Chapter Text
Tsuyu's hands worked automatically drying the dishes her mom was handing to her with the yellow kitchen towel as her thoughts wandered on their own back to her hero course. Her parents came home earlier due to the U.A Villain Attack last week. Tsuyu tried to convince them it wasn't a big deal, and that she was fine, but they insisted on taking some time off which didn't really please the girl as it meant they were cutting on their work because of her.
It was fair. They were worried, and if Tsuyu was being honest with herself which she always tried to be, she was as well. During the fight itself, she tried to stay as calm as possible, assist Izuku, work with Mineta, and follow orders given to her to take Aizawa-sensei anyway. The freakout didn't come until later when she was stripping off her hero costume fully feeling the gravity of the situation falling down on her causing dread to creep into her stomach and a startling realization to come into her mind.
She could have died.
The villain, the one who seemed to be in charge of the attack, with his decay quirk grabbed a hold of her face. If it wasn't for Aizawa-sensei's quick thinking she would have been gone just like everything else the villain touched. She would turn to absolutely nothing.
She tried to look at it more objectively now. As scary as it was, it was something that happened to her in the past. Something she didn't have to worry about anymore, as she was alive and safe and currently in her kitchen helping her mom with the dishes while her dad and siblings were playing Go Fish in the living room.
'Ah, Tsu-chan,' started her mom suddenly causing Tsuyu to wonder if she spaced out, 'Sorry, what were you saying?'
'Satsu-chan told me you have a boyfriend, is that true or was she mistaken?' asked her mom. She was never one to beat around the bush which was probably the reason why Tsuyu herself was so blunt, but the sea-green-haired girl was still caught off guard by even her words.
Baku-chan
Of course, a large reason why Tsuyu felt better about what happened was due to the loud and often angry ash-blond boy who walked them home and gave her a pretty decent pep talk. Although some would argue, Tsuyu thought rather highly of Bakugou Katsuki. Yes, he was loud and grumpy and the anger and violence he presented were in no way herolike, but somehow Tsuyu knew there was more to him than that. Ever since a child, the girl liked to keep things honest, so she had no time for masks and fakeness. Although she, herself, tried to at least be somewhat polite and apologetic if she hurt someone's feelings, she understood that under the ash-blond's behavior was some level of raw honesty she could relate to. In fact, it was another thing she found admirable about him which was why his words meant a lot to her and actually helped her to lift up her spirits.
Her lips smiled. It was also nice the way his face got red and how embarrassed she looked when she told him he should allow people to see this other more caring side of him too. Tsuyu certainly liked that side of him. It proved she was right about him on those handfuls of times they interacted. There was more to him than his ego and anger.
Something which Tsuyu wouldn't mind getting to see more. It would certainly improve the boy's overall image.
'Tsu-chan,' said her mom again, and the girl looked a bit startled at her. It wasn't typical of someone as observant as Tsuyu to space out like that, but she had a hard couple of days after all. Maybe she just needed to rest more and gather her thoughts.
The girl felt her cheeks warm up realizing she was smiling and didn't answer the question that her mom could easily misread as confirmation of some sort of crush she might have, 'Uh, no. He's just a classmate. I don't think he even sees me like a-'
-friend.
Her lips didn't finish the word as she recalled their last exchange without her siblings present.
'You should show this side of yours more often, Baku-chan.'
'Shut up, Froggy!'
It wasn't a nice nickname since it was still meant to mock her, but it wasn't as mean as Frog Face either. She didn't realize he said it until now wondering if he noticed it either. She would have to wait until the next time they would walk home or interact in school and see.
'Tsu-chan,' giggled her mom, 'Where is that head of yours?'
Tsuyu turned around feeling a bit too exposed and at a disadvantage against her mom and apparently her own thoughts that were working against her today it seemed, 'No, it's not like that. I was just thinking. We're not even friends, mom, kero.'
Her finger touched her lower lip for a second.
Neither of them said they were friends. With everyone else, Tsuyu ever called a friend she had some sort of confirmation, so it would make sense that her and Baku-chan weren't friends, right?
She looked at her mom again whose face was just as unreadable as her own, but the sea-green-haired girl could easily read her like an open book, 'Mom, really. Please, believe me.'
'Alright, if you say so,' said her mom clearly still thinking something else, which annoyed Tsuyu in that way it probably annoyed all her fellow teenage friends, but the girl kept her opinion to herself. She knew better than to say something in the heat of her own emotions. She would like to think she was too mature for that.
