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“You know.” Shouto hums from his place in Katsukis bed, at his side. It’s a good place for him to be. Should make it his home, Katsuki thinks but doesn’t say. He tenses himself for whatever Shouto is going to say next. Whenever he starts sentences like this it never ends well for Katsuki. He always, always , says something either supremely brain numbingly stupid or something unearthingly soft and affectionate. Either way Katsuki is left to his own rattled brain to recentre himself.
Shoutos voice is soft, monotonous as always but the affection laced through it is not fully hidden. He just woke up from an impromptu nap for which he held Katsuki captive as a pillow. He’s been doing it more often now. Making demands of Katsuki like the spoiled princess he is. It’s not like Katsuki minds though, he would do anything for Shouto if he asked. But that’s a different can of worms. Something he doesn’t want to open. Not right now at least.
“Tsuki.” Shouto says with a pout. That’s something else he’s been doing lately. Nicknames, not pouting. But the pouting is cute too. There’s a slight furrow in his brow that he gets when he doesn’t get enough attention. Katsuki presses a soft kiss there and all is forgiven easily. Shoutos eyelids always flutter shut when he does this. It’s cute. He’s cute. One day Katsukis heart is going to explode and it won’t be because he died twice in the war, it’ll be because of this pretty boy in his bed that’s too adorable for his own good. Too sweet. And too evil. Because Katsuki knows, intrinsically knows, that the next words out of Shoutos mouth are going to be unfathomably stupid.
“You know how you call me a bastard?” Shouto asks, except he’s not waiting for Katsukis reply. He never does when he’s like this. When there’s something on his mind he needs to say. When it sits on his tongue and he doesn’t let Katsuki taste it until it’s been said. Which, it’s a little rude, but he gets it. He’s been patient with Shouto for years now. What’s a few more minutes? “I like it.”
And. Huh. Katsuki blinks. That’s not as bad as he was expecting. He’s a little confused though. Because it doesn’t sound like a sex thing. Shouto has never had any issues requesting for sex related things with no embarrassment. Fucking shameless bastard. He always gets a certain look when he does though. A competitive edge that only sparks for Katsuki. He likes it. Makes him feel special. He doesn’t have that look now. So. “You like it when I call you a bastard?” Katsuki asks. Just to make sure. Sometimes they’re on different pages, sometimes they talk past each other. It’s not either of their faults really. It just happens. But they’re working on it. Putting in the effort. Because they are with it. Together.
Gah. Love has ruined Katsuki. But he can’t find himself to care. Not when Shouto is smiling softly in his arms. Not when he’s never felt more at home than he does now. Shouto nods sleepily. “Yes.” He says like it’s that simple. And maybe it is. But. Katsuki is still confused. It came out of nowhere.
“You gotta explain it a bit more for me princess.” He requests. Shoutos brain is usually a minefield he wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. He has no interests in his conspiracies that seemingly spawn from nowhere. It took several years to convince him that Izuku was not all mights secret love child and even now, he doubts Shouto is fully convinced. But. This is different. This has a slight purse of his lips that hasn’t fully gone away. Even with his smile.
Katsuki needs to ease it. Feels the urge so deep within him he has no choice but to follow it. And he would, even if he had the choice. He would choose to. If it’s for Shouto, he would always choose to. Will always choose to. “What brought this on?” He asks because Shouto is still quiet. Because he’s biting on his lower lip, which is Katsukis job, thank you very much.
“It’s nothing really.” He says. “It’s not serious.”
“Tell me anyway.” Katsuki responds. Because. So fucking what if it isn’t serious? It’s Shouto. That’s enough of a reason.
“It’s–” He takes a shuddering breath. Katsuki has a strong urge to kiss him, right where his lip is trembling. He doesn’t. Holds himself back. Because Shouto needs to get this off his chest. Needs to not be distracted. Needs to know Katsuki wants to listen to him more than anything else. Wants to help him, if he can. “I went for lunch right? A few days ago, with Momo and the others.”
