Work Text:
Waking up to the smell of antiseptics and the white lights of a hospital room was always disorienting, especially when he couldn’t remember how he ended up here.
The last thing Izuku could remember was fighting against a villain who was going on a rampage. He remembered the screams and the way people were rushing past him, pushing into each other in their haste to get away. So many people were unnecessarily hurt.
He always got frustrated in those situations, not because of the civilians, but because he wished crime like that never had to happen. He resented that people had to experience the fear and hurt that came from them. If he could shoulder the world's burdens, the pain and misery infesting those around him, he would do so in a heartbeat.
He rushed to the scene quickly, the embers One for All pulsing through his veins and lighting up his skin. He bounced along the street and ran as quickly as he could, pushing himself even further so as to not be late.
When he got there, the man was going berserk, quirk powered up and raring to go. Izuku quickly assessed that he had some sort of strengthening quirk, lifting cars and throwing them like they weighed nothing. Trees were being ripped from the ground and flung at buildings, concrete splintering and damaging the surrounding structures.
Izuku ran in and tried to deescalate the situation as quickly as he could while making sure the civilians wouldn’t be harmed in the process.
He can remember bits and pieces of the fight, pushing himself to his limit while trying to protect the people who were running away.
He still felt inadequate in those moments, with his dwindling power and the time limit he knew was drawing closer by the second, but he couldn’t stop protecting people. He needed to make sure everyone around him was safe and that the threat was taken care of, even at the cost of his own safety.
The fight was intense and most of it was a blur, remembering the feeling of bruises forming on his skin and possibly breaking a bone or two. The pain took a while to register, the adrenaline coursing through his veins made it hard to feel anything besides his heart thumping wildly in his chest.
Flashes of him protecting a small girl trying to get away and him taking the blow of a truck to his back is most of what he can recall. He strained himself to remember if he defeated the villain, but it was hard to think at the moment.
Now he was here, in some hospital with a splitting headache and not totally sure if he lost feeling in his arms or if he was on too many meds to feel anything at all.
He looked towards the window, noticing that it was the afternoon at this point. The sun was beginning to set, the sky painted in light pink, with dark clouds forming in the distance.
He heard rustling to his left and turned his head, closing his eyes as his head pounded slightly with the movement.
When he finally opened his eyes, a head of blonde hair came into view. He gazed at the slope of strong shoulders hunched over and looking at something on his phone, scrolling while adjusting himself in the small hospital chair.
Ah, Kacchan’s here.
Izuku felt himself exhale with the thought, his heart beat a little harder, feeling better with the knowledge that Katsuki had been next to him while he was sleeping.
As if Katsuki felt someone watching him he lifted his head and locked eyes with Izuku, he seemed to pause for a moment before his eyes widened, registering that he was awake.
“Finally decided to wake up, huh?” His voice rumbled as he spoke, clearly trying to keep it lower since Izuku just woke up.
Izuku opened his mouth to respond but only ended up coughing, throat dry from not using it over the last few hours.
“Tsk, moron don’t talk yet, I’ll get you water.” Katsuki stood up and went to get a cup, maneuvering around the chair and the bed in order to reach the pitcher.
He continued to look at Katsuki, noticing he was still in his lounge clothes. Izuku wondered if he came straight from the dorms or if he was out with their friends when he was notified of his condition.
He hated to feel like an inconvenience, their internships were more intense for all of them, especially with it being their third year. To have Katsuki sitting there didn’t alleviate that feeling either, with him still on his road to recovery and just getting back into hero work. But he knew if he voiced those thoughts, Katsuki would just tell him to get rid of his useless insecurities.
“-ku, hey Izuku!” Izuku jolted on the hospital bed, eyes refocusing on Katsuki who was sitting in front of him again. His eyebrows were furrowed, clearly concerned.
Izuku went to reach for the water but his left arm wouldn’t cooperate, he looked down and finally noticed the injuries on himself. His left arm was in a thick cast, seemingly broken, though his other arm was mostly fine, with just his hand being bandaged. His legs were wrapped too but he could still wiggle his toes, which indicated that they patched up any stray wounds that needed stitching. The only other thing he can see are his bruises, which were purpled and splotched all over his body.
He turned back and looked at the cup, seeing the straw poking out for him to use. His eyes moved up to Katsuki’s, noticing they were still locked onto him.
“Here, drink it. I got a straw for you, since your arms are clearly out of commission at the moment.” He huffed and brought the cup closer to Izuku’s mouth, waiting for him to take a sip.
Izuku leaned forward, eyes still locked onto the red ones staring at him, before looking down and taking the straw between his lips. The water was cool and his mouth instantly felt refreshed, the liquid coating his throat and relieving him of the dryness. He exhaled as he greedily took sips, draining the cup in seconds.
After he was done, he let his head rest on the pillow again and watched as Katsuki placed the cup on the table next to him. He could tell the man next to him was tense, his shoulders were bunched around his ears with his arms crossed over his chest like he was physically closing himself off. Izuku wondered why, desperately wanting to know what was wrong.
“Hi, Kacchan, how long have you been here?”
“Doesn’t matter, don’t you wanna know what happened?”
“Oh!” Izuku could feel his cheeks heat up slightly, he couldn't believe he almost forgot to ask about what happened after the fight. “Yes, please tell me! Was the girl okay? I know I shielded her, but I can’t really remember anything that happened after that, haha. Um, was everyone else okay? Also, what happened to the villain? Did I-”
“Izuku! Calm down, how am I supposed to answer all of your questions when you won’t take a second to hear the answer?” He scoffed a little and his hand ran through his hair. He was well used to Izuku’s rambling at this point, but it made him wonder if he had an extra pair of lungs with how much he spoke and didn't stop to take a breath.
Izuku huffed out a little laugh, knowing his rambling turned excessive when he was nervous, but he couldn't help himself. He’d been waiting to fill in the gaps of his memory ever since he woke up.
“What do you remember, let's start there.”
“Uh, well, I-I can remember the girl and then the, uh, truck that hit me.” Izuku can feel the glare directed at the side of his head and felt sweat form on his temples, he sheepishly turned his head to the side to avoid the brunt of that stare. “I think I can remember taking him out, the villain that is, but everything after that gets, um, fuzzy.”
He refused to turn his head towards Katsuki, aware of the look being directed at him, he heard him sigh and felt like a child being scolded.
“Right, well you did capture him, but you managed to break your arm and two of your fingers in the process, not to mention the blood loss. The blow from the truck bruised your spine, you’re lucky it wasn’t fractured along with the rest of your body. ”
“Well it could’ve been worse.” Izuku mumbled out, not really knowing why he seemed so disappointed, especially when it was just a few broken bones.
