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Three weeks after the war.
Katsuki was finally being released from the hospital and was allowed to return to the U.A. dorms with his classmates. Everyone was already back, even Izuku, who had rejoined them a week earlier.
One hand clutching the bag slung over his shoulder, he looked up at the familiar building, blinking lazily against the sun.
He was still out of it because of the painkillers, and every step he took felt sluggish. Every blink seemed to happen in slow motion, and each time he spoke, it pulled at the scar on his cheek, which was still tender.
The worst one, though, was the one on his chest, right above his heart.
He opened the front door of the Class A dorm building, and everyone stopped talking before rushing forward to greet him.
“Bro, you’re finally here!” Eijirou was the first to reach him, and Katsuki just stared at him, nodding once.
“Yo, give him some space!” Denki was there too, along with Hanta, and the guys stretched out their arms, forming a sort of barrier between Katsuki and the classmates who had crowded around him in record time.
Katsuki blinked down at them, readjusting the bag on his shoulder when it shifted. He saw his friends' smiling faces. Saw and heard them talking, some in hushed voices, others a little louder, but he just couldn't bring himself to really listen. All he wanted was to get back to his room and take a nap, because the ride from the hospital with Aizawa-sensei had been exhausting.
“Goin’ upstairs,” he mumbled, finally finding the strength to move forward and take a few steps. And like Moses parting the sea, everyone stepped aside, letting him walk through.
He took a few more steps before glancing back over his shoulder, his eyes squinting.
“Thanks,” he said to the crowd, and his gaze tried to focus. Tried to find green. Tried to spot him, but his vision was somehow blurry now that he was here. That he was home, feeling the safety and familiarity of the place swallow his worries and lift some of the weight from his shoulders.
“Deku,” he called, his tired eyes failing to catch that familiar shade of green. Then, in the next moment, almost miraculously, Izuku was right there.
Izuku, he realized in a daze, had been there all along. Because of course he had.
The boy stepped up beside him, and silently, they walked toward the elevators leading upstairs.
-
There is something inside Kacchan’s bag, Izuku thought, his eyes drifting between the beige bag slung over his friend's shoulder and his tired face.
There was something inside that kept twitching, and it even meowed when they arrived on the fourth floor, where Katsuki's room was.
It’s a cat! Izuku realized, his arm stretching out, his hand gently settling between his friend's shoulder blades to keep him steady. Because Katsuki seemed really out of it, and he knew it was because of the meds he was on.
“Kacchan,” he called once they stopped in front of his room.
“Kacchan, your key,” he repeated, tilting his head up as he watched Katsuki slowly blink at the door.
Alright.
Izuku gently pried Katsuki’s fingers open and slipped the bag off his shoulder, his brows lifting when the cat inside stretched and meowed again. He sneaked an arm around Katsuki’s waist, steadying him again because the guy was somehow starting to doze off while standing, then reached into his coat pocket. And yes! The key was there. He unlocked the door and gently coaxed Katsuki to follow him inside.
Katsuki sat down on the bed, blinking up at Izuku with the same dazed expression, and he was so out of it that Izuku helped him out of his coat and removed his shoes, careful not to startle him. Because it was the first time he had ever seen his friend so vulnerable and so... lifeless. Except that one, dreadful time.
“Here, Kacchan,” he said, helping him lie down on his right side before pulling the blanket over him. “I’ll wake you up for dinner,” he added, bending down to carefully tuck Katsuki’s bandaged right arm onto a spare pillow so it wouldn’t hurt while he napped.
He stared for a few seconds at Katsuki’s sleeping face. At the angry red scar on his cheek. At the way his brows were still furrowed despite the fact that he was resting. Then he abruptly turned his head when the bag on the floor started shifting again.
“Oh.” Izuku crouched down and, with his uninjured hand, carefully opened the travel bag.
First, he saw a fluffy orange ear peek out. He waited a few seconds, then a tiny white paw reached out, tapping cautiously against the floor as if trying to understand where they were. Then, very slowly, a small orange-and-white face peeked out of the bag, staring straight at Izuku. It lasted barely a second before the cat leapt, landing on the bed.
