Chapter Text
At first, Izuku wasn’t quite sure why everyone had quieted down all of the sudden.
Usually, Friday nights were rather hectic for the bar, even during the rare occasions when he visited - normally to ensure things were being taken care of - but now Izuku was certain he could hear a pin drop.
His own men seemed to be on edge, their fingers twitching and ready to grip the guns they hid in their holsters, but Izuku didn’t quite feel the same panic they had.
That was, until he glanced to the side, and set his gaze upon the reason for such behaviour - but his panic was of the different sort.
The boy didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the people in the place, perhaps that was why he’d caused such an atmosphere. Where everyone else wore leather jackets and scars upon their knuckles, he adorned a rather large orange hoodie and shaking hands. Where everyone’s gaze was sharp and lustful, his was fearful and bleary with unshed tears.
An anomaly in the world Izuku had grown up in, completely separate from the harshness that he had somehow stumbled into.
Izuku refused to allow this wide-eyed little thing get harmed by any of the lowlifes in the establishment.
When he finally reached the bar, fingertips pressing into the sticky counter before he recoiled, face scrunching up in a cute little grimace as he pulled his sleeves over his hands, Izuku watched as the boy leaned over to speak to the bartender.
Izuku didn’t give the man a chance to respond, and so he whistled, gathering their intention. As soon as the man looked over at him, he raised a hand, gesturing towards the kid with his head and beckoning them over with two fingers.
After a quick word to the boy, the target of his attention finally looked over at him.
Even from afar, he could recognise the beauty of the boy, but when he stumbled over to him, hands pulling on the edge of his hoodie and shoulders pushing upwards, as if he were attempting to hide himself, make himself smaller, Izuku could finally see what a gem he had come across.
Crimson eyes, a similar shade adorning his cheeks and the tip of his nose, most likely from the cold winds blowing outside, hair light blond and, despite the harshness of those spikes, soft-looking. He almost wished to hide him away, kiss those round cheeks of his and protect him from the evils that he would surely encounter in this part of town.
He was lucky he had come across Izuku - he wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
His men remained vigilant, even though the kid seemed as dangerous as a damn kitten. Izuku didn’t judge them for doing so, but still. He almost wanted to snap at them, tell them to get their shit together and not attempt to taint this boy’s innocence with their suspicious minds.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he simply shifted in the booth, glass of whiskey still in his head as the blond finally stood in front of him.
This close, he could see the mere difference between them. Even while seated, Izuku could tell the kid was small, with wide shoulders and a clearly muscular frame, but the softness and his height rendered all of those details pointless - precious.
“What’s the matter, kid?”
At the words, the blond looked down, teeth digging into his bottom lip before he leaned forward. Sensing what he wished to do, Izuku smiled and moved until the boy could whisper into his ear.
It wasn’t every day that someone attempted to make demands of him or approach him without as much as a flinch.
Whether it was ignorance, bravery, or sheer stupidity, Izuku did not know. Nor did he particularly care - somehow, he knew he would allow this sweet little thing to do whatever he wanted and he wouldn’t have an issue with it.
“M-my car broke down an-and I don’t know how to fix it.” And as if he simply knew how to twist him around his little finger, he moved away, looking up at him through those long, thick lashes before speaking. “Will you please help me, mister?”
And how on earth was he supposed to deny a doe-eyed sweet little thing?
He pressed his cigarette into the ashtray placed at the centre of the table, extinguishing it before drinking the last of his whiskey.
“Alright, come on, let’s go outside and you can show me, yeah?”
He ignored the glance Iida threw at him - he must’ve remembered the last time Izuku had left their side and gotten swarmed by some fuckers who didn’t know their place. He’d gotten out of it alive, yes, but his arm was still mangled up from all the bullshit they put him through. Regardless of the years that had passed since then, he could still feel the ache within his bones when he reached for the door to the bar and opened it, stepping to the side in order to allow the blond to walk through first. Distantly, he heard him whisper a soft-spoken ‘thank you’, and he had to bite his tongue to stop himself from cooing at him.
Such a sweet boy.
“What’s your name, kid?”
Illuminated with the lamp posts outside the bar, Izuku watched as a soft frown appeared on his face, bottom lip pushed out in a pout and chin raised high up in the air.
“‘M not a kid. And it’s Katsuki.”
Izuku grinned as the boy - Katsuki - gestured towards his car.
He couldn’t help it, he had to taste the name on his tongue, and so he whispered.
