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Weeks had passed since the final war. All of class 1A was finally discharged from the hospital after so long however instead of resting, they returned to duty to help with cleaning and rebuilding the destroyed parts of Japan, well the less injured helped with big things while the others helped with calming civilians and moving small stuff around(Much to Katsuki’s displeasure though that was quickly silenced by Izuku). They were advised against it but they refused leave it to the others. They’d return to their temporary dorms to sleep but then soon return to help out once again.
Once most of Japan was rebuilt, they finally allowed themselves to properly rest. They soon had to move their things to the original dorms on UA grounds and with their injuries, class 1A and 1B helped each other as best they could. Currently Kirishima, Mina, Izuku, and Katsuki were putting Katsuki’s stuff in boxes. He didn’t pack much in the first place so it was mostly Kirishima lifting boxes to put it in the hallway while Izuku and Katsuki slowly put items in them. Mina was there as entertainment and conversation.
Katsuki had just finished closing one of the boxes and watched as Kirishima lifted it when he heard a subtle gasp. Apparently Mina and Kirishima heard it too because they all turned to see Izuku who was holding an Envelope with his name written neatly on the front. Katsuki’s heart plummeted instantly and he lunged forward to try and get it from Izuku but tripped over his two feet. Mina was closest so she reached out to steady him.
“Izuku, that’s not what you-” Katsuki’s voice cracked.
Izuku looked up from the envelope to Katsuki and spoke quietly, “It has my name on it…”
Katsuki took a deep breath before continuing, no longer caring if Mina and Kirishima were staring, “It was written for you in the chance that I didn’t make it out alive.”
Izuku’s grip on the envelope tightened and tears gathered. Katsuki stepped forward, more careful this time, and reached to grab the letter from Izuku’s hand once again however Izuku pulled it away. Izuku didn’t cry when he was admitted to the hospital after the war. Didn’t cry when he learned he no longer carried One for All. Didn’t cry when he realized he could no longer grow up into a proper hero. No, he didn’t cry then but he did cry now. Crying and gripping that envelope like a it held the world folded and tucked neatly inside.
Kirishima and Mina shared a glance before quietly exiting the room, taking the remaining boxes with them before shutting the door softly.
“Izuku, you weren’t meant to see that, I’m right here, there is no more use for that letter,” Katsuki tried to reason however it fell on deaf ears.
Izuku’s trembling hands flipped the envelope around and carefully, ever so carefully, broke the seal and pulled out the paper. Before opening it he lifted his arm to wipe away his tears trying not to get it on the paper. Once he pulled his hand back down he opened it carefully as if afraid of what he might find. Katsuki pulled his arm back and let it drop to his side knowing there was no point in trying to stop Izuku.
To my Dearest Izuku,
If you’re reading this, it probably means I didn’t make it. I’m not usually a sappy person. Emotions aren’t my strongest suit though I think you might know that by now but recently I’ve spent days thinking of what to write to you. I think I’ve said most of the important things in the moment though there are so many I still wish to say. If I don’t make it, my All Might stuff is under the bed. So is all the stuff you’ve gifted me when we were little before I pushed you away. The one thing you won’t find in there but I promise you I’ve kept is our matching All Might Cards. I still never got that thing signed by him. Maybe if I survive the war we’ll get them signed together. There are a lot of things I still wish I could have said to you but the final days before the battle are coming up fast and you can’t seem to catch a break. I wish to grab you by the shoulders and shake until you finally realize you can take a breather.
Izuku couldnt stop the tears that fell now but he continued reading through his blurred vision
I can see you trying to keep it together especially when I notice you tapping your feet or fidgeting whenever you aren’t training. I want to grab your hand and run. Run far away, away from UA, Musutafu, hell even Japan entirely. I want to take you so far away so you don’t have to face them. I should say so you didn’t have to face them because hopefully you’ll be reading this after the war. Izuku I’m sorry if I wasn’t enough to help you in this war. You and our classmates are only 16. Risking our lives for all of Japan, maybe even this world. I need you to know that I went into this war fully expecting to die. I would lay down my life for you in every universe.
