Chapter Text
Izuku snuck back into the dorms when he was sure everyone was asleep. He didn't want to see or speak to anyone after he stormed out the way he did. Luckily by the time he finished his walk, the dorms were silent of any noise from its other residents.
Izuku took the elevator up, as he walked towards his door, he frowned at the multiple post-its notes crowding it. Izuku plucked the first one he saw:
“ I'm sorry for being pushy, midobro. I'll remember to hold back next time but ur my bro and I love you.” — from ur best bro Ei
Izuku sighed, picking up all the notes from his door before he walked into his room. He sat at his desk and laid them all out. He had gotten a note from everyone who was in the common room when he lashed out. Guilt clawed at Izuku’s chest, he should've just talked to them earlier in the week. It's Izuku’s fault for letting it go for so long that he was ready to explode.
The next note was from Ochako, “ Can we talk? I'll wait for you when you're ready. I'm really sorry Izuku. I love you. ”
Izuku groaned into his hands. He was finding it a little too easy to forgive them, Izuku knows he has every right to stay mad at them, but he honestly didn't want to waste any of the time he had. He wanted to enjoy his time with his friends and make memories that he would never forget.
Izuku doesn't want to be angry anymore. He doesn't want to be scared and helpless anymore. Izuku wanted to spend his time doing more positive things. He wants to complete his bucket list, go skydiving or eat s’mores.
Izuku grabs his notebook: Hero analysis 105, He flipped through the book until he found a clean, blank page. Then he lined up all the little notes until they filled both sides of the open pages. He was almost through with this book after writing in it everyday for the past three months.
Tomorrow was a new day. Izuku could be better tomorrow.
When his alarm started blaring in the morning, a knock on his door echoed at the same time.
“Open up, asshole! We’re goin’ on a adventure.”
Izuku startled at the sudden pounding on his door. The covers twisted in between his legs as he scrambled up. He walked over to the door and opened it, Katsuki looked him up and down before he stormed past him into Izuku’s room.
“Oh, sure, Kacchan. You can come in.” Izuku sighed as he closed the door. Katsuki stood in the middle of Izuku’s room dressed head to toe in hiking gear, camouflage green cargo pants paired with the tightest fitted black shirt he probably owned. He dropped a full looking bookbag from his back onto Izuku’s bed and stared at Izuku.
Izuku blinked, frowning at Katsuki, “Going somewhere?”
Katsuki looked around the room, clicking his tongue as he started digging through Izuku’s clothes. “We’re going out.”
Izuku rubbed his eyes with a mutter, “Why me?” Izuku tilted his head up to the ceiling for a moment before he turned back to look at Katsuki, “I'm not going anywhere.”
Katsuki laughed, throwing a shirt at Izuku. “That's cute. Get changed, we’re going on an adventure.”
Izuku fumbled around when the shirt smacked his face, “Kacchan!” Izuku huffed a breath as he held onto the shirt in a tight grip, “I’m serious. I'm not going.”
Katsuki stared at Izuku with a serious expression for a moment before sighing, “Look, you need a break from everything and I'm here to give it to you.” Katsuki walked over to Izuku, handing him a matching pair of cargos. “Get dressed, I'll show you something worthwhile.”
Izuku stared at Katsuki, holding the clothes in his arms. Katsuki crossed his arms over his chest, raising a brow at Izuku. It went on for a moment until Izuku blinked first. “Where are we going?” Katsuki grinned widely, shoving Izuku into the bathroom. “To the highest cliff we can find.”
“ What?! ”
This so-called adventure started with a two hour train ride, before they had to switch over to the local bus, and then walk another half an hour. Just as Izuku was losing his patience—and breath, he noticed the forest they were approaching and a lone trail leading into the trees. They passed a sign that said: Hatonosu Gorge .
“We’re going hiking?” Izuku stopped by the entrance, staring into the trees as they curve into each other, the leaves were a beautiful arrangement of autumn colors.
“It's on your bucket list, right?” Katsuki walked ahead of Izuku onto the trail. Izuku almost tripped over a rock at the entrance, straightening himself as he walked behind, “You remembered?”
Katsuki scoffed, “You thought I would forget anything that easily?” He turned to hand something over to Izuku. Izuku's eyes locked onto his camera that he kept on his bookshelf, “You brought my camera?”
“You wanted to take more pictures, remember? Capturing memories or some shit.”
Izuku grabbed the camera, placing the strap around his neck, “I just didn't think it was really that memorable.”