“Katsuki. Hm.” Even in the darkness, he could see the flush that spread across those cheeks. “Pretty name.”
He was sure he heard the boy squeal in surprise, but the last thing he wanted was to make him close up, hide away all these little tells that he didn’t seem to realize he had.
“Come on then, let’s take a look.”
And so he took a look beneath the hood, even though he could hardly focus with the way Katsuki decided to press up against him.
An innocent decision, surely, but Izuku couldn’t help but wish it wasn’t.
He wanted Katsuki to be close to him out of desire, a need to feel Izuku beside him, but instead, it was because of his curiosity, those red eyes watching what Izuku was doing.
It didn’t take long for him to realize there was practically nothing he could do to start the damn thing.
No matter what he poked and prodded or tried, it simply wouldn’t start.
He almost wanted to find the person who sold the vehicle to the boy and put a bullet in their head when he saw tears well up in those pretty crimson eyes once he informed him of the car’s fate.
It seemed as if the blond had reached his tether, and Izuku watched as his bottom lip jutted out and those long eyelashes fluttered as he blinked away the tears.
Shit.
“Hey, it’s alright.” His hands hovered above his shoulders as a small fist rose in the air and Katsuki rubbed his eyes. “We’ll get it fixed, don’t worry, yeah?”
But the blond wouldn’t listen to him and his sniffles grew in volume, as did Izuku’s sense of urgency.
Fucking hell.
“I-I can’t afford to fix it.”
Oh, poor little thing.
“Come on now, sweetheart, I wouldn’t leave you all stranded like this, would I? I’ll take care of everything, don’t worry. I have a shop that can sort this out for you in no time, free of charge.”
Finally, Katsuki looked up at him, and Izuku was certain his own eyes shimmered with glee at the sight - long eyelashes wet with tears, lips pouty and red from where he bit into them, cheeks ruddy and just begging for Izuku to pinch them.
The sweetest boy.
Izuku wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to ruin him or ruin anyone that dared to hurt him.
Hm.
He supposed there was plenty of time for him to figure it out.
After all, he wouldn’t be letting this little gem out of his sight.
“You’d do that for me, mister?”
Oh, honey.
I’d do anything you wanted me to do.
But he dare not speak the words.
Instead, he shot him a smile which he prayed to god was reassuring.
“Of course, darling. Come on now, I’ll drive you home and I’ll get someone to come pick your car up.”
His tone left no room for discussions, but Katsuki didn’t even attempt to argue.
He was far too busy smiling up at him, dimples carving into those cheeks as he pulled at the edge of his hoodie.
The blond nodded.
“T-thank you!”
Before Izuku even got the chance to respond, Katsuki was opening the door to his car, bending down low to grab his backpack, and allowing Izuku to see the curve of his ass.
Shit.
Maybe he should’ve offered to take him to /his/ place instead.
Instead of allowing his perverted thoughts to take hold and get him to do something stupid, he got his phone out, messaging Iida and informing him of the situation.
Within seconds, the man was outside the bar, and Izuku quickly handed him the keys to Katsuki’s car and told him what to do, determinedly ignoring Iida’s complaints of his behaviour.
After all, it wasn’t often he abandoned one of these meetings, these opportunities to see people tremble at the sight of him.
But this time, he could make an exception.
Without any hesitation, he placed a hand between Katsuki’s shoulder blades and led him to his own car - black, sleek, and unnecessarily expensive. But with the way Katsuki’s eyes lit up and he looked up at him with amazement, he almost wanted to throw all his money away at any little thing that would impress the boy.
He stepped forward, opening the door for the boy and allowing him to settle inside.
“Buckle up, darling.”
Izuku bit his tongue to stop himself from praising him when he had done as he was told, and he quickly shut the door closed before he took his own seat.
“Put your address in here, doll.”
With flushed cheeks, Katsuki grabbed the phone Izuku was offering and put in his address.
Ah.
Not a very nice area, filled with crooks and people seeking shelter for a cheap price, despite the dangers lurking behind every corner.
Izuku knew the place well, he knew the gangs, the criminals, those that hid in the shadows and waited to strike - he’d had plenty of people beg for his help, for a few favours, while they were living in the shithole.
A kid like Katsuki shouldn’t be in such a place - purity did not belong there.
He’d have to do something about that, maybe talk to some of his people, get them to keep an eye on him.
The last thing he wanted was to hear about some rogue fucking with the blond.
It was fine.
