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1
His biggest goal in life was to be a hero, no matter who stood in his way. It’s always been like that since Katsuki was a tot. So when that hand reached out for his, heroic and brave and kind like everything Katsuki had hoped to be, he couldn’t help but feel disturbed when that hand was connected to weak little Deku.
Deku and Katsuki have been connected at the hip since birth. Their moms became close because of how much time their boys spent together. When sweet Deku stopped showing up to Katsuki’s house, his mother was understandably confused. A lot of “why don’t you play with Izuku” and “where’s your little friend” were repeated to him the first couple of weeks after Deku stopped coming to play.
Soon his parents finally noticed how Katsuki was better and didn’t need Deku; they stopped bothering Katsuki about him.
/\/\
On a quiet scheduled school break in the spring of Katsuki’s second year, he came home with his oldest friend Izuku and his mother Inko. The shock on Mitsuki’s and Masaru’s faces was palpable. And the strangest part was that Katsuki and Izuku behaved just like those 13 unpleasent years had never happened. They were back to wrestling, playful arguing, all of it.
They were classic Katsuki and Izuku.
In the living room they sat on the couch, huddled close to each other in front of Katsuki’s old 3DS.
“Are you stupid or somethin’? Obviously the best option is a café date,” Katsuki argued, reaching for the device that was being held away from him by Izuku.
“Kacchan, literally all of your Miis are divorced or single. Clearly your game strategy for Tomodachi Life sucks,” Izuku says, selecting the Beach option.
“Fuck you!” He pushes Izuku beneath him, putting his knees on both of Izuku’s arms. Unnoticed, Izuku turns tomato red. Katsuki snatches the 3DS out of Izuku’s grubby mitts and moves back to his spot, and the confession is already happening.
“My love for you is deeper than the ocean,” says All Might holding a cheeseburger to Queen Elizabeth. “Will you be my beautiful mermaid?”
Queen Eliabeth pauses before saying “I’m sorry…”
“Fuck! I told you so, you stupid nerd,” Katsuki exclaims, still not noticing Izuku beside him, still red, with his hands covering his face.
--
2
Katsuki’s hand intertwined with his Izuku’s, swirling together into one. Katsuki’s hand was warm and sweaty, yet fit perfectly into Izuku’s. He smiled up at Katsuki with a big toothy grin.
“I’ve missed holding your hand, Kacchan,” Izuku said, peering at Katsuki from under his bangs. “Even though we’ve done this before, it feels like it’s happening for the first time.”
The grip on Izuku’s hand tightened, then relaxed again. “Yeah. Stop bein’ sappy like that, nerd,” Katsuki said, eyes firmly stuck on the pebble path in front of them, a little pink on his complexion. Izuku chuckled, swinging their hands back and forth between them.
“Well, you could stand to be more sappy yourself, Kacchan,” he laughed as Katsuki shoulder checked him. Even when Izuku stumbled sideways from the action, Katsuki kept a firm grasp on Izuku’s hand.
He was never letting go of it again.
--
3
Katsuki slams the door to Izuku’s apartment, starling Izuku off the couch. Seeing Katsuki, he slumps back down. “Could you please not slam my door? A hello would work too, you know.”
Huffing, Katsuki plops himself down next to Izuku. Rolling his eyes he spits “hey,” before swallowing and opening his mouth again. “Kirishima and I fought. Again.”
Turning off the TV that was playing a retro All Might movie, Izuku turns his full attention to Katsuki. Izuku knew that he and Kirishima had been fighting lately, even though Katsuki wouldn’t say what exactly they were fighting about. It bugged Izuku to think that Katsuki felt like he had to keep things from him.
“Was it… about the same thing as last time?” Izuku plays with his soft blue shirt between his fingers. “You can talk to me, you know. I’m always here for you, Kacchan.”
Katsuki lets out a sigh looking over to Izuku. “I know. I’m just…” Katsuki trails off, glancing away from Izuku again. He runs a frustrated hand down his perfect face before relenting, “I wish he’d just leave me alone about it. It’s my choice, not his. But I came here to distract myself, not get hung up on the fight.”