Izuku slowly straightened, watching as the cat came to rest against Katsuki. Settling above his pillow, almost as if shielding his head, she rested her chin on Katsuki’s forehead before starting to purr softly.
“Oh...” Izuku felt like melting. He straightened, then let his intrusive thoughts win.
Stretching out a hand, he gently patted one of the cat’s soft orange ears. She tilted her head to the side, exposing the orange-and-black collar around her neck, with the name 'LILY' engraved on it.
“Take care of Kacchan... uh, Lily,” Izuku whispered, smiling when she licked his hand before settling back against Katsuki once more.
ミ☆
Katsuki had brought Lily back to the dorms, yes.
The cat had lost her family during the war, and someone at the hospital had taken her in for a few days. That was until she somehow found Katsuki’s room and snuck inside, curling up beside his sleeping form and purring all night long.
When the blond had woken up, he had been startled, yes. But he had been so out of it that he had simply let it happen. More than that, he had decided to keep her by his side. Because having something, someone, there to offer him comfort like that... was nice.
He had only told her one thing: “Leave me, and you’re dead.” And somehow, the cat had stayed by his side.
But cats were ungrateful by nature.
Cats were opportunistic little things.
Lily behaved most of the time, staying quietly in Katsuki’s dorm room and lounging by the open window. The first time he had seen her sprawled there, his heart had nearly stopped all over again.
Sometimes, he caught her wandering the hallway... because somehow, she had learned how to open the damn door whenever it wasn't locked.
And sometimes, like tonight...
-
Izuku was in his room, sprawled across his bed.
Flat on his stomach, his legs were crossed behind him. They swayed lazily with his thoughtful hums, dangling off the edge of the bed. It was already 2 a.m., and he was flipping through his notes, quietly mumbling to himself. His eyes were tired, he was tired, but he just couldn't sleep right now.
He yawned, stretching his arms over his head, and froze on the spot when he felt something brush against his leg. It was so unexpected that he let out a startled yelp, turning around to look toward the floor.
And he was greeted by Lily. The cat was right there, giving him an expectant look.
“What-” he frowned, utterly taken aback. He looked toward his door, and as always, it was ajar. “Oh,” he said, sitting up quickly on the bed before patting the mattress. “Can you come here?”
I hope she listens...
She listened. Thank God, she listened!
She climbed onto the bed with a graceful hop and rubbed her head against his black pajama pants.
“What are you doing here?” he whispered, patting her head between the ears. She simply stretched, her whole body trembling with it, before yawning and settling in his lap.
“You have to go back upstairs,” Izuku said, looking at the clock and immediately freaking out. “Hey, if Kacchan wakes up and you're not there, he'll be worried.”
He gently scooped her up into his arms, grabbed a blanket, and got out of bed.
“It’s already so late. He must already be asleep,” he muttered, draping the blanket over his shoulders before stepping out into the hallway.
He waited for the elevator because he was scared she'd escape and run down the stairs. And she behaved, staying quietly in his arms all the way until they reached Katsuki's floor.
“Alright, let's hope he won't kill me for waking him up this late,” Izuku kept mumbling, inhaling deeply when he reached his friend's door.
It was ajar, and inside, everything was pitch-black.
He looked down at Lily, readjusting the blanket over his shoulders, then prayed to God before knocking softly against the wood.
Better knock than walk in uninvited. Because if he wakes up and sees me standing right there in front of him, he'll---
“Oh- Oh, Kacchan, hello,” he whispered when the door creaked open. Katsuki's eyes were squinting, and he was clearly still waking up.
"She came to my room,” Izuku went on, lowering his gaze to the cat in his arms because he just couldn't look at Katsuki right now, with his sleepy, vulnerable, and grumpy expression.
“Here,” he said, holding her out to him, and Katsuki reached over, mumbling something that sounded like, “what-the-hell-I-better-be-dreaming.”
-
But it hadn’t been a dream.