The next school day, she didn't interact with Katsuki very much which wasn't strange since they rarely spoke at school at all. But it did make her wonder and so on one of the breaks she purposely almost collided with him in the doorway only for his red eyes to snap at her as he barked, 'Oi, watch it, Froggy!'
'Tsu-chan, are you okay?' asked Ochako by her side, and the girl nodded and smiled at her.
So, he was calling her Froggy after all.
It wasn't the worse nickname she was ever called. It was definitely better Frog Face. She didn't like it when he called her that. Despite his belief that she called him Baku-chan because she found it amusing how much it annoyed him, she also did so to get even. But still, in Tsuyu's mind, it was a nice nickname.
When she looked back at the ash-blond, she found him still there in the doorway looking down at her. The fact that he was so much taller than her wasn't new, but somehow the realization was. At least at that moment. Standing opposite of each other like this Tsuyu had to look up to properly see his face. It reminded her a bit of their first meeting on the train all those months ago.
His red eyes were fixed on her and it almost made her open her mouth and ask him why before he blinked and disappeared behind the door.
Strange, but also not completely hostile. Then again, Tsuyu still didn't know the boy well enough to be the judge of what was strange and what was not about him.
Perhaps, we could be friends.
The idea caused Tsuyu to press her finger against her bottom lip and smile some more.
Wouldn't that be nice?
Tsuyu woke up disoriented seeking her phone to check the time. She had about fifteen minutes before the alarm would go off and she would have to sneak back into her room.
Her head returned to the pillow and with great strength, she pushed her eyes to open again. There was a dim light in the room now since it was morning, and the sun was raising creating enough light for her to see.
The sea-green-haired girl took the rare opportunity to lean closer and take a proper look at her boyfriend.
Very rare
Katsuki usually woke up before her since he went to bed very early putting on a sleep mask and sometimes earplugs to allow her to stay up later if she wished. Occasionally, she went to bed at the same time as him. He was very warm after all, and the humidity was just right. Tsuyu couldn't help herself and didn't feel the need to be ashamed of it. She liked cuddling with Katsuki. Some people wouldn't believe it if she told them that someone as easily toward anger and occasional violent could hold her so protectively like she was as fragile as glass, but it was the truth.
Waking up before him was almost impossible, so now that she had, Tsuyu took a proper look at his sleeping almost angelic face.
Cute
Her boyfriend could be so cute at times it was hard to believe since he always hid it with that permanent scowl across his face. Well, the sea-green-haired girl knew it wasn't permanent. When he was with her, just the two of them, in his room behind closed doors where he felt most safe, Katuski's face was calm and relaxed and loving and beautiful.
Tsuyu's wide fingers reached out and carefully brushed his forehead causing the short ash-blond hair there to dance a bit as she moved them.
So beautiful.
Her smile grew as she felt she might even let out a giggle or some other embarrassing and enthusiastic sound. She really adored him. She just did. Her heart felt a strange sense of contentment when she was with him, one she would think was only a myth made up by people who wrote romance novels, but it wasn't. She felt it.
It was uncharacteristic of her to be this girly about their relationship, Tsuyu knew that. She wasn't a tomboy or anything, but as she was always rational and prioritized other needs before her own, she rarely allowed herself such luxuries of just being in possession of the things she liked.
Love
Growing up in charge of her younger siblings, she often pushed her own needs away. Sure, occasionally she had a small crush on a classmate or some hero she saw in action or interviews, but she was mature enough to always talk herself out of it.
It will pass. Don't be childish and embarrassing about it. She would often tell herself whenever she felt especially overwhelmed.
There wasn't anything wrong with a crush, but it didn't really serve her in any way. She didn't have time for dating. At least that was what she told herself.
Crushing on Katsuki wasn't strange at all. Despite his attitude he was handsome and very talented. The fact that he seemed to want to spend time with her and even gave her good pep talks gave her a sense of importance and something other to think about than her siblings and school. Katsuki was someone people just admired and when someone like that gives you a time of their day you feel special. Tsuyu felt special despite how often she reminded herself not to get too invested that it would pass. So, the fact that she crushed on Katsuki wasn't strange. It was almost unavoidable if she thought too much into it.
The fact that the crush carried on and turned into something more, however, was very surprising.
