Chapter Text
Izuku met Ochaco in middle school.
The first time they talked, it was for a science project. It didn't take long for them to find a good rhythm for their workflow, and a friendship followed without effort. He always had an easier time getting along with girls than boys, and he liked how she treated his softer nature. They ended up getting an “A” for their project, and Ochaco had her dad ('well, technically he's Uncle Yoichi. But he's raised us since we were little, so we call him dad and his husband papa!') take them out for ice cream to celebrate. Their friendship only got stronger from there. In fact, Izuku and Ochaco were so close, he started having sleepovers at her house every other weekend.
Ochaco was funny, cheerful, and kind. She got just as panicked as Izuku when she was flustered. He didn't have any friends, but he liked her being his first. And the best thing about Ochaco? She was nothing like her brother.
Her uncles, Yoichi and Kudo, welcomed him without hesitation. Izuku met her parents six months later, finding out they were famous designers that traveled all over the world.
“So that's why your uncles raised you?” He asked after the greeting.
She nodded from where she flipped through a magazine on her bed. “They call us every week, and bring back really pretty clothes once a month. I don't think they planned for their business to explode after I was born.”
The 'us' in her sentence was the one downside of being friends with Ochaco. Katsuki was fourteen, two years older than Izuku and Ochaco. But he acted like he was decades ahead of them. He also enjoyed being a jerk. His teasing began at Izuku’s first sleepover with Ochaco. And it all started with a rude nickname.
Okay, in Katsuki's defense, he was playing a video game when Ochaco introduced Izuku. Maybe it wasn't entirely his fault he misheard Izuku’s name.
“Who the hell names their kid Deku?”
Izuku remembered his cheeks flushing when he quietly corrected Katsuki. “It’s actually Izuku.”
“Tch.” Katsuki gave him a look before turning back to his screen. “Deku fits better.”
“Well—” Izuku may have gotten a little petty (again, he was twelve). “You look like a Kacchan!”
“What the hell?!”
From there, their rivalry blossomed. For the next four years, Izuku only saw Katsuki as Ochaco's annoying (but, begrudgingly, pretty cool) older brother.
When 'the change' happened, he and Ochaco were sophomores. Katsuki was in the middle of his senior year.
“Ugh, Katsuki's so hot.”
Izuku almost forgot ‘Katsuki’ was his legal name when one of his classmates drooled over him. Hearing people talk about him like that was… weird. They didn't see him with morning breath and anti-snoring nose strips. None of the girls (and guys, recently) with heart eyes for Katsuki realized his cocky demeanor wasn't some game he played for 'the right one' to break through. Katsuki was just Katsuki. Loud. Brash. Real.
“You better not say that around Ochaco,” Izuku warned, knowing what would happen if his best friend heard about another person 'falling in love' with her brother or his friends. The Bakusquad was a group of six popular seniors that had the entire school eating out of their hands. Izuku had met all of them outside of school when hanging out with Ochaco. He thought they were actually cool, and didn’t understand why they were friends with Katsuki. Izuku didn't hang out with them for too long before Katsuki started picking on him, forcing him to leave whatever room they were in. At school, it was kind of embarrassing when the popular seniors acknowledged him. So he kept his head down and avoided bumping into them.
“Do you think she'd introduce me to Katsuki?” A guy from their civics class asked. Izuku felt his stomach clench (probably for Ochaco).
“She's not Katsuki's matchmaker,” he said, sending a scolding look before pushing away from the table. “Don't use her as an extension of him.”
He left the awkwardly squirming group of classmates, barely glancing at the mentioned senior group. Katsuki's gaze was already on him, a smirk spreading over his cocky mouth. Izuku stuck out his tongue (Katsuki always brought his childish nature to the surface) before he walked out of the lunchroom.
But hours later, Izuku found out a terrifying truth he couldn't let come to light. One that wouldn’t have happened if Mina never asked him to 'keep her company' while her friends competed at the swim meet. Katsuki had been on the team for years, picked as captain for their senior season. Izuku had never been to a competition, but he didn't think it was a big deal to join Mina on her quest to cheer on their friend group. Ochaco wasn’t coming, stuck at softball practice. Which meant nobody was there to distract him from the train heading straight through the roadblock he’d kept in his mind for years.
Looking back, he wondered if that was why it happened.
When he saw Katsuki appear from the locker room, it was like something broke in Izuku’s brain. He took in the varsity jacket that hung off the bare torso. Izuku’s face went strawberry red at the swimsuit that was way smaller than the ones he wore when bugging Izuku in the Bakugos’ pool. His hair, slicked back from the water, sucked all the saliva from Izuku’s mouth. He even thought the orange goggles plastered on Katsuki’s forehead were attractive. Every time Izuku looked at the older swimmer, his brain went a little haywire.