“I remember everything.” Katsuki commented lightly as steered them to the left, off the trail. Izuku looked back at the easy looking path as he followed Katsuki, “Are we supposed to be going this way?”
“That way is boring, plus, this is a shortcut.” Katsuki ducked under a low hanging branch, walking around the trees. He climbed up a rock, lowering a hand to pull Izuku up behind him. Izuku hesitated, “Have you gone this way before?”
Katsuki grinned at Izuku, it was a dangerous expression on his face. Izuku’s heart stuttered, skipping a few beats at the sight. “What’s the point of going on an adventure if you know where you'll end up?”
Izuku looked up at Katsuki, mentally debating in his head before he just decided fuck it . He could never say no to Katsuki in the past, what made this time any different? Izuku reached up to grab Katsuki’s hand, pulling himself up.
They walked for ten minutes, the trees slowly growing thicker around them, the further they travelled into the forest. Izuku had paused a few times behind Katsuki when sometime caught his eye, he ran his hands along the bark of the trees, stopping to take pictures when he spotted a uniquely shaped rock or a particularly pretty flower.
“Look at this one!” Izuku crouched next to a fallen tree, where a single flower grew on the trunk of the tree. The sun was peeking through the trees just right, showering the flower in the soft glow of the morning sun like its own little spotlight. It was a bright purple around the edges before fading into a pearly white in its center. He lifted his camera around his neck and snapped a few pictures, “I wonder why only one grew.”
Katsuki stood beside Izuku, “Survival of the fittest. It was the only one able to survive in the most unlikely place, all the other ones probably just couldn't handle it and found an easier place to grow.” Katsuki pointed to the tree standing tall next to the fallen one, the same flowers surrounded the base in a neverending field of purple.
“It must be hard. Surviving alone while everyone else watches on.” Izuku sighed at the flower as he stood up.
“It's not alone.”
Izuku frowned at Katsuki, “What do you mean?”
“It still has the sun.” Katsuki walked up to the flower, bending down until he was eye level with it. “It's in the perfect place to get sunlight. The other ones are being shaded by the trees, while this one was the only one to search elsewhere. It's still vibrant and healthy.”
Izuku looked at the flower, tilting his head as he thought about Katsuki’s words, vibrant and healthy. He aimed his camera towards Katsuki, snapping a picture of him, his face calmly looking at the flower, one hand reaching out to brush against the purple petals. Katsuki let his hand fall away from the flower as he slapped his hands over his thighs and he stood up, “Lets go. I heard water coming from this direction.”
Izuku gave it one last look before he walked behind Katsuki as he led them away from the lone flower. Their shoes crushed the fallen leaves as they walked between trees, dodging low branches and jumping over overgrown roots peeking up from the forest floor. Izuku could just barely hear the sound of running water as they walked uphill through a steep incline.
Izuku held onto one of the trees nearest to him as he lost his breath. They've been walking for a while by this point, and Izuku was quickly losing any stamina he woke up with this morning. Katsuki stopped walking when he noticed a missing set of footsteps. “You good?”
Izuku held a hand to his chest as he nodded, “Yeah, fine. Just out of breath.”
Katsuki slides the bag he's been carrying this whole time off his back, digging through it for a moment before producing a metal water bottle, twisting the cap open and handing it over, “Here, drink this.” Izuku quietly thanked him before taking a sip.
He choked on the ice cold liquid, “Why do you have a bag?” Izuku asked as Katsuki swung the bag over his shoulder. Katsuki raised his eyebrow, “What kind of fucking idiot goes hiking without a pack?”
Izuku frowned, “I don't have a pack.”
Katsuki waved his hand at Izuku and started to walk again, “That's because you don't need one, I have everything you could need in mine.”
Izuku paused in his steps, that was actually kind of nice of Katsuki to do. Izuku picked up the pace to catch up, “I didn't know you came so prepared.”
“I’m always fucking prepared, Izuku.” Katsuki scoffed over his shoulder. They walked down a steep hill as the sound of rushing water became louder. Izuku stumbled over some twigs on the floor as he gasped at the sight in front of him, “Oh, wow.”
They stopped just at the base of a large river, rocks poked out from the stream almost glistening from the sun hitting the water. The waterfall flowed down from the top of a cliff, cascading down a rocky ledge and into the pool below. The sound echoed through the trees, but standing directly in front of it made it sound like a powerful roar as the water splashed into a flowing river.