“Are you kidding me, nerd? Could’ve been worse? That truck almost knocked your entire spine out of place! The bruising alone was enough to have most people on bed rest for at least a few weeks, if not months.” Katsuki’s voice raised as he spoke, frustrated by the response he got. “You need to be more careful.”
Izuku turned to face him and felt his eyebrows draw together, “What was I supposed to do? If I hadn’t intervened, the situation would’ve been way worse! I tried my best.”
He knew Katsuki meant well, he knew this wasn't him pitying Izuku - and that was the worst part. Ever since the war, ever since the embers were slowly fading out of his body, people treated him differently. Like he needed to be handled delicately, and he was incapable of doing hero work like he used to. He knew he was on a time limit, and he understood they were worried about him, but it didn't stop the little voice in the back of his head telling him he was unworthy. What was he supposed to do when all he’d ever wanted to be was a hero? He might as well put his all into the work he’s doing now, it’d be better to spend his time saving others than continuing to worry about himself.
“Well you could’ve at least waited! There were other heroes on the scene and more coming to help out, you don’t need to do everything on your own. That’s why you’re in this situation now, you always rush in without thinking first!”
He didn’t want to take his frustration out on Katsuki, when all he’d been doing was trying to support Izuku and make him think about himself more, but he couldn’t help letting it pour out of him.
“Well sorry you had to rely on the guy whose power can’t even be used to its full potential anymore. I didn't know I needed a babysitter while I’m trying to fight someone!”
Katsuki’s face was getting red and he could hear his breathing get more erratic, he knew they should stop fighting but they’re both too worked up to think clearly.
“Idiot, it’s not about needing a babysitter and you know that’s not what I was trying to say! I just need you to actually think of yourself first for once, please, Izuku, I-I can’t-”
All of a sudden, an erratic beeping went off, and they were both startled into stopping. Izuku’s breath caught and his chest felt heavy with guilt, it sickened him, and it was as if he was plunged into a sticky sludge, unable to breathe or move. Sweat pooled on his limbs and down his neck, even though he felt a chill sweep through his body.
Katsuki’s heart monitor alerted them of its elevated levels, signifying he needed to calm down. He was usually good at noticing when he was getting too worked up and needed to take a breather. Izuku liked to keep track of it as well, not only for his own peace of mind, but to make sure Katsuki was always safe and healthy.
They’ve been getting closer and closer ever since the war. They were usually always together, either training, studying, helping each other with physical therapy, or just to sit in the other's presence when things got to be too much. When the war had ended and they would wake up from the nightmares that plagued their sleep, they’d crawl into each other's rooms, doors always left unlocked for easy access. They’d huddle under the covers and share the warmth of their skin, though they didn’t always talk about their dreams, more often than not they’d just talk about random things or nothing at all.
It was a comfort for the both of them, to be in the other’s presence. To share their warmth and, for Izuku, to feel the heartbeat of the person who was the closest to him, and who he was the closest to losing forever. To feel it beating under his palms and under his head as he lay with Katsuki was something he would never take for granted.
But to hear that sound, the one that plagued his nightmares more than anything else, because it reminded him of what he almost lost, and to know he caused it - there wasn’t a feeling like it. The anguish he felt knowing that he was the cause of that heart beating erratically for something so inconsequential was indescribable.
Katsuki was taking deep breaths and fumbling with the device to turn it off, clearly frustrated that it decided to go off in this situation. Even though his heart had been getting better and he’d been cleared for almost everything, he still needed to be careful - the device acting as more of a slight precaution than an actual warning.
It was more of an annoyance for Katsuki, he knew his limits, and it was frustrating to wear it. He knew it was mostly temporary and he wouldn’t need something so serious in the coming months, especially with his goal to continue to be a hero. He’d already spoken with multiple support engineers and they’d been discussing designs for lowkey devices that were for emergency situations. But in the meantime, he didn’t want it to alert him at every instance of an elevated heart rate.
Izuku couldn’t help but stare at his chest where his shirt covered his heart, ears ringing so loudly he couldn't think straight. His head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and he didn't know how to get out of his thoughts. It was his fault and he shouldn’t have pushed Katsuki into yelling. He was just so frustrated- but that didn’t mean anything. He knew he still needed to keep his heart rate down, and he just had to start something.
Katsuki looked up after noticing how quiet Izuku had gotten and stared at him. Izuku felt like he was hardly breathing at all, like the air wasn't getting into his lungs properly.
Katsuki instantly felt his stomach drop, he knew exactly what was going through Izuku’s mind.
He leaned forward to try and catch Izuku’s eyes so he could reassure him that he was fine, and that his heart was okay. But before he could, Izuku’s head jerked up - his pupils pinpricks and his eyes wide, like he couldn't see Katsuki in front of him anymore.
His head turned away to stare out of the window, quiet for a moment before he started speaking. “I think you should go back to the dorms, Kacchan, it’s getting late. The others are probably wondering where you are.”
Izuku heard his breath catch before he started talking again. “What do you mean go back to the dorms? We’re having a conversation and I’m fine, Izuku, really. You don’t need to worry about that, you know it just notifies me when-”
“Please, Kacchan, please just go back. I-I can’t do this right now, especially not after-” He inhaled deeply, trying to get air into his lungs so he didn't start panicking. “I just need to be alone right now. I’m sure I’ll be let out soon enough, so I’ll see you when I get back, okay?”
Izuku tilted his head toward him with eyes locked onto the wall, trying to smile but knowing it looked more like he was grimacing. He couldn’t look at Katsuki, especially after what just happened. He knew he was being unfair, but he couldn't help it.
Katsuki stared for a moment, unsure of how they even got to this point, but he knew he wouldn't be doing any good by pushing the topic. By this point, he knew when to take a step back and let things cool off.
“Fine.” He sighed and stood up. Before he left he took the water cup and refilled it, knowing Izuku might want more water before he got released. He placed it on the table, close enough that Izuku would be able to turn his body and reach over with his other arm if he needed to.
He walked over to the door but hesitated to open it, turning his head back to look at Izuku who was still staring out of the window. “Come home safe, nerd.”
Izuku heard the door slide shut and closed his eyes, his throat felt tight. He turned to look at the door before something caught his eye and he noticed the cup, refilled and waiting for him to take a sip.
His face felt hot, his nose stung and eyes burned as tears pooled and poured from his eyes, wetting his cheeks. Even after their little spat, Katsuki never failed to think of him and his comfort. He doesn’t know what he did to deserve such kindness from someone like Katsuki.
He hit the call button on the side of his bed for someone to come check up on him, hopefully they’d let him out soon. He knew he needed to talk to Katsuki properly this time.
–
The sun was setting by the time he was finally released from the hospital, well into the evening.