When did Kacchan get so... toned? He's always been a gym rat, sure, but this…
Izuku shook his head, ignoring it. This was the jerk who enjoyed holding the orange juice over his head whenever Izuku slept over, making Izuku climb him to get it. Who tugged on his curls when he was half-asleep on the couch watching some rom-com Ochaco picked out. Katsuki made it his personal mission to grab Izuku off the pool chair and throw him into the deep end before Izuku had a chance to fight back. Everything about Katsuki was the worst!
But, like the world wanted Izuku to see a new side of Katsuki, other things started standing out. How Katsuki went to each of his teammates and gave them little pep talks. That he actually cared about other runs more than his own. The pride in his high fives, regardless if his teammate placed or not. And the final, terrifying nail in his heart's coffin was seeing Katsuki swim. His grace, his determination, his wide grin of pure victory when he popped out of the water and yanked off his cap—
He was ethereal. Probably the prettiest guy Izuku had ever seen.
And that was... bad. It changed the entire dynamic between him and Katsuki for the next couple years. The same day he discovered his feelings for Katsuki weren't as antagonistic as he wanted, he locked the affection deep in his heart. Nobody, especially Ochaco, would ever know his growing infatuation. But that also meant he did his best to avoid Katsuki, which wasn't easy. How did someone evade their best friend’s brother?
It was even worse after high school. Ochaco's house had become his second home during the first year of college. It was closer to campus, both going to UA together. But Katsuki still lived there, pretty and forbidden. Honestly, it felt like Katsuki picked on him more now that Izuku had given up the rivalry part of their dynamic. Which was a problem, because... Izuku learned he had a weird kink.
“You planning on eating all my yogurt?” The taunting tone came out of nowhere, Izuku shrieking at the sneak attack.
“Kacchan!” Spinning around, Izuku pressed the snack to his chest, the fridge shutting behind him when he leaned against it. “W-Why are you here?”
“Cause it’s my house, Nerd.” Which, fair. Of the two, Izuku was the guest.
But he knew why he was asking. “Um, isn’t Tuesday your late shift?”
“You memorized my schedule?”
His cheeks warmed at the accusation, even if he tried to hide his embarrassment through his shrug. “It's not hard to notice. The house is always quieter when you're at work.”
And Izuku may have kept track for his own sanity, not that he'd admit that.
Katsuki scoffed before wandering closer, and Izuku wished he could melt into the fridge at the proximity. Casually, like a panther stalking its prey, Katsuki approached and rested an arm on the freezer over Izuku's head.
“Are you ever planning on growing, Deku? You're so small.”
“I'm not!” He argued. Their height difference wasn't as extreme as it'd been as kids. Sure, he wasn’t Tenya. But Katsuki acted like he was Tsu’s height.
Still, Katsuki smirked, tugging a lock of green hair. “I'd have to kneel to get on your level.”
Izuku tried not to shiver at the thought. He didn't understand how Katsuki was still single. In all the years he'd been friends with Ochaco, he'd never (thankfully) seen the pretty man with a romantic partner. Izuku hadn't had one either, but that was because said person sort of changed his brain chemistry, leaving him forever pining.
Now, staring up at Katsuki and trying to keep a pouting glare, he did his best to hide his butterflies. “Kirishima's taller than you, and he never brings up my height.”
“Because Shitty Hair's an idiot.” Then, a strange look crossed Katsuki's face. “And when did you talk to him?”
“He goes to yoga with me and Ochaco.” Izuku felt a little victorious at having a one-up on Katsuki. “Are you jealous your friends like me better?”
“As if.” Still, Katsuki's mouth fell into a grimace, leaning closer. Izuku tried to ignore the shrinking space between their faces. Before his heart fell out of his chest (or burst from the scene that was a little too close to his fantasies), Ochaco's voice cut into the kitchen.
“Seriously, again?” She huffed, hands on her hips. “Dad already said to stop bullying Izuku. Or do I gotta call papa?”
“Tch.” Katsuki's eyes lingered for only a moment before he pushed away, turning his attention onto Ochaco. He flicked a finger against her forehead, grinning when she shouted and batted his hand away. “You're a snitch. See if I'll cover for you next time Fang sneaks in—”
“Shut up!”
The siblings hit each other playfully, no real hatred between them. Izuku could see their secret smiles despite the 'fighting', his own lips tugging up at the scene. It was another reason he knew he couldn’t chase whatever his feelings for Katsuki were (beyond the obvious fact he'd be rejected). Ochaco loved Katsuki, and the opposite was true. They had each other's backs, and had pushed each other to be the very best versions of themselves. The last thing he wanted to do was get in the middle of their dynamic.
It was probably better that neither knew about his affection.
~**~
More time passed, Izuku and Ochaco getting to their third year of college. Katsuki graduated, but with how big the house was, there was no reason for him to move out. He rented the in-law apartment, which meant he was still around enough to bully Izuku. Deep down, Izuku hated how much he craved it.