He’d sort something out.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence, Izuku only occasionally speaking but only getting stilted replies in response - he kept his mouth shut after that. It seemed as if the blond was preoccupied with something, anyway, what with the way he kept mumbling under his breath, moving his fingers as if he were counting something.
Izuku left him to his own devices. He didn’t mind the silence, anyway. Katsuki’s mere presence seemed to be enough to keep him happy and calm, something not many people could do.
For a moment, he hesitated as he approached the boy’s apartment. He almost wanted to slow down, or maybe even drive down the wrong street in hopes of prolonging their time together.
But he could see the way Katsuki’s eyes were drooping, the dark circles under his eyes. The boy was exhausted, and he didn’t deserve to suffer just because Izuku was a selfish bastard.
And so, soon enough, he parked his car in front of the building.
It was a gaunt old thing, cement falling from the walls and some windows shattered, while a group of drunken men stumbled down the street and spoke far too loudly given the time of the night.
Izuku hesitated when Katsuki unbuckled his seat belt.
But instead of being a creepy old fuck, he simply placed a hand on his forearm, stopping him from opening the door.
Those pretty red eyes met his own.
“Give me your number, doll, I’m gonna have to contact you about your car.”
With a shaky nod, Katsuki quickly recited the numbers which Izuku typed into his now-turned on phone.
“Alright, Katsuki,” He saved the number, sending him a text before pushing the phone into the pocket of his blazer. “It won’t be long, so don’t worry about that, I’ll tell them you’re top priority.”
“I-You don’t have to, uhm, do that, mister.”
Izuku grinned, watching the boy pull on the straps of his backpack.
“Please, call me Izuku. And I know I don’t, but I want to. You don’t deserve to be inconvenienced like that.”
Katsuki simply blinked at him, teeth dragging across his lip before he released it, and he nodded.
“Alright, yeah, uh, thank you.”
His grip tightened around the steering wheel.
Shit. He just wanted to wrap him in his arms and not let go.
“No problem. Now, it’s late, go get yourself to bed, alright?”
At the words, Katsuki hummed, and finally opened the door. Before closing it shut, he bent down low, and whispered into the dark night.
Even the sound of music playing in the bars around them and the people stumbling around could not distract him from the sweet words dripping from his lips.
“Goodnight, ‘Zuku.”
Izuku leaned back against his headrest and he grinned.
“Goodnight, little one.”
As a blush spread across his cheeks, Katsuki shut the door behind him.
Yet Izuku did not move from his spot until he finally saw him safely enter the building.
Fuck.
He had to have him.
It had been three days since the last time he had seen him, since he’d even spoken to him in person, and Izuku was growing restless.
A part of him was questioning his own behaviour, this strange infatuation he seemed to develop after spending such a short amount of time with someone, but another, much louder, part didn’t seem to care.
What was once cold aloofness brimming beneath his skin now turned into excitement - which was why his people knew better than to put off working on Katsuki’s car.
It would’ve been done sooner had Izuku not made it clear he wanted them to polish up every inch of the vehicle, telling them to replace any part of it that wasn’t brand new. He was lucky his contacts were aware of who he was and the workers in the shop could get all the materials rather quickly.
And now it was done, and Izuku would finally get to see him again.
Despite Katsuki’s insistence at simply taking the train, Izuku refused to do anything but come pick him up himself.
And so, soon enough, he found himself in front of an all too familiar building.
In the daylight, it looked much worse than it had the first time he had seen it - or maybe his own concern for one of its residents was raising his shackles and forcing him to view everything much more critically.
Either way, the very obvious drug deals going on in the alley between buildings, the seedy bars that he knew were cover-ups for some fucked up shit, and the mere fact that he’d done business with some of the people that lived around here didn’t bode well for sweet little Katsuki.
Although, when the blond stumbled out the door, sweet may not have been the first word that came to mind.
That innocence still hid beneath the surface, it was clear in those pretty features, but there was a certain sort of sharpness to him now - edges ragged and angry.
Those big, round eyes which were lost and confused days ago were now narrowed and searching while he looked around. The relaxed, yet anxious, lines of his face were gone, and in their place lay a clenched jaw and furrowed brows.
The juxtaposition of it nearly gave him whiplash, but he kept his thoughts to himself and whistled instead, waiting until those pretty eyes were set upon him before he raised a hand and waved with a grin.
But that scowl didn’t fade away like he hoped it would; in fact, it seemed to deepen as crimson trailed over his form where he was leaning back against his car.
“Oi, are you Deku?”