Sometimes during the night, Lily would open the door. Open the door, pad through the hallway, and uh-oh! Ever since she'd discovered there were stairs at the end of it, she'd started wandering. Wandering for a while until she reached Izuku's room, two floors below.
And because the bastard didn't lock his door, she simply walked right in. And because that was the only room she'd ever sneak into, Izuku had kept leaving his door unlocked. That way, if she ever went missing, Katsuki always knew where she'd wandered off to.
It happened again, and over again, a few nights later.
“Uhm, she came back.”
Izuku was standing in Katsuki's open doorway, dressed in his nerdy pajamas. Lily was in his arms, and he shrugged helplessly.
“This traitor.” Katsuki took her back, and she had the audacity to purr against his chest as he rested a firm hand on top of her head. He rubbed from between her eyes to her ears, stretching the skin just enough for her eyes to drift closed. “This ungrateful brat!”
And Izuku gasped at the display.
“Gotta have a chat with Koda,” Katsuki mumbled, his good arm resting against the doorframe. “The guy's gonna have to tell her to stop pulling that shit. Disturbing your sleep and all.”
Izuku rubbed one eye. He looked tired, but also thoroughly entertained.
“Alright, Kacchan,” he said with a small smile, very bravely trying not to break into a full grin. “Good night, then!”
And Katsuki watched him walk away. Watched the way Izuku made his way down the hallway, raising a hand to scratch the left side of his head.
“You brat,” he muttered to Lily, closing the door behind him.
“Is he having nightmares too?” he asked, his brows furrowing. "Or feeling like shit?" She simply closed her eyes, her purring resuming as they climbed back into bed, snuggling beneath the blankets.
Because Lily helped him with his nightmares.
When he woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat with his heart pounding in his chest, having her nearby helped a great deal. Feeling her comforting presence had been one of the things that had helped him the most during his stay at the hospital.
But if Izuku needed that comfort too... then it was alright for him to share, from time to time.
The problem was that leaving the doors unlocked all the time would be dangerous. He was terrified she'd wander off, leave the U.A. grounds, and do what cats did. Come back months later after some grand adventure in the wild and all that shit.
And why didn't he lock his own door while he was sleeping?
Because he was scared shitless of having a panic attack and having to go through it alone, without anyone there to help him. He had just undergone open-heart surgery, for fuck's sake, and his battered body couldn't handle something that intense yet.
ミ☆
One week into his new routine, the restoration program was launched.
Students were assigned to help in nearby cities alongside pro heroes, and the days quickly became fuller. Fuller... and exhausting. Because, sure enough, it felt good to stay active. Sure enough, Katsuki was stubborn...so stubborn that he couldn't help but throw himself into helping civilians. But with his right arm still recovering, he couldn't take on physically demanding tasks, and everyone was well aware of that.
Today, on-site, for the first time in one month, he was once again wearing his hero costume. A compression sleeve was covering his right arm, because the limb was still sore and the bones recovering. His friends were there too, supervised by Jeanist. Nearby, he also spotted Edgeshot, the Hero slowly pulling his body back together.
And damn. Seeing him was both thrilling and gruesome.
Thrilling because Katsuki genuinely respected the ninja. Gruesome because it reminded him that he had died. Reminded him that the Hero, too, had been willing to sacrifice his own life for him. And that, combined with being here, surrounded by collapsed buildings, set alarm bells ringing in his head. He already knew tonight would be difficult. A night filled with nightmares. A night of overthinking.
But it was part of the process.
If he wanted to heal, he had to walk that long road. That long, difficult road called recovery.
Looking up at the sky, he thought about all of that. About the fact that he was, indeed, alive today. That he was lucky enough to be surrounded by such amazing people. That he had helped save the world one month ago, and that he was paying the price for his heroism today.
His arm was fucked up, and physical therapy was a huge pain in the ass because it hurt. It really fucking hurt.
His heart was recovering slowly, and he wasn't allowed to use his quirk because of the adrenaline and nitroglycerin. He also wasn't allowed to overexert himself or lift anything heavy.
