Archive of Our Own

Whenever Katsuki and Izuku are having an argument and reach the point where they are both mad at each other; they are too pissed off at each other because they've been going back and forth for so long trying to get their point across, they sometimes say things they don't mean to one another.

It sucks, but it's not new.

Of course, it's not.

Because when emotions and feelings become too much to the point that they can't find a better way to express it anymore and at the same time the heat of their burning, clashing fire reaches the boiling point and it starts suffocating them; their chests heaving, fists clenching, and anger clouding their minds as they both glare at each other— it switches them back to their default approach, which is throwing out words like a venomous dagger meant to hurt without them actually meaning to.

One of them is sassy, and the other never has a filter when talking. It's the perfect combination to create a one-of-a-kind verbal havoc. They will resort to spouting nonsense out of their mouths to one another, yelling and shouting words without thinking until their chests start feeling empty, and an excruciating quietness follows behind and settles in the battleground like a tender aftermath.

It absolutely sucks, but it's always been like that.

They've been doing it since their first quarrel when they were just a mere four-year-olds, arguing about the best All Might save that spiraled into a common childish fight that contained some silly words like "You're wrong and dumb," and "You're so mean. I hate you," which ultimately ended up with them not talking for almost three days (it happened on a Friday afternoon at their kindergarten lunch break, and they didn't saw each other in the weekends).

Then, for the most part, it became a habit.

And sometimes, some habits are hard to break, especially when you've been doing them over and over again for years. Especially when they've always been them; Kacchan and Deku, Deku and Kacchan.

Always debating and arguing about things that mattered and those that do not. Both of them are not afraid to give and voice out their opinions and comments whether it's solicited or not. They have always been competitive, ready for a challenge, and to be the challenge in each other's lives.

They both wanted to be the best in their own way. Mutually and equally want to prove themselves, and with that come the conflicts. 

Yeah.

That's just how it goes.

They will always be the Kacchan and Deku, Deku and Kacchan.

It never changes— never will.

The only difference right now is that they are both disgustingly, madly in love with each other and have been dating for three years. 

The night after their little —turned out huge, heated— argument, both of them still slept beside each other on their bed after kissing the other 'good night' and proceeded to embrace one another.

Katsuki grumbled a low, "You're the worst," in the darkness of their bedroom before burying his face in the other man's soft dark curls.

And Izuku retaliated with, "As if you aren't..." As he tightened his arm around the blond man's middle, and also buried his face on Katsuki's chest.

Katsuki just scoffed, and then they fell asleep. 

None of them takes those uttered, meaningless words back. 

When Katsuki woke up first like usual the next day, there was no doubt that he was already frowning while staring at the ceiling of their room. Red eyes squinting at the lightbulb reflecting the sunlight seeping through the small gap between the curtains blocking their window and, to make it worse, he can already hear the birds chirping outside that are surely chilling on the big, old tree in the back of their apartment building.

It sounds like a good day, but it still pisses him off as he starts untangling his body from Izuku's.

Once he's out of their bed, he stares at the man now sleeping alone on top of it. Pillows had been moved everywhere— almost framing the said man's body, their soft but heavy comforter now pooling on his feet as he sleeps sideways. Katsuki watches the way Izuku's peacefully sleeping face slowly changes into that scrunched-up, disturbed face. Upon seeing that his nerd is no longer peacefully sleeping, Katsuki put his pillow beside him, in Izuku's arm, so the other can hug it in his sleep whenever and to prevent the other from waking up grumpier than they already were last night.

It's whatever. 

Katsuki rolled his eyes before he turned his back and went to their fully equipped open-style kitchen to start preparing and cooking something for their breakfast and work lunch.

Yeah, he's mad at Izuku, but hell, if he'll let that stupid, sometimes unreasonable, nerd eat some half-ass unhealthy shitty food just because they're in the middle of some dumb fight.

Over my dead body, Katsuki furiously thought. 

With that, he started preparing Izuku's favorite breakfast and coffee first before his own, as he reheated two of their meal-prepped (by him, of course) lunches on the side. He made sure every single food he's making his nerd eat was well taken care of and thought of.

Plus fucking ultra.

When all was done, he went back to their bedroom to wake up Mr. Sleeping Beauty.

Looming over the man slumbering peacefully again while now clutching Katsuki's pillow in his arms, the blond grabbed a disregarded pillow on the foot of their bed and used it to wake up Izuku— hitting the sleeping man with it on the face. 

It did the job because then Izuku slowly opened his beautiful green eyes, letting out a groggy "Hm?" as he blinked up at Katsuki who chose to glare back down at him.

