Archive of Our Own

The Bakugou House was big and old. Shouto thought it looked like a castle out of a storybook. He never wanted to leave. He didn’t care that the door stuck when his father tried to open it. So what if it had cobwebs and mold? It was nice here. He thought its big grand staircase was lovely. He thought the big kitchen was cool. But mostly... Shouto loved the garden. 

Shouto stood in the kitchen, looking outside at the massive overgrown garden. It had an old fountain that was covered in vines, and in the distance, he could see the treeline of the forest.

"Rei," his father said, stomping into the room. "This place is a dump," Dad said to her. Mom was right behind him, tucking her hair behind her ear. "We’ll be better off leveling the place and selling the land." 

His mother frowned up at him "Enji, this house is over 200 years old!" she said "I think if we fixed it up, we could turn it into a bed and breakfast. There’s 8 bedrooms, a servant's quarters, not to mention the bathroom! That bathroom is gorgeous! It definitely is not original to the house but it’s got to be from the late 1800s. That tub is massive for the time too." 

"Rei, I'm not having this discussion with you!" 

"It’s my house. It’s in my name!" 

His father raised his hand. Mom flinched before glaring "...Not in front of Shouto," she snarled. She turned from him and walked to Shouto "Sweetie, why don’t you go find your siblings? I think they’re exploring the house." 

Shouto frowned, and glanced back at the garden "Can I play outside?" 

Mom smiled softly "S-sure. But listen, promise me you’ll stay where we can see you okay? Don’t go into the forest. There could be wild animals in there." 

He nodded "I promise." 

She opened the old door for him "Have fun playing outside then." She told him. 

Shouto smiled at his mom and hugged her leg before running outside. It was a warm summer day. The heat beat down on his back but he didn’t mind. He wondered about the garden. There were old statues overgrown with vines and weeds. The fountain was big and dried up. Instead, weeds and plants had grown in it. The stone was chipped. 

He hoisted himself up onto the rim around the edge. It was wide and fat, probably meant to be sat on. He held his arms out for balance and began to walk the edge of it. He was pretending he was walking a tightrope. 

As he made his way around to the back end of the fountain, something caught his eye. 

Standing there, in the treeline some several yards away was a person. They looked tall (well everyone was tall compared to Shouto) with a head of wild hair. They were nothing but a shadow. Goosebumps rose on Shouto’s entire body. A feeling of dread overtook him. He jumped, falling into the weeds in the fountain. He cut his knee.  He hissed in pain and sat up looking towards the shadow man again but... 

They had gone, instead someone new was standing there. A boy, around his age, was standing on the edge of the forest. The feeling of dread was gone and replaced by... something else. He wasn’t quite sure what the feeling was but it was almost a pull towards that boy. He looked down at his scraped knee. Not very cool to cry over so he kept his tears at bay. He wanted the boy to think he was cool.

The boy was watching him. Shouto watched back. Maybe... He’d want to play? He looked back at the house. Mom had said not to go in the woods. But as long as she could see him he should be fine. 

Shouto walked to the edge of the forest. 

The boy smiled as Shouto came closer. "Hi," the boy said "Are you ok? You hurt your knee." He pointed. Now that Shouto was close he could see the boy clearly. He was smaller than Shouto, with a head of messy green curls. He had big green eyes and his cheeks were covered in freckles. The more Shouto looked the more he never wanted to stop looking. He was so pretty? The trees had him cast in shadow compared to Shouto who was standing in the bright hot summer sun. 

It was like night and day, the two of them.

He looked down at his scraped knee. "I’m fine. My mom will put a bandage on it later. Why are you in the woods?" 

"I like the woods," the boy said "It’s cooler here in the shade. I was playing by the pond. Do you want to come? I was going to go swimming to cool off." 

"I can’t," Shouto said and looked back at the house. "Mom said I have to stay where she can see me." 

The boy smiled. His smile was so pretty. "Are you sure? It’s not far and it’s really hot today."

A swim did sound fun... Plus this boy seemed so nice. "I really shouldn’t..." He thought about his father and the beating he’d get if he disobeyed. "My dad will hit me if I don’t do what I’m told." 

The boy gasped. "Oh." He frowned "You’re like me then. Someone is picking on you..." The idea that Shouto wasn’t alone was comforting. "I’m Izuku. What’s your name?" 

"Shouto." 

Izuku smiled "That’s a nice name. How old are you Shouto?" 

He thought his name was pretty? Shouto’s face turned pink. "I’m 6 and a half," he told Izuku. "What about you?" 

"I just turned... 7," Izuku said after a long moment. "Do you wanna be friends?" 

His heart fluttered in his little chest "Y-yeah!" Shouto said "I wanna be friends. Wanna explore the garden with me?" 

Izuku looked at the garden behind Shouto almost longingly "...I’d love to but-" 

"Shouto!" His father yelled. Shouto spun around. His father was standing at the entrance to the kitchen "Get inside! We’re leaving!" 

"O-okay!" he called. "Sorry, maybe next-" he turned to say goodbye to Izuku but...

He was gone. 

Shouto frowned. He hoped if he came back he’d see Izuku again. He liked him. He wanted to play. "SHOUTO!" His father screamed. With one longing look to the forest behind him Shouto ran back to the house. 

***

10 Years passed and in all that time Shouto often looked back at the memory of the boy standing at the edge of the woods. He wasn’t sure if he’d made the entire thing up, nor why that memory stuck out to him all these years later. There was just something about that sunlit summer day in the garden holding eye contact with a boy who stood under the shadowy canopy of the woods. 

He didn’t think about it often. He didn’t have the luxury to. His family life was... Difficult to say the least. Especially after they’d left the Bakugou House. It was never torn down but simply left to rot. His mother had... Not had an easy time. 

Shouto’s left side bore the fruits of his father’s torments on her. She was forcibly hospitalized after that. Shouto was shoved into a grand Private School and his siblings slowly left the house and cut their father off one by one. Soon, it was just him and his father. Until his oldest brother Touya had put out an exposé on their father. 

Todoroki Enji was a politician. A public figure. He had been making a bid for the Senate when Touya had revealed their family’s greatest secret. 

The abuse. 

His career was in shambles, Mother got out of her hospitalization and was awarded full custody of Shouto. His siblings had come from wherever they’d swanned off to, to help. And now, at the age of 16 Shouto found himself and his mother with little more than a backpack full of whatever he could grab, he stood in front of the ruins of Bakugou House. 

"The inspector gave us the all-clear to move in," His mother said "So don’t be worried. The money I got-" She grunted as she pushed open the half-rusted metal gate "from the divorce covered a lot of getting the dangerous stuff out. It’s at least-" 

Shouto put his bag down as he and his mother pushed the gate open together "Livable?" he asked her. Together they shoved the gate open. "How did the inspector even get in?" he asked and grabbed his backpack off the ground. His All Might keychain jingled a bit. 

"No clue," Mom said and led him up the walkway. It was overgrown with weeds that had been baking in the morning summer sun. The house had a large heavy oak double door. She put the old key into it and unlocked it. The door opened with a loud creak. "Bit dusty but..." she looked around the grand foyer, "I think we can make it work. What do you think dear?" 

He looked around the foyer and up the grand staircase. It was large and at the middle landing split into two sets of stairs. One going left, one going right. On the wall of the landing was an old dusty picture. A family. A man with brown hair and spectacles, a woman with short blond hair, and their son. The son looked very much like his mother. In the painting, he couldn’t have been older than 12. The boy in the painting had sharp red eyes. 

"Kinda eerie," Shouto admitted "But..." he had been trying to be positive. He wanted to turn over a new leaf for his mother. They had a second chance. Shouto wasn’t about to let it pass by and be miserable like he’d been his whole life. "I think with some hard work we can make it homey." 

His mother smiled and cupped his cheek. He leaned into the touch. "I agree." 

They walked together into the parlor room. A lot of the original furniture was still there. Paintings covered the walls. Probably more of the Bakugou family members. Some were landscapes. One such painting caught his eye. It looked old. Shouto stood on his tiptoes to look at it. It was a painting of a pond in the woods. The pond in the painting looked lovingly recreated. It was beautiful. On the bottom was a date. Some 150 years prior. As well as a set of initials. 

BK

"Your aunt lived here?" he asked, still looking at the painting. 

Mom nodded as she smacked the couch, dust flying off it "My great aunt. She was a splinter relative of the Bakugou’s. The Himura’s are only distantly related. I think that family line died out." She hummed and sat down. "I can feel the springs." 

Shouto held back a snort and moved to lean on the back of the old couch. "It’s very... European. How come?" 

She shrugged "Dunno. But I think we can use it to our advantage. I was thinking we should fix the place up. Use it as a bed and breakfast. What do you think?" 

"I like it," Shouto said honestly. The place was beautiful, and if they could restore it... "Who wouldn’t want to stay in a fancy European Victorian manor? Do we have the kind of money to get this place in shape like that?" 

His mother frowned "If I take out a few loans... Maybe your brother will want in too. Touya’s boyfriend is pretty well off. If Keigo wants to be part owner we might be able to swing it." 

Shouto had only met Keigo twice. He was a rather popular model, and certainly rather wealthy. But every interaction Shouto had with the man so far had been very nice. "I bet it could work."

She smiled up at him "I’m so glad I have you with me." 

He smiled softly back at his mother, "I’m glad to be with you too." 

"Why don’t you go explore the house some? I’m gonna make a few phone calls. Pick out a room for yourself. There’s plenty to pick from." 

He nodded and left the room. He gave the painting of the pond one more glance before he left the room. The stairs in the grand foyer were old and creaked under his weight. He passed the painting on the landing and went up to the left. There were several rooms to pick from. He opened a few before shutting them. 

Eventually, he found a rather nice room. It was a bedroom, with an old bed in it. The mattress seemed comparatively new and it was a queen. He leaned down and checked for signs of bed bugs. Happy it was clean, he placed his backpack on the mattress. The room had a rather large window in it with the curtains drawn. 

He grabbed the old dusty curtains and opened them with a bit of force. He coughed as dust filled the air. The room was flooded with sunlight. It was a view of the back garden. He could see the old fountain. At the edge of the garden was the treeline to the forest. 

A feeling of dread overtook Shouto. The hair on his body stood up. Something was there. At the tree line. Something was watching him. A shadowy figure stood there. He shoved the window open and leaned out over the edge of it, his eyes on the figure. 

He blinked. 

Standing there at the edge of the forest was a boy. Around his age. A head of dark curls. It was hard to make out from this distance but he was sure the boy was looking right back at Shouto. 

He felt that magnetic pull. 

He slammed the window shut and ran from the room. He bolted down the hallway to the grand steps taking them two at a time. He ran into the kitchen where his mom was just leaving it, her cell phone in hand. They nearly collided with each other "Woah!" she cried "Where are you off to in such a hurry?" 

Shouto’s mouth felt dry. He wasn’t sure why, but he lied "I just wanted to look at the garden." 

She smiled, reaching up to pat his cheek. "Sure. Just do me a favor and stay out of the woods okay? Could be anything in there." 

"Yeah I promise," he said and slunk around her. She called after him but he was already out the kitchen door. He ran through the garden, around the fountain. His eyes set on the tree line. 

But there was no one there. 

He stopped right at the edge, trying to look deeper into the woods. "Hello?" he called "I saw you from my window. You don’t have to hide. Do you live nearby?" He asked "Come on..." he looked deeper into the woods. He could almost feel someone there just in the darkness of the forest. "... Are you the one I met here as a kid?" 