So yeah. He could still train, with caution.
He could still help civilians, with caution.
And that was beyond wonderful, he realized, his gaze still fixed on the sky. This was wonderful. And once again, he realized just how lucky he was to be part of... this.
-
That evening, when he returned to the dorms with his classmates, he was drained. He took the elevator, blinking lazily at the numbers as they flickered across the screen, and reminded himself to lower his medication. Because damn, he really was out of it.
Stopping in front of his door, he rested a hand against the frame and slipped off his boots. Even before unlocking it, he smiled tiredly when he heard a muffled thump from inside. Lily knew he was there. She was waiting for him to unlock the door. Waiting to welcome him home after a hard day.
And so he unlocked the damned door, sliding the key into the lock. The moment he pushed it open, there she was. She rubbed her head against his leg, circling him, her long orange-and-white tail curling around him. She circled him twice before padding back inside and waiting for him to follow.
And he did, smiling fondly at the sight.
She was sitting very ladycately on a pink blanket by his desk, patiently waiting for her head rubs. This was their routine: she would greet him at the door, and he would wait until she settled on her blanket before doting on her.
I'm grateful this brat knows how to behave most of the time, he thought, feeling oddly proud. Because she was intelligent and understood boundaries. Because she was a fast learner and enjoyed the silence, just like him.
He set his boots by the closed door, then cracked open the window before neatly placing his gloves on his desk. And then, only then, he carefully crouched down, his injured hand reaching out until it rested atop Lily's tiny, adorable head.
“I'm back,” he murmured, gently rubbing his palm over her ears.
He could feel the stress of the day slowly melting away, just like that. Just from the way she looked at him, and the way she tipped her head back, silently asking for more.
“Tch.” He smiled again, scooping her into his arms. She stretched across his chest, her front paws reaching toward his face.
“Look at you,” he scoffed, slipping his hands beneath her front legs and lifting her slightly away from him. “Thinking you're so tall like that.”
She yawned and gave him a lazy kick to the chest with her back paws, and he shook his head, chuckling as he set her back on the floor.
“Gonna freshen up,” he said, gesturing toward the open window. “Don't fall, I'll be right back.”
He gathered a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom, indulging in a long bath.
-
When he finished, he dropped by the common room, still towel-drying his hair.
He peeked around, his eyes always trying to spot a head of green hair out of habit... and again, he couldn't see him.
“Izuku already went back to his room,” Ochaco's voice came from surprisingly close, startling him enough to make him turn toward her with a scowl. “He'll come back for dinner in an hour!”
Old habits, he almost told her to fuck off.
“Yeah, thanks,” he said instead, and she smiled broadly, giving him a thumbs-up.
“You’re welcome!” she chirped, jogging back toward the couches, where Tenya, Tsuyu, and Shouto were watching TV.
It was weird to be nice to everyone. It was weird not to snap at them, to show some kind of restraint. It was weird to stay quiet when everything inside his head was still so damn noisy.
It was weird, but not unpleasant.
The war had shaped them. Had made them more mature. Them, who were only sixteen-year-old teenagers, not even adults. Them, who had to grow up so fast. Them, who all shared this trauma-filled bullshit.
And as he looked around, he could see everyone joking, smiling, living.
Sometimes, like right now, he wondered how they did it. How they could still live, and love, and laugh or whatever, after everything they had been through.
Because he was still learning how to just... live rather than survive.
He snapped out of it when he heard another fit of laughter nearby... and realized he'd been spacing out for a few minutes already. Right there, in the common room. He hadn't even noticed he'd sat down at one of the tables.
Shit, he thought, running a hand through his damp hair. He stood up carefully before heading back to his room, knowing that there, he could space out all he wanted. He almost considered skipping dinner tonight... almost.
Because he needed the strength. Needed to rebuild his body. Needed to stay on the move, even if, every day, it took courage and willpower to do so.