Despite being there more times than he was at his house, Izuku still knocked on the door when visiting. It was May, so they were studying for their finals before they'd be free for the summer.
“Ah, Izuku.” Yoichi's smile stayed soft and welcoming after opening the door. “Good afternoon.”
“Hi, Yoichi,” he answered, following the gentle man into the house. “Pardon the intrusion.”
“Will you still be saying that in June?” Yoichi asked, amused at Izuku's sheepish laugh.
Because of his internship at the campus, Kudo and Yoichi offered him the guest room for the summer. He really should have said no, knowing what that meant for his heart’s health. But Ochaco was over the moon about having him there for a 'summer sleepover'. And it made things easier on his wallet. Still, he knew what lingered just down the hall from where his room would be. It was a temptation he felt growing more dangerous every year.
Even with his hesitation, he was grateful to the man now standing in front of the counter, continuing to chop a carrot. “How have you been, Izuku? Doing well in your classes, I'm sure.”
“Ah, yes! It's been a little hectic this year, but I'm okay. I'll be happy to finish the semester, though.”
“Ochaco's been saying the same thing this week. Thankfully, she's had you and her other friends to help support her. She's on her way home from work, so she shouldn't be too long.” Then, Yoichi's laugh filled the air. “If Himiko doesn't distract her while clocking out, of course.”
It was a relief that Ochaco's parents (both live-in and biological) were so accepting of the relationship she thought she'd have to hide when starting it. Three years later, Himiko had been welcomed into the family just like Izuku. He could tell that Ochaco had found her soulmate.
“She does tend to linger on goodbyes with Himiko,” Izuku said, trying not to blush when remembering the last time he walked in on their 'parting words'. It really helped convince him that he had no sexual attraction to Ochaco. (If only it was the same for her brother, but Katsuki was… Katsuki.)
“Well, what about you?” Yoichi's question didn't feel like an attack or judgment. “Has a special someone stolen your heart?”
A flash of red eyes and a mean smile hit him without permission. Izuku sucked in a breath and shook his head. “N-No! I think Ochaco took all the relationship luck with her. There's… nobody.”
“Nobody?”
Before he could confirm, a new body entered the kitchen. Of course, it was Katsuki. And, because the world liked torturing Izuku, he was coming back from a workout. Which meant he wore a sweat-drenched tank top that sat like a second skin on his body, and tight compression shorts. Izuku was pretty sure he’d imagined the same outfit on Katsuki in a wet dream he refused to think about. In contrast with Izuku’s greedy need to stare, Katsuki didn't seem to notice him. He was in his own world when opening the fridge to grab a bottle of water. The ease he chugged down the thirst-quenching liquid was an actual sin.
Unaware of Izuku's horny crisis, Yoichi tugged off one of Katsuki's earbuds and greeted the adopted son. “Katsuki, what perfect timing. It's like you and Izuku synced up your internal clocks.”
“Deku?” Izuku watched his head snap up, his own spine straightening at the intense look.
“Hi, Kacchan,” he greeted, then waved awkwardly when the look didn't waver. “Have a good workout?”
“Yeah.” He popped out the other earbud when he brushed past an amused Yoichi to stand in front of Izuku, grin full of his mocking intent. “Not that you'd know anything about that.”
“We use the same gym,” Izuku argued, glancing at his feet to hide his increased heartbeat. “You've seen me with Tenya there.”
“I doubt anything Glasses does is half the level of my routine.”
“His calves are actually pretty toned—” Izuku yelped when Katsuki pinched over his freckles.
“You ever gonna lose these chubby cheeks, baby?”
“Kaw-chan,” he pushed out, though the rough touch still (pathetically) made his skin tingle. Katsuki was more physical with his teasing in comparison to high school. Izuku hated how much he was into Katsuki's unique mix of praise and bullying.
“Enough.” Kudo's sudden appearance in the room didn't give Katsuki time to prepare for the smack on the back of his head. Izuku doubted it hurt, but it shocked Katsuki enough to release his face.
“What the hell, old man?!” Katsuki spun to send a glare at the man already walking away.
“If you won't be honest, then keep your hands to yourself.” Izuku wasn’t sure what Kudo meant, but from Katsuki's eye roll and huff, it was an inside joke.
“Hello, my hero.” The soft greeting and cute nickname from Yoichi made Kudo's intense features lose an inch of sharpness.
Their love was something that books tried to put into words. Despite being together for decades, their kisses were still full of love and smiles, and even Kudo's stoic nature felt warmer. Izuku gave a quiet sigh of longing, wishing his heart could fall for someone who loved him back.
The sweet moment wasn't long, and Yoichi turned back to Izuku and Katsuki after the kiss ended. “Katsuki, your sister will be home soon. Could you keep Izuku company until then?”