With the help of healing quirks from the doctors, they were able to clear up most of his minor injuries - his bruises, scrapes, and headache all cleared. His fingers and arm were still wrapped in some bandages but weren’t completely broken anymore, they didn’t want to risk exhausting him too much with an excessive amount of healing. He’d be out of patrol for at least a week or two, depending on how quickly his energy is recovered for them to heal his arm and fingers fully.
He was always amazed with how quickly healing quirks worked, and extremely thankful that they were willing to dedicate their time to the civilians and heroes who got injured.
He was on his way back to the dorms, the heat of the summer thankfully not as oppressive and humid as it usually was during the day.
He loved when the weather got warmer - their summer break was soon and festivals were popping up all over the place. He got to spend more time with his friends outside of school and they were able to focus more on their internships and patrols since they were almost full fledged heroes.
He loved seeing his friends have fun and enjoy themselves, getting to go out as a class and enjoy the time they have left together meant the world to him.
He stopped at a convenience store on his way back, picking up the spicy chips he knew were Katsuki’s favorites. He hoped they would be able to talk now, and he knew he should apologize for what happened.
He had a lot of time to think about why he got so frustrated, and he knew he was keeping his thoughts and feelings buried, not wanting to face what will inevitably happen.
It was hard to confront his feelings, because he knew that soon enough the embers would fade completely. He didn’t regret the choices he made or what he had to do, but he felt the weight of everything pressing on him more as time went on.
He had some vague ideas of what he might want to do after they graduate, but he didn’t think he would be able to continue on the path to becoming a hero. He had his moment, and he knew he did the best he could with the time he had. He’d forever be grateful that he got to experience everything he did, even if he wished he could’ve done more.
He passed through the gates and onto the school grounds, looking at other students hanging out before it got too dark.
The dorm building came into view, and he felt himself relax a little, knowing he’d be able to talk to Katsuki and relax after a long day.
He went inside and saw most of his classmates lounging in the common area and the kitchen, some of them playing games and others just sitting in little circles. They all turned to look as the door opened, greeting him as he finally stepped inside.
“Hey, Midoriya!”
“Deku! Welcome back!”
He smiled hearing all of their greetings, he always felt a little better after being around his friends.
Uraraka came up to him with a slightly worried look on her face and he paused so she’d be able to walk with him on his way to the kitchen. “Hey Deku! How are you feeling? Some of us saw the fight on the news and were worried, though Bakugo did update us on what the doctors said!”
Izuku smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling slightly guilty for worrying his classmates. He felt his cheeks heat up at the thought of Katsuki updating their classmates on his condition, he was so thoughtful and always thought ahead.
“Ah, I’m sorry for worrying everyone, but I’m really okay now! The doctors managed to mostly heal everything, but I’ll probably be in a cast for a little while longer.”
Uraraka’s face smoothed out, seeming relieved to know her friend was okay. “Well that’s good! It’s nice they let you out of the hospital so quickly, I know you didn’t want to miss the plans you had with your mom tomorrow! It does kinda suck that you’ll be wrapped up like that for your birthday, but don’t sweat it, I'm sure you’ll still have a good time!” She punched his shoulder lightly and let out a little laugh, she found it slightly amusing how trouble always managed to find him.
Izuku’s eyes widened, “Oh gosh, Uraraka you’re a lifesaver, I almost forgot that I had plans tomorrow!”
He noticed her stare had turned slightly judgemental. “Deku, you better be on time! I remember how excited you said your mom was to have you spend the morning with her, you wouldn’t want to disappoint her.” Humor laced her tone, shaking her head a little.
“Ah you’re right, but I swear I’ll be up and on time, you can count on that!” He smiled at her and went to the fridge, pulling out ingredients to make a smoothie.
She sat at the counter while he prepared his snacks, continuing to talk to him about her day and anything else that came to mind. He was making a little treat for him and Katsuki, he figured he could give it to him along with the chips he had gotten earlier.
He washed the dishes and said his goodnights to Uraraka and the rest of his classmates, climbing the stairs with everything he prepared.
He stopped in front of Katsuki’s door and knocked, hoping he was still up and he wasn’t disturbing him.
He waited for a second before he heard footsteps walk to the door, it opened slowly as Katsuki stood on the other side. His hair was pushed back in a headband, forehead exposed and clearly in the middle of getting ready for bed.
He had on a loose tanktop that showed off his collarbones, slipping down on one shoulder from how worn it was. His sweatpants were hanging low on his hips, they exposed a sliver of his stomach and hipbones.
Izuku has always found him to be so effortlessly stunning.
“Izuku? What are you doing here, nerd?” He leaned on his doorway, arms crossed as he rested his head on the frame.
Izuku took a moment to look at him, appreciating how soft he looked in the low lighting. His eyes scanned across his body, taking in everything he could before he had to leave for his room for the night.
“Hi, Kacchan, can I come in?” He held up the snacks he brought with a small smile.
Katsuki looked surprised for a moment before his face smoothed out, he opened the door and stepped to the side so he could come in. “Sure, but I’m getting ready for bed. What are those?” He looks at the things in his hand.
“Well, I-I just figured that I should bring these to you. As a thank you and an apology.”
He set everything down on Katsuki’s desk, handing him the smoothie he made and the chips he bought.
Katsuki didn’t immediately take them, speechless for a moment before scoffing. “Tch, nerd you don’t have anything to apologize for, don’t be an idiot.”
“Kacchan, please just take them. I… um, know you probably don’t want to hear it, but I do feel bad for what happened earlier. I shouldn’t have gotten frustrated with you, but it’s been… a lot to constantly have everyone treat me differently now, especially with the embers fading. And to be honest, hearing you say that, even though I know you don’t mean it that way was, well…”
Katsuki sighed and took the drink and chips from his hands, looking at the drink before he had a sip, seeming to think about what he was going to say.
“Dumbass, I know it’s been hard, but you know nobody means anything bad from what they’re saying. Your group of nerds especially, they’ve been waiting for you to open up to them and instead you’re pulling some dark loner act.” Izuku chuckled slightly, and Katsuki smirked a little from the sound.
“You don’t have to do everything alone, ya hear? Stop bottling everything up inside for once, hell, you can even ask me to spar if you don’t feel like talking much.”
“Ah, Kacchan don’t sound so excited, I know this is just an excuse to try and win against me.” Izuku smirked at him, laughing at how obvious he could be, there was never a moment Katsuki wouldn’t try to make something into a competition.
Katsuki let out a laugh, unabashedly loud as he threw his head back. Izuku could do nothing but stare at him, trying his best to copy the moment in his head forever. It felt like the wind was knocked out of him, his heart beat incredibly fast with the knowledge that he was the one who made him laugh that way. It was rare to see Katsuki be so carefree and relaxed, but him laughing at the comment Izuku made had him completely frozen, unwilling to miss a second.
He was as loud as ever and absolutely stunning, and Izuku wished he could see him laugh like that all the time.