I’m proud of you, Izuku. I am and forever will be. Every time I’ve seen you fight, you kept a smile on your face. As much as I wish to call you an idiot for all the injuries you sustain, I can’t help but feel pride and also a bit of disappointment. The disappointment is not aimed at you but rather towards myself. Disappointment because it means I’m not strong enough to take care of you. Disappointment because I can’t stop thinking about who I was in the past. I was insecure and scared that I pushed you again and again. I know I’ve apologized but that deep regret and guilt is what I’ll take to the battle field and fight to prove myself with. I will prove that I was able to stand by your side and keep up with you. Fight to stand by your side. While I write this letter I can see you entering this fight with your head held high and a sense of determination behind your eyes.
I was NEVER better than you. NEVER above you because Izuku, you are better in every way. You’re facing a difficult battle in a few days and I still hear you mumbling about saving them. Izuku you will always be better then the rest of these extras. You’re still focused on rescuing people that don’t see it themselves. You’re selfless and I’m sorry I pushed my insecurities onto you. Please forgive me.
I can see you reading this. Probably crying your eyes out. I hope you read this next to the Extras our classmates so they could be there to wipe your tears and hold you better then I could have. I hope that you graduate at the top of your class, with that stupid smile on your face. That shitty hair, Kirishima, is still as “Manly” as he always has been. That raccoon eyes, Mina, is still as lively as ever. That Pikachu, Denki, doesn’t fry his brains entirely. That tape arms, Sero, doesn’t think too lowly of himself. That everyone else doesn’t over think about this.
Izuku, Thank you for everything. If I don’t make it out of this war alive, just know that I love you. I love you so damn much and I’m so sorry. Please take care of yourself and don’t over think everything you damn nerd.
You’re childhood Best friend,
Katsuki (Kacchan) Bakugou
Reading the final sentence broke whatever remaining barrier Izuku still had up. He gripped the letter tightly and sobbed. Katsuki let him cry for a moment, watching his childhood best friend curl in on himself before stepping forward to carefully bring him into a hug.
The hug was slightly awkward because Katsuki could really only use his left arm and he wasn’t used to comforting others this way but he was willing to push the feeling of awkwardness away if it meant holding Izuku. He could feel Izuku’s arm wrap hesitantly around him before squeezing as tightly as he could without injuring Katsuki further. It made Katsuki’s heart ache.
“You’re an idiot Kacchan…” Izuku sobbed into Katsuki’s shoulder.
Katsuki allowed a few tears to fall himself as he whispered back, “I know, but I’m still here so no need to cry nerd.”
They stood there for a moment before pulling back slightly to stare at Katsuki. His eyes looked him up and down as if confirming he’s still there. He took him in, the new scars on his face, his now cloudy right eye, his hearing aids, his hair cut, his arm that’s in a sling. On the desk besides them was medicine for his heart. He was finally taking it all in and it set it. Katsuki was Alive and standing infront of Izuku.
Just then the Images from the coffin in the sky flashed his mind once more making him suck in a breath before he felt a warm hand cup his cheek, “I’m still here, it’ll take a lot more to get rid of me.”
Izuku relaxed into his touch, he knew Katsuki was right. Hes already escaped death once. He’ll always come back.
“I promise I’ll always come back.”
Izuku took that promise to heart and hugged Katsuki tightly once more.
In the days that followed Katsuki was always accompanied by Izuku. Everywhere he went, Izuku was either right besides him or a few step back. He kept Katsuki always in his sight even after Katsuki reassured him multiple times that he wasn’t leaving. Not now. Not ever. During the night was the only time they really separated or so Katsuki thought. That all changed when he woke up one night hungry so he quietly opened the door to his dorm room, using his phone as flash. When he closed the door behind him and looked down he noticed Izuku asleep just besides his door.
“Deku? What the hell?”