Huffing, the explosive man further greeted him with a, "Good fucking morning. Breakfast is ready," as those glaring red eyes unconsciously —automatically— follow the other's sluggish movement.

Izuku groaned after some time, when the last remnant of sleep left his body, before standing up and immediately walking straight towards their bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. His scarred hands came up to scratch on a toned stomach while the other rubbed one of his eyes.

While Izuku's in their bathroom, Katsuki impatiently waits in the middle of their bedroom with his hands on his hips as he repeatedly taps his right foot on the floor. Eyes glued on the direction from where he could hear water flowing.

When the nerd got out of the bathroom, face clean from his slumber, Katsuki followed the way Izuku walked towards him with an unspoken purpose. Red eyes staring back at those green eyes already on him.

Then, once Izuku's in front of the taller man, he places his hands on Katsuki's shoulders, and he tiptoes to kiss the explosive man on the lips.

A morning ritual.

"Morning," Izuku mumbled, then he yawned after. His hands dropping from the other's shoulders to his sides, feet relaxing and fully meeting their cold floor.

"Tch," is all Katsuki's reply, fingers twitching as he pinches the fabric of his pajamas, and then they're both walking out of their room and towards the kitchen to eat the breakfast he prepared, which permeates the air of their apartment with the smell of it, in silence.

In that recognizable, stifling silence that Katsuki absolutely hates.

Everything feels like the start of a good day, but their silence— the lack of their comfortable, mindless chatter and morning check-ins states otherwise. 

It's bullshit.

He despises it.

But Katsuki's still too pissed off, borderline mad, about their stupid argument yesterday that his pride wouldn't let him act like the bigger person, which he is in a literal sense; it wouldn't let him do the first move to make everything okay and turn everything back to normal.

Yet.

He wants to, so badly, but not yet.

The explosive man wants to give himself, and the other man, some time to cool off before talking to one another because the Gods know what would happen if they insist on fixing this when they're obviously not ready— still teetering close to that boiling point. If they insist, if they push, it'll just make everything worse than it already is, and he's sure the Gods don't want that at all. Never again after the third time.

Katsuki still thinks all of this is bullshit, though.

After eating in stupid silence for about twenty minutes, Izuku looked up at their wall clock to check the time and saw that it was already close to seven AM and they both had work scheduled for eight-thirty AM. The blond man was trying to drown himself in his black coffee (not even a drop of milk or cream in it like a fucking modernized torture) after clearing his plate when Izuku glanced at him.

"You take the bath first," The nerd said to him, holding up his own cup of warm coffee in between his hands, "I'll finish this first and then clean up."

Katsuki grunts, then just answers him with a low, "'kay," while he stands up and puts his dirty dishes in the sink.

It didn't take them long to finish up.

Now properly dressed after they both took their turn to take a bath and prepare themselves for their long patrol shifts that contain covering multiple streets, they're ready to go out and leave their temporarily-not-so-warm home for the time being to do their jobs.

They are just doing their last check-in before work in the middle of their living room, albeit only their eyes are the ones working (checking) and not with their goddamn mouths and voices, when Izuku notices that there is some kind of dirt on Katsuki's hero costume while he's doing his own silent once over on the blond man.

"Katsuki, come here." He called, face almost neutral as he focused on the dirt on the other's uniform. 

Katsuki, on his part, tries to keep the disgust off of his face upon hearing Izuku's call and that fuckass name the other just used by masking it using his signature glare as he turns to face the shorter man. Although, he's hoping that he is doing a great job at showing how much he fucking loathes it when Izuku's calling him by his given first name through his glare because, sure, a lot of people preferred to be called on their first names by their partners since it's intimate in Japanese culture, but Katsuki abhors it.

So.

"What?" He snapped after stepping in front of the other, annoyed as hell as he adds, "And, fuck off. Don't call me that," with disgust now showing on his face.

Well.

He tried.

"Alright. Turn around," Izuku told him, eyes slightly narrowing before he does some 'turn around' gesture on his hand.

Izuku better not do it again or Katsuki might just throw the most annoying fit known to man.

The other man knew Katsuki can't stand it when he uses some other shitty name to address him because he made sure Izuku's aware of that the first time he called him fucking 'Bakugou' after an argument. Katsuki threw the hardest fucking fit he had ever thrown in his entire life just to deliver his point across (calling the other 'Midoriya' every chance he got out of spite while being extra fucking dramatic as he made it everyone's problem).

Katsuki is not 'Katsuki' to Izuku, and he's definitely not going to be just 'Bakugou' either.

He is exclusively Kacchan to him.

With that, he reluctantly did what he was told.

Once he finally has his back turned to Izuku again, the green haired man gently plucked the dirt-looking something off of his costume and softly dusted the fabric for good measure. 