Tsuyu never really thought of herself as someone who would fall in love with someone like Katsuki. She knew her worth. She wasn't as insecure as she used to be in kindergarten or middle school and could make good and trustworthy friends. But, perhaps because of carrying the weight of her younger siblings' care on her shoulders, she always assumed she was more of a supporting character. She could be a good sister, a good friend, a good student, and a good hero, but a good girlfriend? Especially for someone like Katsuki who would no doubt make it far and a lot of noise while he was at it. It just seemed very unlikely to her.
Yet, here they were.
Her smile grew past the point she could content it, and despite herself she let out a soft kero in her happy state.
Katsuki didn't stir, so he must not have heard it, but since Tsuyu felt too wired now bathed in the bliss of her own happiness and love, she took a hold of his sleeping face and leaned down pushing her lips against the boy's easily enthusiastically kissing him which was a bit hard since her smile made her lips even wider and Katsuki's lips weren't responding while he was asleep.
Just as she thought about leaving the boy to rest, she felt his strong arms circle around her pull her closer causing her to lose her knee against the bed and properly fall on top of him. His lips now very much so and with their own neediness moved against hers in those familiar nibbling bites she was used from the boy.
His tongue soon joined, but only for a moment before the boy broke the kiss and groaned, 'Your mouth smells like shit.'
Tsuyu couldn't stop the eye roll moving away from her boyfriend, 'It's called morning breath for a reason, Baku-chan. Yours doesn't taste like honey either, kero.'
'Rude frog.'
Despite herself, Tsuyu giggled before teasing him, 'It tastes like caramel.'
The ash-blond groaned as she knew he hated when she talked about how sweet he was like the caramel because due to his quirk his nitroglycerin scent was very sweet like.
His arm found her elbow and pulled her back down to him as Tsuyu didn't try to fight it.
His lips were warm and demanding as he kissed her some more causing her to feel the familiar warm inside knot inside her stomach before they broke apart to breathe a bit, 'I thought my morning breath was shitty, Baku-chan.' She always made a point to underline curses by mimicking the way he sounded when he spoke.
He took a peek at his phone recognizing they still had a few moments before he sat up to bring her into his lap causing both of them to blush a bit. There was still some embarrassment, but at the same time, their need for each other was stronger than that. They were young and exploring after all.
'Fuck that,' the ash-blond whispered into her mouth right before he silenced it with another kiss.
No, Tsuyu never saw herself as someone who would be held as tight as she was now and kissed like they wanted to devour her all the while burning in the warmth Katsuki caused inside her.
She was glad she was wrong.
It felt surreal to her.
Perhaps because it was so sudden, or because everything was a mess, but this felt even more surreal than anything else that happened.
They were in his room again. Just her and Katsuki. It was hours after Deku left them. Hours after their read his letters and she came to Katsuki only to find him a crying mess.
Words rushed out of him in chaos, Tsuyu barely managed to make any sense in. She understood now. She understood it now. The weird relationship between former childhood friends. Their so-called rivalry. But it wasn't…it wasn't.
'Tsu…Tsu, I was a bully too.'
Bully, bully, bully, bully…
Tsu felt a bit sick to her stomach as she ran that word over and over inside her head looking at her boyfriend still quietly sobbing in front of her.
Her chest felt like someone tied a rob around it and squeezed. She was so stupid. She always prided herself on being good at observation. Excellent even. She noticed things. Ever since she was younger, she just noticed things about people. It all made sense now even if some things weren't pronounced properly by Katsuki's almost hysteric voice muffled by sobs and hiccups.
It felt surreal to see him like this.
It broke her heart and left her numb at the same time.
'A lot of things scare me…things about me…,' he looked away his cheeks red and his voice shaken causing the girl to worry he might work himself up into a panic attack, 'Things I did in the past…how I still think I could do those things no matter how much I hate that I did them and how pathetic that makes me…that shit…It scares me,' he stopped talking and looked at her his face never looking more scared and open as the ash-blond admitted, 'B-but you absolute bat-shit terrify me, Tsuyu.'
Her mouth turned dry. He never called her by her first name like this, and at that very moment, she was grateful he hadn't because hearing it come out of his mouth like this was almost too much for her to handle.
Almost
'Kero,' she let out softly feeling her heartbeat speed up as she sat there listening to him seeing him so shaken and vulnerable and raw it shook her too.
'You fucking terrifying me because the way you make me feel,' his hand gripped the front of his shirt wrinkling it.