Katsuki must’ve noticed that he’d been silent for too long, putting his head back down as his laugh slowed to a stop. His head tilted and his eyebrows furrowed, clearly trying to figure out what was going on.
“What’s wrong, why are you staring like that?”
Izuku could feel how hot his face had gotten, almost like it was steaming. His cheeks were bunched up from how he was smiling, unable to hide how fond he was of the man across from him, though he didn’t mean to show it so openly. He was always flustered around Katsuki, unable to hide anything from him.
“Ah n-nothing! Please don’t mind that, I… I just like hearing you laugh, sorry! Um, I should be going. It’s pretty late already and I wouldn’t want to keep you up any longer!” He continued to ramble on slightly, his hands waving in front of his face to at least attempt to hide how red he had gotten.
He backed toward the door in an attempt to escape the embarrassing moment, “Kacchan please don’t mind that, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable! I’ll see you- “ When he turned to wish Katsuki a goodnight again he paused. Katsuki was unusually quiet, and he worried he might’ve said something wrong.
“Kacchan?” He turned as he stood in the doorway.
Katsuki’s ears had turned a pretty shade of pink, the color crawling from the apples of his cheeks to the tip of his nose. His eyes were locked onto Izuku, mouth opening and closing as he tried to form a sentence.
Kacchan was so cute when he was flustered.
He suddenly jolted and scowled slightly, though Izuku thought it looked more like a pout than anything else. “Idiot, don’t just say stuff like that!” He stomped his way toward the door to where Izuku was standing, making him jump and take a step back into the hallway.
“Don’t say stuff you don’t mean.” He leaned closer to Izuku’s face, though he wasn’t as intimidating as he was trying to be, not with the blush that spread across his face.
“Wah-Kacchan! Of course I like hearing Kacchan's laugh! It’s nice and, yeah it’s loud, but kacchan is always louder than other people! Making Kacchan laugh is a privilege, and I like being able to hear it-”
“Okay! Okay I get it, you don’t have to keep saying it.” His mouth twitched upwards, doing his best to not laugh and break the scowl on his face.
“Go to bed, idiot, you have a big day tomorrow, remember?” He pushed on Izuku’s chest and out of his door lightly, his hand lingered for a moment before he clenched his fist and let it drop.
Izuku smiled at him, still a little flustered. “Haha, right, sorry for keeping you up so late, Kacchan. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”
“Right, nerd, get some sleep.” His smile was tilted higher on one end, small but genuine as he looked at Izuku once more.
“Goodnight, Kacchan.” With that he finally turned away from the door, making his way to the stairs and to his own room. He heard Katsuki’s door close softly, footsteps fading as he went deeper into his room.
Izuku turned to look back at the door one more time, gaze lingering just a moment longer. He was truly blessed to have Katsuki in his life. They’ve come a long way from how they used to be, now they can joke and laugh together, so comfortable in the presence of each other.
He was thankful they were able to get over their little spat from earlier, already feeling lighter than he had just a few hours ago.
With that last thought he finally made his way to his room, ready to go to sleep and start a new day.
–
Waking up the next morning to his alarm blaring was jarring to say the least, feeling exhausted from his body trying to recover after the healing quirks used on him the day before. He had set his alarm for 7am, allowing himself an extra few hours of sleep than what he typically got for school.
He got up to do his normal routine, brushing his teeth and showering to help him feel refreshed. The water rushed over his body, relieving him of the previous day's aches. He scrubbed his hair and body of any leftover grime from the day before, too exhausted to do anything besides sleep after he left Katsuki’s room. He had to rewrap his arm as well, though it was slightly hard to do with one hand.
Trying to style his hair into something somewhat manageable, he raked his fingers through it. Though the humidity would most likely make it puff up as the day went on, he didn’t really mind, the products he’d gotten over the years had made doing his hair infinitely easier than when he was younger. Sharing a dorm with the girls had allowed for all of them to grow closer, with them sharing tips on how to style his hair and what products would be best for him.
He threw on some light clothes and packed a small bag with any essentials he might need; his wallet and room key in the front pocket and a water bottle for the train ride, short as it may be.
He managed to make it out of the school at a relatively good time, though he noticed he hadn’t seen any of his classmates, he figured they were already out or still sleeping. They all deserved as much rest as they could get.
He made his way to the station and got on his train, somewhat crowded with commuters on their way to work. He checked his phone and noticed a few messages from his friends and other classmates, it seemed most of his friends still hadn’t woken up yet, inactive on their accounts.
The stop for his house finally came and he made his way out of the train, skirting around the other passengers as he made his way out. He always loved going home and he wished he got to more often, he missed his mother and the warmth of her presence, but he was excited to finally spend a few hours with her.
He walked up to his door and went to grab his keys to unlock it, fumbling with them to try and find the right one. Before he could use his key he heard footsteps coming from deep inside the house, rushing to the door and unlocking it for him. It swung open and revealed his mother, her smile lighting up her whole face as she looked up at him.
It amused him to see how much taller he’s gotten than her, but it always left a little bittersweet taste in his mouth, it reminded him of how much has changed in such a short amount of time.
“Izuku! Welcome home honey, and happy birthday!” She opened the door wider and stepped towards him to envelope him in a tight hug.
“Hi, mom, thank you!” He bent down slightly so it was easier to reach her. He tightened his arms slightly and took a moment to relax in her presence.
“Well come in, come in! I made breakfast for you, so please have as much as you want.” She dabbed her eyes lightly with a tissue she had - if they shared one trait it would always be how emotional they got, quick to shed a tear or two at any moment.
“Thank you, mom, I really appreciate it.” His smile widened as he bent down to take off his shoes, leaving his bag at the front door.
She finally seemed to take in his condition, slightly worried that he was bandaged all over his arm, though he reassured her as they made their way in, promising her that he was okay.
As he walked inside he went towards his kitchen, the smell of freshly made food permeated the air, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He loved his mothers cooking, the smell reminding him of when he was younger and bringing him back to the past when they shared all of their meals together.
He opened his eyes and when he stepped inside he saw All Might sitting at the table, a party hat sitting on his head with a banner hanging from the ceiling, a smile stretched across his face as he held out a present.
“My boy, happy birthday! How are you doing this morning?” All Might’s voice boomed out, a boisterous laugh came from the shock he saw covering Izuku’s face, he would never tire of how expressive he was.
“A-All Might!? What are you doing here?” He looked towards his mother and saw her recording the moment he stepped inside the kitchen, she giggled behind her hand as she watched them interact.
“Well, I’m here to celebrate your birthday, of course! What kind of a mentor would I be if I didn’t spend the day with you, my boy? I also saw the news of your battle yesterday and was eager to make sure you were alright.”
Izuku continued to stare for a moment before he stuttered out a flustered ‘thank you’ and promised that he was okay as he sat down, robotic in his movement and slightly disoriented from the shock of his hero sitting at his dining room table.