Then Izuku let his hand fall to his side again, muttering a quiet, "All done," before looking ahead, in the direction of their apartment door.

Katsuki just grunted as he faced the other, his hands twitching once again, then twice before finally surrendering to his needs and ruffling his nerd's dark, curly hair.

It's soft.

It feels like comfort.

"Thanks. Later."

Goddamnit.

"Hm..."

And then they're both going out their door and heading off their own ways.

It was some kind of good shit's luck that they aren't patrolling together.

Him and Izuku were scheduled to partner up for today after a week of not patrolling together, but because of some very suspicious activities detected in some areas this morning, their agency's team decided to make some changes at the last minute. 

Although, their schedules were changed a month prior due to the potential and active villain cases the agency got for this month from Hero Public Safety Commission, and instead of being together all the time, their team decided to split them apart for patrolling duties to better cover those areas that are in higher risk than others. Working with the rest of their classmates, now workmates, they're all making sure that they are covering large areas as much as possible to prevent any villain attack under their jurisdiction.

So, maybe the Gods heard their nonsense, too loud; too much— argument last night, and they have decided that, yeah. It was best to separate them two bull-headed assholes from each other for a little longer. 

And if Katsuki's being honest, it helps.

Really, it does.

But not at the same time.

Sure, it calms the irritation, pettiness, and whatever the fuck they're feeling negatively towards one another, but it also makes them (or in Katsuki's part) severely uneasy— worried; tense.

This wasn't the first time they had been split apart and gotten assigned to different patrol routes with different heroes— yeah, Katsuki knows that, but there's this feeling slowly stirring inside of him where he wants Izuku close, right next to him and just within his reach.

A feeling that he'd always had inside of him.

And Katsuki knows that Izuku feels the same, especially when there's a threat looming in the corner just waiting for them.

Sue the war and all the instances they almost lost each other for leaving them with this nastiest fucking scar.

Katsuki irritatedly combed his blond, spiky hair as he exhaled loudly before forming a scowl on his face as he strides down a sketchy alleyway with all his senses hightened up.

He's with his patrol partner, Hanta Sero, who is walking beside him and have been glancing his way since they started patrolling their assigned area.

Which is fucking irritating now that Katsuki finally acknowledged it.

"The fuck do you want?" He snapped, body and mind on edge.

Tapeface raised his eyebrows at that, staring at him fully with a mixture of confusion and amusement as he asked, "Did Midoriya hit his head and end things with you?"

If looks could kill, the fucker would have been lifeless no more than one second after he finished his question.

"Take that back, or you'll be the one to come to an end, right at this moment," Katsuki bristled, eyes glaring daggers at the other.

Sero, used to Katsuki's sour mood equaling to 'kill everyone on sight' (with Midoriya as an exemption), snorts a laugh.

"Chill, 'm just asking—"

"Ask a different one." The explosive hero cut him off, scowling harder.

"Alright, alright," Sero raises both of his hands in mock surrender, trying to placate his explosive friend, "What happened?" Then his stance straightened when Katsuki looked at him dead in the eyes after hearing his question, and the tape hero waited.

Usually, only Kirishima and Mina can (annoy the hell out of the blond into talking) squeeze the reason for the explosive hero's moods, so he's surprised. 

A beat.

Katsuki says, "None of you goddamn business."

And, to be honest, Sero should've expected that.

"I hope Midoriya suddenly trips and hit his head—"

"I'll fucking hit you, Tapeface!" Katsuki bellowed, already trying to hit his patrol partner by swinging his hand towards the other man's direction.

"I'm kidding!" Tapeface's laugh echoes in the quiet alley as he dodges the other's assault, making the blond roll his eyes.

Katsuki speeds up, tuning out his still-laughing-here-and-there patrol partner who's now a step behind him. He doesn't have time for this. He'll surely blow up over dumb things if he continues interacting with Tapeface, who is specifically good at matching his sarcasm and fast retorts.

He's beyond pissed off now —thanks a fucking ton, Tapeface— and all he wants is Izuku.

Badly.

Katsuki might be mad at that stupid, gorgeous jerk, but that doesn't mean Katsuki can survive without him.

He can't, and Katsuki's not even kidding nor exaggerating.

It was already proven and tested that he could not survive a life without the other.

Katsuki was hit with a villain's quirk last year, and it sent him to an alternate universe, one where Izuku wasn't in it; where the other didn't exist at all. To make matters worse, they had a small fight before that as well and then Katsuki was sent to that nightmare for what feels like a lifetime, even though he just stayed there for a week before he got back to his original universe. Not seeing Izuku for a week, no one knowing the most heroic hero ever existed in Japan, people looking at him like Katsuki had lost his mind talking about someone who didn't exist; looking for someone who didn't exist, he didn't even had any picture of Izuku to look at because his wallet was nowhere to be found. It was maddening. Katsuki literally almost lost his mind trying to get back to his own universe before he saw the villain who caused it.