He took a step forward. 

"Shouto!" His mother called from the door. 

Shouto jumped slightly. "Yeah?" he called back to her. 

She poked her head out of the kitchen door "Your sister said she’d meet us for dinner! Come back inside, we should get ready to go! Sorry, you’ll have to do some exploring later!" 

He nodded "Be right in!" he said. He turned back to the forest. "...I’ll be back for you," he said and turned, running back inside. 

***

Dinner with Fuyumi was nice. She had taken them out with her boyfriend. Shouto liked her boyfriend. He was nice and he seemed good for his sister. Once, he’d been angry with his siblings for leaving him but... He tried to let that go. Enjoy his time with them. He’d eaten cold soba while his mother and sister talked about Bakugou House. 

Fuyumi agreed. It was a great idea to set it up as a bed and breakfast. A family business that had nothing to do with their father. 

They’d returned to Bakugou House that night with leftovers. Mom put them in the fridge as Shouto leaned on the kitchen island. "Your new school comes back from summer break in a few weeks," She said "I got a phone call about it today." He could tell she was trying to keep her voice light but he saw the way she was watching him, waiting for a reaction. It hit him after a moment. 

It was a hidden question. Will you be okay going to public school? 

"I’m looking forward to it," Shouto said "I miss Iida and Yaoyorozu but they said they might come visit during winter break for my birthday." 

"That’s nice. Hopefully, the house will be in good shape by then!" She smiled.

Shouto hummed "So... How am I registered? As Todoroki Shouto or-" 

His mom frowned "It’s your legal name, but I did call your homeroom teacher. He was very understanding of the situation so he’ll be calling you Himura Shouto." 

He nodded, "I doubt it’ll matter. My face was on TV and it’s not like I have an easy-to-forget face." He motioned to his face, the mangled burn mark and the odd case of chimerism he’d been born with. 

Mom winced slightly. "R-right. My fault." 

Guilt settled in his stomach "Mom, that’s-" he sighed "That’s not what I meant. I just..." he rubbed the back of his head "I mean my hair and my eyes. Those aren’t easy to forget either." 

She smiled at him sadly "Why don’t you go get a shower and go to bed? The pipes might be a bit rusty so if the water comes out a little off-looking let it run for a minute ok?" she said. 

Shouto sighed "Fine. Night Mom," he turned to leave. She caught him by the arm gently. He looked down at her before sighing "I love you." 

"I love you too baby." She let him go and Shouto left the kitchen. 

He made his way up the creaking steps. There was a bathroom next to his bedroom so he grabbed his bath supplies and his towel before heading into the bathroom. It looked like it hadn’t been altered since the 60's. He turned on the tub’s faucet and reddish-tinged water came pouring out. Shouto wrinkled his nose in disgust. He watched for a few seconds, but soon the water ran clear. "That’s probably not healthy..." he mumbled. 

Before using it he gave it a good scrub down. It wasn’t too dirty. Mostly dust from not being used. Once it was deemed clean enough for use, he shed his clothes and grabbed his soaps. Mom had put up a new shower curtain earlier so that was nice. It was a white opaque one. Shouto stepped into the freshly scrubbed tub and drew it closed. 

He let the warm water run over his body before letting out a sigh. The last few weeks had been so stressful. 

The trial, the media circus, Dad... It was all just too fucking much. Shouto was over it. He grabbed his shampoo and poured a liberal amount into his hands and began to lather in his hair. He was glad to be out from under his father. To have to keep living with that man-

A shudder ran down Shouto’s spine. He was being watched. 

Slowly, he cracked open an eye. 

There was a shadow of a man standing on the other side of the curtain. He could see their silhouette clearly. 

"AHH!" he yelped. He jumped, slipping in the tub. He fell through the curtain, banging his head on the towel rack on the wall across from the tub. Pain ran down his spine. Soap ran into his eye and into the fresh cut. He stood up on bruised legs looking around the bathroom. 

But no one was there. 

He grabbed his towel, hastily wrapped it around his waist, and tore the door open. He looked around the hallway frantically. Where was that guy? There had been a man in his bathroom! 

Loud creaking filled his ears as Mom tore up the stairs "Shouto? I heard banging are you okay?" she asked, spotting him. "Baby! Oh baby, your head! You’re bleeding-" she crossed toward grabbing his head and pulling it down "Oh sweetheart... Ok... It doesn’t look too bad." 

"There was a man-" Shouto said "In my bathroom!" 

She blinked "A man?" 

"Yes!" he said "I was showering and I saw his silhouette on the curtain and I fell and-" as he talked the less it made sense to him. "I fell right into where he was standing. There’s no way he would have been able to get past me without me seeing. Even smashing my head." he sighed "Sorry... Guess... I’m tired." 

She frowned "Are you ok? Why... why don’t you finish showering off? I’ll make you some tea before bed." 

He nodded "That... That sounds great, mom. Thanks." She smiled in return. 

***

Now clean and bandaged up, Shouto sat on his freshly made bed. He usually preferred sleeping on a futon but until they got one, this bed would have to do. At least the sheets were clean and smelled nice. He pulled his shirt over his head as his mom knocked on the door. "Shouto?" 

"Come in," he said sitting on the bed. 

She let herself in, smiling at him. In her hand was a new mug filled with tea "Here, just the way you like it." She said, handing it to him.

He took it from her and gave it a soft sniff. The aroma was soothing. "Thanks, Mom," he said and took a long sip. It was a bit hot but the flavor was nice. 

Mom moved to inspect his head, pushing the hair out of his face. "Lucky the cut isn’t deep." She pressed a kiss to the hairline of his white hair right above where he’d smacked his head. It made him feel warm. "Get some sleep baby." 

"I’ll try. Thanks for the tea." 

She smiled at him "I love you." 

"Love you too." 

Mom left the room, closing the door behind her. Shouto sighed and took another sip of his tea, his eyes landing on his open window. The night air blew the curtains gently. He stood up to close it, putting his tea down on the nightstand. 

He walked to the window and went to push it down. Shouto found his eyes wandering to the treeline of the forest. Something moved. 

He paused, and leaned forward, straining his eyes but in the dark of the night, he couldn’t make out a single thing. He sighed and closed the window. He made his way back to bed and turned out the lamp. 

The bedroom was bathed in darkness, the only light coming from the moon outside. He pulled his covers up over his body glancing at the window one more time. 

"...Was that you? Izuku?" 

***

The early summer passed by quickly. The days began to blur together as Shouto and Mom spent their days cleaning and repairing the house. Shouto was mostly given grunt work but he honestly began to enjoy it. Who knew deep cleaning could be so satisfying? He had started in his bedroom. 

They threw out the old mattress he slept on the first few nights and replaced it with a new futon. He laid out tatami mats on the floor as well. He preferred the way they felt under his feet. He’d torn down the old wallpaper and repainted the room. The old Western furniture paired with his more Japanese sensibilities was an odd clash. Sort of like this old Victorian mansion on the outskirts of a Japanese town. 

This morning Shouto was focused on the garden. The old fountain was filled with gunk and weeds. Shouto had on his gloves and worked pulling the old vines from the fountain. He was sweating in the heat. He was trying to get most of his outdoor work done before the hottest part of the day where he’d escape inside. Maybe take a nap... 

A nap did sound nice. 

"Shouto," Mom called, poking her head out of the kitchen door. "Sweetie, I’m running to the store. Do you have anything you might want?" 

He considered for a moment "Just more tea," he waited "And chips." 

She smiled "Of course. Tea and chips. I’m making soba tonight. Touya and Keigo are coming over. We’re going to talk about the house," she turned to go back inside "Don’t stay out here too long. It’s hot. Make sure you cool off!" She smiled, "Bye baby, I love you." 

"Love you too Mom." Shouto turned back to his work. 

His mother closed the door. A few minutes passed by. Shouto had most of the fountain cleared out. It was large and the middle section where the water would pour from was decorated with statues of women in togas. It was mostly granite that needed to be scrubbed down. But most of it was in good shape. 

Shouto stepped out of the fountain and pulled off his gloves. He whipped some of the sweaty hair from his face. "I kinda want a nap," he mumbled to himself. 

A shiver ran down his spine. 

His head snapped to the edge of the forest. His eyes settled on the tree line. His heart jumped into his throat. 

Standing there at the edge of the forest was a boy his age. A head of fluffy curls and pale skin. He was wearing a simple outfit. Jeans, red shoes, and a white tightly cut t-shirt that read ‘Shirt’ on it. It was him. Him. 

They stood there for a long time just staring at each other. The boy held his gaze. It was mesmerizing. He couldn’t look away. He was so pretty. Shouto could have just stayed in this moment forever, but it was the boy who broke the silence. 

"Shouto?" the boy asked, tilting his head slightly. 

Something in Shouto snapped like a fine thread of twine. He ran to the treeline, stopping just short of the dark shadow cast by the trees. Now close up on the boy, Shouto could admire his face. Pale skin, wide green eyes, and a dusting of freckles across his nose. It was adorable. "...Izuku?" he asked softly. 

The boy broke into a wide smile. And oh god Shouto was very gay. The boy walked close to the edge, staying just in the forest’s shadow. Only a few inches separated them now. "You remember me?" he asked, his bright green eyes only getting wider. His smile was almost infectious. Shouto felt the corners of his lips twitch. 

"You remember me?" he countered. 

"Of course I do. You’re kind of hard to forget, Shouto." The way Izuku said his name made something in him squirm delightfully. "I’m not exactly easy to remember though." 

"I couldn’t forget you," he said. There had been something so enchanting about Izuku. He was half sure he made him up. In Shouto’s childhood memories, Izuku had seemed more like some fairy wanting to whisk him off than another child. 

Izuku tilted his head cutely. "That’s sweet of you," he looked towards the fountain. "Are you living in the Bakugou house?" he asked. "I keep seeing you and that woman coming in and out." 

Shouto nodded "Yeah, my mom inherited it a few years ago. We haven’t been using it at all until now. You see us? Do you live around here?" 

"I see," Izuku said "I’ll only say this once, so don’t tell me I didn’t warn you... but you should probably leave. Bakugou House is not a safe place." 

Shouto tilted his head "What do you mean?" he asked. 

Izuku lifted his leg, tapping the toe into the dirt. He turned his gaze away from Shouto, looking almost coy. "Well, no one has lived there since the old woman but that was years ago. So I’m sure it’s falling apart. It’s what time does to things. Makes them decay. That and-" he looked back at Shouto, his eyes sharp "It’s haunted." 

A chill ran up Shouto’s spine. The shadow man from the first night. That imposing silhouette on the shower curtain. "That’s ridiculous." 

"You haven’t seen anything weird?" 

He frowned "Who is it even haunted by? The Bakugou’s?" 

"Not all of them. Just one. Just the boy, the one that died in the house," Izuku said "You didn’t know about it?" 

Shouto shook his head "No. I thought that kind of stuff was supposed to be disclosed to you?" 

"Only if you’re buying a house," Izuku said "Your mom inherited it, right?" Shouto nodded "Then they don’t have to say. But yes. The last Bakugou died there. Bakugou Katsuki. Some say he was murdered." 

He shivered. "That’s-" 

"Are you hot?" Izuku cut him off. "The sun is beating down on you. Why don’t you step into the shade?" The sun was, in fact, beating on his head. His mother’s words entered his head. Stay out of the forest. But... just stepping under the shade would be fine wouldn’t it? Izuku took a step back and held out his hand to him. The shade was sounding better and better. 