Izuku craned his neck to stare up to the top of the waterfall. He’s never seen something as breathtaking as this. It was a different kind of beauty, it was fast and dangerous, standing tall as it invited everyone to step closer and watch. The river below flowed viciously, reminding Izuku that taking that step closer would cause the current to sweep him away.
“This is amazing!” Izuku exclaimed excitedly as he turned to Katsuki. Izuku felt giddy as he picked up his camera and took a picture of the waterfall. He looked down at the device, looking at the image of the rushing water frozen in time. He could see the way the sun was shining, creating the after image of a rainbow.
“Kacchan, look at this picture!” Izuku turned the camera over to show him. Izuku looked over to Katsuki as he smiled down at the image.
That genuine smile that softens his whole face as his eyes crease up. A smile Izuku hasn’t really been able to get out of him since they were little kids and playing heroes and villains. The same one Katsuki gave him on the day of the amusement park when he snapped that photo.
Izuku was mesmerized by the sight. His eyes widened when Katsuki turned that smile to him, “That’s a good picture, nerd.” Katsuki pointed at the camera, “You can even see a rainbow.”
Katsuki looked back at the waterfall, walking down the slope of rocks to run his fingers through the passing currents. He just smiled at Izuku and walked away like he didn’t just cause Izuku’s heart to stutter and start beating into overdrive. Izuku placed a hand over his chest as the weirdest thought he hasn’t really had since he was a child came to mind.
Katsuki was absolutely gorgeous when he smiled.
Izuku’s face went red at the thought. He tries to think back to when he first realized this, and finds that it’s been a while. Maybe since the beginning. Katsuki had always been the prettiest person around growing up, it’s no surprise that Izuku found him pretty. Surely everyone else did as well.
He needed to calm down, it was just a smile at a picture. It wasn’t something for him to get worked up about at all. In fact, Katsuki was even eyeing Izuku from next to the river as he just stood there dumbly holding his hands over his heart with his face bright red.
He didn’t want to think what that skip of beat meant. It actually can’t mean anything because meaning anything would be messed up. It would be cruel for it to mean anything in the current situation.
It meant nothing at all to Izuku.
“Izuku, come look at this.” Katsuki waved Izuku over to where he was crouched.
Izuku just needed to get his head back into the game, no more unnecessary thoughts. “Coming, Kacchan!”
Katsuki was leading them up a hill, they had to stop for rest breaks at Katsuki’s demand. Not that Izuku particularly minded, he needed the rest.
Katsuki helped Izuku over a rock before he spread his arms out once Izuku was next to him, in front of Katsuki was the most electrifying view Izuku’s ever seen—and he just saw a waterfall for the first time.
“Well? What do you think about the view from the top?” Katsuki turned back to Izuku with a wide grin, it was different from before. It was a wild grin he had when he’s showing something off.
“Kacchan, I have no words other than it’s gorgeous.” Izuku walked past Katsuki towards the edge of the cliff. There was a tree by the tip of the cliff, full of life and colors. Leaves flowed down as the wind blew through it, Izuku reached his hand up to pluck a leaf from the air next to him.
Izuku turned around showing Katsuki the leaf, “I didn’t know hiking could be like this.”
Katsuki's face twisted into a weird expression, nothing malicious or cocky. It was more gentle looking, his face fully relaxed and his eyes softened. “Yeah.”
Izuku blinked his eyes at the look. He had no idea what it meant and Izuku was too scared to ask. Instead, Izuku turned back to the view behind him. Just beyond the cliff, there was the top of a forest that went on for miles. They had almost a bird’s eye view from how high up they were.
Izuku heard Katsuki’s shoes crunch on the leaves as he walked over. Izuku clutched his hand over the orange leaf in his hands, “It really is pretty up here.”
“Yeah, it is. The best view in the whole forest.” Katsuki stated simply as he took off his pack and sat along the edge of the cliff. His legs swung off the ledge carelessly.
“Kacchan! Don’t sit there, what if you fell? Or the cliff suddenly breaks off?” Izuku stressed out.
“Oh, relax. If anything happened I’d just use my quirk to get back up.” Katsuki patted the spot next to him, “Come.”
Izuku took a step forward, leaning his head just slightly over the ledge before quickly retreating. The drop down to the bottom was way too much for Izuku to feel comfortable sitting there. “I think I'm good.”
“Don’t be a baby! Come take a seat, I'll grab you if you fall.” Katsuki rolled his eyes.
“You won’t push me, right?” Izuku eyed the edge nervously.
“Only if you piss me off.”
“Kacchan!”