Hearing Katsuki’s voice caused Izuku to wake and sit up. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked up at Katsuki. He immediately stumbled to his feet and spoke hurriedly, “Oh! You’re awake-”
“What are you doing sleeping on the floor outside of my dorm?” Katsuki asked crossing his one good arm.
Izuku looked all around for a moment trying to come up with an excuse however he couldn’t come up with anything so instead he gave in and mumbled, “Nightmares. I can’t sleep.”
Katsuki’s face softened for a moment before turning back to his usual scowl, “Nerd, you could have texted or knocked. I would have let you in or would have gone over there.”
Izuku fidgeted slightly with his fingers, gently tracing the scars he had on them, “I didn’t want to wake you, so I figured I’d just sit out here. Originally I was just gonna sit but I was tired so I fell asleep.”
Katsuki frowned, “How long have you been doing this?”
Izuku hesitated and braced himself for the yelling that would probably come after his answer, “A week and a half…”
The yelling that Izuku expected never came. Instead he felt Katsuki grab his wrist and drag him into the room.
“Lay down. Stick to one side. If you get too close im pushing you off the bed.”
Izuku nodded and sat down on the bed watching as Katsuki lied down furthest from the wall leaving enough space for Izuku to lie down besides him. Katsuki was facing the ceiling While Izuku faced the wall. Katsuki tilted his head to face Izuku who seemingly pulled the blankets higher. This reminded him of when they were younger. Before their quirks manifested. They had lied down just like this countless times before, usually under the blankets with an All Might comic lying between them. At the time they were still learning to read so they made up half the words and filled in what they couldn’t read yet. He remembered their innocent giggles and laughter that usually came from Izuku as Katsuki changed voices for the different characters.
It was something they shared and held close to his heart but he doesn’t know if Izuku still remembers. Its been so long that maybe that memory has been overshadowed by the worse memories junior high. Katsuki reached out with his left arm to grab Izuku’s but hesitated before eventually pulling away.
Katsuki could see slight shift in the blanket when Izuku breathed. He guessed Izuku had already fallen asleep which would make sense. He turned to look back up at the ceiling to think about what Izuku said. He’d been sleeping outside of Katsuki’s door for over a week. It made Katsuki’s heart hurt thinking about him sleeping out there on the hard floor. What made it worse was that the nightmares were most likely about him.
He turned to look at Izuku once more and took a deep breath before mumbling, “I’m sorry Izuku, but I don’t regret anything. Not when it meant I was able to help you. I’d do it all again if it meant I could take away your pain, your sorrow, your anger. I would do it all again in a heartbeat and still have no regrets. Now goodnight.”
Katsuki shut his eyes and finally allowed himself to drift off to sleep, or so he though because after a moment he heard a sniffle from besides him. Izuku had turned to face Katsuki and even through the darkness of the room, he could still make out the faint shape of his face aswell as the gloss of the tears that ran down his face.
“Why are you crying?” He mumbled as he reached out with his one good hand.
“Don’t give yourself up for me, I can push through everything as long as you’re by my side.” Izuku whispered, his voice cracking as he leaned into the touch.
After a moment he scooted closer and hugged Katsuki as tightly as he could without disturbing his injuries too much. Katsuki scoffed but leaned into the touch anyways. Sleep soon caught up to the both of them for real this time and dragged them under. For the rest of the night they stayed like that, wrapped up in each other’s arms. This was a silent promise that no matter what, Katsuki wasn’t leaving. Not any time soon.
They were awaken by the sound of knocking on Katsuki’s door. Katsuki sat up rubbing the sleep from his eyes before immediately his face shifted to his usual scowl as he threw his legs over the edge of the bed.
Sliding on his slippers, he stomped towards the door and cracked it open, “What?”
“So you are alive! Thats great. You missed Breakfast and Lunch which, rude, you were supposed to help make today.” Mina smiled at him as she rocked back and forth on her heels. Behind her stood Iida and Kirishima.
Katsuki blinked twice before turning around to look at the clock sitting on his bedside table.
2 pm.
Well Shit.