Shouto crossed the threshold. He reached out and laid his hand over Izuku’s. A shiver ran up his spine. His skin was cool to the touch. "Thanks," he said, holding Izuku’s gaze "It’s... nicer in the shade." 

Izuku looked down at their hands. "You’re soft," he said, moving his hand to rub his thumb over the back of Shouto’s hand. Izuku’s own hand was scarred and slightly crooked. The scars running along it were sexy . He kind of wanted to suck on his fingers- "And warm. You’re very warm Shouto." He’d turned his gaze back on Shouto. 

His breath hitched. Izuku was really very pretty and he was touching Shouto and he just wanted him to keep rubbing his hand like that. Being touched felt so good. His hand quivered as Izuku turned it over, now holding it in both hands. Shouto’s hand was larger than his, the skin smooth but a little sweaty. 

Izuku ran the tip of his pointer finger over Shouto’s palm. "You have a fate line," Izuku said, running his finger slowly down the center of his palm. Izuku leaned in close to his face. "Means you’re going to leave an impact on other people," he whispered. Though Shouto couldn’t feel his breath. 

He felt his entire face flush pink. "Am I really?" 

Izuku nodded and offered him a warm smile. "I certainly think so. You left a huge impact on me and we barely spoke." 

"Well... You left one on me," he confessed. 

He smiled "You should go in. Your mom’s car just pulled up. She’ll be mad if she sees you in the woods. It’s dangerous out here." 

"And you’re safe?" 

Izuku giggled "Nothing hurts me. I’m too tough!" He grinned "Seriously though I’ll see you later okay?" he pulled his cool hand back and waved before he disappeared back into the forest. 

"Bye!" Shouto called, a little too late. He slumped slightly and turned to go back into the garden. He looked back at the tree line as he stood next to the fountain. 

Izuku had ignored his question about where he lived.

"Shouto!" Mom called before opening the kitchen door "Come help me get the rest of the groceries out of the car!" 

"Coming," he said back and ran towards the door. He wanted to see Izuku again soon... 

***

Shouto sat on the steps of the main foyer as Keigo and Touya looked around. Keigo had his hands in his pockets as he looked around. Touya stood to the side, looking a little awkward. Not quite meeting Shouto’s eye. The two of them had a strained relationship at the best of times. Touya seemed to have had some sort of resentment towards Shouto, and Shouto was mad that Touya left. 

Touya had run away from home not long after Mom had been put in the hospital. He’d been involved in some kind of accident resulting in massive burn scars up and down his body. He’d only come back in the last year to help bring down their father. But... He’d been trying to reach out to the others. 

He was willing to give his older brother a chance despite the feelings of abandonment he’d caused. 

"Wow Rei, this place is kind of amazing," Keigo said "I mean the house has really great bones." 

Touya snorted next to him "That might be the gayest thing you’ve ever said, babe." 

Keigo smacked his boyfriend’s arm "I mean I definitely want to look around but..." he looked up at Touya "What do you think?" 

"I told you what I think on the way here," he said. 

Mom clasped her hands together. "Well, food is just about ready so how about we get set up to eat?" she asked. 

"I’ll help!" Keigo said and quickly crossed towards Rei, taking her and pulling her into the kitchen. Leaving Touya and Shouto alone in the foyer. 

Their eyes met for a moment before they both looked away. Shouto pulled his knees into his chest. After a moment his brother crossed the room and sat next to him on the same step. "So..." Touya started, leaning back and resting his elbows on the step behind him "How has it been living with Mom?" 

Shouto shrugged, resting his chin between his knees "Better than living with Dad," he said "The house is nice. Needs a lot of work but..." 

"I’m glad. You look better. Happier. From the last time I saw you." 

"Right..." Shouto mumbled, "So, are you going to help Mom?" 

His brother sighed "I want to. But... It’s Keigo’s money. Not mine. I’m just... I’m kind of just leeching off him. I don’t want to ask him to put up thousands of yen. But... If it’s something he wants to do..." Touya trailed off. "Listen," his tone changed and he laid a hand on Shouto’s shoulder "I know I vanished for a long time but I was just a kid. If I thought I could have taken care of you then, I would have. But I couldn’t." 

Shouto blinked up at his brother. "...It’s fine. Dad was terrible. I... I used to be mad you left but-" It was like some of the pain he’d been harboring vanished. In the end, Touya did come back for him. Shouto was free now. It just... took a while. "It is what it is." 

"Still," Touya sighed, "Listen to me. I want you to be happy and healthy. I know living with Mom is what you wanted but Shouto..." he leaned in his voice dropping "Mom isn’t exactly the best parent in the world either. I know she’s trying and she’s way better than the jackass, and she was just as much as a victim. But don’t forget, she hurt you too." 

He glared at his brother "That wasn’t-" 

"I know," Touya cut him off. "I’m not saying it was entirely her fault. I’m not. I’m not saying you shouldn’t live with her either. What I am saying is if Mom gets withdrawn, or weird, or anything makes you uncomfortable... Call me. I will come and get you. Any day. Even in the middle of the night. If you are in trouble I will come right to you ok?" 

Oh. 

"...Right," Shouto said. He stood up. "I’ll keep that in mind. We should go eat." 

Touya stood as well. They stood on the same step, and they were exactly the same height. "Come on, Mom’s soba kicks ass," Touya said and led him down the steps into the kitchen. 

***

The four of them sat around the kitchen table. Shouto was next to his mother with Touya across from him. He ate his soba quietly as Mom and Keigo chatted about the house. "There’s a big office space that could get converted into another room. The water in one of the bathrooms comes out rusty at first though," 

Keigo nodded "I don’t know a lot about plumbing," he said "But maybe it’s just the appliance? That would be cheaper." he hummed "The place is really great overall Rei. Is there some kind of tourist draw nearby?" 

Mom frowned "The town is nice. Plus it’s not too far from the city. About a 45-minute drive. I think the novelty of the mansion might be enough. Who doesn’t love Victorian manors?" 

"I mean, I do but... I dunno we should figure out something else. That like... Zing factor." 

Something occurred to Shouto "It’s haunted." 

All three of them turned towards Shouto. Mom’s jaw was hanging open, Touya had his brows raised, while Keigo only grinned "Is it really? That’s perfect!" 

"How is that perfect?" Mom asked.

"Ghosts aren’t real," Touya said simply. 

Keigo grinned "Spooky haunted Victorian manor! Who wouldn’t want to stay in one? We fix up the house but make it stay kinda creepy. Then we sell the ghost story and let people know they can spend a night in the Bakugou House! What’s the story of this place, Shouto, you seem to know about it?" 

He fidgeted and took a large bite of soba. He shrugged, "Just... something a neighborhood kid said. The uh... The Bakugou’s youngest son. Katsuki. He died in the house. Uh... Dunno how. But maybe murder." 

"Damn, really?" Keigo asked "If that’s true. This could be huge." He grinned and pulled out his phone "I’m gonna see if I can find something..." 

"Ghosts are not real," Touya repeated.

Keigo didn’t look up from his phone "Doesn’t matter if they’re real or not babe. People love ghosts."

Mom frowned "When did you meet-" 

"Aha! Found something!" Keigo cheered "According to this, Bakugou House used to be home to the aristocratic Bakugou family. Let's see... Bakugou Mitsuki yada yada yada... Ah! Bakugou Katsuki! The last heir of the Bakugou name before the line died out. He died in the house at the age of- oh man only 17. He was found in one of the upstairs bathrooms wearing his nightshirt... Drowned to death in one of the bathtubs. Ah, man, I was hoping he died in a bedroom. Doesn’t even say which bathroom." he sighed "But still! We could sell some story about water footprints and-" 

"Shadow people,"  Shouto said softly. "They say... You see shadows. In the bathroom. When you’re showing." 

Mom frowned "Honey if this is about the first night-" 

"What happened the first night?" Touya asked. 

"Nothing really Shouto thought he-" 

"I did," Shouto said finally, "I think. But... I’m pretty sure I saw him. Bakugou Katsuki. I was showering in the bathroom nearest my room. I saw a shadow the first night," he said "So... yeah. There’s a ghost. He’s in my bathroom." Izuku had said the house was haunted. Pair that with his own experience and he was sure of it. "This place is haunted," he took another bite. "That’s your story." 

Mom frowned "Honey... You hit your head pretty hard when you fell out of the shower." 

Touya glared at their mother "So that’s why he’s got another mark on his face." 

"I had nothing-" 

Keigo quickly cut them both off "I think it’s cool. Haunted Victorian Bed and Breakfast. Rei, I think we should set up a Kickstarter. Talk about preserving this house and the Bakugou’s story. How we want to turn it into a bed and breakfast. I’ll promote it and you’ve got a lot of sympathy from the public right now-" 

"Keigo," Touya growled

"It’s true. I’m trying to help them. Listen, the whole Enji thing is terrible but let it work for you. It could really help raise money, plus I’ll be happy to put in my own." He explained. 

Mom frowned, not looking at Touya "...I’ll have to think about it, Keigo."

He shrugged "Sure. I just think it’s gonna be the only way to get this house into shape. There’s a lot of problems here. I just don’t want it to turn into a money hole we can’t escape from. I really think with public support-" 

"Fine," she said finally "If that’s what you think we need, then let’s do it. But... I’d rather not attach our names to it. This is supposed to be our fresh start." 

Keigo nodded "Done. Nothing Todoroki at all. I’ll just... say it’s my project." 

"Thank you." 

Shouto looked down at his food. "I can do more research on the Bakugou’s," he said "Maybe find out more about them. That... that’ll help right?" 

"Hell yeah! The more we know the better. We can spruce up that ghost story. The more famous Bakugou Katsuki is, the more famous Bakugou House Bed and Breakfast is." 

"There’s a painting in the parlor," Shouto added "It’s about the right age I think. Signed with his initials." 

Keigo slapped the table with a grin "Even better. A ghost painting!" 

Touya rolled his eyes "Still no such thing as ghosts-" 

Mom pet Shouto’s head gently "...If this is what it takes to provide for Shouto. To be independent..." 

Izuku seemed to know a lot about the Bakugou’s. He glanced at the kitchen door. He needed to talk to him again. Get him to touch him like that again...

***

Once Keigo agreed to help, the money came pouring in. Workers came to the house and started fixing things. Shouto’s bathroom was overhauled. Mom seemed to want to focus on it. Maybe for Shouto’s sake. Even with the workers Shouto still had a lot to do. He and his mother had worked on restoring some of the old furniture in the house. The uncomfortable couch in the parlor had been taken apart and restuffed. It didn’t hurt to sit on anymore. 

They got to focus on deep cleaning. It was hard, tiring work. Shouto was currently scrubbing the foyer. He was on his hands and knees with a bucket and a scrubber. His arms hurt. He had music playing from his phone but he wasn’t really listening to it. 

He glanced up at the steps, to the portrait of the Bakugou’s. That had been his other project. Researching the Bakugou’s. There wasn’t much to know about them. Their most famous member was Katsuki. And only because he died in such an odd way. Drowned in his own bathtub in his nightshirt. The cause of his death was unsure. They suspected suicide. Shouto’s theory was murder. 

If only because that’s what Izuku said. 

He hadn’t seen him since that day in the woods. He kept looking. Hoping he’d see him at the edge of the forest again. But he hasn’t. 