His head fell down as if he was bowing to her, 'I-I don't know what to do about it. I don't know how to deal with that, but I know…I know I don't want you-'
Her heart stopped and sank upon hearing those words before it jumpstarted again upon his next ones.
'-I don't want you to leave me.'
In a flash of lightning speed, he reached out and suddenly without any defense or fight Tusyu appeared inside Katsuki's arms crushed against his chest, her face almost buried against him as if he wanted to push her into him and make them one. This wasn't intensity. This was something much more…something she couldn't even explain or comprehend but it was more. It made her breathe faster and her mouth open to get even more oxygen inside fearing she might faint, 'Baku-chan.'
'I never want you to leave me alone, Tsuyu,' he said, voice all wrong, desperate, shaky, and raw causing the sea-green girl to reach out and grip the back of his shirt, her fingers almost brutally crushing the fabric to be able to reach fresh only to hold him tighter and firmer.
'Ba-Katsuki,' she breathed against his chest. It was barely a whisper, but she knew he heard her based on the violent tremble that came through his body and the strangled sound that came out of his throat. She never called him by his first name either. If her own name caused her such intense feelings she had a pretty good guess what hearing his cause for the boy.
'Stay!' he finally let out so desperate and honest and demanding through his greeted teeth like he never asked anyone such a thing and fear the rejection all the same as if he was told a million times no.
Tsuyu's fingers dug deeper into his clothing and her head nuzzled further into his chest. Her heartbeat and breath were so loud, that they echoed inside the room almost ominously.
'Please,' he begged, and she closed her eyes trying to remember how to talk again.
'I-can…I can get better. Not yet, but…I know, and I can get better. I can fucking get better and make peace with Dek-with Izuku,' her eyes snapped open, 'With myself. With what I did…I can do better. I can be more than a fucking bully. More than someone who told his childhood friend to go jump out of a roof…please, I can I do better.'
Please, believe me.
'I believe you,' she finally got out all hoarse and muffled by his chest, but still loud enough for him to make out the words.
'Baku-chan,' she said licking her lips and accidentally his shirt just too, 'I believe in you.'
Her words must have finally broken something inside him because in the next moment they were on the ground kneeling and holding onto each other like their lives depended on it with the ash-blond sobbing and crying so loud Tsuyu could no longer hear her panting or heartbeat.
Getting sick was the most unexpected thing that happened to Tsuyu in a very long time. In general, an illness wouldn't have been caused for alarm or to think it was strange. Everyone could get sick. However, the fact that after everything they had been through, all those fights, all that saving, she would be knocked out by flu was truly bizarre.
Since she often had to take care of her siblings, Tsuyu made a point of avoiding catching anything in order to be properly ready to take care of them. Why she caught something now, the sea-green-haired girl didn't know, but she hated it all the same.
She couldn't fulfill her duties as a hero now and was told to rest while the others worked their asses off by helping civilians get back home after the war and cleaning up messes in the cities. What was worse, her parents would tomorrow return to work, but because of their house was greatly damaged after an attack, Satsuki and Samidare would have to stay here with her sick self in charge of taking care of them again.
Just as Tsuyu began to doze off under the influence of her sickness and medicine Recovery Girl managed to get her, she heard someone knock.
There was a second waiting time before the door was forcefully opened, and Katsuki came inside, 'Hey, I made you soup.'
Tsuyu could barely blink at him before he had placed the soup under her bed, got her to sit up, properly arranged her pillow so she would be comfortable, and then started to feed her.
It took the poor sick girl a couple of minutes to comprehend what was happening, and by that time, her boyfriend managed to successfully feed her half of the truly delicious soup. If Tsuyu could smell properly, it would probably smell amazing too.
She sighed.
Maybe one day we could cook something together.
'Sure, just get better first, dummy,' said Katsuki causing her to realize she said it out loud.
She chuckled which started a coughing fist that had the boy support by running her back with his free hand while she finished, 'Thank you.'
'Stop gawking and finish this,' he ordered not unkindly and finished feeding her his soup while he told her what she missed and what he come up with to help her with her siblings.
'My old hag can watch over them. She doesn't have anything to do until they rebuild her office. Fuck if anyone knows when will that be since it's not on the priority list,' said the ash-blond. It was true. The cities were rebuilding mostly hospitals and other necessary buildings and working their way to the bottom.
Tsuyu just sat there listening to Katsuki make up a whole plan about what to do with her siblings while she was sick, and her parents were away. She was astonished to the point beyond belief almost ready to pinch herself to check if it was real.