To say he almost reached his villainous arc when that motherfucker threatened him by saying he wasn't going to send Katsuki back to his original universe, after suffering for a week without Izuku, was a sugarcoat for what really happened.

They both got back to their original universe short after, with the villain hardly breathing in Katsuki's hands.

No one approached him except for Izuku, of course, when they suddenly appeared in the middle of the rescue meeting happening in HPSC's biggest office. A rescue meeting for Katsuki; who appeared in the office on top of a villain, breathing hard and ragged. Katsuki's eyes were bloodshot and crazed when he looked up, fists bloody and shaking with the villain unmoving under him.

It was a darker story for another time.

The point is, it was already proven and tested that Katsuki could not survive without Izuku.

And Izuku might've felt Katsuki's embarrassingly intense love for him and the blond's on edge mood from a mile away because then his pager suddenly beeps five times.

Izuku.

Izuku and his secret way of saying, "I love you, Kacchan," whenever they aren't patrolling together.

Katsuki clicked his pager's button six times in return, "I love you, Izuku."

They came up with it as their own secret way to communicate with each other and remind one another that 'I'm here, I'm safe. I love you. I better see you later,' because once they had entered the pro field, even though they wanted to be solely a hero duo, there will always be a time where they need to split up in order to save and win, win and save.

Sure, they're unstoppable together— but smart villains do not always attack in the same place at the same time.

His pager beeps five times again.

Katsuki calmed down after that, relaxing a little. 

God, they're disguting— they should talk once they are back home and finally make up.

Nothing much happened on the rest of his patrol with Tapeface (thank fuck) aside from the said motherfucker testing his patience and Katsuki wanting to be done with all of it and finally be with Izuku.

He will make sure they will talk and make up after this.

Katsuki needs to kiss Izuku silly.

Izuku came home an hour and a half later than usual.

His dark green hair was disheveled and matted with tiny bits of debris on it, his hero costume was dirtier than how it normal is after a normal patrol and has multiple small and big holes in it, and his skin sporting multiple dark colorful spots and smudges from all the dirt and bruises he had collected in a short amount of time.

He can feel the sting from what he's sure is a collection of scratches and, again, colorful bruises littering his body.

He's so tired, and his whole body aches.

Izuku was on his way home from the agency after he clocked out when an accident happened.

An old, abandoned building suddenly collapsed, and there had been street children living inside it. At first, there was a really loud crash from the inside, and then it started crumbling down the ground, waking the neighborhood up. Izuku didn't think twice about entering the building slowly falling apart upon hearing some civilians, in clear panic and concern, mentioned the abandoned and orphaned kids living inside. Heart beating loudly in his ears, blood rushing, and his adrenaline instantly bursting and reaching its max level, one for all and black whip instantly course throughout his body as he was barreling straight towards the building as fast as he possibly could. 

He was thankful he was near the accident when it happened as he successfully saved all four children and two teenagers huddled inside, who were all shaking in fear.

Izuku, then, called Aizawa-sensei when the first response team arrived, letting the man know about all those poor kids he saved. He knows Aizawa will take care of them better than anyone else, especially since they were all orphaned and abandoned.

Then he left the scene after making sure all kids were being taken care of. He'll report and handle the paperwork tomorrow.

Izuki quietly entered their apartment, a tired sigh leaving his mouth. He can hear the faint sound of television playing in their cozy living room, mixing with the sound of something being fried in the kitchen.

Home smells good, and the vibe feels warm on his aching body.

"Tadaima," he said as he took off his cape and fixed his shoes on their genkan.

"Okaeri." Katsuki replied from their kitchen, and Izuku's lips stretch into a small smile after hearing that, hearing his Kacchan's voice.

It's almost crazy and embarrassing how he almost feels like his battery, which had been completely drained today, is being plugged in and is now slowly charging back to life.

Just like what he needs right now.

He forgo immediately going to where their kitchen is and greet Katsuki with a kiss like how they normally would after coming back from their shifts, though, because 1) they still haven’t make up, and 2) he's dirty.

He needs to clean himself first.

So Izuku walked past their living room and headed straight to their bedroom, trying to keep his head up so the debris won't fall on the floor and make a mess because Kacchan won't like that and Izuku's too tired to start vacuuming said floor.

Once inside their bedroom, he goes to their bathroom and winces when there's this sudden sharp, painful feeling on his side when he leaned on their bathroom door.