Shouto sighed looking back down at his work. The floor was slowly coming clean. Little bit by little bit. He looked from the floor back to that same portrait. "How... did you die, Katsuki?" he asked the boy in the painting. 

There was no reply. The young boy in the painting would never give him a reply. The only people who knew how Bakugou Katsuki had died were dead. Ghosts didn’t tell stories. 

"Shouto!" Mom called "Come here a minute!" 

He stood up, leaving the bucket and scrubber. He walked into the parlor where his mother sat looking at her laptop "What’s up Mom?" he asked. 

"Here," she said and motioned him forward "Look! Keigo’s Kickstarter! Look at how much money he raised!" 

He walked to the couch and leaned over her. He looked at the screen, his eyes falling on the number of donations and- "Oh my god," he said, "Mom that’s- Oh my god. " 

She grinned up at him "I know! With this kind of money- Shouto we could actually do this!" she dabbed at her eyes "Oh baby this is so wonderful..."

Crash! 

They both looked back towards the foyer "What the hell-" Shouto ran back into the foyer. His bucket of soapy water was thrown across the room, as clear wet footprints walked from the puddle to the steps. Goosebumps rose up on his arms. 

"Everything ok?" Mom asked from the parlor.

"Fine!" he said "Just... my bucket fell off the steps. That’s all. Nothing to worry about..." He lied. He wasn't sure why he lied. He looked down at the footsteps. He felt compelled so he followed them up the stairs. They went up to the left. They stayed clear on the floor. Bare footprints, about the same size as Shouto’s feet. They turned down the hall at the top of the stairs. He followed them until they led to a door in the hallway. 

His bathroom. 

The same one he’d seen the shadow in that night. Was he trying to communicate with him? He breathed in. 

"Kat-" 

"Shouto!" Mom called, shocking him from his trance. "Sorry honey, I gotta step out! I’m meeting Keigo for dinner to talk about the Kickstarter. He just called." 

He ran back to the steps, looking down at her, his heart was still pounding in his chest "Have a good time." 

"You’ll be ok? I might be a few hours." 

"I’m 16 mom, I can handle being home alone." 

She smiled "See you later then sweetie!" She waved and walked to the door. He walked down the steps standing on the landing in front of the portrait. "I love you!" 

"Love you too..." He said and waved. Once the door shut behind her, Shouto was alone in the house.

Too bad he didn’t feel alone. 

***

Shouto sighed and got to work cleaning up Katsuki’s mess. How Mom didn’t notice he wasn’t sure. He picked up the bucket and scrubbed out all his footprints. Mopping up all the spare water and wringing the mop out into the bucket. Although he didn’t dare go near the bathroom door. 

Once he was done, he dumped out the last of the water in the kitchen sink and sighed. "You didn’t have to knock the whole thing over-" he cut himself off. A spark ran up his spine. He looked up and out of the kitchen window into the garden. There, across the way, standing at the edge of the forest was a familiar head of green curls. 

Shouto dropped the bucket and ran out the back door. He slowed once he was out of the door, to not look desperate. He waved as he walked towards the edge of the forest "Hey," he said softly. 

"Hi," Izuku said sweetly, standing back so Shouto could enter the forest line. He didn’t hesitate, stepping in at once. "You’ve been busy," Izuku said, "I keep seeing workers coming in and out." 

He nodded "Yeah. My brother’s boyfriend has been helping us get money together to fix the house up. We’re turning it into a Bed and Breakfast." 

"Oh, I see," Izuku said softly "Lots of people will be coming to the house then?" 

"Hopefully." Shouto put a hand up against a tree, leaning on it. 

Izuku moved into his personal space. Shouto’s heart rate picked up, and he felt himself blush. "That’s nice," he said softly. "The house is very lovely. Though I doubt Katsuki would like it. He’d rather be left alone." 

Shouto frowned "Maybe... I uh... I believe you. By the way. About him. He uh... I was cleaning the floor and he kicked my bucket. Made a mess everywhere." 

He chuckled "Sounds like him. Just tell him to go away next time." 

"Do you want to come in? I was going to make lunch soon." 

Izuku paused. He glanced back at the house, then up at Shouto. He looked adorable, looking up through his lashes like this. For a moment Shouto wanted nothing more than to swoop down and kiss his forehead. "...Inside?" he asked, "I’m not allowed inside." 

That gave Shouto pause. What the hell did that mean? "Who said?" he asked.

"The owner. One of them." 

He hesitated before reaching down and gently taking Izuku’s hand. His skin was cool to the touch "The old one? She’s dead. That house," he pointed "Belongs to Himura Rei. I’m her son... Himura Shouto," saying the name still felt slightly wrong. "So... it's basically mine. I’m saying I want you to come in." 

Izuku looked down at their hands. He lifted Shouto’s hand up and moved it palm up, and brought it to his cheek. Shouto’s breath hitched. He was touching Izuku’s face. Izuku leaned into his hand, nuzzling it sweetly as his eyes fluttered closed. "So just to make sure we’re clear Shouto," he looked up at him, his green eyes sharp. "You’re inviting me inside?"

Suddenly breathing was very difficult. Talking was even worse. He could only nod as his entire body felt like it was being lit on fire. Izuku was so... so... so. 

"Okay. If that’s what you want. Take me inside." Izuku moved his hand from his face, now simply holding it in his own. 

Shouto nodded and led Izuku toward the exit of the woods. He crossed into the sun first. Izuku hesitated at the edge, but... He passed over the shadow line. He looked even more beautiful in the sun. He led him through the garden. Izuku looked around, taking in the overgrown plants, and the cleaned-out fountain. "That uh," Shouto started, swallowing thickly "The fountain is almost ready for use again." 

"That’s nice. You do like that fountain, don’t you?" 

"I just think water is nice. My bathtub got replaced so I’ll probably start taking more baths. Then again I’m pretty sure it’s where Katsuki died but..." 

Izuku chuckled "If you like swimming there’s a pond in the forest," he started.

Shouto, now with his hand on the kitchen door, turned back "Yeah?" he asked "I can’t say I’ve ever swam in a pond before. Is it safe?" 

The look on Izuku’s face was unreadable for a moment. "Mmm... Mostly. It’s deeper than you’d think. But if you’re with me, you’ll be just fine." 

A visceral image of following a naked Izuku into a dreamy spring illuminated by moonlight entered his mind. Taking those soft hands... Putting his hands all over Izuku’s lithe body and kissing- 

He shook his head and opened the door. 

The handle was stuck. 

He looked down at the door. He tugged on it a few times. He could feel it want to open. It was almost like someone was holding the door closed from the inside. He let go of Izuku and grabbed it with both hands and tugged. "Sorry it’s pretty old must be-" 

"Kacchan..." Izuku whispered. Or at least that’s what Shouto thought he might have said. It had come out as a soft growl almost. Shouto gave one more tug and found the door open easily. "Looks like you got it unstuck," Izuku said sweetly "Good job Shouto. You’re really strong." 

It was almost embarrassing how much he liked hearing that. He opened the door for Izuku and took his hand once more, "Come on," he said and pulled him inside. 

Izuku looked around the kitchen, his eyes wide like saucers. "It looks nice. Have you guys been redecorating?" 

He let Izuku’s hand go to go about making them lunch "Not so much in this room. But Mom says it isn’t original to the house. The workers said it looked like people kept trying to renovate it but would stop after a few projects. So the entire house is sort of all over the place." he put a pot on to boil. 

"Hmm, interesting," Izuku said. "It’s nice." 

"Izuku," Shouto started, "Do you live nearby?" 

"Ahh, sorta," Izuku said "I mostly stay in the woods. It’s peaceful there. Quiet. Lonely." 

He frowned "Why stay there then?" he asked. 

Izuku shrugged "Can’t really go anywhere else. So... I go and I spend most of my days at the pond. Sometimes I come here and watch the house. Kinda crazy being inside it." he looked around the kitchen again "It’s you and your mom that live here right? And you have the bedroom that faces the garden right?" 

"Yeah," Shouto said "Just me and Mom. But Touya and Keigo come by a lot now. What do you do in the woods all day?" 

"Not much," Izuku confessed. "Isn’t much to do... Nothing I like." 

He titled his head "What do you like?" he asked. 

"Painting," Izuku said almost at once. "But painting is hard anymore." his right hand twitched. Shouto walked back to him and took his hand gently. Izuku frowned "Not a pretty sight I know but... What can you do?" he asked. 

Shouto frowned "Was it an accident?" 

"No," Izuku said, not looking at him "Someone smashed it with a hammer to keep me from painting. He was jealous. I was better than him even with all his fancy lessons-" The gas stove’s fire got brighter. "I was self-taught and yet my work was better than his -" The lights above them began to hiss "So he ruined my right hand-" A light bulb popped. 

They both jumped as glass rained down next to them. "Shit-" Shouto said and rushed to grab a broom and dustpan. He returned and started sweeping it up "Are you alright?" he asked Izuku. 

Izuku nodded "I- I’m fine. I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to talk about that." 

"It’s ok." He stood up with all the fragments of the bulb "It must have been traumatic." he dumped the glass into the trash "...My mother poured boiling water on my face when I was 6. Not two weeks after we met as kids." 

"Oh Shouto-" Izuku said 

"My father was beating her. Beating all of us. I’m sure you saw it on the news but... He locked my mother away in a mental hospital and started raising me to follow in his footsteps as a politician. I don’t want that though." he sighed "So he beat the shit out of me, and my siblings. They all either ran away or once they turned 18 fled the house. It took Touya meeting Keigo and getting some money to take my father down. The whole... trial and divorce. And now my mom has custody of me but we had to go to court every day and beg the judge. Yeah, she... she hurt me but only because he hurt her. She broke. We all broke." he looked down at the lightbulb in the trash. "Sometimes... people lash out when they break." 

He turned back to Izuku. Izuku was crying. His mouth was open as tears leaked from his big beautiful eyes. "...We are the same." he whispered "I thought so... then. When we were little... that we were the same but now-" he approached Shouto and took his hands, smiling "Shouto don’t you see it? We’re... we’re meant for each other. You came back here for a reason. Me. I’ve been here this whole time... I must have been waiting for you." 

Shouto’s eyes went wide. He... he was right. Shouto felt his heart pounding in his chest. It was about to beat out of his ribcage. Izuku was right. They were supposed to be together. He’d been pulled toward Izuku from the start. "When you say-" 

"Shh, your mom is coming home. Listen, tonight... late. After your mom goes to bed, sneak out. In the woods. I want to show you around. Can you do that? Come see me tonight? Please, Shouchan?" 

He was nodding before his brain could catch up to what he was agreeing to. It wasn’t like it mattered. Izuku could ask him to do anything and Shouto would agree. "Y-yes. Of course. I’ll come to the woods tonight." 

Izuku offered him the sweetest smile "I’ll be waiting for you, Shouchan," he whispered and leaned up, pressing a kiss to his jaw. "See you tonight." 

"B-bye." Shouto got out. His face felt so warm he was sure if he could, he’d have caught fire. He watched Izuku leave, entranced by the way his shorts clung to his backside all the way to the edge of the forest. He waved one last time. 

Then he vanished into the darkness. 

No sooner than that, did the front door open, "Shouto!" Mom called "I’m back!" 

Shouto tore his gaze from the trees "Welcome home," he called "I just put water on to boil! I’ll make us lunch." He said and looked down at the trash. "Weirdest thing, the lightbulb burst." 