This was new.
Tsuyu was the oldest child. The older sister. She was always in charge. She never had anyone who could share her load with her so to speak. Yet, Katuski did so without asking just knowing immediately she would need it and rolling with it.
It warmed her heart and body more than the fever did almost to the point it overwhelmed her and before she knew it, she leaned forward.
'Tsu-what?!'
Her hand was suddenly over his mouth before she leaned forward and kissed it. She wished she could kiss his lips instead. If she wasn't sick and worried she might infect him if she did she would have.
'Thank you, Katsuki,' she said and let her hand fall away smiling brightly feeling a bit silly, but very happy.
'Dummy,' mumbled the ash-blond and rose his hand gently stroking her head a bit, 'Just get better, okay? I'm fucking counting on you, Tsu. You better not let me down or I will kill you.' His words were almost in conflict with the sweet soft tone he used genuinely looking concerned and adoring at her.
'I promise, kero.'
'Oi, next week we should do something… datelike,' said Katsuki as he stole Izuku's seat to be right next to Tsuyu probably so that the others would have a harder time hearing them in the loud cafeteria. It was bizarre. Even with the war over, the place was still a mess. Cities were getting rebuilt, people were moving out of UA back to their homes if they were still standing and in general, life was getting back to the way it used to be. Except, it probably never could go back to the way it used to be, could it now?
Tsuyu saw Izuku sigh at his friend before he went to get another chair and sit down next to Shoto on the other side of the table.
The dark eyes returned to look at Katsuki's face as she knew if she didn't pay him enough attention when he was talking to her, he would be grumpy, 'Why?'
His own eyes shifted, and he looked a bit strange not embarrassed but perhaps guilty? Tsuyu was only guessing.
'We never had an actual date,' said the boy and shrugged his shoulders. He was feeling guilty.
Strange.
Tsuyu rose her finger and touched her lower lip thinking, 'What about the winter festival-'
'That wasn't a date-'
'You invited me though-'
'That was-!' he started to yell before he thought better of it as he must have seen her narrow her eyes at the volume.
The ash-blond sighed defeated in a way, 'Look, Tsu, don't be a smartass, I already told you what that was.' He wasn't wrong. Tsuyu got out of him very early on in their relationship that Katsuki got jealous when their classmates were talking about how Shoto's quirk was perfect for her and lost it. He found it embarrassing and even if Tsuyu didn't care much for jealousy, she did feel a strange pride knowing he cared so much to be jealous and more or less took the step that led them here.
'Just…think it through and come back to me with some ideas,' said Katsuki causing the girl to blink, 'You don't have any, kero? Hm,' Tsuyu thought for a second before her lips formed a wide smile, 'Okay, let's go to the woods. Hiking?'
Katsuki looked puzzled for a second and then like he wanted to ask something. Tsuyu could clearly see something crossed his mind and bothered him now, but before they could talk, he was called by Aizawa-sensei and cursing under his breath left.
He came to find her later when she was preparing to go escort people back to their homes. Since cities were destructed it wasn't uncommon for houses to be in bad shape or for people to try and take advantage of others or simply get some more money. Their economy was not doing very well at the moment. They could only hope for it to get better soon.
'Is this where you wanted to go or is it because of me?' Katsuki asked her. It wasn't uncommon that he doubted her reasons. After all, he knew her well enough to know she tended to fall into being a good support for others in their times of need often forgetting or pushing aside her own. He wouldn't be wrong. Often Tsuyu did things she could Katsuki would like or she had taken his personality and needs more into consideration. However, she always told him about it so he wouldn't think she was trying to manipulate him.
'It's because I think it can be something both of us can enjoy, kero,' she explained to him and then shrugged her shoulders. It was true after all. An idea of some fancy dinner or movie now that the theaters were opening again if they were still standing was nice, sure, but Tsuyu's quirk always drew her more to nature.
The ash-blond seemed to accept that and discussed the time with her.
They were lucky. The weather was nice. It was sunny but not completely hot and just the right amount of windy. Tsuyu felt happy, and she could tell Katsuki felt the same.
His hand took a hold of hers. He still didn't like touching palm to palm so they just loosely liked their fingers. It was fun. The hike was long and refreshing.
'You were here before?' asked Tsuyu when she noticed Katsuki had a very good idea of where they were going and informed her that soon they would end up by a lake.