And as he stepped toward his room, arm reaching for the handle... he froze. Right there, in the hallway, he suddenly froze. The door was slightly ajar, and he leaned toward the opening, his breath catching as he heard soft whispers coming from inside.
He knew those whispers. Knew that voice. And there was only one person bold enough to sneak into his room like that.
Katsuki pushed the door open, and sure enough, Izuku was there. The guy was sitting cross-legged beside the bed, his arms crossed beneath his head as it rested on the mattress. In front of him, Lily was sprawled across the bedding. She lifted her head, her ears perking up the moment she spotted him. The next second, Izuku straightened slightly, looking back at him over his shoulder.
“Kacchan!” he greeted with an awkward smile. “I can explain!” He waved a hand before groaning and getting to his feet.
Katsuki watched him the whole time as he draped his towel over the back of his chair, only giving him a nod before walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed. Lily immediately came to nuzzle against his back before curling up in his lap, and he patted her head while looking up at Izuku, who was fidgeting beside the desk.
The window is closed, Katsuki noticed from the corner of his eye. The nerd was scared of her falling too, huh?
He scoffed, blinking, and realized Izuku had been talking for a solid minute... and he hadn't listened to a single word.
He blinked again, then raised a hand to interrupt his friend’s rambling.
“Oi, slow down,” he said, frowning because the headache was back. And Izuku, somehow, understood that he hadn’t listened to a single word.
“I wanted to come check on you after your day in the field,” the boy said, sitting down on the chair and speaking slowly. “But you weren’t here, and she opened the door for me when she heard me knock,” he shrugged, and Katsuki scoffed, because of course she did. “I wanted to leave, but she kept following me. A-and, you know... you need her more than I do.”
Past Katsuki would have yeeted Izuku out of the building for saying something like that.
Present Katsuki, though, was just grateful that his friend knew him so well.
“Yeah, no big deal,” he muttered, just for the hell of it. “The brat likes you.”
At that, Izuku smiled softly, lowering his head with a nod.
And Katsuki blinked at him, looking at him. Really looking: The half-shaved hair. The scar on his forehead running into his hairline. The white bandage still covering his right cheek.
He realized they hadn’t talked about all the shit they had been through since the war ended. He wasn’t sure he wanted to talk about it. Didn’t know if Izuku wanted to talk about it. But still, he had to ask this one thing-
“Tell me to shut the fuck up if I’m crossing a line, but...” he sighed, then lowered his head as well when Izuku looked at him. “Are you having those nightmares too?”
Because Izuku had lost both arms by the end of the fight. Izuku had suffered so much. Izuku had watched him die. Izuku had seen Katsuki’s corpse-
“I... do,” Izuku whispered after a few moments. “But it’s better now, you know?”
Katsuki looked up at him and saw the way he shrugged. But his eyes...his usually bright green eyes, were veiled. Their color dull.
“We have to keep moving forward,” he went on, and Katsuki nodded along.
“It’s part of the process,” he finished for him, and this time, Izuku nodded too.
They stayed in silence for a few more minutes before the green-haired boy stood up, stretching his arms. “I’ll go back to my room now,” he said, and his voice sounded like he had aged ten years.
And somehow, when Katsuki watched him turn and head toward the door, he just-
“Oi, don’t go,” he said, frowning as he realized that, indeed, he didn’t want him to leave. Didn’t want him to be alone right now, after what he had confessed. “Need your help trimming her claws,” he blurted out, and Lily gave him a look.
Somehow, Izuku stopped and looked at him, his arms slumping to his sides. He stared for a second before nodding and coming closer. Closer, until he sat beside Katsuki on the bed and looked down at Lily, who stretched as well before rubbing against him.
“Is this going to be dangerous?” Izuku asked, and there it was. The spark Katsuki wanted to see every day, very selfishly so, in Izuku's eyes.
“Maybe,” he answered, standing up and handing Izuku the pink blanket. “Wrap her burrito-style. I'll get the nail clippers. Don't think she'll put up a fight, but you never know.”