“O-Oh no, that's okay!” Izuku rushed out, hands held up like he was being attacked. “I can wait in her—”
“Let's go, Deku.” A larger hand grabbed his wrist, pulling him despite his squeak of protest.
“We'll let you know when dinner's ready,” Yoichi called out, Kudo watching them with something Izuku was unable to read. But he couldn't focus on that because...
He was about to be alone with Katsuki.
The door to the in-law apartment was safe for anyone who wasn't Izuku. When they were kids, Katsuki's old room (now the guest room he’d be using) had warning tape and other tacky stuff only a moody teenager got away with. He and Ochaco used to draw smiley faces and hearts on the yellow background, just to watch Katsuki freak out. But now, they were adults. The door had no tacky decorations or moody signs. It was just a door.
Izuku still gulped.
“It ain't locked.” Izuku forced himself not to flinch when Katsuki's chest brushed his shoulders, leaning forward to grab the handle. “Why are you staring at it like it's gonna bite?”
“It's rude to intrude on someone's home,” Izuku mumbled, hating how his cheeks flushed pink. He shouldn't have had that big of a reaction over the small contact. It was only a second long, nothing sexual. But his body still heated up without permission. It was just... Katsuki displayed such big energy. He felt so large, and despite Izuku gaining muscle, there was a stark difference.
When the door swung open to the in-law apartment, Katsuki pulled his hand back. Instead of falling to the older man’s side, strong fingers found Izuku's hip. His breath caught, thankful they weren’t facing each other when his eyes widened.
Except the touch only lasted a second before Katsuki pinched him. “Get moving.”
“Ow!” Scampering away from the 'attack' made Izuku dash into the apartment, spinning around to glare at Katsuki. “You didn't have to pinch me.”
“Got you inside, didn't it?” Katsuki asked, shutting the door behind him.
The simple motion cut them off from the rest of the world. It wasn’t permanent, and he knew a simple shout would summon Kudo or Yoichi. Still, to Izuku, it was... alot.
It wasn’t the first time he'd been inside the space. Before Katsuki moved in, it was where the siblings had their friends sleepover to avoid waking up the house. Katsuki had cleaned it up, removing the toy shelf and costume closet for a mini fridge and a television. He had a fully furnished living room. Izuku was surprised at how well everything flowed in the space. A glance to the left, and he could see a bit into Katsuki's bedroom.
He's got black sheets, he thought, the implications hitting his brain without permission.
Heat swirled in his stomach. Fantasies he'd only indulged in when he was alone in his room bubbled up. Ashamed, his eyes darted away, looking at the bookshelf in the living room.
But there were no novels covering the space. “Oh.”
He moved across the room, unsure how he looked when taking in the figurines. It was the kind of collection he had only dreamed of. Izuku knew the Bakugos were well off, never really thinking twice about their financial security. It was probably easy for Katsuki to build up the collection that proudly sat on the filled-up bookshelf. Izuku couldn’t deny the spark of jealousy under his skin.
“I knew you'd geek out over those,” Katsuki said from somewhere behind him.
Izuku ignored the cocky comment to move to the next shelf, admiring the memorabilia. Even if they were 'rivals' as kids, their love of the My Hero Academia Universe had been one thing they talked about for hours. If he thought about it too long, he knew he and Katsuki had a lot in common. When they were young, Katsuki didn’t like to admit they would have been compatible in another life. But once his crush hit full force, it was Izuku who shoved the longing down. He couldn’t wish for something more with Katsuki if he wanted to keep Ochaco's friendship.
Izuku’s silent appreciation of the Edgeshot mask got interrupted when he heard a rustle of clothing behind him. Without thinking, Izuku looked back, a weird noise spilling from his throat when bare skin met his unprepared gaze.
Katsuki was completely naked from the waist up.
“Wh-what are you doing?!” Izuku squeaked out, hands covering his red face.
But his inner demon tugged one of his fingers low enough to sneak a guilty peek. And really, his first reaction didn’t exactly match the situation. Katsuki’s boxers were still on, hiking up higher on his thighs when he grabbed the sweaty gym clothes from the floor and tossed them in his hamper.
“Taking a shower, obviously.” It was only when Katsuki brought it up that Izuku heard the water running in the bathroom. “I ain't a fan of sitting in my own stench. Got a problem with that?”
Izuku had seen Katsuki in a bathing suit plenty of times. The innocuous scene in front of him wasn't that different. Except for the flimsiness of the boxer's fabric, the way the elastic hung on his hips, the happy trail that poked out like an invitation for Izuku's fingers to explore—
It all felt so much more charged than what he experienced in the high school locker-room. No matter how attractive other men were at his gym, none made him feel so hot under the collar. Without permission, Izuku pressed his thighs together, feeling the proof of his growing excitement.