He gingerly took the gift from his hands, setting it to the side to open after they all ate. His mother continued to get the food ready for their breakfast, declining the help he offered as she forced him to sit down, insisting it was his birthday and he should relax.
They ate their food in relative peace, Izuku calmed down from the initial shock and was able to have a pleasant time with them. He was so grateful to be able to share a day like this with two of his favorite people.
After they ate, his mother got up to get her gift for him, going into her room to bring out a wrapped box. All Might insisted he opened his gift now, his excitement showing through his expression. As he opened the package he saw one of All Might's figures, though instead of it being him in his traditional hero form, he was in his true form. A smile painted the figure's face and his fist was raised towards the sky, clothes slightly baggy as they draped from his body.
Izuku stared at the figure, blinking as his eyes started to water, before he could say anything his mom pushed hers toward him as well. He gently placed the figure down and gingerly opened hers, hands shaking as he unwrapped the package.
The first thing he saw was green, and as he pulled it out he noticed it was a figure of himself in the same pose. A smile stretched across his face with his fist raised in the air, the figures were clearly a pair, the bases connecting together when he set them next to each other.
He stared at them unsure of what to say, his eyes flickered up and down to look at the two sitting across from him. He felt vision become cloudy the longer he looked at his gifts.
“What, uh, what are these?” His voice came out as barely a whisper, shaking as he tried to keep his tears at bay.
“These are figures of us, of course! Your mother came to me with the idea a while ago, and I may have… reached out to a company that has helped me out in the past, and they were able to make these figures for you, my boy.”
He looked over at his mom, noticing a few tears were running down her face but her grin was wide. “I know you love collecting figures like this, and I thought these would be perfect for you!”
He was in shock and completely taken aback by the gesture. “I-I’m definitely grateful, but um, figures are usually… for heroes. I-I’m not, or I’m not going to be-”
All Might raised his hand, cutting him off before he could continue his sentence. “Listen, Izuku my boy, I know this has been a period of uncertainty for you, and I know this experience is completely unique, but I understand it. Losing your quirk and remaining with the embers is probably quite difficult for you, especially because there’s no telling when they’ll fade completely. But I need you to understand this, there has never been, and will never be, a time you won’t be a hero. Even when you were quirkless and ran in to save young Bakugo, and even with the embers fading, you’ve always had the heart of a hero, my boy. I know you may not know what to do in the future, but never doubt how much good you’ve done and how many people you’ve saved. You’ve always had the best heart, and you’ll always be my hero.”
Tears spilled over Izuku’s eyes as he listened to All Might, he didn’t even know what to say. His head tilted down so he could wipe his tears and he felt his mother come up to hug him, All Might’s hand reaching to pat his head as he chuckled.
He sniffled, “T-thank you, All Might, and thank you, mom. I…I don’t even know what to say right now.”
“A thank you is more than enough, sweetheart. Just know that whatever you do and whatever path you choose to take, you’ll always be a hero in our hearts, and we’ll be here to support you no matter what.”
They separated and he wiped his face as he calmed down, they continued to talk for a while about how school had been and the recent activities they had been up to. They had some light snacks in between and shared tea as they made their way to the living room.
He looked at the clock after a while and noticed it was well past noon, shocked at how much time had passed by. He realized he hadn’t checked his phone in a while and went to grab it from the kitchen.
Before he could turn it on, his mothers voice came from the living room, and Izuku figured he could wait a little longer to speak to his friends.
“Izuku, you should probably be getting back to the dorms soon, right? I’m sure you’d like to do something other than hang out with us all day.” She laughed a little as she spoke.
“Oh, well I’m sure I can always see them later!” Hoping he hadn’t made her think he wanted to leave so soon.
“Nonsense, my boy! It’s good to spend time with your friends, especially since you’ll all be going off on your own soon!”
Izuku felt a pang run through his chest, the mention of them going off to be heroes was something he tried not to think too hard about, still so unsure of what he was supposed to do. He felt his smile falter a little but tried to hide it, he didn’t want to worry them too much.
“Okay, well I’ll start getting ready to take the train back then, I’ll have to pack the figures carefully before I leave.”
“Don’t worry about that, I brought my car with me, we can drive back together!” All Might stood up, gathering his cup to put it in the sink.
“Are you sure, All Might? I wouldn’t want to be an inconvenience!” He waved his hands slightly, flustered by the suggestion to drive with his mentor. He still found it unbelievable that he was so close to his favorite hero.
“I insist, I’m going there anyway, so it wouldn’t be any trouble at all!”
Iuzku felt better that he wasn’t making the hero go out of his way, agreeing -somewhat reluctantly- to go with him. He said his goodbyes to his mother, hugging her tightly and thanking her for making his day so special again. After that they went on their way to the school, discussing their summer plans and ideas for the future. Izuku was reminded once again that he had a lot to think about before he graduated.
After they parked they began their path to the dorms, All Might bidding him a goodbye as he finally split and he went towards the school. Izuku continued his walk to the dorms, lost in thought as he mumbled to himself, fumbling with the door and his bag so he didn’t drop anything.
He noticed the lights were off, confused as to where all of his friends were. They were usually around at this time, either in the common area or eating lunch together. He wondered if they were okay, he hadn’t even had the chance to check if they'd messaged him yet.
“Hello?” He looked around as he took off his shoes and replaced them with his indoor slippers, placing his bag gently on the ground as he turned on the lights.
As they came on, everyone suddenly jumped out, all of his friends yelling a variation of ‘surprise’ and ‘happy birthday’ as they popped out of various spots.
He was completely shocked, his eyes widened as he jumped in his spot. His mouth was wide open as he looked at all of the people who were gathered before him. The room was littered in birthday decorations, balloons were floating and streamers were dangling, there was glitter and confetti everywhere, and banners were pinned on the walls.
Friends from his class and various others were all there, dressed up in party hats as they threw streamers everywhere, some of his teachers were standing in the back as well, along with some of his friends who had already graduated.
He was having a hard time processing everything, eyes unable to stay still as he took in all of the people who were gathered around him. He could feel his eyes starting to water again, overwhelmed by the affection he could feel radiating off of all of them.
“Oh, wow, g-guys um… thank you!” He beamed at all of his friends, tears wetting his cheeks as he took everything in.
Most of them rushed towards him and pulled him deeper into the building so they could start the celebration.
“Welcome back, Midoriya. I hope you had a good time with your mom and All Might.” Todoroki came to his left side, a small smile on his face as he spoke.
“You knew about that?” He asked, looking around as more of them came and went, all of them wishing him a happy birthday before they retreated to various parts of the room.
“Well, of course we did, silly! We, or should I say someone in particular," Mina whispered and winked at him, “planned all of this!” She bounced at his side, shaking his arm lightly as he continued to walk deeper into the room.