Katsuki rolled his eyes harder, Izuku could feel the attitude in the air. “I won’t push you. Just come sit.”
Izuku crouched down from where he was, crawling along the floor until he could just barely see the ground below. Calling that far enough, Izuku crossed his legs and sat just a smidge behind Katsuki, who looked over at his movement with a raised brow, “Really? I said I wouldn’t push you.”
“I don’t trust you, remember that time you said you wouldn’t push me off the log and then pushed me anyways?”
Katsuki clicked his teeth, “You were crying in the middle of the way!” He shrugged his shoulders, “You were fine anyways.”
“I fell into the river! I walked home soaked because of you!” Izuku exclaimed.
“You were probably hot anyway. Who doesn’t like a cool walk under the heat?
Izuku's face scrunched up, “It was night. I walked home in the dark freezing cold, soaking wet because you ran home with the only flashlight.”
Katsuki winced, “Oh. Yeah, I was an asshole.”
“I could think of a few more words.”
Katsuki stayed silent for a moment and Izuku sighed, regretting bringing that up. He didn’t mean to bring down the mood, it’s not like Katsuki was that person anymore.
“I’m sorry.”
Izuku turned to look at Katsuki in surprise, “Huh?”
“For how I acted, as a kid I was unreasonably cruel to you.” Katsuki kept his eyes on the horizon as he spoke, refusing to look anywhere else. “I’m sorry I was such a dick.”
Izuku didn’t respond right away, he pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He laid his head against his knees as he looked at Katsuki. The words came out easily, “I forgive you.”
Katsuki turned back to Izuku, his face was full of clear guilt towards his past self, “Why? Why would you forgive me? I even told you to fucking—“ He cut himself off, his face pale.
“Because, you're you. Because, I don’t think I could ever truly hate you and I know you never truly hated me. Because, you apologized and meant it. Because, I know you think nothing you do will ever make up for the past, but you're wrong. Your actions make up for every mean word you’ve ever said.” Izuku took a deep breath, “I forgive you because I can see you’ve changed and the person you have become deserves forgiveness.” Izuku finishes off.
Katsuki stares at Izuku without saying anything back. He just stares, eyes searching Izuku’s face like he’s looking for a lie, not that he would ever find one. “I forgive you, Kacchan. I always will.”
That’s the truth. At the end of the day, no matter how mad or disappointed Izuku could be, it was hard to not forgive Katsuki. Whether it was because Izuku was too forgiving by nature, or because this was just Kacchan, Izuku just couldn’t do it. It was like he wasn’t made to ever hate him.
Izuku didn’t know if he could ever reach that level of hate for him. He didn’t want to find out. Katsuki was the only constant in Izuku’s life, his symbol of strength and victory. Izuku needed him.
Izuku needed him like he needed the air in his lungs, he doesn’t know who he would be without Katsuki. Doesn’t even want to think about a life without him in it. Katsuki meant everything to who Izuku is as a person, of fucking course Izuku forgives him.
“You shouldn't.” Katsuki finally spoke.
“Why not?”
Katsuki turned away. Izuku moved up, uncrossing his legs and sitting at the edge of the cliff. Izuku looked at the horizon in front of them, kicking his legs out over the open air beneath them. “I think,” Izuku started before turning to look at Katsuki, “You don't get to tell me whether I should forgive you or not.”
Katsuki looked over and Izuku continued, “I think it's not up to you. It's my choice, not yours, and I choose forgiveness not only for you but for me.”
Izuku gave Katsuki a smile, “You don't have to accept it, but don't tell me I can't forgive you when I already have.”
Katsuki sighed, looking away from Izuku as he leaned back against the grass, he stared at the sky as he spoke, “You're an idiot. You're too forgiving.”
“Maybe, but I couldn't live my life any other way.” Izuku followed Katsuki’s lead and laid back, staring up at the passing clouds before pointing one out, “Doesn't that look like a bunny?”
“Where?” Katsuki tilted his head to look at where Izuku was pointing. “Just over there, I can see the ears.”
Katsuki laughed, “It looked like that damn mask you wear.”
Izuku was aghast, “It does not! My mask looks nothing like bunny ears!”
“Oh, my bad. I forgot they were supposed to be All Might’s hair.”
Izuku's face felt hot, “Shut up!” He sat up on his elbows to look over at Katsuki, “I'm not the one who’s hero name takes after him, Dyna-might!”
Katsuki ears went red, “Shut the fuck up!”