Uh-oh.

Considering Izuku's pain tolerance?

That doesn't feel good.

"Oh, no..." He mumbled to himself, panicking slightly about the actual overlooked bruise or something, and mostly because he might need to go to the doctor if it's bad, bad.

Izuku thinks he might've gotten much worse than the bruises darkening into black and purple color on his skin from the accident earlier. Thinking back, he's sure some large chunks of the building fell right off to him, but he thought he dodged it all. He might've missed a few but didn't really feel it right away because he was focused on searching, saving, and protecting the kids.

Taking a deep breath, he checks himself on their bathroom mirror after unzipping his ruined hero costume and peeling it off his upper body, and then he's wincing once again.

There's a huge gash on his side, the color of blood and bruises surrounding it, mixing like some dark-themed artistic art piece on his skin. It weirdly looks beautiful in some way, but it also looks and feels painful.

Not really enough to be needing a doctor, though, in his honest opinion. 

Izuku let out a sigh again before reaching for their medical kit, stored under the sink. Usually, Katsuki would be the one to patch him up with gentle hands and too much care when he gets something serious like this from their heroes' work, but Izuku feels a little off asking for his beloved partner's help this time around. 

He decided he'll do it for now since this is what he thinks he deserves.

Izuku was just starting to clean his gash and hasn't gotten to the point where he needed to open the sealed bandages, wound still open and steadily crying blood down his skin, when he heard his Kacchan's heavy footsteps approaching their bedroom.

Oh, no.

Did he lock the door?

"Oi. I know you're fucking mad at me, but let it be known that kissing me whenever you get home is mandatory— where are you?" Katsuki's loud voice lowers a little in confusion when he didn't immediately see Izuku in the middle of their bedroom. 

"I'm here, but don't come in. I'm almost done and will be right there—"

Izuku was cut off by Katsuki opening their bathroom door.

Jesus— he really forgot to lock it.

"–in a second... Hi," He trailed off, offering his partner a clipped smile as his hands froze mid-air as if he was caught doing something illegal.

Which, if you'll ask his blond partner, he is definitely doing something illegal.

"What the fuck happened?" The blond demanded with his voice tight and a little frantic, frown already forming on his face as he stopped beside Izuku.

Kacchan gently slapped his hands away from where the green-haired man was trying to clean his open wound. Both of Kacchan's hands settled down on Izuku's hips as the blond man turns him to his side to better see what he has on his skin. 

"Oh, shit." The taller cussed out instantly upon having a clear look on his bleeding side.

Izuku bit his lower lip, hands clenching and unclenching as he started speaking up.

"Yeah, well... Uh, there was this abrupt accident on my way home, and unfortunately, I got this there; all of these, from there." Izuku explained to his partner as he gestured to his colorful body, especially his side, which the blond's already looking at, "An old building finally caved in, and there were children living in there. My body moved and zeroed in on saving them that I didn't feel anything until I got home."

"Damn. Alright," Katsuki replied in acknowledgment of his explanation, the blond's own focus zeroing on cleaning and taking care of Izuku's wound.

Izuku lets him, all pliant and quiet as the blond does his work carefully. 

Then, after a moment passed, Kacchan looked up to him with his red eyes searching for Izuku's own green ones, making his breath hitch.

Katsuki asks him lowly, "Why are you hiding from me, though?"

Which...

Oh.

Izuku looked down, trying to hide from that intense gaze as he started chewing on his lower lip.

Oh, no...

How can he tell his beloved Kacchan that he feels like he doesn't deserve this? Doesn't deserve to be cared for? How can he tell him that he feels unworthy of all of this after their fight last night? How can he tell Katsuki that he feels like he deserves not being taken care of as a punishment for being petty and sassy and for making something so small a big deal?

How?

Izuku can't even remember the main reason that started their fight last night. He just knew that he had taken Katsuki's word the wrong way, and instead of hearing the blond and understanding his point, Izuku acted all defensive, pissed, and he lashed out. He acted like a complete bitch and said things he couldn't take back in the heat of the moment. Izuku said a lot of things out of pure anger, not really thinking as he threw it out towards the blond's way because, at that time, he just wanted to shut the blond up and get ahead of him.

He feels so bad that he told his partner, his beloved Kacchan, that he's being 'controlling' and Izuku's getting suffocated. 

He wasn't.

He never felt that way in their three years of dating, or even back when they were just 'best friends'.

Katsuki has been the most caring, understanding, and loving best friend and partner after the war.

Izuku didn't get the chance to take those words back, and instead of shutting up or apologizing like he is supposed to, he kept on adding fuel to the fire when Katsuki started raising his own voice in incredulity after getting hurt about what Izuku had said to him.