Oh.
Strange little thing.
Izuku didn’t mind the harshness of his voice, though.
Nor did he particularly mind the rude nickname, so long as Katsuki was the one that spoke it.
“Ah, it’s Izuku, actually.”
And there was that pretty shade of dark red spreading across his cheeks, but Katsuki didn’t stumble or hide in embarrassment. Instead, he snarled and stomped closer to him.
“It’s not my fault your stupid name can be read both ways, Deku.”
Izuku grinned as he pushed himself away from the car, walking to the other side as he opened the door.
“Just get in, doll.”
“The fuck did you just call me?”
He took his seat, Katsuki following suit as Izuku bit his lip to stop himself from pouting.
What the hell was he doing wrong?
It was such a stark difference in reactions he was receiving, and yet nothing should’ve changed in the few days they had been apart.
Still. It was charming, in a way.
Or maybe he needed to add degradation to the list of kinks he had.
“You weren’t complaining about me calling you that when we met.”
At that, the blond stilled, cheeks growing crimson as he looked down, pulling on the straps of the backpack he held in his lap.
“Yeah, well,” His voice grew quiet, yet that frown did not disappear, “I was fuckin’ stressed out, so, uhm, sorry about that, for having to deal with that shit.”
Izuku merely hummed in response and started the car. He didn’t want to become overbearing, to push his own selfish desire to comfort him onto a boy that was practically a stranger.
But he couldn’t help it - the sight of that dejected, embarrassed, look on his face was tearing him apart.
“It’s alright, sweetheart, you were no trouble at all. Quite sweet, actually.”
All he got in response was an exasperated groan, the blond quickly turning his head to the side to hide his reddening face. But Izuku could still see it, and he could also see the way the tension seemed to disappear from his shoulders, as if the words were the comfort he was seeking.
He stayed silent until they pulled over at a red light, and he threw a quick glance towards Katsuki.
“You mind if I smoke?”
The blond shook his head, teeth digging into his bottom lip as he watched Izuku quickly pull his pack out, placing a cigarette between his lips and lighting it before he threw the box into the cup holder.
As he started to drive once again, he rolled his window down - the last thing he wanted was for that sweet boy to feel suffocated with the smoke. In fact, Izuku almost didn’t even want to light the damn thing near him in the first place, but his hands were shaking and he already knew the moment Katsuki left his side, he would have to return home and go through the hell that were meetings with people he didn’t particularly care for.
He just needed to relax. Just for a moment.
“Why do you smoke, anyway? It’s gross.”
Izuku’s gaze snapped over to him for a moment, meeting those red eyes as his cigarette hung from between his lips. As he looked back towards the road, he placed it between two fingers, stirring the wheel as they neared the repair shop.
“Helps me relax. Started smoking when I was young and can’t stop now, I’ve tried to a few times but I always go back to it.”
Where he expected judgement, he did not receive it.
Instead, Katsuki hummed in understanding.
“I get that.”
“Yeah?”
The boy shuffled in his seat, gaze downcast while he pulled on the zipper of his backpack - up, down, up, down, over and over again. And for a moment, Izuku was certain he caught sight of the head of a stuffed doll. He was sure it was an All Might toy, one that had stopped getting sold years ago - he would’ve recognised it anywhere. After all, it was the same one his mother had bought for him when he was a kid.
He said nothing of it.
“Yeah. It’s not good for you but it helps you so you can’t stop - I get it.” The dejection in his voice was jarring, something that Izuku wished he could destroy and protect the boy from.
Someone like Katsuki should never feel anything but joy.
Fingertips tapping against the wheel, Izuku inhaled the smoke again, smirking when he blew it out the side of his mouth.
“Just one of my many bad habits, doll.”
“Hm? You have more?”
Izuku grinned as Katsuki turned to look at him.
He almost felt giddy with excitement at having his full attention, those eyes set upon him and nothing else.
“You’re a bit too young to hear about the other ones.”
And there it was, that petulant little snarl.
“I’m 19, you ancient fuck.”
“Oh, please forgive me, Sir, you are clearly so mature.” He chuckled at the light slap the blond administered to his shoulder, a barely-there tap that lingered when it disappeared. “I assumed you were younger cause you’re such a damn brat, that’s all.”
Katsuki crossed his arms, refusing to look up at him even as he stayed turned in his direction.
“‘M not a brat.”
A chuckle escaped him and he stopped the car as they arrived at the shop.
“Sure, little one.”
