Chapter Text
Izuku fixed the cactus pot on his table for the 10th time in the past 10 minutes. He studied the plant, putting a scarred finger to his lips.
“Would Kacchan be bothered if it were off-center? Or would it be funny if it were kind of in the middle but not quite?” His green eyes widened.
“Would he notice I put his favorite cactus in it? Is this even his favorite cactus?” He tilted his head in thought, messy hair falling to the side.
“Maybe if I put a secret second cactus in the same pot, he would have an easier time starting a conversation? Why would he have a hard time starting it anyway? Maybe it's because he's been a little off... kind of like the cactus? Will he notice the cactus? Will he notice the spikes are the same color of his hair? Why are the spikes the same color as his hair? Is it a genetic thing for plants? Is it an adaptation? Which one of the students was it? Sakura? Yeah, Sakura. It's ironic, really. She can grow anything but sakura. She's really good at cacti though, maybe I should ask her. But Kacchan. Kacchan will explode the cactus? Kacchan will hate the cactus? No. Maybe not? Kacchan-"
Why the fuck would I care about the cactus, you nerd!
Izuku slapped his cheeks to snap himself out of it. What was he doing? Now he was hearing Imaginary Kacchan in his head. He could clearly visualize the blonde's hands sparking with irritation. The cactus was fine.
Izuku looked at the cactus pot in the middle of the table.
He nudged backwards a bit with his finger.
Izuku nudged it again.
To the left. To the right.
Deku hung his head and sighed, evidently defeated. Why the hell was he so nervous?
Ever since All Might gave him the suit, Bakugo had been acting weird. And not just weird in a Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight way.
At first, Izuku thought everything was fine. After overcoming the initial shock and surprise about receiving the suit (and absorbing a whole manual of how to use it in a 30-minute drive), he was particularly happy that Kacchan was there to greet him.
Oh, and the rest of Class A as well. Yes. Them. Everyone else. Would you blame him if he had tunnel vision?
The returning Hero Deku felt like his heart grew several sizes when Dynamight extended a gloved hand to him.
Let’s go, Deku.
The way Kacchan looked at him was permanently seared in his mind— Dynamight’s look of abrasive casual confidence that was completely undermined by the bright excitement in his glassy red eyes.
It was a rare look of relief and great happiness— Deku could count how many times he’s seen that look in Kacchan’s eyes on one hand.
And all of those times involved him in some way.
Izuku was still blown away by the sureness and trust in Kacchan’s voice when he said his name— as if it was only yesterday when he still had One for All.
As if he never lost his quirk at all.
It was an amazing first patrol back. Izuku was admittedly struggling a little bit, but he fit by Bakugo’s side like a missing puzzle piece (and he easily found his place beside the rest of Class A). Their synchronization in movements and in apprehending villains was still as perfect as they could be.
Izuku never stopped training, of course— he had to keep up with his students after all. What good of a teacher was he if he didn’t maintain at least his strength?
While he was quirkless, he still had above-average strength before he got One for All. 14-year-old him could drag a whole truck to the top of a trash pile (with training and a whole lot of willpower). He kept up with his training— and since One for All altered his physiology permanently, he was still extremely strong. Nowhere near for it to qualify as a quirk— but he could hold his own. He did well enough to go on underground missions with Aizawa. His combat skills and instincts were invaluable in the field (not that Aizawa would admit that more than once).
That being said, the suit was perfect. It was perfectly adapted for his level of strength and skill. The suit fit like a glove and worked seamlessly with him, just as All Might said it would. The power in the suit responded to his will— as if it was programmed to read his intentions without him actively thinking about it.
Everything went smoothly up until the end of that patrol. He missed his former classmates so much— spending time with them made him feel like he was on Cloud 9. But when evening fell, it was like the atmosphere suddenly changed. Dynamight was a lot less cordial for lack of a better term. Bakugo flinched when Izuku landed on the rooftop he was perched on at the end of the shift. It was so small, something you’d only notice if you spent your whole life following him.
One month ago...
“‘Zuku,” Katsuki said stiffly. “Couldn’t find your own rooftop to brood at?”
Izuku tried not to feel worried about Kacchan flinching at him. “Brooding is your job, Kacchan.” He answered back, hoping it would come off easy.
Bakugo scoffed at that. “That’s rich coming from you.”
Izuku chuckled and plopped down next to him. He let his feet dangle over the side of the building. He avoided looking at Kacchan and took a deep breath. He sighed. “View never gets old, huh?”