“Yeah, man, Bakugo came up with the idea to throw you a surprise party! We were coming up with ways to get you out of here for a few hours when he decided to message your mom and All Might, it worked out perfectly.” Kirishima slung his arm around his neck and ruffled his hair a little.
He walked into the kitchen with his friends and noticed most of them were helping set up various foods on the table. Cupcakes and chips were all on trays and waiting to be eaten.
Uraraka and Sato were finishing plating everything, greeting him as he entered.
“Deku, happy birthday!” Uraraka came to give him a hug, though he was still in shock from everything, slow to reciprocate the friendly gesture.
“Wow, this is amazing, guys. I-I don’t even know what to say.” He was being pushed into a chair at the head of the table, balloons attached to the seat and a cake sitting in front of it.
“You don’t have to say anything at all, nerd, just enjoy the food.” Katsuki came over to the table, a bowl of katsudon resting in one hand as he set it behind the cake. “Blow out the candles so you can eat.”
Ah Kacchan's katsudon! This is the best birthday ever. Izuku stared at Katsuki, the delicious smell wafting from the bowl made his stomach growl loudly.
Katsuki huffed a small laugh, “Idiot, quit mumbling already.”
Izuku blushed and ducked his head, he noticed everyone was gathered around to sing to him and take pictures, laughing as Katsuki tried to light the candles with his quirk and someone shouting at him to be careful to not explode the whole cake. The entire ordeal was loud, laughs ringing out and people gathering around as they all interacted.
Izuku couldn’t stop smiling and staring at his friends, practically inhaling his food as he listened to all of them recount how they were setting up for the party.
He was able to talk to everyone who came, the hours passing by surrounded by his most cherished people. Gifts were piled up on the tables, action figures and notebooks, a picture specially made by Eri (which he almost ruined from how much he cried over it), so many special things were given to him, he was overflowing with happiness.
It was well into the afternoon by this point and he was stuffed from how much food he ate, his friends going all out to make sure everyone was fed well.
All of a sudden thunder rumbled in the distance, the clouds fluffy as they painted the sky a dark grey. He looked out of the window and realized it was definitely going to start storming soon.
Most of the people who weren’t living in the dorms elected to leave early, wanting to get ahead of the storm so as to not be caught in it. They came over to say goodbye and wish him a happy birthday once more before they left, and then it was just him and his class.
They all decided to clean up from their little party, putting the leftover food away as they took down the decorations so they didn’t leave a mess behind. They all tried to make him sit down but he refused, insisting he had to help after all of the effort they went through to make his day so special.
After the clean up he started collecting his gifts to bring them to his room, retrieving his bag from the front door and slinging it over his back. Some of his friends offered to help, carrying various items into the elevator and up their stairs to make it easier on him.
He sat in his room and started arranging everything, putting the figures and notebooks on his shelves and arranging any clothes he got. As he was putting all of the garbage into a bag, he heard the rain start to pour, beating against the building roughly. The windows shook slightly from how hard it was pouring, he was surprised at how intense the storm was.
A faint knock sounded against his door, almost drowned out by the sound of the rain. He stood up to open it and saw Katsuki on the other side, holding a bag tied together with a bow.
“Hey, can I come in quick, I wanted to give you this separately.” He lifted the bag up slightly.
Izuku smiled and nodded, stepping to the side so he could come in, though he didn't come much further than the doorway.
“Thank you, Kacchan! I’m sure whatever you got me will be amazing.” He took the bag and sat on his bed, he pulled the bow and the paper off of the top.
“Tch, of course it will be, nerd. It’ll be the best gift you’ve ever gotten.” He smirked as he said it, but Izuku saw his mouth twitch slightly, he seemed nervous.
As he looked in the bag, he saw black and orange fabric, an ‘X’ lining the front, a very familiar color pattern. His hand trembled slightly and he pulled the fabric out of the bag and set it down next to him. He opened it and saw it was a hoodie, fabric soft in his palms as he reverently brushed over it with his fingers.
He traced the orange and black fabric, holding it in front of him as he continued to examine all of the small details that covered the hoodie. It was the perfect size and the materials were of excellent quality, he expected nothing less from Katsuki.
“Kacchan,” he whispered out, awe lacing his tone, “is this…?”
“Yeah,” Katsuki’s hand went to the back of his head as he looked away, rubbing his neck before he continued speaking, “this is part of the collaboration I’m doing for some merch. They insisted I help design some items for the upcoming production, and this was the first piece they made. I figured you’d like it, being the nerd you are, heh. I wanted you to have it.” He locked eyes with Izuku as he spoke.
Izuku’s eyes darted back and forth as he tried to get himself to stop crying for the nth time that day, but he was always weak when it came to Katsuki.
He sniffled as he spoke, voice wobbly and unstable. “Kacchan, I don’t even know how to thank you for this, it-it’s perfect.”
The first of its kind of Kacchan’s merch… this is priceless. Izuku will cherish this forever! He doesn’t even know if he can wear it, it’s beautiful - they got Kacchan’s colors exactly right as well. Nothing less than the best, of course!
“Nerd quit mumbling, of course you can wear it, I got it for you.” Katsuki chuckled as he listened to Izuku’s rambling.
Izuku looked up at him and sprung up from his position on the bed, he wrapped his arms tightly around Katsuki and buried his face into his neck. He continued to mumble out thank yous as he hugged him tightly, uncaring if Katsuki decided to explode him.
He felt him tense for a moment, grumbling slightly as he scolded him to be careful of his arm, before he felt hands slowly come to wrap around him as well, reciprocating the hug. He felt Katsuki relax in his arms, slumping into his hold the longer they stayed connected.
Izuku pulled back slightly to thank him again, but he realized how close their faces were, noses practically bumping, and sharing each other's breath between them. They were both frozen in place, red eyes staring into his.
His eyes flickered down for a moment, noticing Katsuki’s lips parted slightly as he took a breath.
Don’t look don’t look don’t look
Izuku sucked in a sharp breath and pulled away, face flushing from how close they were, the moment so quiet between them he needed to move before he did anything unwanted.
Katsuki blinked rapidly a few times, shaking his head a little and taking a step back. He cleared his throat before he spoke again. “I know you’re probably tired, I’ll let you rest. Happy birthday again, Izuku, I hope you had a good day.”
Izuku watched him walk towards the door, and he followed him to see him out. “I did, Kacchan, I had the best day all thanks to you. I’m so grateful for everything you did, really.” He smiled at Katsuki, gazing at him fondly before he went to leave.
“Heh, I’m glad, night Izuku.” He lingered for a second, almost as if he still had something to say, mouth opening before he stopped. He huffed out a small laugh and went down the hall, doing a little wave before he went towards the stairs.
