawer and hands it to the blonde who’s remained silent since the whole vomiting thing. He takes the papers from her hands and scans the writing quickly. Words turned into white blurs in his eyes, sentences barely readable to him. Katsuki still couldn't process what she said. How could he? He did not have cancer. No. Absolutely not, he's Katsuki Bakugo, The Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight; ranked as number two hero at the age of twenty-seven. The media will flip the fuck out if they find out. And why was his first thought about the fucking extras?! He stands up with a heavy heart as if a weight was placed around his chest slowly pulling him down into the depths that he wouldn't be able to return from.
“Katsuki.”
The elder woman's voice snapping him out of his trance. She looked at him, her lips pressed into a firm straight line. “My number is on this business card alright? Call if you have questions or if you have an answer but we will need it soon. It's not like AML is incurable. The only variable is what will be effective and what will not.”
The blonde nods along.
“I..I'm home nerd!” Katsuki exclaims opening his door. Surprisingly he's met with an uncomfortable silence till he hears something tumble onto the floor in his guest bedroom. He takes off his shoes and places them neatly on the side, also fixing Izuku's stupid red shoes since the nerd doesn't know how to be organized. Katsuki walks over to the guest room and gives the door a few light knocks.
“Nerd you good? Still got all your shit it tact?”
The blonde says with a smug smirk on his face; opening the door slightly. He finds the greenette on a very serious looking phone call. His brown eyebrows scrunched, his face in a pout. Apparently he feels at home already since his hair is pulled back in the front by a headband, and is wearing some random Uravity shirt with his famous basketball pants. He wears bunny slippers that cover his toes and just looks overall adorable in Katsuki's eyes.
Izuku groans and hangs up his call. Slumping into the bed. Placing his phone on the bed and throwing his head into his hands mumbling something incoherent. Katsuki walks over and sits beside him, his eyes displaying great concern for his friend; best friend.
“What's going on?” Katsuki rasps out, placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder. Green eyes snap up to meet him.
“My..my dad. He wants to visit my mom and I. Kacchan what do I do?! He's a horrible man, he cheated on my mom he..he used to hit her an-” Izuku's breathing picks up and his chest heaves up and down, a pace way over the normal breathing rate. Katsuki doesn't know what else to do but hug him. He envelopes Izuku into his arms. Hugging him and resting his forehead on the teacher's shoulder.
“We’ll figure it out. I promise; like we always do. Right” Katsuki smiles, a real smile that is directed to Izuku.
“I don't know what I'd do without you Kacchan.” Izuku mumbles into Katsuki's shoulder. Some papers fall to the wooden floor. They must've fallen off of the bed when Katsuki rose to hug him. Izuku crouches down and freezes, a red brochure catches his emerald orbs. ‘Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Your guide to diagnosis. Treatment and life after AML’
“Kacchan what the hell is this?”
Katsuki's heart stops for the second time in his life. The papers that fell were his and he just registered that in the milliseconds he had to realize why Izuku sounded so concerned.
“I-”
The blonde barely gets to spit out.
“You. You're sick?” Tears fill those precious green eyes that Katsuki holds so dear to his heart. He hates seeing him cry. Tears slide down that freckled face and drop to the floor. Katsuki is speechless and he doesn't know what to say. He's barely even given himself time to understand what happened in that Oncologist’s office twenty minutes ago.
“Tell me I'm dreaming! Tell me! Please Kacchan tell me this isn't real!” He grabs onto the blonde's collar. Katsuki didn't even realize that he started crying too. He only realizes when his vision becomes blurred.
“You're not Izuku. You are not dreaming.”
Katsuki's voice interrupts their moment of crying.