Mom entered the room and sighed "I’ll talk to the electrician," she said and patted Shouto on the cheek "Only one more week until school starts!" She said, "Bet you can’t wait." She rubbed her thumb along the bottom of his cheek. Shouto only offered her a soft smile.

***

Late that night, Shouto stayed up late. He waited for Mom to wish him a good night and retire to her bedroom. He waited, his leg bouncing nervously. He had never snuck out of the house before. Living with his father sort of beat the rebellion out of him. And while he definitely didn’t want Mom to find out... How could he resist? 

He waited about an hour for her to fall asleep. 

Then, Shouto crept out of his room. He walked close to the walls to avoid the floor from squeaking. Once he got to the stairs, he slid along the banister all the way down to the foyer floor. His biggest hurdles out of the way. 

Shouto grinned, feeling almost high with the thrill. The danger. He made his way towards the kitchen. 

Cold air blew through him. It was so awful so dreadful. He shivered. The sensation nearly brought him to his knees. His lungs felt like they were filling with water. 

He shook his head and took another step forward. Something grabbed him by the back of his shirt with such force it sent Shouto to the ground. He landed on his back, his head smacking into the floor. "Fuck..." he mumbled. Slowly, he sat up, his legs up and bent. Then, a terrible thought occurred 

Something was in front of him. Slowly, Shouto looked up to look the figure before him in the eye. A massive shadow blocked the way to the kitchen. Its form was broad, on its head hair that stuck out straight. 

Pure terror struck Shouto straight to his core. 

Red eyes opened on the shadow. 

He glanced at the painting on the landing. Red eyes stared back at him from there as well. Putting a name to a face made it... somehow less scary. "...Katsuki," he said softly. 

The shadow hunched over Shouto. He in turn leaned away. 

He tried again- "Katsuki... let me by." He growled. 

The shadow only growled, cold air rushing over Shouto again. He was scared. But he’d been here before. He saw his father, leaning over him, his fist raised. He glared up at the shadow. Izuku popped into his head. Sweet Izuku who was alone in the woods waiting for him. "Katsuki, you can’t scare me." 

"D-d-d-deku...." 

It was less of a voice and more cold air blowing down Shouto’s back. He shivered. 

"Katsuki- stand aside!" He yelled. 

"D-d-dange-" 

He repeated the words Izuku had used. He wasn’t sure why he thought it would work. Wasn’t sure how he knew. Or even if he’d heard Izuku correctly. 

"KACCHAN, MOVE!" he yelled. 

At once, the shadow vanished. 

Shouto didn’t waste this opportunity. He stood back up and bolted into the kitchen. Towards that back door. He ran through the garden and around the fountain. 

He ran right to the edge of the forest, not once looking back. 

The woods were dark at night. Shouto stood just in the small alcove he and Izuku had always met. The house was dark behind him. His heart was still pounding in his chest. A ghost. Katsuki. He’d seen him. He spoke to him. He’d touched him. 

No one would ever believe him. 

"Shouto!" Izuku cried, seemingly materializing from nowhere. Shouto turned to face him and found himself with an armful of Izuku. Cold arms wrapped around his chest as fluffy hair buried itself in his shoulder. He inhaled a shuddering breath, his hands up unsure of what to do. "I missed you, Shouchan." Izuku purred. 

He grabbed a hold of him tightly hugging him back. Izuku had missed him? No one really said that kind of thing to Shouto. They had only seen each other a few hours prior. "I missed you too..." he whispered "Is that silly?" 

They pulled apart slightly, still holding each other "Not at all," Izuku said, looking up at him so sweetly. "Even a moment apart is too long when you’re meant for someone." 

Shouto blushed darkly. He understood what Izuku meant. "...We hardly know each other." 

Izuku only giggled and pushed back into his space "Doesn’t matter." He laid his head on Shouto’s chest. "Your heart is beating really fast. You must feel it too..." He pressed his ear in harder "It sounds nice... Too bad they don’t beat forever." 

He wanted to run his fingers through Izuku’s hair so badly. He could... couldn’t he? Izuku had said they were ‘meant’ for each other. He wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. Were they... boyfriends? Did Izuku want that? He hardly knew anything about him other than he was the prettiest boy he’d ever seen and he wanted to kiss his cute pouty lips until they turned red. Fuck it. 

He ran his fingers through those soft curls. They looked black in the low light. They were soft under his fingers. Izuku purred and nuzzled closer. "You’re so kind, Shouto. Soft... warm... I just want to stay like this forever." 

"Nothing lasts forever," Shouto said 

Izuku lifted his head, his green eyes sparkling "We can." 

"H-huh?" 

He pulled back and grabbed Shouto by the hand. "Come on." Izuku smiled and tugged him deeper into the woods. 

Behind them, the house vanished as he was pulled deeper into the trees. "Izuku, I shouldn’t go too far. If my mom wakes up and finds me out here she’ll kill me." 

Izuku only giggled "It’ll be fine. I’ve got you okay? You’re with me so you’re safe." He pulled Shouto further in. The trees twisted together and untwisted. The sky opened up, the moon was almost full and shone down on them. "Here we are." 

He looked to where Izuku had stopped. A few feet ahead of them was a large pond. A tree bowed over it, the water looked inky black in the dark night. The moon reflected off the surface. He’d seen this before. "The painting. There’s a painting in the house, Katsuki’s been here." 

"Painting?" Izuku asked, turning towards him "A painting of this pond? In the house?" Izuku’s voice turned cold. 

"...Yes," Shouto said softly. "I think it was Katsuki’s. It’s signed BK." 

Izuku growled and looked away "...Asshole. That-" the water rippled "How could-" he grabbed at his own hair "After he- I was-" Izuku leaned down holding his head in his hands "He can’t-" 

He was having a panic attack. Shouto wasn’t a stranger to those. He leaned down and very gently took Izuku’s hands in his own "Hey," he said softly. He wasn’t sure why Izuku was having a panic attack. Clearly the painting... But that didn’t make any sense. The way Izuku talked half the time didn’t make any sense at all. "You’re okay," he whispered. 

"...It’s not ok but..." Izuku was crying again "I learned all over again... And it was my best- and it’s there- with his-" 

"Shh..." Shouto tried. "It’s ok... I..." He wracked his brain for comforting words. The first thing his mind supplied was his favorite comic book. All Might. The silly little books that had kept him afloat all those years under his father’s boot. "I am here," he said "So, you don’t have to be sad anymore." 

The sobs stopped. Izuku looked up at him, his jaw slack, his eyes wide "...You’re perfect," he said, his face contorting into a smile. His eyes almost glazed over. Shouto found the look as endearing as he did frightening. "Oh Shouto..." He tackled Shouto into a hug, the two of them falling back. He laid over top of Shouto in the dirt next to the pond. His legs were on either side of Shouto’s hips, pinning him there. Strong and cold arms wrapped around his neck "Stay with me forever... Don’t ever leave. Never ever- let’s just be us together. No one else." 

Shouto used his hand to sit them up, Izuku in his lap heavily. Shouto felt himself blush as he tried to not get hard. It wasn’t working. "Izuku," he said softly "When you say these things... what do you mean?" 

"Hmm?" Izuku tilted his head sweetly "Am I not being clear?" 

"Just want to be sure. I don’t do well in these situations. Please be direct with me." 

Izuku nodded in understanding. "Oh. I see. Ok. I can do that. I’ll be direct." he cupped Shouto’s face in his hands. His mangled right hand holding his left cheek. His thumb swiped the underside of his scar "We match... Entirely." He whispered, more to himself than to Shouto. Izuku’s eyes fluttered closed and Shouto mirrored him. 

Cold and soft lips pressed to his. 

Shouto was being kissed. His first kiss in his entire life. And it was here with this amazing boy under the moonlight. Perfect first kiss. Shouto grabbed his waist and pulled him closer. 

Was he doing it right? He tilted his head to not bump noses. He held Izuku tightly if only because he was unsure what to do with his hands and- Izuku’s tongue slid over his own. Everything else stopped mattering. Izuku’s tongue was in his mouth and it felt so good. Izuku smelled good. Like moss and dew on a cold morning. He tasted good. Faint traces of some home-cooked bread left his tongue slightly sweet. Shouto hoped he didn’t have bad breath. Izuku seemed to like it the way he kept kissing him deeper as though trying to devour him. 

They fell back again. Izuku braced his arms on either side of Shouto’s head, kissing him stupid. He felt like everything inside him was on fire. He never wanted to stop. He wanted to lay here for an eternity and kiss Izuku until the world ended around them. 

Eventually, they broke apart. "Was that clear?" Izuku asked. 

"...Are we together?" he asked.

Izuku thought for a moment "Not yet. We will be soon though. There’s something you have to do first ok?" 

Disappointment settled in his stomach. "What do I have to do?" he asked. He’d had a taste of Izuku. He wanted more. He needed more. "Please tell me Izuku what should I do?"

A demure smile played on Izuku's lips. He stood up and pulled Shouto to stand. "Do you want to be with me?" He asked. 

"Yes," Shouto said without missing a heartbeat. 

"What if that meant you couldn’t see anyone else again? Not your mom, or your brother. It would only be me. Forever." 

He hesitated. "...Why?" he asked, pulling away slightly. He loved his mom. His mom was the most important person in his life. Beyond that, she needed him. He really liked Izuku and wanted to be with him but why couldn’t he have both? 

Izuku frowned "...Oh. Maybe we aren’t the same like I thought." 

"No-" Shouto said quickly. "We are, I just want to know why. Why can’t I be with my mom if I’m with you?" 

"I can’t be around anyone else. I’m all alone out here. I exist alone. No matter how much I cry or wail no one hears me. My family and friends are all dead..." Izuku looked down at the pond "So I lay here alone. The only person who’s stayed by... We hate each other. We’ve banished each other from our domains and sometimes we have staring contests just to see who backs down first but now I know that bastard stole from me. He stole everything from me!" 

Shouto watched him. Izuku wasn’t making any sense at all. It was like he was talking about... About Katsuki. But how could he be? The house had been uninhabited for years. Unless Izuku had been sneaking in. But he said he wasn’t allowed? Plus what could Katsuki have stolen from him? He was so confused. "...What’s going on?" 

"I’m sorry," Izuku said softly. "I’ve been lying to you. Well... not lying. Just not telling you everything. I’m really sorry Shouto. I just want you so badly. I want to keep you." he looked up at Shouto "If I tell you what I am you’ll never want to be with me." 

"That’s not true," Shouto said "When I’m with you, it’s like I’m whole for the first time." he crossed over to Izuku and took his mangled right hand "Tell me everything. I’ll listen. I won’t run. No matter what it is. No matter how horrible or unbelievable. I will stay and I will still want you. I want to be with you." 

Izuku smiled softly as tears began to pour down his face. "That’s sweet... It’s not true, but I appreciate it..." More tears fell- he wasn’t crying. His hair was soaked. Water poured over Izuku, his clothes changing. He was now wearing an ivory shirt half tucked into a pair of brown pants that were gathered at his calves, and he was barefoot. He was also drenched. Water seemed to pool at his feet. "Shouto, I’m dead." 

His entire world shifted. 

He felt his knees give out as everything changed on a dime at those words. Izuku was dead. "W-what?" 

"I’m a ghost," he said simply. "A lonely soul with no one and nothing to call my own. Tethered here by Kacchan- er... Katsuki. I tether him here too." 

Shouto blinked "...I don’t get it." 