After some time Izuku found himself moving through the trees, gathering little twigs at Katsuki’s request. Once he had a good handful he walked back over to the clearing by the cliff where Katsuki was pulling items out of his pack. “What are you going to do?” Izuku asked as he set the sticks down.
Katsuki left his pack to move the sticks around on the floor, “Don't you remember your own list?”
Izuku tilted his head as he watched Katsuki’s hands spark up just enough for the small pops to catch on one of the sticks and start a fire. Izuku watched as the fire slowly started to spread across the wood, “That reminds me of the camping trip.”
Katsuki looked over at Izuku in disbelief, “When I got kidnapped?”
Izuku's eyes widened at the reminder and he burst out laughing, “Not that part, before then.”
Katsuki’s lips twitched as he shook his head, “I can't believe you.”
“Stop!” Izuku held his hands out, “I didn't mean the bad parts! We had some good times before it went bad.”
Katsuki grabbed a stick from the pile and started poking at the burning wood, “True, it wasn't all shit just most of it was shit.”
“I just mean,” Izuku waved his hand out at the fire, “You tried to light a fire once when we were cooking our food and it didn't go as smoothly as now.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Katsuki waved the burning stick in his hand at Izuku before pointing out to his pack, “Grab the ziplock bag would you.”
Izuku walked over to the pack, picking up the ziplock sitting on top filled with food. The one thing Izuku could really make out was the pack of marshmallows on top of everything. Izuku walked over to Katsuki, sitting down next to him and handing the ziplock over. “It's kind of early in the day for a fire, isn't it?”
Katsuki snatched the bag, “It's kinda late in your life to be this dumb, isn't it?”
“It's only two in the afternoon!”
Katsuki opened up the bag and pulled out the marshmallows, “Read the room, Izuku. Why would I start a fire and then pull out this shit.” Katsuki waved the bag in Izuku's face.
Izuku watched Katsuki pull out chocolate and a pack of graham crackers before it finally clicked in his head, “S’mores! We're making s’mores!” Izuku ripped the crackers from Katsuki's hand, “I've always wanted to try a s’more!”
“That's just sad, no one should not know what a s’more tastes like.” Katsuki grabbed the crackers back, opening the pack. “Also, don't yank shit from me.”
Izuku watched as Katsuki opened the marshmallow bag and stuck a piece onto the end of a stick, “I thought I could just make some in the dorms.”
Katsuki handed the stick over to Izuku, “If you want s’mores, you gotta do them right. Outside, over an open fire— it's the only way.”
Izuku grabbed the stick, twirling it around in his hand before he placed it over the fire. Katsuki poked another marshmallow into his own stick as he spoke, “Just be careful that you don't burn it.”
Izuku nodded as he twirled the marshmallow around, watching all the sides turn black before he pulled it out. The whole marshmallow came out on fire, Izuku blew it out in a panic before turning to Katsuki, “I think I burnt it.”
Katsuki looked up from his stick and sighed at the black marshmallow at the tip of Izuku’s stick. “I don't know why I trusted you with anything related to fire.” Katsuki pulled the stick from Izuku’s hand and set it down to the side before grabbing his own. “Watch, place your hand here.” Katsuki grabbed Izuku’s hand, placing the stick in his grip before he moved Izuku’s hand to hover the marshmallow over the edge of the fire. “You have to twirl the stick constantly so nothing gets burned.”
Katsuki moved the stick around in Izuku's hold, twirling it around until all the sides of the marshmallow were lightly browned and slightly gooey looking. Izuku felt Katsuki tug on the stick and he pulled it out of the fire.
Katsuki let go of the stick as he reached for a graham cracker, placing a chunk of chocolate on the cracker before he held it over to Izuku. Izuku rested the marshmallow over the chocolate and watched as Katsuki slid the melted marshmallow off before placing another cracker on top. “Here, try it.”
Izuku grabbed the sandwiched treat, taking a bite and immediately humming in delight as he chewed, “Kacchan! This is amazing!”
Katsuki made a sour face as bits of crackers flew from Izuku’s mouth, “Finish chewing before you start praising, fucking hell.” Katsuki grabbed another marshmallow, sticking onto the same stick before he stuck it into the fire.
Izuku stuffed the rest of the treat into his mouth, slapping his hands to get rid of any crumbs, “I like it here.”
Katsuki twirled the stick as he hummed, “What do ya mean?”
Izuku leaned back onto his hands as he watched the fire crackle in front of them, “The atmosphere here. It's so peaceful.” Izuku looked over at Katsuki, tilting his head, “Why did you bring me out here?”