And, despite his best efforts to seem normal, Katsuki was perceptive. It only took one glance from the now scowling man to flood his cheeks with heat. Without Ochaco or one of their friends as a buffer, Izuku was a lamb being led to the slaughter.
“What the hell is your problem?” Katsuki asked, stepping closer.
“Nothing!” If Izuku wanted to save face, he needed to get out immediately. “If you're gonna take a shower, I can go wait in Ochaco's—”
Before he could escape, Katsuki grabbed his wrist, yanking him back. “What's the difference between waiting here and waiting in Round Face's room?”
"Kacchan!” he protested, an old surge of competitiveness making him struggle against the hold. Which, of course, spurred Katsuki on.
It had been a while since their last wrestling match, because Izuku feared the outcome. Anytime Katsuki got close to touching him, fight or flight kicked in, escaping the situation with an array of excuses. This time, his insight jumped out the window, and the two danced an old tango without Izuku noticing their surroundings.
It was a mistake. (For his mind, at least. His body, on the other hand...)
The problem with in-law apartments was their proximity. In two simple steps, they were out of the living room, stumbling into Katsuki's personal space. The black sheets Izuku had observed earlier felt like silk against his thighs when he tripped backwards onto them, the bed catching him.
Katsuki didn't seem to care, too focused on beating him in their 'wrestling match' to notice the scenery change. “Tell me what your deal is, Deku.”
“There's no deal!” He shouted, trying to backpedal on his elbows to escape Katsuki's clutches. “Ochaco’s probably home by now, so all of this is pointless.”
“Which you only cared about when I said I was gonna shower.” A hand on his ankle yanked him back across the bed, and his thighs had to part to make space for Katsuki's broad frame. The focus of the gorgeous eyes leaning above him was way too close to his darkest fantasies.
“Y-You're all sweaty and hot.” Panicked and flustered over his body's 'happy' reaction, Izuku tried to shove on his chest, palms buzzing from the firmness that greeted him. It was like trying to move steel. Katsuki was a perfect example of masculine power. Izuku was so weak for the man he couldn’t have. Without his permission, his fingers spread to feel more of the smooth chest. The sensation he’d secretly craved for years made his breath hitch.
It was only a second. A tiny movement. One that somebody who wasn't hyper-fixated on Izuku would probably miss. But this wasn't just anyone. This was Katsuki.
“You find something you like?”
The taunt dripping off Katsuki's voice reeked of danger. Izuku's mind screamed at him to run. Before he could rip his hands away and bolt, his wrists were caught and slammed above his head. He felt like a virgin sacrifice to a dragon demanding payment for curiosity. He shouldn't have felt so good being pinned down under a man who lived to bully him. For years, Katsuki had always found new ways to tease him. But something about their position and proximity made shame and excitement blend deep in his stomach.
“Cat got your tongue, Strawberry?” At Katsuki’s new nickname, Izuku squeezed his eyes shut like it would make his blush and tangled feelings go away. With them pressing together, he couldn't hide his body's reaction to the warm pressure against him. His shoulders tried to push up to his ears as Katsuki continued. “What, this the first time you've been in someone else's bed before?”
“Stop,” Izuku forced out, a weird bite lingering under the surface.
“Nah, that ain’t it. You've had your little sleepovers with my sister. So what, just shy around guys? Or maybe just certain ones really get your nerd gears going.”
The voice was almost a purr by his ear, but it felt wrong. Katsuki's tone was sharper than normal, like the thought bugged him. Izuku didn't care if Katsuki made fun of his looks or his interests, but using his sexuality against him cut too deep. If Katsuki saw him liking men as a problem to make fun of, something he should be ashamed of...
“C'mon, Deku. If you wanna suck something, I know a dick who seems to be your type—”
It was too much.
Izuku’s eyes snapped up to glare at Katsuki. The tears that coated his lower lids didn't stop him from shouting in Katsuki's face. “There's nothing wrong with me liking guys!”
Katsuki seemed surprised by Izuku's sudden anger, something he rarely unleashed on others. It was enough to loosen his hold on Izuku's wrists, who yanked them down to cross them over his chest protectively. Even at their worst, Izuku had never felt so vulnerable with Katsuki before. He hated that he got his crying habits from his mother. Once he started, he was like a leaky faucet. Upset over the embarrassing situation, he turned his head as the tears poured down his face without a care.
Izuku knew he had cried in front of Katsuki before, but it had been years. And it was never over something he said. The silence made him regret the impulsive outburst. Katsuki was just being his normal self, and it wasn’t like Izuku ever told him his sexual preference. Katsuki was friends with Mina and Denki, who were both openly bisexual. Also, his uncles were gay! How did Izuku forget something like that?
Before he could apologize for the screaming, fingers grabbed his chin, turning his face back up to look at Katsuki. Confusion filled Izuku’s chest when Katsuki brushed his thumb along his cheeks, cleaning his tears.