Izuku cupped his face again. His hand was ice cold and wet. "I was a servant at the Bakugou house. My mother had been a maid there. I was born into service there. The house was different from all the others and we were to follow the code of the house. I was Katsuki’s personal servant all my life. I was to dress him and help bathe him. When we were little we were friends. I loved him so dearly. We didn’t know I was a servant and he was my master. Then once he figured out our places... He tormented me... I was his punching bag. He threw me down the stairs once. No one berated him for it. I couldn’t fight back. I’d have been fired, and so would my mother." 

"Izu-" 

"So I took it. Then I found this pond..." his voice turned fond "It was my oasis. My getaway. I would come here with the little supplies I could get and paint. Katsuki had so much. I took old canvases with holes in them, patched them myself, and with my single paintbrush and the paint I made myself I... I painted. I was good! I was talented. I was better than Katsuki. When I was 14 he found out. He took me out to the garden and laid my hand out on the fountain and smashed my hand with a hammer. It healed wrong and I was never able to paint the same..." 

His heart broke. He wanted to hold Izuku. To tell him it was alright. That he was here for him now that it was okay. But Izuku pressed on. 

"I relearned how to paint. With my left hand. It took me almost three long years but I painted every hour I could... I didn’t stop. I was obsessed. Kacchan wouldn’t stop me. Couldn’t stop me. I wasn’t ever going to give up. So I kept painting until I was even better than I was before. I painted my place. My pond. I had just finished my masterpiece when Kacchan found me. He said my mother told him I was here... She knew this was my secret place and she told him where to find me." 

Shouto didn’t like where this story was going "Izuku you don’t have to-" 

"No... no you need to hear this," Izuku said "Maybe you’ll understand why it has to be us. My own mother sold me out. She told Kacchan to me. He found me painting. At first... I thought I had impressed him. He said... He said it was the most beautiful painting he’d ever seen." Izuku was sobbing again. His face had distorted. Heavy black rings went around his green eyes. His skin was pale. More so than normal "Then he yelled at me. Called me Deku- it’s what he always called me. It means useless... I was useless... He screamed that I was only trying to one-up him. He shoved me and I fell-" he pointed towards a patch of grass. "I hit my head on a rock there. He thought he killed me. So to hide his tracks... he-" 

Shouto turned his attention to the pond. The inky black waters hid what lay below in the depths. This pond wasn’t just Izuku’s oasis anymore. 

"It’s my tomb," Izuku whispered. 

His mouth felt dry. This was so much. He felt like his head was going to explode. Izuku was dead. He was dead. He was in love with- wait wait In love? Was Shouto in love? He looked down at Izuku, soaked to the bone, crying as he told his story. The pain. The abuse he suffered at Katsuki’s hand. It pulled on his heart. He surged forward and pulled him into his body. He didn’t care if he got wet. 

Izuku squeaked in his arms but hugged him back, burying his face into Shouto’s chest. "I love you," Shouto said "I just realized it but I do. I don’t care. I don’t care if you're dead, I want you. I’ll stay here in the house and be with you until I die. I’ll visit your pond every day." 

"Oh..." He peaked up at Shouto gently "...Maybe. But what if we-" Izuku stopped "Your mom is in the woods." Almost by instinct, he pulled Izuku closer to his chest. "You should go to her. She’s angry." 

"Fuck..." Shouto groaned and closed his eyes "When can I see you again?" he asked Izuku "I want to be with you. Please. All the time I need-" 

Izuku smiled "Shhh," he hushed him "Go to your mom. Tomorrow night, take a long hot bath and we’ll see each other soon, ok?" he said "Go." he pulled himself back "Shouto, I love you. I hope we can be together. Soon," he said and shooed Shouto off. "Soon," 

He loved him? Shouto stared back at Izuku, his jaw hanging open. Izuku only smiled and motioned for him to leave. Shouto, mouth dry nodded and left, running towards the entrance of the woods. 

Sure enough, standing in the entrance was his mother. She was wearing her pajamas and holding a flashlight. "Shouto?" she called. He sighed and revealed himself to her, stepping out of the woods. "Oh my god-" she ran to him, grabbing him in a hug. "Where the hell were you I was so worried-" She pulled back and grabbed his face with one hand "I woke up and you were gone!" she was crying. 

"Oh Mom-" he said softly, wiping the tears from her cheeks "Sorry I-"

"Why the hell did you come out into the woods in the middle of the night? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? What were you thinking? Were you even thinking?" Now that she knew he was alive, she could be angry with him it seemed. "Shouto what is wrong with you? Back inside- right now!" She ordered and pulled him from the woods. "I cannot believe you would do something like this!" 

Shouto stayed quiet the whole walk back to the house. She dragged him inside and closed the kitchen door behind them, locking it. She turned back to Shouto, her hand up, finger pointed at him. Shouto reached out and took it "I’m sorry," he said

She teared up again "...Why?" she asked finally "Why did you sneak out? What was the point? This isn’t like you at all." 

He couldn’t tell her the truth. But... This was his mom. He could tell her a little. "...There’s a boy." he said "His name is Izuku. He doesn’t live far from here but he hangs out in the woods. He asked me to sneak out tonight. I... I really wanted to see him." 

An unreadable look crossed his mother’s face. "You snuck out to see a boy? Why is this the first I’m hearing about him? We’ve been here two months and there’s a boy who’s got enough of a hold on you to make you sneak out? A boy? " 

"I really like him." Shouto confessed "He’s so-" 

"Dangerous," Mom said "I don’t like this. Shouto I know you had to hide a lot from your father, but you don’t hide things from me. If there’s someone who means this much to you I want to meet him. How did you meet him? You haven’t left the property unless it’s been with me? I would have seen him if he was coming here." 

Shouto shrugged "I... I dunno he mostly shows up when you’re not home. That’s not the point the point is-" 

"The point is there’s some strange boy luring you into the woods in the middle of the night who I’ve never met. Is he even your age? Is he older? What does he want with you? He could be trying to hurt you or use you-" 

Use him? Hurt him? Izuku would never! Anger bubbled up inside Shouto. "He loves me," Shouto said defiantly. "Izuku wants to be with me. He wouldn’t hurt me like that." 

"Oh, he loves you?" Mom asked "Shouto we’ve been here what, a few weeks? If this Izuku boy loves you so much, why is he sneaking around me? Why is he taking you out to the woods? I don’t like it. I don’t want you talking to this boy." 

His jaw dropped "You don’t even know anything about him!" 

"Do you?" 

Shouto closed his mouth "I’m going to bed." 

Mom grabbed his arm "Shouto we’re not done talking about this-" he shook her off him "Shouto!" She yelled, following him into the foyer. The painting of the Bakugou’s hung over them. "Shouto I’m just worried! This is coming out of nowhere and I’m very blindsided by all of this!" She growled, "You are grounded!" 

Shouto ignored her stomping up the steps. He turned the corner. She was still calling after him, but she didn’t follow. 

He walked down the hall, stopping by his bathroom. The door was cracked and the inside was dark. A single red eye watched him. 

As he made contact with that eye a wave of terror washed over him. But he stomped on it. Instead, he fixed the eye with a glare. He stopped in front of the door "Murderer." he growled and closed the bathroom door with a slam. 

***

He slept like shit. When he woke up he stayed in bed, tossing and turning, looking at his phone. It wasn't until the early afternoon he got up and made his way down to the kitchen for breakfast. Mom was sitting at the table waiting for him. He ignored her and simply walked to the fridge to grab two eggs. He pulled out the pan and turned on the stove. Mom watched him, holding a mug of tea in her grip. 

"Shouto..." She started, "Last night was unacceptable." 

He sighed and cracked an egg open. "What’s my punishment?" he asked simply. He let it fall into the pan. 

Mom seemed to consider "School starts in a few days. Until then, no cell phone. No computer. No TV. No comic books," she paused, "And no more seeing this boy." 

Shouto’s hand clenched down on the egg in his hand "What?" He whipped around to face her "You can’t be serious!" 

She looked up at him "Shouto that boy lured you into the dark woods late at night. I don’t trust him. You say he ‘loves’ you but Shouto, that’s more concerning." 

He shook his head "No Mom-" he started "You don’t get it! I have to see him again." The next words tumbled out before he even really considered them. Before he even bothered to think them through. And yet they were true. "I’m in love with him," he said, his voice seeming to continue on without his permission "I’m going to be with him. You can’t stop us." 

"Shouto, you hardly know this person. You said his name was Izuku? What’s his family name?" 

Izuku had never revealed his family name. He shook his head. It didn’t matter "That doesn’t matter!"

"Yes, it does! You have no idea about his intentions. He could be a predator. He could be after you because of your father he could-" 

"Stop!" Shouto yelled "Just stop-" 

Mom was on her feet "You don’t want to hear it but it’s true! You have to know that this boy is probably very dangerous. On the little information you’ve given me, he sounds sketchy." She frowned "And you don’t love him. You don’t know what real love is, Shouto." 

He turned to her "What?" he asked. Of course, he knew what love felt like. His heart knew. Izuku made him feel better than anyone ever had. 

"Your father raised you terribly. He abused you... I hurt you. You’ve known such little love. And your story is all over the news. I bet this person knew who you were, and sought you out and now that he’s given you that tiny bit of positive attention you’ve been starved for. That’s why you think you love him." 

"You have no idea what you’re talking about." He snapped and threw out the food he was cooking. He tossed the dirty pot in the sink and turned the gas off "You don’t know anything about him. You’re making assumptions-" 

"So tell me about him!" Mom yelled, "Tell me something about him that will change my mind." 

"I CAN’T!" Shouto yelled "You won’t believe me! You won’t get it!" 

Mom pinched the bridge of her nose "I’m just so confused Shouto... You’re defending this person- you never mentioned him before last night." 

He shook his head "I can’t do this. I’m not doing this." He turned and walked out of the room. "I’m going to my room! Don’t talk to me!" 

"Shouto-" She called but stopped. 

Good. Shouto thought to himself as he climbed the steps. He wanted to be alone. He had to just get through today. Izuku said to draw a bath at night... He wasn’t sure how it would help but he wanted to see him again so badly... He’d do anything. 

He came to his bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him. He laid on his stomach grabbing his pillow and screaming into it. This wasn’t fair. Sure, he shouldn’t have snuck out but to say he couldn’t see Izuku? That was bullshit. She didn’t know anything about him! Granted... Izuku wasn’t exactly the most normal person around. He was in fact dead, but if anything that made him more harmless! 

Shouto rolled onto his back "Izuku would never hurt me." 

A cold chill ran up Shouto’s spine. He sat up in bed as the curtains closed themselves, putting the room in a soft darkness. 

A shadow materialized in front of him. A pair of red eyes blinked open. 

"What do you want?" he asked "You don’t fucking scare me-" something occurred to him. Last night. Katsuki was trying to stop him from going to see Izuku. Obviously, Katsuki knew Izuku was also a ghost. The other day too- Katsuki was trying to keep Izuku out. "You asshole!" he snarled "You’re both dead and you’re still torturing him!" 

Katsuki turned his head away. He walked- more like glided to a spot on the floor. A shadowy hand manifested from his body and pointed down. 

Slowly, Shouto stood from his bed. He moved towards the spot as Katsuki slid back. He lifted the tatami mat and pointed to a floorboard "Here?" 

Katsuki nodded. 