Bakugo then seemed to visibly relax at that and leaned back on his hands, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Yeah.”
They were seated on the ledge of a rooftop of a building in the northern part of Mustafu. They sat in comfortable silence for a while until Izuku felt a twinge in his neck. He moved his head left and right to no avail. It had been a while since he actually swung from rooftop to rooftop that fast (and for that long). He raised his arms, stretched, and let out a groan.
“Rusty, are we?” Bakugo teased with no real heat behind it.
Izuku raised an eyebrow, not missing the slight concern in Kacchan’s face. “Shouldn’t you be impressed that I figured out how to use the suit on Day 1?”
Bakugo scoffed. “I didn’t expect anything less from you.” He leaned his head back, the gesture full of that lazy confidence. His spiky blonde hair ruffled in the gentle wind. “Besides, I got the nerds in America to program the suit just how you described One for All in your notebooks.”
Izuku’s mouth dropped a little at the revelation. “Is that why you scanned them?” He remembered Bakugo taking a few of his notebooks, claiming it was to help the other class A members with their sidekicks. Deku only let him because Bakugo said he wouldn’t show them— he’d just study them.
Bakugo shrugged. “How else was it supposed to be easy for you to use? Can’t have you totally relearning. How are you supposed to chase me if you’re too busy figuring out that nerdy bullshit?”
Deku pouted. “Hey. I can figure stuff out!” He leaned closer to Bakugo. “Who’s the blockhead who couldn’t set up his new TV alone?”
Kacchan leaned into Izuku’s space, and his eye twitched. “It’s not my fault the fucking TV didn’t come with a manual! The fucking tech store should close down!”
“Could’ve searched online, Kacchan.” Izuku teased.
“Like I have the time for that!” Bakugo growled.
“Kacchan is so impatient.” Izuku shook his head.
Kacchan huffed. “Well, you’re damn right I am. I don’t like wasting time, that’s why I made sure the suit was already fucking perfect before it got to you.”
Izuku exhaled through his nose. Kacchan will always be Kacchan. He smiled softly. “It is perfect,” Izuku said and put a gloved hand on his chest, appreciating the small lights and barely noticeable machinery. The hum of the technology felt almost like One for All was running under his skin again. “It’s like magic.”
“You gonna go on a nerd mutter-fest, Izuku?” Kacchan smirked.
Izuku laughed and shook his head. “Some other time, maybe. I have got to know everything about this! It’s probably going to take hours or days! I need to know how you made it! How did you make it so seamless? It’s like a second skin!” Izuku stretched out his arms. “It’s so light! Did you find someone with a technology quirk? I wonder how David-san is doing. Can a technology quirk in America work in Japan? What are the—“ Izuku stopped and looked over at Kacchan sheepishly.
Katsuki’s eyebrow was quirked up— a smug look on his face. ”You were saying?”
Izuku scrunched his nose. “Anyway.” He sighed and smiled softly. “For now…,” he paused. “I’m just glad I’m beside you.”
Izuku really couldn’t believe it— he felt like he was just waiting for someone to slap him awake. He felt like the world was open to him once again— the hero world opened its arms again for him.
Kacchan cleared his throat. “You fuckin’ sap.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a while.
Katsuki then bumped Izuku’s shoulder. “But you’re right about one thing. It’s us beside each other— chasing each other.”
He poked Izuku in the chest. “Exactly fuckin’ how it should be.” He emphasized each word with a poke.
Izuku laughed. “Exactly, Kacc—“ he swallowed, whatever retort was in his throat died.
Green met red, and some feeling swelled in between them. Izuku felt the warmth of Katsuki’s breath on his cheeks, the atmosphere becoming charged.
Izuku was suddenly aware of the orange flecks in the red of Bakugo’s eyes— looking like the explosions he makes.
Izuku was suddenly aware of how close their faces were. The world was silenced. All Izuku could hear was the blood in his ears.
How did this happen so quickly? They were just talking.
One move and…
Kacchan’s eyes dropped down for a millisecond.
Deku won’t pretend he didn't do the same.
Did he—
Bakugo’s eyes widened, and he immediately made space between them. Sound returned to the world.
“I mean.” He cleared his throat and looked away. He moved away from Izuku. “I’m just… glad you’re back,” Bakugo muttered, uncharacteristically soft. “Is the suit…,” he cleared his throat. “The suit. Are you just sayin’ it’s perfect, or is it just fine, or is it fucked?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Just fuckin’ say it, you know?”
Izuku blinked. What was that? Was he about to...? What just…Izuku shook his head. Later. He thought to himself.