'Old hag and old man used to take me and Izuku when we were kids,' he shrugged his shoulders looking ahead, 'I also used to wander around with my friends, but not often this far. What about you?'
Tsuyu shook her head and touched her lower lip, 'I don't think my parents had time before. Maybe now? At least if they took Sami-chan and Setsu-chan it would be nice.'
She smiled at Katsuki saying she would suggest it to them next time they talk. They had already rebuilt their house and took her siblings there. It was sad to watch them go but not as bad as the first time they moved, and Tsuyu came to live in the dorms. So much had changed. It felt like a lifetime.
Once they got to the lake, they unpacked and set out a blanket enjoying the view.
After a moment, Katsuki stood up, 'Hey, want to race?'
The girl giggled, 'Are you sure you want that, Katsu-chan? I'm an excellent swimmer.'
'Oh yeah? Bring it, Froggy,' he said and grinned in a way that made him look especially handsome, and Tsuyu's stomach nervous in the best way.
The girl easily jumped to her feet and tossed aside her clothing noting how the red eyes of her boyfriend stayed on her as she did. It made her feel both proud of herself and a bit embarrassed.
'You should close it, or you will catch a fly, Baku-chan,' she tossed before she ran into the water not sure she would handle being in his presence a moment longer exposed like that.
The ash-blond snapped out of it, 'Shut up!'
He caught onto her quickly, but in the water, he was no match to her of course.
Later on, the two laid down on their blanket allowing the sun to dry them off.
'What?' asked Katsuki after a very long moment of silence when the two were just living in the moment, Tsuyu supposed.
'Nothing, I'm just happy, kero' she said and rolled to his side kissing his shoulder and tasting the lake water on her tongue.
The ash-blond simply hugged her and pulled her closer both enjoying the hot sun above them. As the first official dates went, Tsuyu could proudly say, it was a very good one.
'Did you get through?' asked Ochako for what felt like the millionth time as she peeked her head out of her room only for Tsu to shake her head no.
The other girl's shoulders fell a bit, but she nodded and returned to her room while Tsuyu's eyes returned to the TV screen while the automatic voice on her phone apologized again, but informed her that the lines were busy. There was an attack in the city. It wasn't good. Most of the electronics in the close range were down. Countless of people were hurt or dead. It was mostly the aftermath now, and even with small injuries, they were both sent home.
The sea-green-haired woman was still a bit surprised their TV was still working even if the only channel was BBC since Japanese stations were out of power too.
Tsuyu ended the call and dialed again. She didn't allow herself to fall into the hysteria of course. She was a trained pro-hero, and they had unfortunately been through worse. Until she had all the information and facts, she wouldn't freak out and possibly stress Ochako more. Both of them needed each other for support. Her mind momentarily drifted to the time, she was alone in her living room watching All Might's last fight with All for One scared almost petrified crying wondering what was going to happen next. It was horrible. Other times, she was mostly in the fight herself or was surrounded by people. In Tsu's opinion, it always helped when there were more people around.
Once again, the line apologized, and Tsuyu ended the call. What she wouldn't give for hearing Katsuki's annoyed and angry, What?! on the other line right now? As hard as people found him to deal with due to his personality, Tsu never did. Sure, he was hotheaded and quick to blow up, but at the same time, he got a lot better in his act and was nearly as not angry as he used to be. Mostly Katsuki was loud now which she was fine with. Right now, she would really like to hear his unnecessary rude voice shouting-
'COME OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!'
Tsuyu's dark eyes tripled their size before she ran toward the door beating to it her roommate and best friend as Ochako was just a second behind.
The door was practically tossed aside as the sea-green-haired young woman opened it only to reveal Izuku's beaten and dirty yet still sheepishly smiling face as it was in her eyesight since he was hanging over Katsuki's shoulder.
Her eyes immediately moved to his face. He looked as bad as Izuki with blood dripping from between his short ash-blond hair.
'Quit staring and move,' said Katsuki mostly sounding exhausted than actually upset or annoyed. It couldn't have been easy to carry someone of Izuku's weight up the stairs to the fifth floor since they didn't have an elevator. It was a wonder they made it here in the first place given how close they were to the attack and everything in close range was out of power.
'Come on,' urged him Ochako quickly helping take Izuku's other shoulder, 'Are you alright? Why aren't you in the hospital?'