“You’re a pretty crier, but you're gonna kill someone with those sad Bambi eyes.”
“I'm… huh?” Even confused, Izuku's stomach butterflies went wild at the mumbled comment. Katsuki was teasing, but there was a softness in his touch. The compliment, where an insult normally sat, buzzed in his mind pleasantly.
They were so close. He felt the heat of Katsuki's naked torso through his shirt. When his face was dry of tears, Katsuki gave a pointless stroke along Izuku’s dark eye-bag. Izuku didn't know where to look, or how to slow down the rapid heartbeat in his chest. Katsuki wasn’t moving or pulling his touch away. They were just lying together, as if it were a normal occurrence between them.
Silence was a rarity with Izuku and Katsuki. Their dynamic needed words and loud movements to fill the space. It always felt like, without noise, something would bubble to the surface. And Izuku understood part of it; he knew what he was hiding. The truth that needed to stay under lock and key in his heart.
But was Katsuki also keeping secrets? Katsuki kept touching him softly, their gazes staying connected. Without permission, Izuku felt his lids growing heavier. Like they wanted to close, even if something in his mind begged him not to follow the temptation. Maybe Katsuki felt it, too, as his gaze seemed to lower on Izuku's face—
“Zuku!”
Ochaco's call of his nickname from somewhere in the distance snapped Izuku from the moment, both jerking away from each other. Izuku rushed backwards so fast, he yelped when he fell off the other side of the bed. He popped up, breathing heavily while staring at Katsuki with wide eyes. To Katsuki's credit, he also looked a bit lost. Like the spell wasn't just cast on Izuku. But the biggest difference was the lack of panic in the red gaze. Somehow, he recovered from whatever thought crossed his mind faster.
“Oi, we should—”
“Izuku,” Ochaco called again, close enough now to knock on the door of the apartment. “Are you alive? If you two are fighting—”
“We're not!” Izuku shouted, and didn't read into Katsuki's narrowed gaze when he rushed out of the room.
“Deku—”
He only paused in the doorway to cut off the annoyed tone. “Thanks for hanging out with me. And not... a-anyway, enjoy your shower, Kacchan.”
Then, Izuku fled.
When he opened the door, Ochaco's playful exasperation matched the roll of her eyes. “Way to keep me waiting.”
He could argue about the times her desire to play tonsil hockey with her girlfriend caused them to push back dinner plans. That her inability to leave Himiko’s house made him miss movies several times. How they were almost late to Katsuki’s college graduation (why he’d been invited, he still didn’t know) because Ochaco chose that night to have her first sleepover with Himiko.
But a flash of Katsuki over him, looking at his mouth, and him not moving filled Izuku with guilt. “Sorry.”
“I'm kidding!” She punched his arm before tugging him down the hall, shouting over her shoulder. “Katsuki, dad says dinner will be ready in ten, so stop wasting water and hurry up!”
Izuku didn't look back. He couldn't.
But he knew, like the swim meet, that something had changed between them.
~**~
“Ugh, I hate math.” Izuku flopped back on the bed that he hadn’t slept in for three days. With his finals taking up most of his week, Izuku had spent several days at Ochaco’s. His mother had been surprised when he opened the door, joking that she thought he’d already moved in. Though she hadn’t liked the idea of Izuku being away all summer, she recognized his explanation for staying at Ochaco’s made sense. With his promise to come visit on the weekends, she had finally accepted the ‘first big step’ Izuku made into being on his own.
Slowly, Izuku curled onto his side, tugging the blankets over him. He knew he couldn’t take a nap, even though it sounded amazing at the moment. Shoto and Tenya had invited him to the movies, and he needed to leave in the next hour. Still, the warm comforter and fluffy pillow made him snuggle deeper, letting his muscles relax into the comfortable space. After the grueling final for his differential equations course, his brain was ready to sleep for a decade. Izuku knew he was smart, but the complex class had pushed his limits.
Before he could debate putting on an alarm and risking oversleeping, his phone vibrated on the mattress. Groaning, Izuku kept his eyes closed as he pawed around, fingers finally catching the edge of his case. Tugging it across the sheets, he stayed still for a full minute before forcing his eyes open. A few taps on the screen lit it up, and he winced at the sudden brightness before he focused on his notification. He had a Snapchat, which wasn’t that strange.
But the name of the person was what made him shoot up on the bed, hands clutching the phone. “K-Kacchan?”
As soon as the name fell from his lips, his heart raced. He had done his best to avoid Katsuki for the past week, unable to meet his fiery gaze without guilt and desire pouring through his head. Though nothing had happened, Izuku knew something unexplainable shifted. He tried to avoid thinking about it, and during the day, he did well. But at night, when he fell asleep, his mind sparked with dirty urges. He dreamt of himself back on Katsuki’s bed, clutching black sheets, feeling hot lips sliding over his skin. The pleasure had seeped into his blood, waking up sweaty and too aroused to think straight.