He broke into the widest smile— almost forcing a sense of normalcy. “Like I said, Kacchan, it’s so perfect! We could work together to optimize it even more!”
Kacchan hesitantly turned his head. “Yeah?”
Deku nodded. “Mm! I can’t really think of anything wrong with it at all! Maybe we can test it some more in the field.”
“I like the sound of that, Izuku,” Bakugo replied, softly.
Izuku didn’t miss the relief in Kacchan’s eyes with Izuku’s words. Of course, Kacchan was worried… it was something that he had worked on for so long. No amount of confidence could really hide how much Kacchan wanted this to work.
All Might told him Kacchan was the one who spearheaded and funded most of this project. He wanted it to be so good for Izuku.
And it was. It was the most perfect thing to exist on this Earth.
Izuku glanced at Kacchan, considering. Maybe the suit was not the most perfect thing… maybe its creator was.
“You worked so hard on this.” Izuku smiled, ignoring his previous thought and focusing on easing more of that insecurity in his best friend’s face.
“Of course I fuckin’ I did,” Katsuki said a little more confidently. “Brought you back and all.”
Deku, without really thinking, leaned in close again, making Bakugo move away in response. “Nerd—" Bakugo started, his cheeks tinting a little pink. "What the fuck is—"
Oh, Izuku loved getting a rise out of Kacchan. He loved that slight shock on the blonde's face; the widened eyes and the slight drop in his jaw. Falling back into this kind of easy banter always worked wonders with Katsuki. It always pulled his friend out of the brink of despair and back to the warmth of familiarity. However, previous moment be damned, Izuku was feeling a little reckless with his teasing. The high of being a hero again, combined with the joy of sitting once again beside Kacchan, did something to Izuku's inhibitions.
Izuku grinned. “Did you miss me that much, Kacchan?”
Bakugo’s eyes widened even more, his expression morphing into full shock. “The fuck?” He looked away again; the red at the tips of his ears was unmistakable. “No! Fuck. I just wanted to get your lazy ass out of UA.”
Izuku's mouth stretched even wider. “Kaaachaaan missed meeee.” Deku leaned even closer. “You said it’s right that we’re beside each otheeeeeeer.”
Bakugo whipped his head back to Deku and scowled. “I fuckin said NO! You’re such a fucking nerd!” He then pushed Izuku’s head down and stood up. “Fuck you. I’m leaving.”
Izuku blinked at the abrupt change and followed suit. Kacchan usually had more to say than that! “What? Wait! Why? Don’t you want to eat?”
“Early start. Gotta sleep. Can’t drive your dumbass home.” Kacchan stretched and cracked his neck. He put his mask back on. He stuck his foot out, about to take a step off the building and fly away. “Well, it was nice talking. Gotta go. Gotta run. Good talk. Fuckin…well, see you—“
The world blacked out, and Izuku found himself holding Kacchan’s wrist. “Wait!” Izuku said breathlessly, the suit’s power cracking green around him.
Kacchan looked angry. “The fuck, you fuckin’— Izuku?! You know how fucking unsafe it is to stop me before I blast?!” Kacchan’s hands sparkled for emphasis. His face morphed into a deep scowl.
“What if I fuckin’ hurt you?! You damn nerd! Never gonna fuckin’ think before you fuckin’ move!”
”Uh, Kacchan…”
“I would’ve damaged the fuckin’ suit if I wasn’t careful! You just got it!” Bakugo’s face was so red, Izuku figured he must be pissed. He really shouldn’t have stopped Bakugo mid-step.
“Kacchan would never hurt me!” It was all Deku could say to that.
Was Kacchan getting redder? “You— w- we- well, you’re right, I wouldn’t!” Small explosions popped around Kacchan’s head, “But you better fucking say something right now or I’ll blow your godsdamn head off!”
Izuku didn’t know what to say— he just found himself lunging for Kacchan. He didn’t even have a real plan. It was another case of his body responding on instinct. His grip tightened on his best friend’s wrist. “Uh…”
“If you’re not gonna fucking say anything, nerd, let go—“
“Thank you for giving me back my dream!” Izuku blurted out.
Kacchan stilled.
“If it weren’t for your efforts, I wouldn’t still be able to do this with you.” Izuku suddenly felt his eyes get teary. “You gave me so much. You made it possible for me to be a hero again. So… thank you, Kacchan. T…thank you so much.”
Bakugo's expression softened, and he turned around to fully face Izuku.