He reached down and pushed on it. The board was slightly loose. He hadn’t noticed before. It was a little hard, but Shouto pulled it up. A tiny compartment lay in the floor. Cobwebs and dust covered it, but there was something there. A book. Shouto reached down, and pulled it out, blowing the dust from it off. He replaced the floorboard and the tatami mat. "What is this?" he asked.

The ghost gave no reply. 

Shouto sat back down on his futon and looked more closely. It was a leather bound journal. He untied it carefully so as not to make it fall apart. He opened it to the first page. 

4/20

According to the old hag, journaling is supposed to be ‘therapeutic’. A journal is a horrible birthday gift. The old man had a much better one but Deku admired this thing when I opened it so it can’t be all bad. I’ve got something he wants. 

He blinked rereading it a few times. "This is yours." He looked up at the ghost of Katsuki. "It’s just been here the whole time- oh my god." This could help with the Bed and Breakfast. This could give him insight into Izuku. It was written while he was alive. Properly alive! Shouto grinned and turned the page. 

4/29

I was painting today. It looked like shit. Deku said it looked good but what the fuck does he know? He can’t even paint anymore. His paintings were shit. He should be glad I smashed his hand so he doesn’t have to waste his time with a talent he had no skill in. 

I’m pissed. I know I can do better. Better than that stupid portrait. Fuck! It’s been almost three years and I still can’t get it out of my head. I shouldn’t have burned it. He’d captured me like no one else ever could. Even the professional the hag hired to paint the three of us couldn’t get my eyes right. Made me look like a baby. 

But Deku- FUCK. He got it. The colors of his work too. I can’t stop fixating on it. I fixed the problem. I broke him. I burned it. Why am I still thinking about it?  

Shouto frowned "You burned his paintings?" he asked "So it is true. You smashed his hand and burned his work. Why?" 

Katsuki looked away. 

He turned back to the journal. He skipped ahead. 

7/15

Deku’s birthday. I found him napping in the garden. I was feeling generous since it’s his birthday so I only punched him a few times. The hag screamed my ears off this morning so I had some aggression to get out. Deku is an easy target. He makes it so easy to hurt him. 

He turned the page. 

7/19

Deku keeps vanishing. I’ve been noticing it more and more. He nearly missed waking me up yesterday. I don’t know what he’s up to I don’t know what he’s hiding. I’ll threaten his mother... Maybe she’ll know where he is. 

Shouto turned the page once more. 

7/26

Something terrible happened. I have to write it out or I’ll go insane. I found out where Deku had been going. There’s a pond in the woods. It’s not far from the garden entrance. He’s been going there to paint. The little shit went behind my back and taught himself how to paint again. And his work is... The painting he’d finished when I got there. It was the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen. A landscape. He’d painted the pond. The colors... the shadows. The way he made the light bounce of the water. It was like something out of a dream. 

He’d taught himself how to paint again in three years and he’d already far surpassed me. Again. If anyone ever found out... He’d be taken and sent into art school. The hag loves art. There’d have been no way she’d let Deku go untapped. My art is second rate. 

I shoved him. I was so angry. I pushed him hard. I had to beat him up. Get some of this awful feeling inside me out. He hit a rock. It cracked his head. I think he died almost instantly. I’ll never forget the sight of his tiny crumpled body laying there. 

My life would have been ruined. My career. My world. All because Deku couldn’t just stay down. Because he had to keep painting. 

I tossed his body in the pond and threw the rock that he landed on on top of him to keep him down there. Then I destroyed his supplies, and took the painting. I’ll hide here in my room for a few days. Then show the hag. 

Deku’s dead. He won’t be needing it anyway. 

Shouto felt like he was going to be sick. He looked up at Katsuki’s shadow. "...The one in the parlor. The beautiful pond?" he asked. "That was Izuku’s painting? You stole it? After you murdered him?" he asked. 

The shadow still did not speak. He only reached forward again and pointed at the book. Shouto looked down at it and turned the page. 

8/03

His mother won’t stop crying. 

I’m going insane. At night I can see him from my window. I see Deku. I see him standing there at the edge of the forest. He’s dripping wet and just... Looking at me. I know he’s just watching me. He stands there all night long. He never leaves. Never moves. 

It scares me. 

8/05

Mom loved the painting. She’s going to see about getting me overseas in a fine arts college. She said the painting was so good I could become a famous artist. 

I feel sick. 

8/08

Every night it’s the same. He watches from the forest. His clothes are transparent. He’s dripping wet. Even when I shut the blinds. I close my eyes and I see him in my room. Over my bed. I feel the water falling onto my sheets. Saying that stupid childish nickname over and over and over again. Kacchan Kacchan Kacchan Kacchan Kacchan. 

K a c c h a n

K
A                                  Kacchan

C                                                                                    Kacchan

C                                             KACCHAN

H            Kacchan

A                                                                                           KACCHAN

N                                                  Kacchan

Kacchan. 

8/10

I haven’t slept in two days. The hag is worried. I think she thinks I’m mourning Deku. Maybe I am. I miss kicking his stomach in. I miss his voice. I miss his face. I miss the smiles he’d give me like I was the most important person in the world. I need to get out of this house. I leave for America in 8 days. I’ve been accepted into an art school in New York. I’m going. I’ll be free of this house. 

I’ll be free of Deku. 

I need a bath. 

Shouto turned the page. But the rest was blank. "...This was your last entry?" he asked Katsuki. He looked up at the ghost. He nodded. "Odd." It wasn’t a suicide note. Nothing saying how he couldn’t handle the guilt anymore. If anything there had been a light at the end of Katsuki’s tunnel. "Why did you kill yourself?" 

Katsuki laughed. It was low and echoed around the room. He laughed and laughed before his shadow vanished. 

"Jackass," Shouto mumbled, tossing the book to the ground. 

***

The bathroom had a new tub. It was bigger than the old one. The water came out clear as soon as he turned it on. He set the tub up to fill. He wasn’t sure how having a bath would let him see Izuku again but he was desperate to try anything. Ever since they’d kissed... Shouto wanted more. 

It was like there was this hole in his chest. He needed Izuku to fill it. 

He sighed after he realized his towel was still in his bedroom. He left the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He walked to his room, giving the journal a small kick, grabbed his towel from the day prior, and walked back out into the hall. 

"Shouto?" Mom called. 

He rolled his eyes "Taking a bath!" he yelled back. 

There was silence "...ok!" she said finally "We... we’ll talk later." 

"Whatever," Shouto mumbled more to himself. He opened the bathroom door and was met with a heavenly sight. 

Izuku stood in the middle of the bathroom wearing a fluffy white bathrobe. It wasn’t very long and it hung off one shoulder "Hi Shouchan," he said sweetly. 

He couldn’t speak. His mouth was dry. Izuku’s skin was on display for him. His eyes wandered to pale muscles, trailing along old scars. He wanted to tear that cute robe off and put his hands and mouth all over his skin. "Wow." He finally got out. 

"Yeah?" Izuku asked with a giggle. "Come in. Close the door. We have to be quiet." 

Shouto nodded and closed the door behind him "...How are you here? Did you climb in?" 

"Shouto, I’m dead," Izuku reminded him. "But no. I can enter this room through the water. My pond and the water for the house are connected to the same water source. Technically this is part of the forest. But I can leave the water now. I probably can’t explore the house but I bet I could run back to the forest without taking the pipes." 

He looked at the bathtub. Izuku had turned it off. It looked warm and inviting. "Now what?" he asked. 

A blush dusted across Izuku’s cheeks. He played with the tie around his waist "I thought... we could take a bath together." 

"Yes," Shouto said and began to strip at once. Izuku’s eyes roamed his chest as he tossed his shirt aside. He pulled down his pants and boxers in one go. He was mostly hard at just the thought of bathing with Izuku. 

"Wow," Izuku said, before pulling off his own robe. His naked body was a sight to behold. Toned and fit with wide hips and a tiny waist. Shouto wanted him. "Get in." He motioned towards the tub.

Slowly, Shouto sat down in the bath water. It was perfect. He sighed softly. Izuku approached the edge of the tub before stepping into it as well. The water level didn’t rise. Slowly, Izuku lowered himself between Shouto’s legs and laid himself across his chest, laying his face into the crook of Shouto’s neck. The skin-to-skin contact felt so good... Izuku was touching him all over. Even his cock was pressed into smooth cool skin. His arms wrapped around Izuku’s back, pulling him closer. "Feels good..." 

Izuku giggled and pressed a kiss to his jaw "Glad you like it. You’re... pretty excited." He teased, running his fingers down Shouto’s chest. 

"You’re very sexy," Shouto admitted, "I like your body." 

"I like yours too... Shouchan," he cooed and pressed kisses up his jaw. 

He should bring up the journal and the painting. They should talk about Shouto being grounded and forbidden from seeing him. But Shouto’s head wasn’t full of any of that right now. All it was full of was soft lips and cool skin and the something poking his leg. So he reached up with his free hand and cupped Izuku’s face. He pulled back from his ministrations and looked Shouto in the eye. "Can I kiss you again?" Shouto asked. 

"Please," Izuku whispered and Shouto brought their lips together again. 

It was bliss. The cool of Izuku’s soft pouty lips. He flicked his tongue across Izuku’s bottom lip. His mouth opened and they kissed deeper. 

Izuku moved to sit up in his lap properly, keeping their lips connected. He rolled his hips into Shouto. White hot pleasure rolled through him as Izuku ground against his cock. Even with the slight drag of the water, it felt good. The most pleasure he’d ever felt. No one had ever touched his cock like this before. 

He moaned into the kiss. 

Time seemed odd like this. He wasn’t sure if they sat there, kissing, grinding, and moaning. It could have been a few seconds. Or perhaps several dark night days. It didn’t matter. All that did matter was that Shouto was wanted. He was loved. Cared for. He was being touched. He felt so good. It was like his mind was melting. 

They broke apart. 

"I love you," Shouto said, still holding Izuku’s face in his hands. 

Izuku’s eyes widened "Oh Shouto... Please... please god let me keep you... It would be so cruel to not let me after that. I need you... I need you I need you I need you-"  

He leaned up and kissed his lips sweetly. "I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere." 

"I mean-" Izuku shook his head and simply kissed him again. Shouto fell right back into bliss. 

Of course, this is when things went wrong. 

Knock knock. 

"Shouto, honey?" Mom called through the door. 

They parted with a soft pop. Panic flooded his body "Y-yeah?" he called back to her. "What do you need Mom?" 

"Can we talk...? I know... I know the last few months have been hard. Way too hard. Your entire life has been so hard Shouto. I didn’t make it easier." She was crying. Izuku, quiet as a mouse, laid his head on Shouto’s chest. Just listening. "With the divorce and the media... I’m just so worried. You seemed like you were doing so well and this... whole Izuku situation really seemed to come out of nowhere. I think I was just so shocked."

He and Izuku shared a look. Was she going to ask to meet him? That would be great! 

"I still don’t know how I feel about him... I guess I’ll have to meet him. See if he’s safe. I mean... He could just be a kid as troubled as you." She laughed softly "So, see if you can’t get him to come over while I’m home." 

Shouto smiled softly "Y-yeah... I’ll..." He pet some hair from Izuku’s face. "I’ll ask him to come meet you." Izuku’s expression was unreadable. 

Mom was quiet "Good... Maybe this... This could work out." Maybe it really could. "Oh and Shouto, I have tea for you so cover up-" She was opening the door. 

"Wait Mom-" He tried to say. He sat up bringing Izuku with him, covering both of them. He grabbed the shower curtain trying to hide them only for it to tear. 