Just seeing Katsuki’s name with the pink square made his thighs twitch. “What does he…”
Swallowing, he slowly tapped the notification, lip pulled between his teeth when a picture popped up. He braced himself for Katsuki’s face, so seeing Ochaco splayed out on the couch made his eyebrows furrow. She wasn’t facing the camera, face buried in the cushion. Himiko was sitting next to her, sending the camera a peace sign while petting Ochaco’s hair. Slowly, his eyes dropped to the text on the bottom of the picture.
You alive, Nerd? Pink Cheeks hasn’t moved in 40 minutes.
Despite his earlier fear, a smile spread over his face. Katsuki was just checking in on him. And sure, they weren’t allowed to be together like that (as if Katsuki would want to), but getting the caring message was… sweet. All those years of bickering with Katsuki had made him miss some of the kindness under his rough words and teasing comments. But when Ochaco was sick, Katsuki was the one who sat with her all night and held her hair back. After Kirishima’s grandfather died suddenly senior year, Izuku had noticed how often Katsuki let his somber friend sleepover, hearing them talking late into the nights Izuku stayed under the same roof.
So really, was the check-in that out of character? Or just Izuku allowing his guarded heart to see another thing to fall for?
“Guess a reply wouldn’t hurt,” he muttered, slowly turning his camera to his All Might poster on the wall to take a snapshot. Then, he typed out his response, hating that he re-wrote it six times before settling on the casual answer.
I’m alive! Gonna recharge with Shoto and Tenya at the movies.
Before he could swipe out of the chat, he noticed Katsuki had opened it, already typing his response. Izuku’s spine tensed in anticipation, toes wiggling against the sheets. The giddiness was almost embarrassing, and he was thankful he was alone in his room while he waited for the reply.
Kacchan: Is that from the special edition release of the fourth movie?
Kacchan: What the hell would you even watch with those two? Paint drying? Lame.
Me: Yes! How’d you know? I actually won it in a raffle at the bookstore I get all my manga from.
Me: Don’t be mean! Not like you’re doing anything better. You’re third-wheeling your sister’s date.
Katsuki didn’t answer for a moment, and Izuku wondered if he’d crossed some line he didn’t know sat between them. Before the concern could bloom into full worry, the pink square popped up in the chat, showing why it had taken Katsuki longer to answer. Izuku tapped into the photo, laughing at the ridiculous image. It took a lot to make Katsuki look anything but handsome. The mud mask and bright pink headband in his hair did soften the gut punch Izuku felt seeing him again.
Fuck you. I’m helping Buns practice for her esthetician course. Unlike your lame plans, I’m a damn hero.
“Kacchan, you’re too cute.” Not that he could tell the older man that. Instead, he rolled onto his back, staring at the picture for a few seconds longer before his impulses made him save it. Cheeks warming as Snapchat announced the screenshot, Izuku quickly typed out an answer for his strange reaction.
Me: Just for blackmail the next time you try to hide my toothbrush from me!
Kacchan: Damn, Deku. If you want a picture of me for your lock screen, just ask. Got a few gym selfies or swim meets I could send instead.
Kacchan: And a good guy would return the favor, you know.
Izuku’s heart leapt into his throat at both messages. One, because the downright need to see both images Katsuki mentioned surged through him. The other reason for his struggle to breathe was Katsuki’s implied request. He wanted a picture of Izuku? Why? They’d known each other for almost a decade. Katsuki knew what Izuku looked like. No matter how he tried to stay logical, the thrumming in his chest proved his imagination was running wild. Normally, someone only asked for a picture of a person they… liked.
Cheeks bursting with heat, Izuku shook his head, tugging his blanket under his nose to hide the embarrassing reaction. Still, Katsuki had made a request. And he sent pictures to all his friends throughout the day, never caring what it implied. If he didn’t send it, that would be weirder. Weighing the two choices in his head, Izuku let out a long groan before he pulled his phone out, not moving from the blankets when he took the photo. After seeing the image of him half-hidden under his green comforter, he tried not to analyze the awful angle while he typed out the answer on the picture.
Don’t put this as your lock screen.
Izuku tossed his phone onto the mattress before he rolled away, squeezing his eyes shut. Maybe if he tried hard enough, the pressure would make his brain forget the last five minutes. Even when he heard the phone vibrate again, he didn’t look at it, knowing he wasn’t ready for the response. He didn’t time how long he sat there, going through the silly conversation in his head. Maybe Katsuki was just bored, unable to leave because he was helping Himiko. That was probably it, because any other reason felt too intimate for a guy who was just his sister’s best friend.