Katsuki pulled the stick out of the fire, sliding the marshmallow off and placing it on his own graham cracker sandwich, “It was on your bucket list.”
“That's not what I mean. You said I needed a break from everything this morning, so why today?”
The marshmallow stuck to Katsuki fingers as he handled his treat. He sucked on the side of his thumb before he sighed, dropping his hand and looking over at Izuku, “I heard about what happened yesterday.”
Izuku nodded his head as he looked away from Katsuki, “So you heard all the yelling?”
“Ei told me actually. After you left the dorms, he wanted me to go after you.”
Izuku picked up a loose rock from the grass, “Why didn't you?”
“I did.”
Izuku looked over to Katsuki as he continued, “I saw you with Aizawa and thought he had it handled.”
“Oh.” Izuku frowned. He wasn't sure how he felt about that but something in his chest squeezed tightly at the thought. “That makes sense.”
Katsuki stayed quiet for a moment before he spoke up again, “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Izuku looked away with a sigh. He played with the rock in his hands, “Everyone is acting different, I knew it would happen but that still doesn't make it any easier to deal with.”
Katsuki didn't say anything in response. Izuku didn't bother looking over to see what his face was saying as he went on, “I just wish everything would stay the same. Nothing really changed, I'm still the same.”
“Would you rather they didn't care?” Katsuki finally asked.
“What?” Izuku's face scrunched up as he looked over to Katsuki. He had a blank expression on his face as he stared at the s’more in his hand. “I said, would you rather they not give a shit? What if they learned you had cancer and didn't even care to say that sucks?”
Izuku paused as he took in the question. It would actually make everything worse. If not even his own friends care enough to hear that Izuku’s sick and show some sympathy, then who would? “No. I wouldn't want that at all.”
Katsuki hummed as he took a bite from his s’more, “That's what I thought.”
Izuku didn't like when Katsuki did that. Making something that seemed so complicated to Izuku sounds so simple. “Don't talk with your mouth full.”
Katsuki glared at Izuku, swiping his hand out to land a hit that Izuku saw coming a mile away. Izuku moved away to dodge the hand before it could touch him. “Fucking smart ass.” Katsuki grumbled.
Izuku’s lips broke into a smile as Katsuki shoved the rest of the s’more into his mouth before flicking Izuku off. Izuku grabbed the stick Katsuki left, shoving another marshmallow onto it before he stuck it in the fire, “Second time's a charm?”
They had to go back home eventually, Izuku sighed as he watched Katsuki pack up his stuff. He's really gonna miss this place. Katsuki huffed as he swung the bag onto his back before turning to Izuku, “You ready?”
Izuku nodded, “I wish we could've stayed longer.”
Katsuki frowned down at his phone, “It's already past five. We should head out before the sun starts to set. We can come back some other time.”
Izuku gave the view behind him a sad smile. He doesn't know if he'll ever see this again. “Sure, we can just come back later.”
“Come on, we have a long walk down.”
Izuku sighed before he turned around to follow Katsuki back down the mountain. It didn't take long at all for the trees to consume them once again, hiding that cliff and its view behind a blur of green.
By the time they made it down the mountain, it was closer to six. Izuku was exhausted from the walk down to the point where his legs were shaking just standing next to Katsuki as they waited for the bus. The air was cooler now the later they got into the day, but that didn't stop Izuku from sweating like he ran twenty miles.
Katsuki glanced at Izuku’s flush face, placing the back of his hand over Izuku’s cheek, “Do you want to sit?”
Izuku shook his head, “I'm fine, there's no benches here anyways. How far is the bus again?”
Katsuki looked down at his phone, “About ten minutes. It says it's delayed.”
Izuku swallowed loudly, “And then we get on the train after?”
Katsuki frowned.
Izuku waved his hand, “It's okay. I can make it.”
Katsuki shrugged off the straps of his pack, digging into one of the smaller pockets and pulling out a melted ice pack. He placed it on the side of Izuku’s neck, making him wince at the chill before he sighed in relief. “Why do you have this?”
Katsuki closed the bag and left it on the floor, “It was for the chocolate. I didn't want it to melt before we reached the top.” Katsuki patted the pack on the floor, “Sit. I don't want to carry your ass the rest of the way if you collapse.”
“I won't—” Izuku started to protest.
“Sit.” Katsuki demanded.
Izuku sat down on the pack. “Bossy.” He muttered as he moved around to find a comfortable spot. The bag crunched under Izuku and he froze in place, “I think something broke.”