The way Izuku looked at him, dumbfounded, when he heard 'burrito-style' was everything. The spark was still there, shining brighter, and he chuckled softly before lowering his head and kissing Lily right over her soft ear.
“I’m sorry about what I’m about to do,” he said, sounding both apologetic and amused.
“Oi, don’t kiss the damned cat!” Katsuki jabbed a finger at him, scandalized by how casually Izuku had done it.
And the guy laughed again, his face flushed, clutching his stomach.
-
That very night, Katsuki woke up with a start.
Unexpectedly, he hadn't had any nightmares. So what had woken him up?
Well.
Three soft knocks came from his door again, and he ran a hand over his face, peeking at the clock: 2 a.m. And sure enough, the spot beside him was empty, and his door was ajar. He didn't even bother putting on a shirt. He got up in his pajama pants and squinted against the light of Izuku's phone, which painted the floor pure white in the darkness.
The guy's eyes were still sleepy, and his hair was a complete mess. But despite everything, a small, sheepish smile tugged at his lips as he held Lily out to him with outstretched arms.
“Again,” Katsuki sighed, and their hands brushed as he took the cat from his friend. “When did she come downstairs?”
Izuku shrugged, and Katsuki realized he had a blanket draped over his shoulders. The fabric slipped down one shoulder, and Izuku pulled it back into place as he yawned.
“I’m not sure. I woke up, and she was already there,” he said, blinking slowly.
Even in the dim light, Katsuki could see how red his eyes were, and he almost asked him if he'd had a nightmare. Because he was convinced Lily could sense it. Every time Katsuki had a nightmare or needed comfort, Lily never left his side. But during calm nights like this one... she somehow wandered. She went on some kind of patrol, checking whether Izuku needed her.
And so, Katsuki only nodded.
“Thanks,” he said, shushing her when she meowed. “Next time, you can keep her. Don't bother comin' all the way up here.”
Izuku stared at him for a few moments, and Katsuki saw the exact moment his tired green eyes dropped over his frame. First, to Lily, who was snuggled against his stomach. Then higher, to his bare chest... where the scar was. The boy inhaled sharply in the silence, and his gaze snapped back to Katsuki's.
And damn.
Damn.
The blond ran a hand through his hair before looking down at the cat as well, then gently handed her over to him.
“Keep her tonight,” he said, his voice low. “You need her more than I do,” he added, throwing Izuku's own words back at him.
Because he knew. He knew Izuku was going to have a hellish night after seeing that.
And Izuku, gentle, selfless Izuku... almost scowled at him. His brows furrowed, his mouth twisting into something that looked dangerously close to a pout, and it was so unexpected that Katsuki’s own brows shot up.
“She’s yours,” Izuku said, still staring at him. “You need her.”
This stubborn little shit.
Katsuki was too tired to argue or bargain. He sighed, then reached out and yanked Izuku forward, into the room.
“Shut up,” he said, even though the boy was too stunned and confused to say anything. “This is a compromise,” he added, closing the damned door behind them and gesturing toward the bed. “Scoot over to the wall. Don’t steal my spot.”
Izuku’s eyes were wide as he shifted his hand, the phone's light blinding them for a few seconds before Katsuki gently, but firmly, shoved him onto the bed.
“Kacchan, alright, I’ll keep her tonight,” he started, trying to get back up, but Lily jumped onto the bed, settling right on his chest, and he was fucked.
“Shut up,” Katsuki mumbled again, grabbing a long-sleeved shirt and pulling it on. “At least she won’t leave the damned room tonight.”
He plopped down on his side of the bed and tugged the covers up, yawning before readjusting the pillow so they could share it. It should have been weird, sharing his bed with Izuku, but it didn’t feel awkward at all... not for him, at least.
“Stop freaking out and relax,” he said with another yawn. “And turn the damned phone off.”
The room went pitch-black the moment Izuku obeyed, and there was some awkward shuffling for a few minutes. He kept shifting, trying to find a comfortable position in the bed. At some point, he finally settled, lying on his right side, his arm tucked beneath his head so his cheek wouldn't be squished.