Finally, when it was getting closer to his meet-up time with Tenya and Shoto, Izuku bit the bullet. He turned back to the innocent device, slowly clicking on the screen. Like he expected, a Snapchat message was waiting for him, but his breath still caught. Pushing through the anxiety, he steeled his nerves and opened the conversation. There was a notice about the screenshot Katsuki took. But whatever he thought would be written under that quickly vanished the second he read Katsuki’s reply.
I think green might be my favorite color, Freckles.
“Stupid Kacchan.” Sure his ears were steaming, Izuku groaned and buried his face in his pillow, knowing he’d need a minute to recover.
It wasn’t fair how much power Katsuki unknowingly had over his heart.
~**~
“Izuku, dear.” Mitsuki looked stunning in her sunset-colored summer dress, Izuku sure the designer crafted it herself. “Can you bring the veggie platter out to the table with the chips and dip?”
“Of course!” He was happy she felt comfortable enough to ask him to help with the party.
Izuku had only been in the home for two days before Mitsuki and Masaru came for a brief visit. The welcome back, mixed with the start of summer and Izuku's moving in, urged the Bakugos to have a surprise summer celebration. Now, the backyard was full of their friends and family.
He walked past the indoor pool, watching Denki go headfirst down the slide to Jirou’s laughter. Just beyond him, Tsu performed a perfect front flip off the diving board. Tenya and Ejirou were focused on setting up the badminton net in the back part of the enormous yard. He caught Ochaco, Mina, and Himiko preparing the firepit for later on in the night. With all of his favorite people filling the space, Izuku couldn’t hold back his thankful smile.
“Izuku, coming in clutch with the veggies!” Hanta's bright laugh when greeting him was the opposite of Shoto's softer expression. They were an interesting pair, Izuku unsure how their friendship (despite their opposite walks of life and personalities) made sense.
“Are you two enjoying the party?”
“It's been fun,” Shoto answered, bowing to him despite Hanta's snicker. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Ah, please don't bow!” He didn't understand why Shoto still treated him so formally despite years of knowing each other. Putting his hands on the taller man’s shoulders, he pushed Shoto back up. “I’d like to think we’re past those formalities by now, right?”
“You know,” Hanta said around a carrot, waving the vegetable between Izuku and Shoto. “In high school, I used to think you two were totally a thing.”
Stunned at the new information, Izuku laughed. “Really?”
“In my defense, it was my only explanation for Katsuki disliking Shoto so much.”
The mentioned man made Izuku's hands twitch against Shoto's shoulders, realizing then he still hadn't moved out of his friend's space.
He quickly stepped back, fingers tangling behind him. “Sorry.”
“I wasn't uncomfortable with your touch,” Shoto replied.
“See, when you say things like that? Normal people are gonna assume the worst. It's no wonder my buddy's glaring holes in you two.”
Hanta's teasing comment wasn't as shocking as it should have been to Izuku. Then again, he'd felt a certain pair of eyes watching him since the start of the party. Izuku pretended to look for something not-Katsuki related when scanning the yard. He forced his gaze to move along after finding Katsuki hanging off the edge of the pool… staring at them. He tried not to flush under the attention, but his chest fluttered in secret excitement.
Despite his better judgement, between the incident in Katsuki's apartment and his move-in date, Izuku had started talking more with Katsuki over Snapchat. They’d been mutuals on all their social media for years and had messaged occasionally regarding mutual interests. But those times were nothing like the past few weeks. They never talked about what Izuku confessed, or how Katsuki reacted to said information. Still, there was an energy in their conversations that didn't feel like his conversations with Shoto or Tenya.
Each time Izuku swore he'd stop, because he wouldn’t betray Ochaco over the weird tension. Except... it wasn’t as easy to do when Katsuki was the one reaching out to him. Izuku had been head over heels for Katsuki for years, silently pining and keeping his distance. To actually have Katsuki's attention, even platonically, was hard to ignore. So he kept answering. Kept caving.
Katsuki had been working most of the time since Izuku moved in, coming and leaving through his own entrance. The party was the first time they'd seen each other in person since the bedroom incident. And Izuku knew that was why he planned to cling to Shoto the entire event. In all the years Izuku knew Katsuki, there was only one person who got under his skin. Funny enough, Shoto actually liked Katsuki. He was the sole person who knew about Izuku’s feelings for Katsuki.
Maybe Katsuki felt that bond between them and assumed things. Staying near Shoto meant Katsuki would be unable to corner him for another 'moment' he couldn't (or maybe wouldn't) process. He peeked another glance, blushing instantly when finding Katsuki still watching.
“Le-Let's go help Tenya set up the net!” he shouted, grabbing Shoto’s hand and dragging him away. His heart pumped with a forbidden need. Like he wanted to be Katsuki's prey. Craved to be chased, hunted, devoured-
You can't be with him.
But with a fiery stare scorching his back, Izuku knew there was something clawing toward the surface.
Something he couldn't fight forever.