And then they were throwing, yelling out words meant to hurt each other without really meaning to.

It all came crashing down on Izuku that he messed up really bad when he started patrolling with Shouji-kun. Since then, he's been chastising himself for what he had done last night. He kept repeating 'stupid, stupid, stupid' in his head for the rest of their shift, wallowing in guilt.

So, to him, this is his self-inflicted punishment.

Izuku knows, in the farthest corner of his mind, that he shouldn't be thinking this way, but still. It's not within his reach yet. Plus, it's always been hard for Izuku to win a battle where he is his own enemy.

"Hey," Katsuki called, bringing him back to the present as one of the blond's hands came up to lift his chin, "Look at me."

The intensity of those beautiful fiery red eyes staring right at Izuku's soul made him feel like he's weaker than he thought he currently is. Shivering slightly, Izuku swallowed thickly as he feels his throat closing up almost instantly upon seeing the worry, care, and comfort; the love in his Kacchan's eyes.

Izuku gives his best effort to reel in his waterworks, but he knows he's failing really badly.

"Tell me what's wrong," Katsuki said with that low, gentle voice reserved only for Izuku, thumb lightly caressing Izuku's cheek, "Why are you hiding from me, hm? Is it because you're still pissed—"

"Because we're not okay, and you're mad at me," He finally started with his voice small, tears successfully falling from his eyes as the guilt he feels reaches its peak, "B-because I feel like I don't deserve you after I said those awful things that I never wanted to say to you because I didn't mean them. They were just empty words, and, and I'm s-so sorry, Kacchan."

Izuku sobs, then tries to smothered it by biting his lower lip really hard. His tears continuously falling from his eyes like there's no end to it.

Kacchan has both of his hands up now, cupping Izuku's cheeks after depositing the cleaning materials on the sink to wipe Izuku's insistent tears away. His forehead furrowed with his right eyebrow raised slightly. 

"What are you on, thinking like that and deciding about being deserving of me or not? Hah? Let's get this thing fucking straight now," Katsuki's thumb saved his lips from his teeth, palm tightening just right to anchor Izuku as he moves his head up a little so the taller can see his whole face, "You've been worthy— look at me, keep your eyes on me, Izuku. You've been worthy of all the good things in life since you have grace this earth with your presence, okay? You've always been worthy of me, of all the positive aspects of me, after tolerating my ass since forever; for still tolerating my ass 'til now. Are 'ya hearing me?"

Katsuki didn't continue until Izuku nodded his head, the green haired man hiccuping as Kacchan matched his words with his eyes and body language.

"Good. I'll make sure to remind your nerdy 'lil ass here and there because, sure, we're not super okay, but I'm not mad— okay, I was mad, but that doesn't mean you have to hide from me thinking you don't deserve all the sappy shits I can and will give you. You saying those things to me because we were arguing doesn't mean we're not partners anymore at the end of the day. Arguing and fighting are normal, but they don't mean I don't love you anymore because you know I do; I will always love you. Mad or not, in a fight with you or not, baby, you still have me. You will always have me, hm?"

And that's it.

That is all Izuku needed to hear before he's fully bawling his eyes and heart out, sobbing uncontrollably. Scarred hands coming up to grip Kacchan's wrists in order to stop his hands from shaking and to stabilize himself as well; really letting himself feel that he indeed has Katsuki with him.

Izuku truly hates it whenever they fight, and he always wants to hit himself after every little to huge argument; after every fight with his partner, but because they are Kacchan and Deku, Deku and Kacchan, they couldn't help it even if they tried their hardest to prevent it. He couldn't help it. They will always clash at some point and all out fight, to the point that sometimes they need to spar in order to release the anger they are both feeling, but that doesn't mean they both like it— that they both enjoy it.

No.

He hates it so much because sometimes, like this time, he overthinks too much and hurts himself for thinking that a specific fight will be the end of them.

Izuku knows their relationship is stronger than both of them combined, but those kind of irrational thoughts are hard to keep away, especially for him.

Thank all the Gods out there that Katsuki is his partner. 

Kacchan's such a good partner, a very good other half because Katsuki knows how to love Izuku. The blond is such a perfect lover because he knows how to protect and care for Izuku; how to keep him safe, even to Izuku himself. Kacchan has a way to turn anything bad that's clinging on him into something good; that, or the other man always has a way to obliterate it to dust until it's gone into thin air and wouldn't bother Izuku again. The green-haired man sometimes couldn't believe it. He thinks, a bit crazily, that it's the blond's secret quirk because he's just amazing. Katsuki just knows how to love him just right— how Izuku wanted and needed to be loved, like he'd been born with it.