They were facing each other, Katsuki realized when he felt Izuku's breath against his face. And again, it didn't bother him.
He genuinely wanted to go back to sleep, but somehow he knew. He knew Izuku would never stay silent. Because the guy always started rambling whenever he was freaking out. And right now? He was most likely freaking out.
“Can hear you thinking out loud,” Katsuki said eventually, and felt Izuku go utterly still beside him. Their knees were touching, and their arms brushed against each other. Lily was somewhere on the bed, but he was too tired to figure out where.
“Kacchan,” Izuku whispered, and yeah... he definitely sounded like he was freaking out. “Is this really okay?”
Katsuki yawned, then nodded. Then he realized they were in the dark, and that the dork couldn't even see him.
“'S alright,” he mumbled, sighing.
It felt weird to share his bed with an actual person instead of just Lily. It felt weird, but it also felt... alright. Because this was Deku. Izuku. And with him, everything was both complicated and... completely normal.
“'Been having nightmares too,” he said eventually. He shifted his right arm, blindly reaching for Izuku's. He followed it upward until his hand came to rest against the back of his neck, and stayed there. He felt the boy's breath hitch, and the next moment, their foreheads brushed softly as they somehow leaned closer to each other.
“About some nasty stuff, but it's, like... too soon to talk about it with some therapist, y'know?” he asked, his voice heavy with sleep.
He gently squeezed the back of his neck, his thumb brushing over the artery there. Feeling the strong pulse beneath his fingertip, and the steady thump-thump slowly eased his own heart. Eased his own soul, allowing it to finally rest.
He felt Izuku nod against him, their bangs brushing softly. And Izuku scooted closer, one of his legs slipping between Katsuki's.
“It's the same for me,” his friend confessed. “It's still... raw.”
Katsuki nodded this time, and without even thinking, he pulled Izuku closer by the neck until his friend's face was tucked beneath his chin. The guy didn't even put up a fight, he came willingly with a soft whimper.
“Shit's still raw,” Katsuki echoed, because it was damn right. “But if you wanna talk when you're ready... I'm here, yeah?”
And he felt the way Izuku's hand slowly came to rest over his heart, careful fingers brushing lightly against his chest.
“Mmh,” the boy nuzzled closer, sighing against his skin. “Soon, Kacchan.”
Soon.
That was good. Because they had to talk, eventually, to let everything go.
“Good night, Deku,” he said at last, feeling his friend finally relax in his embrace.
“A-alright,” Izuku whispered. “Thank you for tonight.”
And when Katsuki thought he would finally be able to sleep, there was another rustle, and Izuku's hushed voice rose once more in the silence.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said fondly, and Katsuki could hear the smile in his whisper.
“What,” he asked, high on the feeling of having him so close. Of having him alive, right here in his arms. Having him here, safe.
Izuku let out a startled gasp, and Katsuki felt him twitch.
“Oh, I was talking to-” Izuku stuttered, unable to finish his sentence. And the next moment, he let out a shaky laugh, the hand on Katsuki's chest gently rubbing the shirt over the tender scar. “Never mind,” he whispered, and Katsuki sighed against his hair, burying his nose in the familiar scent.
He could still feel his pulse beneath his fingers. Could feel how warm Izuku was against him. Because Izuku was warm and alive. Alive, because they had done it. They had saved the world, and they were alive.
“Good night, Kacchan,” he whispered, and Katsuki felt the soft kiss pressed against his own pulse... and it made him smile contentedly in the dark.
ミ☆
Tomorrow would be another day.
Another day of recovery. Another day of physical therapy... and nightmares. But they had each other, and maybe that was enough.
Tonight had taught them something: healing didn't always come in grand gestures.
Sometimes, it came with four tiny paws padding through a hallway in the middle of the night. And sometimes... it was as simple as a warm body pressed against your side.
Someone who would stay through the worst of it. Someone who would listen when the words finally came. Someone who would hold you together on the days you couldn't do it yourself.
Yeah. Tomorrow would still hurt.
But tomorrow could come.