Izuku watched him leave before he closed his door. He turned around and his body slid down slowly, face blooming red as he remembered what just happened.
From the party to the gift, and then whatever happened with their hug, Izuku was shocked. His thoughts were racing as he remembered the moment, thinking about how… soft he looked and how pretty he was up close.
Ah I wish I could’ve kissed him
Everything came to a halt, eyes blowing wide when he registered what he just thought.
He knew he’d always loved Katsuki, but he’d never allowed himself to think about it too deeply. He never thought he would ever reciprocate, his affection towards the blonde more one sided than anything. He knew they were closer and they relied on each other more than most did, but the thought seemed unlikely.
Though his feelings had been a problem recently, becoming more prevalent and noticeable as they continued to grow closer. He felt an overwhelming surge of emotions whenever his name was mentioned, and just being in his presence was enough to calm him down.
He wanted nothing more than to be able to profess his feelings, to have Katsuki all to himself and experience new things together. But he knew he couldn’t, especially not with the path he was going towards now.
That wasn’t to say that Katsuki wouldn’t like him because he was almost quirkless again, they were far past that misunderstanding. It was the fact that Izuku didn’t have a clue what he was supposed to do with his life now that he wasn't able to be a hero.
Katsuki would continue to heal and grow, becoming one of, if not the best, hero that society would ever see. Izuku knew he’d continue to climb his way to the top, because that was what he was born to do, he was meant to be the best and surrounded by the best.
Izuku couldn’t even figure out what he was going to do after graduation, the uncertainty of his situation was unpleasant. Katsuki deserved better, and Izuku didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to pretend everything was fine before it all fell apart.
Who was he to stand at Katsuki’s side when he had no idea what his purpose was anymore?
Izuku felt sick thinking about it, he knew he needed to clear his head and get out of his room, the confined space feeling like it was closing in on him from all sides. He stood up, slightly wobbly on his feet and practically bolted out of his room. He took the stairs two at a time, rushing to get out before anyone could see him panicking.
He headed towards the door and threw on his shoes, not caring to tie them. He thought one of his friends asked where he was going, but his head felt heavy and his ears were ringing. He might’ve answered but wasn’t really sure of anything at the moment.
He ran out, uncaring if the rain was pouring down on him from all sides, feet splashing in various puddles in his haste to go. He couldn’t even tell where he was going anymore, running blindly in the night, the pitch black of the sky and the heavy rain made it hard to see anything.
He slowed to a stop after a few minutes, panting and shaking as he tried to catch his breath. He tried to look around and was shocked by where he ended up, Ground Beta looming over him as he twisted his head. Somehow he always ended up here.
He plopped down in the middle of the road, head dangling between his legs as his hands came up to hold the back of his neck. His head was a mess of thoughts, none of them helping to make sense of his situation.
He truly didn’t know what to do, not with himself, not with Katsuki, and not even with his future. Nothing made sense anymore, and it was like he didn’t even know who he was supposed to be. If he wasn't a hero anymore, then what was he going to do? Who was he supposed to be if not Hero Deku?
His mind was racing, he thought he would be able to figure out his future and where he was supposed to go, but if anything, it felt like he was more uncertain than ever.
It suddenly stopped raining on him, like there was a barrier blocking it from continuing to touch his body. He looked up slowly and to his right he saw Katsuki, he had an umbrella over his head to help shield him from the rain.
“What are you doing here, Izuku, you’re gonna catch a cold if you keep this up, and you shouldn’t get your bandages all wet.” The rain started to get onto Katsuki in his attempt to keep Izuku dry.
“How’d you find me, Kacchan?”
“Tch, you doubting my skills, nerd? The others said you ran out looking pale, so I decided I’d come get your ass to talk.” He sat down next to Izuku who tried to get him to stand back up, he insisted he didn't need to bother with him. “And before you start mumbling about how ‘it’s nothing’ or ‘you’re fine’ you can cut the bullshit, I know you, and I know something has been bothering you.”
Izuku would never fail to be amazed by how well Katsuki really knew him, because for as much as he watched his Kacchan, he knew he watched him just as intently.
Izuku turned his head to stare forward, unable to meet the searching eyes that were boring into the side of his head. He knew he’d have to talk eventually, but he wished Katsuki didn’t have to keep witnessing all of his failures.
They listened to the rain pour around them for a few minutes, the umbrella blocking out the worst of it, but it didn’t help that they were essentially sitting in a puddle of water.
“I…I’m just so confused, Kacchan, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“Yesterday when we were arguing at the hospital, even though I know you didn’t mean anything by what you were saying, and I know you weren’t pitying me… but it feels like everyone's been treating me that way since I’ve essentially lost One for All. Everyone keeps telling me I need to be careful and that I should wait for help to arrive, but that just makes it seem like I don’t know how to be a hero anymore, and that I’m just an inconvenience to everyone when I’m out in the field.” He took a breath as he tried to gather his thoughts, his heart was racing as he finally poured out everything he’d been feeling for years.
“It just feels like, well, who am I if not a hero? What good is my life, what is my purpose, if I can’t save people anymore? That’s all I knew how to do, and if I can't even do that anymore… I just don’t understand where to go from here. That was the one thing I had, and it felt like things were finally going okay… and while I don’t regret anything that I did, especially for Tenko, I just wish I was able to still be a hero. All of you are going to continue moving forward in your careers, you’re all so sure of what you’re going to do and I just, I feel like I’d be holding all of you behind by sticking around.”
He can tell his breathing was getting slightly erratic at that point, shivering and sniffling as he tried to tell Katsuki everything.
“Nerd, you know that’s not-"
“I know! I know… no one feels like that, but I feel like that. It feels like everything I do is meaningless now and that there’s no point in continuing. I want to save people, and I want to be a hero, but it’s like I’m not allowed to anymore. I just wish I knew how to fix it so I can continue standing by your side. I wanted nothing more than to be heroes with you and keep the promise we made, but it feels like you’d be wasting your time on me.”
“Hey! Stop talking like that, like everything you’ve done means nothing just because you don’t have a quirk.” Katsuki turned towards him and dropped the umbrella, he took hold of his arms and pulled him closer.
“Izuku, I don’t know how many times I need to tell you this to get it through your thick skull, but you’ll always be a hero, regardless of what you do. Do you think that just because you won’t have a quirk, that suddenly means you can’t be a hero?” He shook his head and Izuku along with him.
“Well, news flash idiot, that’s what support gear is for! Even if you decided to not do hero work, you’d still be a hero. You’ve saved so many people, hell you saved me. Don’t you dare diminish everything you’ve done and reduce it to you needing a quirk, that’s the stupidest shit I’ve ever heard.” Katsuki was breathing heavily, chest moving up and down rapidly.
“Kacchan please be careful, I don't want you to get worked up so easily.” He looked towards his heart monitor, he noticed it was slightly elevated but it wasn’t too concerning yet.