“You don’t need to thank me.” He said softly. “I already died for you, Izuku— anything short of that is fucking easy. This… this with Class A was easy.”
Deku couldn’t stop the pang of guilt that shot through him. They’ve talked about this at length, and yes, they could joke about it, but… “Kacchan—“ Izuku squeezed Bakugo's wrist.
Kacchan waved his free hand. “Piss all over the bridge and all that—“
Izuku blinked. “That’s not—“
“Don’t be guilty, Izuku. 8 years is fucking nothin’ to me and the others. Have to fucking always remind you that we’re your fuckin’ friends.” He sighed. “Hobo-sensei put us through therapy for a reason. Don’t give me that shit about not bein’ worthy because you are.” Bakugo gently took his wrist back, but only to reposition it so he and Izuku were gripping each other’s forearms. “I’m here. You saved me- us, back then. Class A and the whole fuckin’ Japan owes you the world. You have never stopped being a hero, you hear?”
Izuku felt Kacchan’s pulse race under his fingertips. Kacchan had... changed over time. What used to be directionless rage and arrogance became honed weapons for the Hero Dynamight. What used to be harsh words and damaging insults turned into playful teases and compliments. Of course, Katsuki was still a little rough around the edges, but who wasn't? Kacchan could sit down, listen to Izuku;s traumatized ramblings, and hold Izuku while he sobbed.
Izuku would do the same.
“Kacchan,” Deku said softly, squeezing his arm again. “I…Th—“ He felt hot, fat, tears start to roll down his face. He choked up. “Thank you.” Izuku was truly at a loss for words- the gravity of what they’ve done finally hit him. His friends and Kacchan… they gave back what he thought was long gone.
Kacchan stared at Izuku, his eyes lost as if he was debating something. Kacchan sighed, and he muttered something under his breath.
Kacchan tilted his head to the side and smirked again. “You can’t think of anythin’ else to say, Izuku? Don’t ever fucking thank me anymore. I can’t handle all this cheesy bullshit.” He leaned back a little. “Also, Izuku,” Bakugo’s crimson eyes held a seriousness that Deku could not comprehend, “my dream is back too…,” he stepped backwards on the ledge, “because you are here.”
Before Izuku could process that, Bakugo jumped off the ledge, forcing Izuku to let go on instinct.
“Kacchan!” Izuku called. He rubbed his tears away. “Kacchan!”
But Bakugo was too far away now; all Deku could hear was Kacchan’s howls of delight as he propelled himself away.
Of course, “don’t thank me anymore” translates to “attempt to thank Bakugo whenever he can.” Midoriya didn’t feel like he thanked Bakugo properly— saying “thank you” hardly counted.
Izuku never got the chance, though— ever since that evening, Bakugo made himself scarce. Kacchan still replied religiously to Izuku’s texts— but whenever there was an invite to be had, Bakugo claimed he was busy. Izuku saw him on patrol, though when their schedules aligned and Katsuki still showed up to all his guest lectures and Basic Hero classes… but beyond that? It was like trying to catch a ghost.
Kacchan, hey tha— Kacchan?
Dynamight! Do you want to— AH! WAAAHchan! Don’t fly away like that!
Hey Kacchan, have you considered becoming a teach— no? Do you want to have lun— Kacchan? Where did you go?
The multiple attempts were starting to frustrate Izuku a bit (and hurt). He thought they were beyond this— becoming closer than ever since the war. Shared sleepless nights in the dorm rooms and rescuing each other from real and psychological dangers tend to do that. On top of that, the world was at relative peace— so they could really explore their friendship outside of hero training.
Especially when One for All disappeared.
Izuku was so used to Katsuki dropping by every once in a while for lunch at UA or at his apartment, or even having a bi-monthly dinner.
But for a month since… that… thing… (Izuku did not know what to call what happened), Katsuki seemed to be avoiding him. Midorya couldn’t possibly ask anyone else what to do— this was just Kacchan being Kacchan…. how was he going to explain that to anyone? He knew Dynamight the most— this was hardly weird behavior for him to anyone else.
But to Izuku? This kind of treatment was different.
Luckily for him, a window of opportunity opened after the Hero Billboard Chart JP awards. Izuku couldn’t corner Kacchan at the ceremony (Dynamight at rank 15) mostly because he was swarmed with media (but then again— when did Kacchan ever entertain the media? That was weird). Kaminari then suggested that Class A celebrate Shoto’s number 2 ranking — a simple party with just all of them.
