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Izuku could barely see where he was going in the rain. Since the banquet’s start, the light drizzling had morphed into a heavy downpour as night fell. His green curls drooped over his eyes like a liquid veil, blocking his line of sight with his surroundings. The rain hailed against the tree line, a near deafening roar as it pounded against the thicket of trees, grass, and winding cobblestone paths. In a near instant, his skin was cloaked in freezing water, the cold seeping from his clothes, through his pores, and burrowing deep within his being, like ice cold needles to his joints. Yet, the only thing Izuku could hear, the only sense he could even process was the thrumming of his heart between his ears and the voice of the one person he knew all too well.
With a sudden tilt of his world, Izuku felt himself being lifted into a set of arms as Katsuki carried him. Once he got his bearings, Izuku planted a firm hand against the other’s chin and pushed, attempting to put space between them as he demanded that Katsuki let him go. Once Izuku realized his method was not going to work, he resorted to the gentlemanly solution: ramming his head into his childhood friend. The other suddenly let go with a resounding groan, leading to Izuku to slam rather painfully into the ground below. Rolling onto his side, Izuku realized the two were currently out of the rain, sharing a space beneath a stone pavilion nobles used for tea parties and outdoor ceremonies.
“Are you mad!?” Katsuki exclaimed, leaning against one of the decorative stone pillars for support as he examined his hand, checking for a bloody nose “You would have frozen to an oblivion had I not found you and brought you out of the rain!”
“I would have favored oblivion over spending a single moment longer with you!” Izuku shot back, standing up from a kneel, rubbing the dirt off his trousers before returning to glare at the blonde. “You had no right!”
Katsuki scoffed, ripping his wet jacket off his shoulders and throwing it over the one of the tall statutes lining the perimeter. “Forgive me for showing kindness to someone such as yourself.”
Izuku felt himself stiffen at the implication, the reiteration colder than any chill the autumn season could bring, before a sense of righteousness and anger swelled up inside. “I suppose I should apologize then, someone of your stature should not be expected to make chase after a man of such inferior birth.”
The scowl melted off the blonde’s face as an expression of perplexion masked over “I have not the slightest--”
“Do you deny the derisive notions you gave Lady Ochaco at the banquet regarding my rank? That you, against your better judgement and our supposed lack of proprietary as Midoriyas, continued to associate with such a uncivilized family!”
“I don’t deny it.” Katsuki confirmed, with hurtful near immediacy that only continued to enrage him. “My words to Lady Ochaco did not lack truthfulness. After all, its suggested that such a union would be for financial advantage.”
“Are you implying that you are simply protecting her ladyship from befalling such a similar misery?” Izuku challenged.
“No! No…I--”
“Have…” Izuku swallowed the growing lump in his throat. Perhaps the only mercy the lord was offering him right now was that his current sorry state would make it difficult to distinguish rain from tears. “Have you even considered what continued misery you have subjected my mother to?”
The look of blank confusion on Katsuki was followed by a hollow realization as Izuku continued to speak. “Despite my father’s departure and the shame of having a child out of wedlock, my mother raised me with what meager morsels she could c-come by.” Izuku rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve, more out of frustration rather than to dry his face, as he realized his sleeve was also, if not more wet, than his complexion. “I promised that as her guardian, I would bear any burden, any circumstance, any struggle, to protect our family.” He paused, rubbing at his eyes angrily again as more of a gesture of self soothing and determination. “That includes asking for the hand of her ladyship within an acceptable modicum of decorum--”
“I love you.” Katsuki suddenly let out, a whisper that could be clearly heard above the now quieted pitter patter of the rain, released as a single long exhale.
Izuku felt his knees grow weak, backing up against the stone column behind him for support as he processed the sudden confession. “You…what?”
The green haired man could see the other’s shoulders sink, as if a sudden burden were released from his body after eons of divine punishment. Izuku refused to look up, but he could clearly hear the rustling of clothes and the click of loafers against the cool stone. A single finger reached under his chin, pulling his gaze upwards to a set of watery red eyes. As Katsuki used one hand to cup the other’s face, Izuku watched as the other pulled out a handkerchief from his suit vest, safely tucked away from the storm. Without looking away from each other, Izuku felt the feather-like touch of soft silk caress his cheek, wiping away any lingering tears. Even as he choked out a small sob of frustration, Izuku couldn’t help but curl into Katsuki’s touch.
“In spite of my initial temperament, I knew upon seeing you again there was nothing I could do to escape these forbidden affections.” Katsuki explained as he paused briefly, lifting Izuku’s face to gaze into his eyes. “On the days we were apart, I would lie awake in agony every night until I succumbed to slumber. In my dreams, I would find myself in a forest, so lush that Demeter herself would be riddled with envy. Yet, I found myself thinking they were nothing compared to the green of your eyes.” Another pause, as Katsuki ran his thumbs over the new steam of tears running down Izuku’s face. “No matter how many women my mother continued to push towards me, ladies of title and faces of beauty.” Another pause, as the blonde leaned closer, his lips ghosting past the other’s. “Nothing took your name off my lips. The mere thought of you asking another for their hand in marriage was a torment I could not bear to endure in any of my lifetimes.”
Another anguished sob to slipped past Izuku's lips.
“You…” He began as his hands reached up to clasp Katsuki’s hands, which continued to hold him ever so gently, like he was the most carefully crafted porcelain, and the slightest bit of force would shatter him so. “You truly are the most arrogant, conceited, selfish, disdainful man in this world that I could have fallen in love with.” Izuku whispered, with no true malice “Surely you understand how unfair it is for you to reveal such unbridled devotion knowing our circumstances.”
Katsuki leaned forward, burrowing his face in Izuku’s neck, who felt a warm trail of liquid rolled down his shoulder.
“Forgive me, my dear.” Katsuki murmured into his skin as Izuku slowly wrapped his arms around the other, letting the rain wash away their worries, even for just the moment, as they buried themselves in each other’s embrace, away from prying eyes of the rest of the world.