“Tch, fuck my heart monitor! Stop worrying about that shit and focus on yourself instead.”
“Well how could I not be worried? That’s what helps keep you alive Kacchan!”
“That doesn’t matter right now, Izuku.”
“Yes, it does!” He huffed frustratedly, his eyes narrowed as he locked eyes with Katsuki. “It does matter, because if I couldn’t save you, then at least that might be able to!”
Katsuki’s breath hitched, his eyes widened and his grip went slack momentarily. Izuku was in a similar position, he couldn’t believe he said that out loud.
“...what?” Katsuki looked stunned and a little horrified, and Izuku felt like he was mirroring his emotions as they played out.
“I-I didn’t mean-”
“No, Izuku, tell me what you meant by that.” His eyes sharp as they stared at him, glaring straight at Izuku and he continued to fumble his words.
“I…I was late, Kacchan, I was late to save you, even when I had One for All. The quirk that allowed me to do almost everything couldn’t even bring me to you when I needed to be there the most. How… How can I possibly be a hero when I failed to save the most important person in my life? How could I ever call myself a hero after that? ” Izuku knew he was crying at that point, almost unable to get the words out.
“Damnit, Izuku that… absolutely none of that was on you. I knew what I was doing, and I knew what the outcome was going to be. That fight was not a reflection on your ability to be a hero. I made my own choices, I need you to stop feeling guilty for that.”
“How can you say that, Kacchan? I-I should’ve been there, because if I wasn’t late, none of that would’ve happened.”
“Yeah, well it did, and I’m still here. I’m still alive and kicking so I don’t need you to beat yourself up over the choices that I decided to make. I’m a hero just as much as you are, so stop putting the blame all on yourself.”
Katsuki’s hands slowly crawled up Izuku’s arms, he cradled his face and wiped the tears from his eyes and the hair plastered to his forehead. He leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together, red eyes meeting green.
“Izuku, please believe me when I say I will always believe in you and your ability to be a hero. You've saved countless lives, and you’re an inspiration to all of the people you meet. There are so many different paths you can take, you’re smart and able to pick up everything you try easily. There’s an endless amount of possibilities for you. But no matter what you do, you’ll always be my hero, please believe that.”
Izuku inhaled so suddenly it startled him, he felt the air expand his lungs as he listened to Katsuki. His eyes darted back and forth so rapidly he had a hard time focusing. He raised his hands suddenly, one cradled Katsuki’s cheek and the other gripped the back of his head as he pressed their lips together. His feelings came bursting out of him, the only way he knew how to express the overwhelming affection was to show it physically.
Katsuki’s lips were so soft and warm against his own, slightly damp from the rain that'd been pouring on them for the last few minutes they’d been talking. He felt Katsuki stiffen slightly, clearly not anticipating the sudden kiss.
Izuku was too absorbed in the moment to realize what he did, though his eyes shot open after a moment, freezing in place. He went to pull back and apologize, afraid he made a horrible mistake. But Katsuki’s hands twitched before holding him in place, pressing so hard on his cheeks they indented at his fingertips.
His eyes stayed open slightly, witnessing Katsuki’s emotions flash across his face, he was clearly shocked but unwilling to let go. He tilted his head to the side, guiding Izuku’s to do the same to slot them better together.
He watched as red eyes fluttered closed, seeming to melt into the kiss as he exhaled, practically trying to fuse their bodies together to just get the tiniest bit closer.
Izuku closed his eyes after, pressing their lips together over and over, unable to get enough of Katsuki. He wanted to feel the pressure of his mouth against his and the warmth of his lips against his own, clutching him and unable to separate for the moment. It felt like fireworks were lighting against his lips, tingling where they came together.
Izuku thought it would always feel like this with Katsuki, no matter how many times he’d get to kiss him, or how new it was, the feeling of them sharing such an intimate moment was like electricity shooting through his veins. It warmed his skin and goosebumps raised along his entire body.
They pulled back to breathe slightly, their lips still touching as they shared the air between them. Taking a moment to process the moment they just shared.
“Kacchan… I can’t thank you enough for everything you said. It makes me, um, really happy to know you still think of me that way.” He knew his cheeks were red, and he opened his eyes to look at Katsuki, seeing him in a similar state.
“I’ll always be here to remind you of it, no matter how many times it takes to finally get through your head. You’re lucky I like you enough to stick around for that.”
“Does this mean Kacchan will stay by my side forever then, since you like me so much? I might need to be reminded a lot.” he teased him a little, giddy and high off of the endorphins coursing through him.
“Tch, of course I will, I’ll be by your side for the rest of our lives.” He smiled at Izuku and closed the distance between them again, the kiss lingering for a moment before they finally decided to get up and go back to the dorms.
This birthday was easily the best day he’s had in so long, and it was all thanks to Katsuki and their friends who came together for him. He didn’t know what he did to deserve the love and support that surrounded him, but he’d never taken it for granted.
They continued to talk on their way back, fingers intertwined and shoulders brushing together as they shared the umbrella. Izuku knew it’d take more than one conversation to fix everything, his path wouldn’t be linear as he tried to figure out where to go next. Though he had a feeling it’d be a little bit easier with Katsuki by his side, helping him on his journey to do the best he can. No matter what path he chooses, he’d always look ahead.
– Bonus content –
The next morning came quickly, they were huddled under the covers together and sharing the warmth of their skin as they cuddled under Katsuki’s blankets.
Though as they woke up, they could tell something wasn’t quite right. Their cheeks were red and slightly sticky with sweat, hair plastered to their foreheads and their clothes sticking uncomfortably to their bodies.
Katsuki sniffled as he tried to speak, voice scratchy and nasally. “Idiot, this is all your fault, you got us sick by being out in the rain for so long.” His hand raised slightly to Izuku’s head, fist tapping it lightly to express his annoyance.
“Sorry, Kacchan, I swear I didn’t know this would happen! I didn’t even realize how long we were out in the rain, though I guess it makes sense. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you! I know how to make soup, and I think I saw some medicine in the cabinet. I just have to get up and go make it, you can count on me!”
He went to pull the covers back, shivering as the cold air hit his skin. But before he could actually get up, Katsuki latched onto his side and pulled him back down, covering his body with his own. He was clearly not willing to let Izuku escape the bed, confining him to cuddling for the time being.
“No way ‘zuku, we can deal with that later. Y’r warm, don’t leave me yet.” His voice was slightly muffled as he hid his face in Izuku’s chest, rubbing his face back and forth and pouting at the thought of having to separate so soon.
Izuku was so incredibly enamored by a Katsuki who had just woken up, willing to put off taking care of things for a little while longer and allowing himself to bask in his warmth. They were both sneezing and shivering slightly, but as long as they were together, that was good enough for them.