'No room-'
'I'm alright-'
'Like hell, you are,' said Katsuki and helped their friend onto Ochako's pink covers where the boy all but collapsed, 'I just overdid it. I promise.' It wouldn't be the first time. Their green-haired friend had a tendency to push his limits on the to behave of others. Tsuyu found it both admirable and reckless knowing it would probably be something Izuku would never change about himself.
Tsuyu took hold of Katsuki's arm to get him to look at her, 'Come sit down so I can look at your head, kero.'
It was a long time since the first time Katsuki ever complained about her playing nurse for him. The memory and the knowledge that he was alright due to his presence were like a balsam for her soul.
As he sat down, she quickly rushed to the first aid kit. It didn't seem like Ochako would need it to take care of Izuku. The other young man looked mostly exhausted than actually hurt.
Before she would start the ash-blond took a hold of her face. His glows were dirty, and he smelled like everything he had been through. The natural scent of his quirk was almost completely gone causing Tsuyu to long for it even more.
Very slowly yet with meaning, he pressed her forehead against his and took a deep breath before he spoke, his voice firm yet soft due to the volume as even now he didn't like the idea that Ochako and Izuku could hear him being like this, 'I'm alright, you can breathe.'
Tsuyu let out a long sigh, she hadn't realized she was holding back. Oh, he knew her so well.
Her own hands touched his and for a moment truly took his presence in, 'I'm glad, you're alright, kero.'
His lips twitched upon her crock, and she leaned over giving him a quick kiss against one of the corners of his mouth before she leaned away to properly look at the dash between his hair, 'It's not so bad. You were lucky.'
'Deku got in the way,' said the ash-blond and tossed aside his gloves. Tsuyu knew that now when he used that name it was because it was Izuku's hero name, not because he meant it as an insult.
As she applied antiseptics, Tsuyu noted how calmly and patiently Katsuki was sitting in front of her on her and Ochako's small couch. He truly came a long way since he was always an angry and loud hothead who scared or annoyed everyone around him.
'What?'
'Come on, now, Katsu-chan,' said Tsuyu and stroked his short hair. It was a while since it was long enough for her to properly run her fingers through it, 'Let's bath you a bit.'
'Bath, hm? Not sure, I will be much fun for you now,' said the ash-blond and glanced over to the direction of Ochako's bedroom.
Tsuyu hit his arm lightly, 'Not like that, dummy.'
It had been a while since Katsuki was a blushing mess whenever something like affection or racier was about to take place, sometimes Tsuyu missed the way the then young boy would avoid her gaze and get all crimson and embarrassed. It was cute back then. Still, she was proud to admit that even now occasionally she could get a very similar reaction out of him finding it very much delightful. If not today, she would get him some other day.
Tsuyu and Ochako started to live together shortly after their graduation. Cities were being rebuilt, and since Tsuyu's parents and siblings still decided to live close to their work, she couldn't exactly be choosy. The place was small. Their bedrooms were only big enough for their beds and one dresser. But it was enough for the start. The only luxury as Ochako called it was the bathtub since Tsuyu made it her only demand.
As Tsuyu started the water and prepared everything, Katsuki started to slowly strip. He was less dirty under the clothing. Definitely less than Izuku who didn't make a single sound since he was put in Ochako's bed no doubt ruining her covers. He must have dozed off instantly.
Katsuki got into the tub and let out a sigh of delight not even looking too bothered that he had. It was a while now since he last had a problem with opening himself up to her.
Tsuyu's dark eyes watched over him for a moment taking in his exhausted yet relaxed form. It warmed her heart to see him like this, and she quickly pulled at the hem of her shirt before she pulled it over her head.
When she got it off and neatly put it aside, she noticed Katsuki's red eyes on her taking her in. He didn't ask her what she was doing just watched as she continued to take off the rest of her clothes before she motioned for him to lean a bit away so she could get behind him.
Once settled, Tsuyu grabbed the shampoo and got to work leaned forward, and took in a nice deep breath letting out a soft pleased sound afterward.
'Yeah, the soup is nice,' said the ash-blond sounding as tired as he looked.
The young woman chuckled upon hearing that, 'It's not the soup, kero. It's Katsu-chan's sweet caramel scent.'
'O-oi!' The man let out barely with the tips of his ears on fire causing almost Tsuyu to laugh but she bit the inside of her mouth not to. Tsuyu was pleased she could still cause this effect on her Katsuki.
Her lips replaced her nose, and she pressed a kiss against his back moving a bit higher again to wash his hair one more time, 'Let's finish you off.'
'Okay.'