Katsuki waved his concerns away, “Probably was the crackers. I don't need them anymore, it’s fine.” He raised his hand to block the sun from his eyes as he watched the road for the bus. Izuku fiddled with his camera, lifting it up to snap a quick picture of him.
Katsuki blinked at the sound of the click, turning to look at Izuku, “Did you just take my picture?”
Izuku lowered the camera, raising his hand to cover the sun from the screen as he looked at the photo, “Yeah. It came out nice.”
“Your camera is probably full of me at this point you fucking stalker.” Katsuki grinned at Izuku as he came closer, crouching down just next to him to peek over at the image.
Izuku rolled his eyes, looking over to Katsuki with a teasing smile, “It’s not my fault you have a photographic face.”
Katsuki shrugged as Izuku flicked through his camera, “I’m just good like that, even my face is the best around.”
Izuku perked up, “We should take a picture to commemorate the moment.” Izuku pressed the back button and flicked the side screen up to put the camera in selfie mode.
“I think I’ve had my photo taken enough times today.” Katsuki grimaces at his own reflection in the camera, bringing his hand up to cover the lens.
Izuku slapped his hand away as he raised the camera up, “Stop, don’t be like that. We barely have any photos together that's not from when we were kids.”
Katsuki grumbled as he scooted closer to Izuku, “Guilt tripping is a toxic trait.”
Izuku laughed.
“Just bring your face closer so I can get this picture.” Izuku tilted his head closer to Katsuki’s, holding the camera steady.
Katsuki made a sour face the second Izuku pressed the button. Izuku turned to him, “Stop doing that with your face.”
“I’m just posing for the camera.” Katsuki steady himself in his crouch before waving his hand at the camera. “Do it again, I got a better one.”
Izuku hesitated for a second but raised the camera up to face them again. Katsuki calmed his face looking at the camera and Izuku tried to press the button quickly. In a split second, Katsuki smirked at the camera before he raised his hand and grabbed Izuku’s cheeks, making his lips purse out into a duck face.
Izuku slapped his hand away, “Kacchan! That was almost a nice one.”
Katsuki laughed, taking the camera away to look at the picture. “I think it’s the best one yet.”
“Can’t we just get one good picture?” Izuku whined. “The bus is gonna come any minute, come back here.”
Katsuki slapped away Izuku’s hands trying to grab the camera. “Fine, come here.” Katsuki pulled Izuku closer to him as he lifted the camera. Izuku could feel Katsuki cheek pressed into his own face as Katsuki snapped a photo.
Katsuki backed away as he looked down, “That one’s okay I guess.” He mumbled as he scrolled through the pictures.
Izuku could still feel the heat of Katsuki's face against his own as Katsuki handed back the camera and stood up. “Bus is here.”
Izuku stared at the camera, the picture still on the screen. Katsuki held his hand in front of Izuku as the wind of the bus blew past them, the vehicle slowing down just in front of the stop.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Izuku turned off his camera, grabbing onto the offered hand and letting Katsuki pull him up. Katsuki swung the pack onto his back, pressing his other hand into Izuku’s back to push him along to the doors of the bus.
Katsuki pulled Izuku to the back of the bus after they swiped their passes, pushing him into a window seat before sitting down next to him. “It’s not that long, only about 20 minutes to the train station.”
“Sounds good.” Izuku sighed as he rested his head against the window. The day's events were really starting to drain him now, he looked out the window watching the trees pass by.
Izuku sighed in relief as he stumbled up the stairs of the dorm building behind Katsuki. Katsuki held the door open for Izuku, he walked in stumbling out of his shoes and threw himself onto the couch.
“Busy day?” Shouto asked as he took a sip from his mug.
“You have no idea.” Izuku mumbled into the cushions of the couch.
Shouto hummed, “It's about to get busier, it seems.”
“What?” Izuku turned his head from face down to look at Shouto, he pointed to right behind Izuku and when Izuku turned all he could do was sigh.
Kirishima, Ochako and a few others were standing around the common rooms, nervously glancing at Izuku from their spots. No one spoke as Izuku took notice of them, Ashido even turned away when Izuku met her eyes to the wall behind her, raising her hand to touch the surface like she was really fascinated with the paint job.
Izuku pressed his lips together as Katsuki walked past the crowd and towards the stairs. Izuku reached out to grab his arm as he walked past, “Wait! Where are you going?”
Katsuki raised a brow, “To my room?”
“You're just gonna leave me here,” Izuku lowered his voice, “With them?”