Katsuki hums. His hand traces Shoutos arm, encouraging. Showing him that he’s listening. That he’s following. At whatever pace Shouto wants to go. Katsuki remembers that day. He had patrol so he got home after Shouto did. Shouto was on the couch with a book in his hands that he was barely reading. Katsuki kissed him, just lightly, as a greeting, like he always did on days like those. Shouto bit his lip in return. Not hard. Not enough to draw blood. But. Strong enough. And. Katsuki didn’t think much of it, sometimes Shouto got into moods, he was human after all, sometimes he was just a brat because he could be. He followed along, always pulled in by the current that was Shouto, gave him what he wanted, because it was fun , Shouto was always fun, in all his moods.
But maybe, maybe, Katsuki was supposed to ask more about it. Except. How was he to know? No. He shook away the immediate urge to self loathe, Shouto is an adult too, could communicate. And he was. He is, right now. When he’s ready to. Katsuki can do nothing but be there for him. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s stupid. It doesn’t matter. Everything matters. Of course it does. It’s Shouto. How could he not?
“They say something stupid?” Katsuki asks when Shouto looks like he’s struggling to continue. He can guess the rest of the story. More or less. He knows his reputation. Knows the truth to it. He is brash, abrasive, dangerous, cruel and whatever else the media says. It is true, he would never deny it. But. He is more than that too. Or at least he likes to think he is. And. When he’s laying like this, with Shouto at his side, with nothing but adoration in the air. It is not hard to believe.
But. The rest of the world doesn’t see it that way. He doesn’t give a shit about the rest of the world though. He cares about the world in his arms at this very moment. His world with stupidly messy dual coloured hair who is worrying his lip but has enough love in his eyes to last a lifetime.
“Tell me.” Katsuki says even if it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t care what they said. What they say about him. “Want me to beat them up?” He offers as well, he’s feeling generous. And. He would not win a fight against half of Japan’s top ranked heroes all at once. But. If Shouto asked, he would try. And who knows. Love is supposed to make you powerful. It is probably in a more metaphorical sense, but, well, he might as well test it out.
Shouto shakes his head, it’s a soft movement. A strand of hair falls onto his face. Katsuki brushes it away. Tender. “I already got mad at them.” Shouto whispers. Like it’s a confession. But. It’s not. He doesn’t look ashamed. He looks a little proud. And. Shit, it’s a good look on him. Katsuki is proud too.
“Yeah?” He grins, “Wish I could have seen that, sweetheart.” He says because Shouto when he’s passionate is a vision itself. But. Shouto when he’s mad about something that matters. Something that is Katsuki . Katsuki’s anger doesn’t hold a candle to it. It’s the most beautiful thing in the world. He would write sonnets about it for all his years to come if he was a poet. But, he’s not, so he settles for pressing a kiss to Shouto’s forehead instead. Then another. Because he’s allowed to indulge. It would be a crime not to.
Shouto huffs a semblance of a laugh and leans up. Capturing Katsuki’s lips with his own. He tastes like strawberries. They are Katsuki’s favourite fruit now. Then he pulls back. Pouting a little. It’s cute. Endearing. Katsuki’s heart has never felt more full. “Stop distracting me.” He says, like he wasn’t the one who kissed Katsuki first.
“Spoiled bastard.” Katsuki says and it sounds like kiss me again. It sounds like I love you.
“See.” Shouto says, like he’s making a point. Katsuki doesn’t know what point that is. He waits. Makes an inquisitive sound and waits for Shouto to continue. “You called me a bastard.” Is what he finally says.
It doesn’t lessen the confusion. “You just said you liked it?”
Shouto makes a noise of frustration. It’s cute. Like a kitten trying to growl. He sits up and suddenly Katsuki’s left side is very cold. He thinks that this is ruder than calling someone a bastard but, whatever, no one is asking him. He doesn’t speak, not wanting to distract Shouto from whatever it is he’s trying to say. And. The sooner he figures it out, the sooner it gets solved and the sooner Shouto can lay back down and Katsuki can feel warm again.
“They were saying–” He takes a steadying breath. “That you always call me mean names. And. How do I know you love me? And–” His breathing is shaky. Katsuki can’t tell if it’s anger or something else.
“Hey.” He whispers, hands reaching out to touch– to hold– Shouto. They hover, unsure, because sometimes, when he gets like this, he doesn’t like being touched. Doesn’t like extra sensations. And. That’s okay too. Katsuki can be there for him, on the other side of the room if he has to. But he doesn’t. Not today at least. Shouto nods and brings his trembling hands down to meet Katsuki’s. He holds them, one is hot and one is cold. He doesn’t mind.