Deku’s brain lit up with the light of a thousand volts. Kacchan always picks Deku up for events. Without fail. Kacchan would always complain, but he’d rather reopen his heart than make Deku walk all the way to where anyone sets the reunions. Deku was the only former classmate who lived near UA— and since everyone else lived… everywhere else in the city, Izuku’s place of residence wasn’t always a consideration (unless it was his birthday).
All he had to do was text Kacchan— which he did a few days after the Billboards.
ZukuMidorya: Kacchan! Are you going to the party for Shoto?
ExplosionMurder: For IcyHot? No.
ZukuMidorya: D: kaaachan
ExplosionMurder: Nerd, of course, I’m going. Why?
ZukuMidorya: Great!
ZukuMidorya: Can you pick me up >.<
ExplosionMurder sent Angry Dynamight Sticker
ExplosionMurder: Ur always exploiting the fact I have a fucking car.
ExplosionMurder: Can’t. Have to leave early to do errands before IcyHot’s party.
ZukuMidorya: Oh! If you’re out early then you can hang out at my place.
ExplosionMurder: No.
ZukuMidorya: Why not?
ExplosionMurder is typing….
ExplosionMurder is typing….
ZukuMidorya: Kacchan?
ZukuMidorya: Please? We haven’t hung out in a while :(((
ExplosionMurder: ….
ZukuMidorya sent a Pleading Hero Deku sticker
Explosion Murder: Fuck you.
ExplosionMurder is typing…
ExplosionMurder: Fine. What time can I be there the earliest?
ZukuMidorya sent a Happy Hero Deku Sticker
ZukuMidorya: Does 2 PM sound good?
They settled on a time, and that was that.
Izuku absentmindedly picked up the cactus on the desk, the yellow thorns reminding him of a certain blonde.
He touched the thorns gently, part of his mind categorizing the plant's characteristics.
Izuku's brain flashed back to the day on the rooftop again, replaying one moment over and over again.
Bakugo looking ethereal against the city lights, holding on to Deku's arm like a lifeline. “My dream is back too… because you are here.”
Izuku’s heart squeezed just thinking about it. Was it… even possible? Was… Izuku shook his head and pulled a chair from under his dinner table. Feelings he dismissed before were coming back in full strength... maybe because... maybe it was possible.
Feelings he pushed away because Kacchan became busy— because Kacchan became a Pro Hero without Deku. Feelings he had since middle school, despite all the pain that he caused. The admiration and the... Izuku was afraid to put a name to the other feeling... it never went away. Feelings that strengthened in UA and never ebbed even after the war. They only grew stronger and stronger. Feelings that, when it was peaceful, were nurtured and blossomed into... something. It was present during the chaotic nights, the tiring trainings, and the early mornings when neither could settle.
He would follow Kacchan to the ends of the earth, because Kacchan was awesome... because Kacchan was always with him.
But these feelings are ones he wanted to let go because lunches meant nothing, because holding each other through nightmares was nothing.
Because easy silence and easy banter were nothing.
They had to be nothing.
He didn't want his complicated heart to mess up the friendship that took so long to cultivate into what it was now. It took 20 years of knowing each other to get where they were. Lingering glances and fleeting touches were nothing more than a friendship born from all that they are.
But Izuku felt his chest tighten with the idea of possibility. Could Kacchan feel the same? Was it possible?
How the hell was he going to get Kacchan to talk to him about it?
The sound of the doorbell ringing snapped Izuku out of his thoughts.
“What?” Why the hell was he now holding the cactus? He looked at the clock and swore. He zoned out for twenty minutes! His throat is dry, so he must have been muttering. Kacchan was supposed to—
The doorbell rang again. Izuku froze. "Fuck."
Huh. He swore. Maybe he was hanging around with Kacchan too much.
Well. Izuku stood up, the chair scraping against the floor. Here goes nothing. He was going to thank (and talk to) Kacchan whether he was ready for it or not! Izuku glanced at the wrapped gift he had left on the couch. He really hoped Kacchan would like it! Maybe he should of gotten something else. Maybe Dynamight grew out of that kind of gift? No, he knew Kacchan, they still watched the same movies! Oh no, what if Kacchan actually hated those movies? Well, Izuku was fucked because there's no way he could return the gift! Ah, he spent a small fortune in trading cards and money to get it.
“Oi, Deku.” Kacchan yelled from behind the door. “Don’t invite my ass here and not fucking answer!” The door shook with Kacchan’s knocking.
Izuku shook his head, snapping himself out of his own thought paralysis. He chuckled. He really hoped some things would never change.
He forced his legs to move and opened the door.