His eyes then moved over to the bed where Izuku was still asleep. He turned back towards the others and leaned against the door way, “If that’s all you came to tell me about then thanks. I’ll be down in the commons soon.”
Iida stepped forward, “That’s great, one more question. Is Midoriya with you or do you know if he’s up at his dorm? He wasn’t down for Breakfast and Lunch either. We haven’t gone to his dorm yet but since we’ve seen him follow you around recently we thought it would be worth it to ask.”
Katsuki shrugged, “He’s probably still asleep. Let him sleep. He had a long night. He’ll wake up on his own now go away so I can change.”
“See ya Bakugou!” Kirishima waved as the trio walked off leaving Katsuki at the doorway of his dorm.
Katsuki shut the door and stood still for a moment before turning to look at the bed. Izuku had shifted slightly, the light from the glass door to the balcony lit up his face making his freckles pop and the softness of his face more obvious. It made Katsuki’s face softened as he thought once more of when they were children.
Another vivid memory of both him and Izuku lying in a small grass clearing in the forest near Katsuki’s house. The sun was starting to set and Izuku was laughing about a funny story that Katsuki didn’t fully catch since he was too busy staring at the features of Izuku’s face. The way his eyes creased or eyebrows scrunched slightly. His smile was wide and his laugh was loud which drew Katsuki in. His heart fluttered at the sight which he didn’t understand at the time.
The memory soon faded away when he heard shuffling from the bed. He looked back at Izuku and noticed him sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“Kacchan?” Izuku’s voice was quiet, still with the lingering of tiredness seeping into it.
“Still here Deku, Now get up. Its 2 in the afternoon and the others already came looking for us.” Katsuki spoke approaching his closet to grab a fresh pair of clothes.
Izuku stared at him for a moment as if processing what he was saying before suddenly his eyes widened and be practically threw himself out of bed haphazardly, “Shoot!”
Katsuki watched him stumble and chuckled amused, “What?”
“I promised Mr. Aizawa and Eri that I’d hang out with them today!” Izuku fumbled to put on his slippers before trying to make it to the door.
Katsuki grabbed his wrist making him pause, “I’m sure Aizawa is handling it. You need to eat first before running off to go with them. Go to your dorm and change and we’ll meet in the commons unless you want to borrow something.”
Izuku stood up straight and spoke, “I’ll go to my dorm to get changed. Meet you in the commons.”
Katsuki was sitting at the table down in the commons eating a plate of curry. Kirishima, Denki, Mina, and Sero were making conversation around him though he didn’t seem to mind. His eyes kept glancing to the elevator waiting for Izuku’s stupid grin and annoying freckles.
“Oooo, are you waiting for Midoriya?” Denki elbowed Katsuki playfully which made Katsuki turn around and spark small explosions in his palm, “Touch me again Fucking Pikachu and I’ll blow your hands off.”
Denki laughed but still pulled his arm away. Sero sighed, “Damn, guess the medicine finally wore off. Got scared we’d be stuck with calm and sappy Bakugou.”
“What are you talking about Tape Face!?” Katsuki snapped at him and scrunched his eyebrows. Suddenly the elevator dinged and from it stepped Izuku who was talking to Todoroki. Katsuki finished his meal quickly before standing up and taking the dish with him, leaving the others behind.
The four of them watched as Katsuki huffed at Todoroki before Todoroki gave him a thumbs up and walked away. Then they watched as Izuku and Katsuki walked towards the kitchen. Mina pointed out how Katsuki’s face softened ever so slightly for Izuku which earned a chuckled from the other three.
“I’m glad Bakugou has someone like Midoriya.” Kirishima spoke with a smile. The others agreed and they decided that when Katsuki returned they would have a movie night and bug him about it later. That was, unless he had plans with Izuku because then they would leave him be.
That letter was along with so much more finally helped fix what they used to have and Katsuki wouldn’t change it for the world. He walked out of the Dormitory with Izuku. Hand in hand as they walked towards the teacher dormitory.
“I love you Kacchan.”
“I love you too Deku.”