Chapter Text
Katsuki trudged into his agency, a hand holding his side. A soft groan left his lips, blood spilling from a gash in his head. It wasn’t a villain attack— though Katsuki would’ve much preferred a villain attack over what he just went through. His bones were exhausted, his hands warm and charred from the excessive use of his quirk.
His hands shook as he grabbed his phone, cursing under his breath. He was manly, he could take it. He’d take any hit he could for Izuku if it meant he was safe. He’d take any hit he could for Izuku if it meant he would never feel the pain he felt again. After all…
It was Katsuki’s fault Izuku was hooked on drugs in the first place.
Izuku was going to be either dead or sober in the morning, there was going to be no in between. He laid on the dirty floor, used needles all around. He knew it was disgusting, knew the addiction was getting worse. But just because you know something’s wrong doesn’t mean you can stop it. Just because you know you’re colorblind doesn’t mean you can see colors.
BZZT. BZZT.
Izuku wearily lifted his head, green eyes squinting against the harsh blue light of his phone. His head was pounding, as if he had a whole construction crew rebuilding his brain. He scrubbed a hand over his face, attempting to wipe off the weariness as he read the notification.
Kacchan <3: Hey. Can I swing by? Or can you swing by? Got beat up again
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Kacchan <3: I’m okay, don’t worry. Just worried about you. Aizawa says you haven’t been returning his calls
Aizawa was right. Izuku hadn’t been returning anyone’s calls— or texts for that matter. No one except Katsuki, because the two took care of each other. Not unlike stray dogs who shared a scrap of food, they would take care of the other’s wounds but be gone come daylight. It was a tragic dance; doomed to never perform in front of an audience. But if there was no audience, why did the two keep performing?
Most days, Izuku couldn’t bring himself to get out of bed. He couldn’t bring himself to want to go see the world— and he especially didn’t want to be seen by anyone. He let himself go ever since the death of All Might; Nezu even gave him three months of paid leave to “recover”, but Izuku managed to look somehow worse upon his return. All because one night, after Katsuki made love to him and whispered those sweet nothings, Izuku tried a new drug Katsuki discovered. Supposedly it would reawaken the Quirk someone had, or strengthen it if they still had their quirk. Izuku didn’t like it at first, but the feeling of having One For All back reminded him of All Might— and the drug quickly filled the gap All Might left in Izuku.
With a dramatic heave, Izuku sat up, blinking as he looked around his shitty apartment. He was months behind on rent, hadn’t ate a proper meal in days, and God knows when he showered last. Though, judging by the smell, it had been a good amount of time.
Me: tn doesn’t rlly work. i don’t want company.
Me: my place is disgusting
Me: rain check?
Izuku threw his phone across the room, mentally cursing himself. He wasn’t avoiding Katsuki— no, never. It was just easier to avoid Katsuki than ask the inevitable what are we question. Bleh.
Katsuki was sure he was going to put a hole in the floor from the constant bounce of his leg. He really hoped he’d be able to see Izuku, to let him see that he still loved Izuku, and the extent of how far that love went. No one could say Katsuki didn’t love Izuku, not when he had the marks to prove them entirely wrong.
When Katsuki saw the notification, his heart jumped up into his throat as he clicked on it with shaking hands.
Rain check. Oh.
The words felt like Edgeshot was restarting his heart all over again. He knew Izuku was tired, probably not doing well since they last spoke but dammit, neither was Katsuki. And he was pretty sure he was bleeding profusely.
“Dammit!” He shouted, throwing his phone onto the floor. The screen cracked, a new, sharp jagged line went straight down the middle. “Tch. Cheap thing..” he muttered under his breath, staring at the ceiling. His palms crackled dangerously, adding to the pain he felt pounding against his ribcage.
Fuck it.
He grabbed his phone, firing off one final text: both a warning and a promise.
Me: Be there in 5. We gotta talk about something. I’ll bring some food. Maybe some condoms too? ;)
Yeah, way to go, Katsuki, he scoffed as he pulled on his heavy shoes. Make him think all you want is to bang him. Real fuckin’ mature.
On the drive there, Katsuki allowed his mind to wander. It was easier that way, to avoid facing head-on the consequences of his actions. After all…
He was the reason All Might was dead.