Once the trembling lessens and Shouto’s eyes are not as glossed over. Katsuki speaks. “Do you know that I love you?” He asks, his own vulnerability evident. But. He’s a pro hero. He can be brave. And. It’s for Shouto. It’s easy. Easy to serve his heart on a platter if it’s for him.
Shouto nods quickly. “Of course.” He says with conviction. And. Oh. It was rage that was making him tremble. There is something about it that warms Katsuki’s heart.
“Good.” He nods. Because. It is. It’s important he knows. It’s. Shouto deserves all the love he can get. And, if he chose Katsuki, then, it’s his job to deliver. So. He’s just doing his duty. Besides. It’s easy to love him. So easy. “Then, what’s the matter princess? You want me to call you nicer things in public?” He asks. Only slightly teasing.
It works. A slight blush works it’s way onto Shouto’s stupidly pretty face. He shakes his head. It’s good, Katsuki thinks. Because he is possessive. Shouto gets so pretty when he calls him things like princess. Katsuki wants to keep that all to himself. Wants this part of Shouto to be just theirs. And. They are both private people. So. It was never about being more affectionate in public then.
Katsuki lets himself grin a little. “I see.” His smile is full of teeth. “You don’t want your friends to know how much you like it when I call you mean things?” His tone is mocking, just a little. The blush on Shouto’s face increases. It’s cute. He’s cute. “Bet we could give four eyes a heart attack with the amount of names you like to be called.”
Shouto snorts a laugh at that. But shakes his head again. “It’s not–” He sighs. It’s not heavy. “I don’t want you to change who you are for them.” He says. Always so considerate. A hero even when he’s off duty.
“I won’t.” Katsuki promises. Because, he’s had his fair share of scoldings about being more digestible to the public eye. The public can go fuck themselves. He does his duty as a hero. He doesn’t know why he needs more. But this isn’t the public. These are Shouto’s friends. His friends too, some of them. He knows they don’t mean it maliciously. Knows they are only looking out for Shouto. He can appreciate that too. Respect it even. Shouto has good friends. He deserves it.
“Good.” Shouto nods. And nods again, to himself, like something has settled. But. He doesn’t move to lay back down. Which is an affront to Katsuki really. But he can be patient. Just for a little. Just for Shouto. “I don’t want you to call me different things.” He says. “Not even around our friends.”
“But?” Katsuki asks because it sounds like there is more.
“ But.” Shouto sighs, it’s frustrated. “I just– I don’t get it.” He’s not seething. But. It’s something close. “How can they not see ?”
“Not see what?” Katsuki asks. Because. He’s a little confused still. Flattered that Shouto is so angry on his behalf, but. He doesn’t understand. Because. It’s not new. It will be a continuous thing, he knows. His personality hasn’t been tamed . It doesn’t need to be. All that matters is that Shouto thinks so too.
“Not see that you’re the kindest person amongst us all.” Shouto says it with so much finality Katsuki loses his ability to breathe for a moment. And. Well– Shouto is breathing hard, like it took a lot for him to say. Like he’s still angry. And. There really is only one thing Katsuki can do in response.
He pulls Shouto down and kisses him. Pours as much love as he can into it. And. Shouto sighs gently. It tastes like strawberries too.
“Hey.” Katsuki says, much later in the day, they’re still tangled together in Katsukis bed. But they have significantly less clothes between them now. Shouto is laying more on him than by his side. It’s a good place for him to be. Should make it his home. “Why is bastard your favourite insult?” Katsuki asks, it just occurred to him. But. He has to know.
“Well.” Shouto hums, looking at him with bright eyes shining with mischief. And Katsuki is already regretting asking. The spark spells out his own impending doom. He braces himself for impact as Shouto opens his mouth to answer the question. “I’ve always wanted to be a bastard.” He muses.
And– Katsuki can’t tell if the stupid pretty boy in his bed is being serious or joking. But. It doesn’t matter. Laughter escapes him anyway. How can it not? His lover is the funniest person in the world. He has decided. A few seconds later Shouto joins in. His laugh is melodic.
Pretty
. Just like the rest of him. It’s the nicest sound Katsuki has ever heard.
I love you
. He doesn’t say. But he thinks it so loudly he’s sure Shouto can hear it.