Like Katsuki had been born with a heart meant to love Izuku.

Kacchan's out of this world, and Izuku's so lucky to have him as his partner.

"Do you understand?" Katsuki asked, clarifying with both of his hands still holding Izuku's face so tenderly as he kept eye contact with the smaller man, their foreheads almost touching because of how close they were. 

"Hmm," Izuku hummed, unconsciously closing his eyes as he started nuzzling onto Katsuki's careful hands.

"Good, better keep that in mind." Katsuki said, then, he finally kisses Izuku on his lips.

It's just a short kiss, but it's soft, and it's sweet.

It's everything Izuku needs.

Straitening up after the kiss, Kacchan adds, "Alright, time to patch 'ya up properly. Don't you dare move."

Katsuki just finished bandaging Izuku up accordingly —because hell if he'd ever let his nerd bleed to death— when he remembered something. 

Right.

They still have to fully address what had happened last night that caused all those negative feelings and thoughts they just cleansed minutes ago.

Feelings and thoughts that Katsuki burned into nothing because it was bullshit, and it was hurting Izuku (if he's going to guesses, Katsuki's sure it'll hurt Izuku again in the future). He couldn't have that because those shitty things shouldn't have been in the other's heart and mind in the first place if not because of their stupid argument, forming and solidifying it like a piece of shit— which he'll make sure to completely wipe out of existence soon.

Very soon.

After addressing the elephant in the room.

And because Katsuki hasn't apologized to the nerd yet.

Now that he thought about it— why hasn't he apologized yet? Honestly, fuck him for not apologizing immediately. His nerd deserves better, and Katsuki is supposed to be the best, so.

"I'm sorry," He said, spoken so clearly and genuinely in the tender quietness that settles in their bathroom, with Izuku still right in front of him.

When Katsuki looked up, it was to see Izuku's confused, questioning eyes staring right back at him. It's as if the nerd's looking at him like he'd suddenly grown two heads, apologizing out of nowhere. It's as if Izuku had forgotten all those things that Katsuki had said to him as well. Words that were just as bad as Izuku's.

Well.

Katsuki will never take the pass that his nerd's offering him unconsciously, unintentionally.

Nope.

"I'm sorry, too, for saying all those shitty words I've said when things got messy. I'm sorry for saying them just to get even with you. I shouldn't have said all those bullshit just because I was hurt or angry. I could've communicated it way better than that, could've reacted differently— hell, I could've shut the fuck up instead of gunning to get back on you. But I didn't, like a stupid idiot. I'll do my best next time, though, and that's a promise. I was just so pissed the fuck off, but that wasn't enough reason for me to hurt you; shouldn't be," He continued, making sure he was not saying it so fast as if he's rushing. Making sure that Izuku's taking everything in and will understand that Katsuki's also at fault for what happened last night, and he shouldn't just take all the blame for himself.

"There should never be enough reason for me to hurt you, ever. So, again, I'm sorry. You're more than those words because you're Izuku, and I've always been obsessed with the best. Got it?"

The blinding smile that Izuku gave him while slowly nodding his nerdy little head is more than enough to power Katsuki up for the whole week full of his busy work schedule— he is being so serious right now, it's ridiculous.

Seriously, though. Why is his partner so goddamn handsome, and adorable, AND pretty? All at the same time? It feels illegal; it should be illegal, actually. It kind of pisses him of sometimes because Izuku should know better than to be with Katsuki's ass. Although Katsuki is the very best out there, so. He kind of understands as well, really.

Midoriya Izuku is meant to be with Bakugou Katsuki.

That's right.

"I'm so sorry, too, Kacchan. I shouldn't have been too petty and stubborn. I should've heard you out and, at least, tried to understand what you were trying to say to me last night. I just, you know, felt like it wasn't a big deal at that moment. Felt like it wasn't that big of a deal, and you were just trying to find something we could fight about, which I know you weren't," Izuku said, his scarred fingers playing with the hem of Katsuki's tank top, "I know and understand now that I was doing, well, buying too much. It was just too hard to control sometimes, but I also promise you that I'll do better this time."

Katsuki hums once, then combs Izuku's matted hair using his fingers. Gently untangling the dirtied, matted strands so the other could wash it much smoother later.

He can see why Izuku thought it wasn't a big deal because... it wasn't.

It wasn't a big deal.