Izuku quietly unbuckled his seatbelt and watched as Katsuki rushed to do the same, the blond throwing the door open and stepping one foot outside before he turned to sneer at him, entire face covered in splotches of red.
“Shut the fuck up, don’t call me that!”
As the door slammed shut behind him, Izuku chuckled and shook his head.
So easy to rile up, to get a reaction out of.
It was as entertaining and charming as it was confusing - where did his cute little doll go?
He supposed it wasn’t important - Katsuki was alluring whether he was screaming in his face or pouting and fluttering his lashes as he looked up at him.
With a sigh, he rushed to follow after him, watching as Katsuki’s fists clenched and dust rose with every harsh step he took.
Petulant little brat.
A brat with a nice fucking ass, but a brat nonetheless.
Izuku quickened his steps and finally reached him, placing a hand on his shoulder as they stepped foot into the repair shop, right where two men were working on a motorcycle.
Katsuki didn’t seem to appreciate the touch, however, and so he shrugged his hand away, glaring up at him as if he could scare him with anything he did.
“Get your hand off me, you pervert.”
Izuku grinned as he did exactly that, and he watched as the workers in the shop stared at them both, eyes wide and jaws dropped as they waited.
He knew what exactly it was that they expected him to do - after all, insolence wasn’t something he tolerated. Normally, it ended in broken bones and drops of blood spraying over his suit.
But maybe, with Katsuki, he could let it slide.
“Can ya hurry up now? I have to go to work.”
Izuku waved his hand and the employees rushed to get the car, but his eyes never left the blond.
“Oh?” He said, grinning as he pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Where do you work?”
“How is that any of your damn business?”
Izuku hummed, shifting and tilting his head to the side, watching while Katsuki crossed his arms.
“Just making conversation. You could be nicer to me, you know - I haven’t done anything to you.”
Katsuki faltered, and he looked up at him with something akin to guilt flashing in his eyes.
For a moment, Izuku wanted to take the words back - he didn’t want the boy to feel bad for speaking his mind. Izuku enjoyed his sharp tongue far too much to wish for him to stop.
Besides, it wasn’t every day that someone disregarded who he was and spoke to him as if Izuku couldn’t end their life within a second.
“I-I’m sorry.”
The words were quiet, whispered in the evening breeze, but Izuku heard them regardless.
“It’s alright, doll, don’t worry about it - I like your fire, it’s refreshing.”
Katsuki didn’t have the time to answer, not when his car was finally stopping beside them and the workers were already rushing over to hand him his keys.
Once he had them in his hands, he fiddled with the small explosion keychain hanging from the keyring.
Katsuki looked to the ground, and there it was.
That bashfulness that he got to witness before.
Sweet little thing.
“W-Well, I, uh, fuck, thanks, I guess.”
Katsuki began to step away, even as Izuku refused to look anywhere but that pretty face.
“Can I see you again?”
The words were past his lips before he even thought about the repercussions, but with the sight of Katsuki’s eyes widening and lips parting in surprise, he couldn’t find himself to care.
“Why the hell would you wanna do that?”
Izuku shrugged, watching the wind blow those strands of blond hair to the side.
“You’re interesting. Not many people are worth my attention, not many people can keep it in the first place.”
“And I can?”
The genuine surprise in his voice nearly made him falter - how could he not see the desperation Izuku felt? He was sure his emotions were written all over his face, desire and want dripping with every word he spoke.
“You’ve done a good job at it so far, doll.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, scoffing as he kicked a pebble with the tip of his shoe and turned towards his car, walking away from him.
“I’ll think about it, Deku.”
“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll be thinking about you too.”
“Fuck off, you creep.”
Izuku chuckled, watching Katsuki throw him one last snarl before climbing into his car. Even as he drove away, Izuku kept his eyes on him, patting his pockets for his pack of cigarettes and sighing when he realized they weren’t there.
He spared a glance towards the men standing behind him, scowling when he saw their curious expressions.
“Get back to fucking work.”
They scrambled to do as they were told.
Idiots.
He didn’t have the energy to deal with them or anyone else for the rest of the day.
And he knew he had no say in the matter - Iida had been texting him sporadically throughout the day, reminding him of the late-night meetings he still had to attend.
As helpful as it was, it was almost just as irritating.
Maybe if a pretty little blond was by his side, he wouldn’t have many qualms with any of this bullshit.
Hm.
Yes. A pretty little doll kneeling by his side.
That was all he needed.
And he’d be damned if he didn’t get it.