Understanding that both Kirishima and Katsuki needed to cool off, Izuku nods his head in understanding. “So, what do you wanna do?”
When Katsuki doesn’t give any suggestions, Izuku says, “we could keep watching that movie I had on?” Katsuki gives a quick nod in approval. Cracking a little smile, he turns to get the remote and puts the TV back on.
/\/\
After about 30 minutes of the movie playing, Katsuki feels something fall into his shoulder, then slide down into his lap. Looking down, he sees Izuku passed out cold with drool on his face. He brushes his hands through Izuku’s hair, counting all the freckles he would never admit to adoring.
At the slight touch, Izuku curls into Katsuki more. And all at once it hits Katsuki. The way Izuku's eyelashes brush against his cheeks, that one freckle just under his bottom lip, and the way his eyes shine when he talks about something he likes. Years of love and adoration pour into him, creating a dull ache in his heart.
Katsuki wonders why in the fresh hell he would ever fall in love with this perpetually caring nerd. Closing his eyes, he sinks into the couch.
--
4
Izuku was lost. He was drowning in himself.
Until Katsuki uttered the words, “I’m sorry for everything I’ve done up until now.”
Life poured back into Izuku, knocking him off his feet.
Katsuki was sorry. Katsuki cared about Izuku enough to apologize.
/\/\
“And that includes you, De- Izuku!”
Izuku’s heart swelled again, and he wasn’t so sure he could take all of this care from Katsuki anymore. “Deku is fine. You don’t have to force yourself, Kacchan.”
Bristiling, Katsuki yells, “I’m not forcing myself!” He splashes Izuku with more water from the bath.
Izuku was finally home.
--
Izuku shoves his and Katsuki’s suitcases into the overhead storage compartment. The plane was fairly quiet in business where they were seated. Even though they were heroes, they still tried to save money when they could.
Katsuki sat down in the window seat without a word. Izuku didn’t bother to comment on his gruffness.
Everything was going smoothly, all things considered, until the plane started moving down the runway. Katsuki gripped the arm rest, turning his knuckles white. Noticing the change in his mood, Izuku peels his hand off it and slides Katsuki’s into his own.
It was warmer and more sweaty than usual.
Izuku gave it a light squeeze and traced his thumb over Katsuki’s knuckles in an attempt to be soothing.
“You know, statistically, this plane ride is going to be okay? We’re safe,” Izuku assures him with a smile in his voice.
“Statistically, fuck planes,” Katsuki chokes out, earning a laugh from Izuku.
/\/\
Izuku wakes up to a lot of pressure in his left hand, so much it hurts. Opening his eyes blearily, he turns to see Katsuki and a sky blue window behind him. Katsuki looks constipated, with a drop of sweat trickling down his temple. Izuku reaches to his cheek and wipes it off, startling Katsuki.
“What’s wrong?” Izuku keeps his hand by Katsuki’s cheek, searching his eyes for an answer. Coughing, Katsuki pulls his face away from Izuku’s scarred palm.
“Just a little turbulence.”
“Oh,” says Izuku, resting his head on Katsuki’s shoulder. Katsuki drops his shoulders, relaxing into the touch. He sighs, resting his head on top of Izuku’s.
“Sorry to wake ya,” Katsuki mumbles, casting his eyes downwards. Izuku is asleep again. Katsuki slumps against the seat to make himself more comfortable, being sure to not wake Izuku again.
That warm, yet dull ache filled his chest again.
--
6
Katsuki messed up. He didn’t even understand how he could fuck this up, of all things. So he runs out of the Midoriya household, down until he sees a familiar park, and makes a left.
A left to where that hand reached out for him.
/\/\
Standing in the middle of his mother’s kitchen, Izuku stares at where Katsuki had just been, confessing to him. Izuku, of all people.
His knees give out beneath him, the white plates falling to the floor. Hearing a crash, his mother comes running. “Izuku?! Are you okay?”
He brings his hands up to hold his head.
Izuku was so excited. He loved having Katsuki over for dinner with him and his mom, feeling like a domestic little family. Now that they had long since graduated, coming home was a rarity with all of their hero duties. Katsuki’s parents were on a work trip, and not able to come, so they were planning to meet again soon.