“You know what you have to do, you don't need me here for moral support.” Katsuki gently pulled his arm away as he continued on his way. “Wait! Kacchan!” Izuku watched Katsuki turn the corner to the stairs and deflated into the couch.
“Izuku…” Ochako started to speak. Izuku raised his hand to stop her, Katsuki was right, he knew what needed to be said and that meant he had to go first.
Izuku stood up to face the group, "I'm sorry for how I reacted yesterday.”
Ochako’s jaw dropped at the same time Ashido turned back around to look at Izuku. He pressed on before anyone could speak. “I feel bad about blowing up at everyone. I understand that you all are just worried and scared. I should've just told you how I felt earlier and avoided the whole outburst.”
“Mido, I'm going to stop you right there.” Kirishima stepped up. “You have no reason to apologize, we were being way too overbearing.”
“Yeah, don't apologize Deku.” Ochako said.
“Plus even if you spoke up about it, we have some dense classmates who need to be yelled at to understand.” Shouto piped up from behind Izuku.
“I resent that statement.” Ashido pointed at Shouto.
Shouto shrugged, “It's true.”
“Moving past that,” Izuku gave Shouto a look to shut up as he spoke. “I still wanted to open up to you guys, I was feeling trapped under all the bubble wrap you guys were applying to me. I hated feeling like you all thought I couldn't do anything myself anymore. I felt so useless.”
“I'm sorry we acted that way,” Ochako walked over, pulling Izuku into a hug. “You're not useless Deku, and I'm sorry we ever made you feel like you were.”
Izuku’s eyes watered as he buried his face into her shoulder, “It's okay.”
“It's not okay,” Ochako said as she rubbed his back, “And it'll never be okay that you felt that way.”
“I'm sorry, Midoriya!” Ashido cried out as she threw herself into the hug, "I'll never act that way again.”
“Me too!” Kirishima crashed into the hug, almost knocking Izuku off his feet.
“Same!”
“Guys?” Izuku called out as he felt more people added to the hug. “Okay, everyone, I forgive you. Please let go?”
“I'm sorry, Deku!”
Izuku threw his hand out to tap on whoever he could reach, “Okay, I get it.” Izuku heard the sound of someone sobbing that he wasn't useless and just sighed. Even if his organs feel like they might decide to pop out, he could give everyone a few more minutes to get all the guilt out of their systems.
Eventually, once he was finally let go and sitting back on the couch, Ashido piped up next to him, “So…”
Izuku glanced over at her, “So?”
“I just wanted to ask something.” She turned to face him on the couch, resting her head in her hands. Izuku tilted his head, confused, “Okay? Go ahead and ask.”
Ashido grinned, “How was your date with Katsuki?”
“Date?!” Izuku's eyes could've popped out of his head. “What date?”
“Oh yeah!” Kirishima poked his head out from behind Ashido, “How was hiking?”
Izuku felt his face redden up, “What? How did you know?”
“He told me.”
Izuku covered his face with his hands, “Oh.”
Ashido nudged his shoulder, “So? How did it go? You guys were out all day.”
“It wasn't a date! It was just hiking!” Izuku exclaimed.
“Two people going somewhere by themselves for an activity and maybe some tension between them and were not calling that a date anymore?” Ashido smiled teasingly at him. Izuku squeaked, “Tension?!”
“Leave the poor boy alone, Mina. You're killing him.” Ochako walked out of the kitchen with an apple in her hand. She threw herself onto the couch next to Izuku and took a bite, “He doesn't understand what we all know is true.”
“What does that mean?” Izuku asked, feeling offended.
“The grown ups are talking sweetie. Give us a second.” Ashido patted Izuku’s arm before she got up and dragged Ochako away.
Izuku’s hands dropped as he stared at Kirishima for an answer. The boy just shrugged his shoulders at him, "Don't worry about it Mido. How was your date?”
Izuku dropped his face back into his hands as he whined, “It wasn't a date.”
Kirishima laughed, “Sure. Then how was hiking?”
Izuku grumbled, “It was fun.”
“Did you get to try any s’mores?” Kirishima asked.
Izuku faced scrunched, “How did you know?”
“Katsuki told me he was bringing it.”
Izuku leaned back, giving Kirishima a once over, “How much does he tell you exactly?”
“Not nearly as much as you're assuming.” Kirishima laughed as he got up, patting Izuku’s shoulder as he walked away, "Don't worry, he's all yours.”
“What?” Izuku whipped his head around to watch Kirishima leave. “What does that even mean?!” He shouted at his back.