Katsuki knew that Izuku's parent, Inko, didn't have enough money to buy little Izuku all the things he wanted when he was a child. Being a solo parent because Izuku's deadbeat father was nowhere to be found, Inko could only afford all the important things her child needed. So when Izuku could finally work to earn money for himself, his spending obsession developed. The blond knew that, understand that. He would never stop Izuku from buying all the things he wants using his own, hard earned money. The nerd can do whatever he wants to his money; even to their joined one. Katsuki even encourages the nerd to use his card. That's not a problem to him.

That wasn't the problem.

"Spending your own money is okay— hell, even our joint money. I have no problem with your insane spending habits. You weren't being too much or buying too much, in this case. I was just trying to tell you how you should've been more careful when you're buying something. Not because someone offered you unofficial merch doesn't mean you have to buy it right away. Goddamnit, you're a hero. At least do some background check first. And to think some of them want to meet up to do the transaction? I know we're the best heroes out there, but still. I want you to always come back home, safe; unharmed, if you can do that." Katsuki explained, which he failed to do last night. Well, he did explain the same point, just not in the same calm way or wording.

And that was the reason that started their argument last night.

Izuku was trying to buy things from sketchy people without caution, and Katsuki couldn't find a better way to explain why he thought that was dangerous; too dangerous. 

They've had the same problem before, and then it came up again last night, so Katsuki was feeling more... something than the first time. You could say he was upset that the smaller man didn't take his words that much, which was why he was having a hard time trying to deliver his point across a second time.

Sure, maybe it wasn't that much; maybe not that important because they're heroes and they can protect themselves. But in the world they live in where quirks, powers exist? With unpredictable, unknown villains lurking in the shadows waiting for them to slip?

To make a mistake?

It could cost them their lives.

Hero or not.

Katsuki just wants his partner to be extra careful (because he can't lose him).

"You can spend all the money we have for all I care. Just promise me you'll be careful and you will take extra precautions when buying whatever the fuck, 'kay?" Katsuki said, asked, because —God, help him— if Izuku wouldn't promise shit today? He'd hold the other's merch hostage until the other finally gave in and takes better care of himself.

Izuku snorts a laugh, then playfully pinches him, "Stop thinking about targeting my merchandises. I promise I'll be careful next time."

"You better. I also want to stop being glad that you got your injuries from an accident— Jesus Christ." Katsuki replied before softly patting the nerd's bandaged side while said nerd giggles.

"I thought we were talking about being careful when buying stuff from unknown people?" Izuku asked, his low giggles turning into a full laugh when Katsuki glared at him and said:

"Well, now I'm gonna fucking start talking about you not being the best at taking care of yourself in general—"

Izuku cuts him off, relenting with, "Okay, okay. I got it, Kacchan. I'll be extra careful, in general."

Katsuki huffs then because the elephant had been addressed, and apologies were properly said, he has to continue wiping some bullshit out of Izuku's heart and mind.

It's time to continue his clean-up mission. 

Staring at his partner's gorgeous emerald eyes, he said, "Don't you dare hide from me again. I don't care if we just have the biggest fight ever in history. If you need me, fucking call out for me because I will always be there for you. I want to always be there for you, Izuku."

The blond can see how that caught Izuku off guard because he just looks at Katsuki with widen eyes.

Maybe the other thought they were done, but nope.

"I want you to ingrained in your nerdy brain that even if we're mad at each other, we're still us. It's still you and me. We might've been against each other for a moment because of a fight, but if the world fucks one of us over, it'll always be you and me against the world; against them. Okay? You understanding that, believing that is what truly matters to me. You got it?" He added, making sure those green eyes were looking at Katauki even in the midst of tears pooling on it again.

Katsuki's hands, as if they're on their own, come up to wait for those tears. Ready to be there when they fall, ready to catch and wipe them off of his nerd's cheeks as if they're used to it; as if it's their job— and it is.

Katsuki's hands were made to take care of Izuku in any way 24/7. He just didn't realize it sooner, but he'd been making up for it.

"I understand, Kacchan. I got it," Izuku said, giving him a smile and a nod.

But Katsuki just has to confirm, asking, "But do you believe it?"

And when Izuku answered him with an honest, "Yes, Kacchan. I always believe you. You know I will always believe you. I love you."

Katsuki settles. 

Because he also believes in Izuku.

"I know," He grunts, "I love you, too."

Izuku leaned to kiss him this time.

Smiling after, the other man asked, "Even when sometimes I make you mad?"

And he just has to snort a laugh at that because— hah!

"I'm always mad— madly in love with you, so sure."

Katsuki has always been madly in love with him, to the point of great sappy-ness.

So Izuku better believe that corny shit as well. 

Because that's the truth. 

That has always been the truth.

Bakugou Katsuki has always been madly in love with Midoriya Izuku.

And it better be the same way for Izuku.

(It is. They're both disgustingly, madly in love with each other.)