The doorbell rang, sending Izuku scrambling to answer it. Right before he opens the door, he runs to the bathroom to make sure he looks okay. In the mirror, his hair was messy, like it always was. He combed his hands through it, trying desperately to look presentable.
Having no luck, he huffs in aggravation, and straightens out his shirt that says thrifty. He exits the bathroom finally, going to open the door. Pulling it open, he sees a very casual Katsuki. Suddenly feeling like he’s trying too hard, he clears his throat and moves so Katsuki can enter.
“What’re we havin’?” Katsuki slips off his shoes, setting them neatly down on the mat. When he hears no response, he looks up to Izuku with question in his eyes.
“Oh! Um, it’s katsudon.”
“‘Course it is,” Katsuki comments, letting one of his genuine smiles slip. Izuku’s heart stutters and reboots back to life much faster than it was before.
“We were just setting up,” Izuku starts, “and we could use some help—”
“...Love you.”
It was almost a whisper, but Izuku heard it, loud and clear. His head swivels so hard it nearly falls off his neck.
“Wha-”
“I’m in love with you.”
Swallowing, Izuku just stares into Katsuki’s red eyes. Just stares and stares and stares and doesn’t even have time to process that katsuki is gone.
/\/\
Sitting in the damp grass next to an all-too-familiar creek, Katsuki feels stupid fat tears slide down his face. What was he doing at 25, crying like a baby? Moping after a rejection. Dumbass. Kirishima was an idiot. He shouldn’t have ever confessed to Izuku.
His head snaps up at the sound of a crunch from somewhere to his right. He sees Izuku, caring and brave Izuku, running at him.
“Kacchan!” Izuku runs into a tackle. Katsuki is pushed against the grass with an “oof,” feeling arms wrap around his waist and a wetness growing on his shoulder. “Wha- Why’d you run away you idiot?”
Frozen from shock, Katsuki chokes out, “Why’d y’follow me?”
An aggravated groan comes up from his chest, where Izuku is pushing himself off, now irritated. “Because I love you back, Kacchan? Why the hell else?!”
In the middle of pushing himself up, Katsuki pauses on his elbows. “You… love me?”
“Yes! Since forever, Kacchan!” Katsuki stared into Izuku’s forest green eyes, wide and angry, but so, so, so beautiful. He loved Izuku’s eyes.
Katsuki grabs Izuku’s shirt, pulling him into a deep kiss. It was hesitant at first, growing confident as they continued. Izuku cards his hands through Katsukis blonde hair, pulling them even closer. Katsuki lets out a moan when Izuku pulls his hair by accident trying to get a better grip.
As Katsuki’s mouth opened, Izuku slipped in his tongue, feeling a heat pool in his stomach. They broke apart to breathe, yet left their bodies entangled. After Katsuki felt slightly less winded, he moved in close again to place a softer, more tentative kiss to Izuku’s chapped lips. They fell to the ground, with Katsuki practically laying over Izuku.
Pulling away for a second time, they made eye contact briefly. Humor danced across Izuku’s eyes before he broke into a full laugh, Katsuki joining him. Katsuki rolled off Izuku, grabbing his hand as he went. Neither of them moved from their place. They looked up at the night sky, vastly blue and glorious.
Izuku turned his head to look at Katsuki, mapping his face. His sharp jaw, perpetual cockiness, ruby red eyes that glowed when in the right light. “I can’t believe it took us this long.”
Katsuki turned to him, then looked back up at the sky. “Yeah. Kirishima had been buggin’ me about confessin’ for a while.”
“Wait,” Izuku gasped, sitting up. “ That’s what you guys have been fighting about?”
Katuki just gave a curt nod in response. A grin spread slowly across his face.
“He’s totally gonna say he told you so, Kacchan.”
“I know. I had it comin.”
Pressing a chaste kiss to Katukis lips, Izuku let go of his hand and started to stand. “Mom’s gonna be worried we both disappeared,” said Izuku, dusting off his pants.
Katsuki was about to stand, then saw a hand outstretched to him. A scarred freckled hand. Katsuki took it, not knowing why he didn’t accept it in the first place.