By the time she finished Katsuki was on the bridge of falling asleep. His red eyes were barely open and his eyelids were too heavy to stay up on their own.
His feet almost clumsily followed her into her room. With no sound or light coming from Ochako' s room Tsuyu assumed she and Izuku fell asleep too.
Katsuki threw on some boxers not bothering with a shirt since it was too hot tonight before he collapsed against her small bed.
'Your bed sucks.'
Tsuyu shook her head. If she was more sarcastic or negative, she would roll her eyes, but she had been with Katsuki too long to let his complaints get to her, 'It's a normal bed.'
'Y-you need... Bigger,' his speech was slurry and slow. He would fall asleep soon.
Tsuyu put on her PJs and shut off the lights before she crawled next to him. The bed was a tight fit which wasn't anything new to them. They survived sleeping next to each other countless of times on Katsuki's dorm bed, but they were both a bit more masculine and taller now after all.
She thought her boyfriend was already asleep when he suddenly rolled closer to her and pulled her toward his chest to spoon her the way he liked the most.
Tsuyu sighed in contentment, 'I missed you.'
'Me too.'
When they woke up the sun was already high enough for it to be lunch.
'I'm hungry,' admitted Tsuyu feeling her stomach protesting against a skipped breakfast.
'Me too,' admitted the ash-blond, 'I would kill for a decent steak.'
However, neither of them moved. They remained wrapped around each other absorbing each other warmth and presence. It felt good to be together like this.
'I miss this,' said Katsuki and pulled her closer, 'I hate it when we don't sleep together. I can't sleep. My arms keep reaching for you and my brain keeps waking me up panicking that you're not there.'
Tsuyu felt a strange mixture of concern and content. She liked when he spoke so honestly, 'I miss you too... I feel cold without you.'
She turned around to face him giving him a soft morning kiss, morning breath be damned, she needed Katsuki's lips on hers.
Both of them sigh when the kiss broke their eyes meeting as the ash-blond buried his fingers in her hair, 'Let's get our own place. Just the two of us. No nosy parents and no bullshit roommates. We're pro-heroes for kami's sake. I'm on my way to the top ten I can fucking get my Tsu a decent place to live.'
She watched him for a moment before she chuckled, 'Are you asking me to live with you, kero?'
'Damn right I am. Don't be stupid about it just say yes.'
For a second, she put her finger against her lower lip, 'Ah, but I don't know, kero. Ochako is my best friend. She's tidy and a good roommate. I don't think I can let her go just like that, you know?'
The ash-blond spun her on her back, 'Shit, you're playing fucking hard to get now? Fine! So, what if She's your best friend. You're my fucking Tsu.'
She would never get tired of hearing that.
Her legs hugged his waist under the cover, 'Hm, but she's tidy.'
'You could fucking eat off my floor, and you know it, Froggy.'
Her arms moved around his neck. It felt charging to have his weight on top of her like this, crushing her, 'She makes me my favorite tea.'
'I will fucking choke you with my delicious food. Round cheek cannot cook to save her life,' said Katsuki, and unfortunately, he was very right. Ochako's cooking was edible, but that was about it.
'She had gotten better. What about my birthday dinner?'
'That was Izuku and me. Your so-called best friend almost burnt the kitchen,' said Katsuki.
Tsuyu laughed tossing her head against the pillow. It sounded like Ochako for sure.
Katsuki used the situation and leaned closer to her his lips pressing and kissing against her neck, 'Say we will move in together, Tsu,' his lips stopped every once in a while marking a spot. The last time he moved like this she had to wear long neck pullovers to hide the marks, 'Say it,' another kiss, 'Tsu,' and another, 'Please.'
He kissed her behind her ear causing her to let out a soft kero enjoying the feeling of his lips against her skin there. It would have been very nice to be able to enjoy each other like this more often without tin walls and fear and embarrassment of their roommates hearing them. Katsuki didn't like when people caught them being affectionate feeling it was undercutting his strength. Except on occasion when he wanted to everyone to know that even as a boyfriend, he was the best.
'Tsu-chan,' said Katsuki so incredibly sweetly like pure caramel. If the young man was like this all-time he would be even more popular and irresistible, and Tsuyu would probably die from jealousy.
Her lips curled into a wide smile and her dark eyes looked up at his, 'Yes-'she said before she pulled him closer to her and locked their lips together in a heated kiss as if they were sealing the contract.
In Tsuyu's mind, she got a pretty sweet deal.
Koniec