His mother stood in the doorway holding a mug of tea. Her jaw opened. Izuku and Shouto sat together, naked and pressed to each other in the tub. She dropped the tea. It shattered on the ground. "G-" her voice cracked. Her face changed from shock to rage "GET THE FUCK OFF MY SON!" she yelled. 

They both jumped out of the tub. Izuku grabbed his bathrobe "Shouto- later?" he asked

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Mom screamed, shoving Izuku out of the bathroom. Izuku fled. 

"Mom please just-" 

She turned her gaze back on him. He held the torn shower curtain up over his wet body "No, no Shouto I will not just. You let a stranger into our home without permission. You were naked in a bathtub under my roof? YOU ARE 16! I cannot believe you! Did he climb the side of the house? Don’t answer! Fuck!" she yelled "What was going through your head? I just told you THIS MORNING you weren’t to see him. I was willing to meet him- but not anymore! You are never seeing that boy again." 

Fear, panic, anger. "You can’t stop me!" he yelled finally "What are you going to do? Lock me in the house? Like Dad?" he asked. 

She flinched "If that’s what it takes!" 

He stepped out of the tub leaning over her "I love him. He loves me! You can’t stop me from seeing him. I don’t- I don’t care!" 

"You have to know how stupid and dangerous this is!" she yelled. 

"Maybe I don’t care!" 

Mom glared, her entire face red with rage "Go to bed!" she yelled "Get out of this bathroom and go to bed. If you leave it I will know. I will call the police and have them drag you back home. Do not test me Shouto!" 

He glared right back "Fucking fine!" he yelled. 

"Do not curse at me-" 

Shouto ignored her. He grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his waist, avoiding the shattered mug on the floor. "Whatever!" he yelled and pushed past her walking to his bedroom. He slammed the door shut behind him and laid on his futon. 

He lay there for ages, listening to his mother mutter to herself as she cleaned up the mess in the bathroom. 

He lay there. And for the first time in a long time, he cried. 

***

When Shouto woke up, it was well into the evening already. The sky outside was already dusk. He must have slept all day. He was still naked. His head was pounding from crying so much. He got out of bed, the imprint of the towel covering parts of his body, leaving his skin oddly textured. His stomach growled audibly. He stood up and grabbed clothes, throwing them on his body. 

Mom must be pissed. To her, this looked so much worse than it was. But she had no idea what was really happening. Who Izuku was. That he was a tortured soul forced to haunt the earth after he’d been murdered and stolen from. Katsuki took everything from Izuku. But... Maybe Shouto could give him something back. 

He picked up Katsuki’s journal. It had admissions of his crimes. If they got the story out there, and eyes on Bakugou House... Izuku’s painting could be admired as his. His story could be known. He’d have to be honest with Mom. Would she believe him? 

He gripped the journal tight in his hand and made his way towards the stairs. He paused at the top of the steps. He could hear voices in the kitchen. Sounded like Mom, Touya, and Keigo... Shouto slid down the banisters to avoid the creaking steps. Slowly, he crept to the kitchen doorway and listened. 

Mom was crying. "I just... I can’t do this! I thought I could do this but-" 

"Mom," Touya said, his voice soft "It’s okay. You’re alright. It’s going to be fine. This is to be expected. He’s at that age... You were in the hospital but I was a menace at 16. This is pretty minor with all the stuff I got into." There was a pause "It’s gonna be okay. We’re here to help." 

"I just don’t understand... Was I missing the signs? It’s like he’s a different person..." 

"Rei," That was Keigo’s voice. "Trauma can make people respond in all kinds of ways. I dunno, I think the harder we push back on this the more he’s going to want to see him." 

"What are we supposed to do?" Touya asked "Let him see this kid? He’s sneaking around. The guy is obviously a bad influence. Honestly, I’m holding to what I’ve been saying from the start. Shouto should live with us. At least for a while. Until things blow over more. He doesn’t need to be getting involved with this forest kid. He doesn’t need to be living in a house with workers coming in and out. There’s a lot of good schools in the city. He can go to one of them and get a better education." 

They wanted Shouto to leave Bakugou House? They were that desperate to keep Shouto and Izuku apart that they were going to move him? He stomped into the kitchen "I’m not leaving," he said. 

"Shouto-" Mom started. Mom and Touya were sitting at the table, Touya with his arm wrapped around her. Mom looked like she hadn’t slept, big tear tracks down her face. Shouto noticed there was a tea kettle on the stove. Keigo was standing next to the table. He frowned and approached Shouto. 

"Hey there kid," he said holding his hands out gently "We’re just talking, there are no decisions yet-" 

Touya and Mom shared a look. Mom gave a small nod. Touya stood up and said, "There is a decision," he paused, "Shouto, you’re moving in with me and Keigo." 

He shook his head "No!" he shouted "I like it here. I have a friend here! I love this house and I love living here! I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to leave Izuku! If I go he’ll be alone!" 

"Honestly," Touya said "I don’t give a shit about this Izuku guy. I give a shit, about you. About Shouto. About how you’re doing. Obviously not well. Sneaking out in the woods? Taking a bath with a guy while Mom is awake? What the fuck is wrong with you? This guy is in your head-" 

Shouto clutched the journal to his chest "No! You don’t understand what’s happening! None of you get it!" 

"I do," Keigo said softly "This boy- Izuku right?" Shouto nodded "He’s nice, he’s probably very sweet to you. Asks you to meet him places. Is he cute?" Shouto nodded again. "So he’s cute and nice and he tells you he loves you. But Shouto, if he’s not willing to do this right and has you sneaking around that means he has something to hide. It’s sketchy. And dangerous. I know Izuku makes you feel good but he’s not good!" 

"No!" he said again "Izuku is good- he’s so, so good. He’s been hurt and abused-" 

"Just like you , right?" Touya asked, "Probably told you some sob story and said you’re both soooo alike." Shouto bit his lip "Shouto our family story is national news. Everyone knows what we went through. He had the upper hand of knowing about you. He’s using that information to manipulate you-" 

"HE’S NOT!" Shouto yelled "You’re all stupid. You don’t get it! He’s not just some guy! He’s not a predator. He’s my age, he’s sad, he needs me!" 

"SO WHAT?" Touya yelled back "You need help! You’re a traumatized teenager who needs stability and therapy-" he rounded back on Mom "Why the fuck haven’t you gotten him a therapist yet?" 

Shouto growled "Don’t yell at her!" he snapped. "Mom wants me here too! She can help Izuku I-" he held the journal out ready to tell them everything. He had to make them believe. Izuku’s body was still in the pond! That would do it! "There’s a pond in the woods-" 

"That’s enough," Mom whispered. "Shouto, you’re going to live with your brother from now on. I can’t do this... I can’t raise you. I’m not strong enough." 

His heart shattered. 

Tears gathered in Shouto’s eyes. He was only a child when he heard his mother on the phone, crying to her own mother. 'I can’t raise him. His left side-' Then she had burned him. She wouldn’t look at Shouto. Was he that unsightly? Was he that unlovable? That horrible?

"Mom..." he whispered. 

"You have to live with your brother," she said simply "I can’t-" she was crying harder "I can’t stop you from sneaking out. I can’t protect you. Touya can. I can’t do this-" 

He shook his head "No- please!" he begged "Don’t send me away!"

"Kid-" Keigo said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

Shouto knocked it off "Don’t touch me!" he yelled "Mom just- Look at me! Please just-" he was crying now too. "Just look at me! Or is my left side too unsightly? " 

Keigo frowned "Look... I’m gonna go back to our place. I’ll get a room ready for him. We should... let him have one more night in the house. Shouto, get yourself packed up. I’ll come back for you and Touya tomorrow. Ok?" 

"Fine," Touya said "Shou, you’re not leaving the house until Keigo comes back. So just... Go upstairs. Get packed." 

Shouto looked at his mother one last time. "So that’s it? I sneak out to see a boy one time and I’m kicked out? Do you hate me that much?" he asked. 

"I don’t-" she started. But she still wasn’t looking at him.

The tea kettle on the stove began to hiss. 

Goosebumps erupted over Shouto’s skin. This was just like that time. 

"You poured boiling water on my face when I was 6 years old!" he snarled, "And now you’re kicking me out of the only place I ever felt was my home." He turned away "You’re as bad as Dad!"     

"Oi you can’t-" Touya started. 

Shouto threw the journal at him, hitting him on the side of the head. He turned and fled from the room. First, he ran into the parlor. 

Izuku’s painting sat on the wall. It really was beautiful. He grabbed it and fled to his room and up the stairs. They wanted to keep him from the only person who’s ever really loved him? Because this was proof. Mom didn’t love him. Touya didn’t love him. No one did. No one but... 

Izuku. 

Now in his room, he opened the bedroom window facing the treeline. He stuck his head out. He could climb down... It would be hard, holding the painting but he could do it. He had to be quick. While they were all wrapped up in his fast exit. 

"...You shouldn’t go." 

Shouto whipped his head around. Standing in front of the door was a boy he’d only seen in the painting on the landing. He was tall, though just shorter than Shouto. Blond hair soaked through that clung to his face. He wore a white nightshirt that came to his thighs. It was transparent. Red eyes bore into Shouto. Katsuki. Katsuki had materialized in front of him more clearly than ever before. 

"What?" he asked quietly.

"To Deku, that’s where you’re going right?" he asked, "Don’t." 

Shouto frowned "Why the hell would I listen to a murderer?" 

Katsuki frowned and looked away "You’re right. I did kill him. I didn’t mean to but I did." 

"You stole everything from him!" He held up the painting "This belongs to Izuku. You were angry because he was better than you! At everything. He was kinder, sweeter-" 

Katsuki held up his hand "You’re right. I’m not going to stand here and try and defend myself. I don’t deserve it. I got everything I deserved but Shouto, if you go to the pond, you will not leave it again. Deku is dangerous. Yes, in life? He was a kind person who wouldn’t hurt anyone. Not even me after I destroyed him. But in death? Death does funny things to people. You’re different when you die. Death has made me sorrowful. Death has made him wrathful." 

"I- what?" 

"I didn’t kill myself," Katsuki said "Deku killed me." 

Shouto blinked "No! That’s impossible! You killed him- Ghosts can’t kill people!" Then again, that made some sense. Katsuki had died with a hopeful future... And Izuku could get into the bathroom he died in...

He raised an eyebrow. "He’s been aiming to kill you since he met you." 

'I was playing by the pond. Do you want to come? I was going to go swimming to cool off.'

"No I-" 

'What if that meant you couldn’t see anyone else again? Not your mom, or your brother. It would only be me. Forever.'

"He-" Shouto paused. 

"He wants you to be with him forever. If you go to the pond, you won’t come out of it. I’ve been trying to keep you away from him but you’re fucking stubborn." Katsuki sighed "That night you snuck out I was sure you were going to die. I woke your mom up by banging around. It saved your life and here you are trying to throw it away again." 

Shouto shook his head "No-" he said "You’re lying! You’re a rotten awful vile person and you’re a liar!" he yelled. Izuku loved him. Izuku wanted to be with him forever. He put his hands over his ears and squatted down. Izuku was a good person! He wanted to be with Izuku. No one else. "I’m going to him," he said finally, lowering his hands. "I’m going and you can’t stop me!" 

Katsuki sighed "Fine," he said "It’s night now, we have an easier time at night. Even Deku. You won’t make it without my help though. The people downstairs? They’ll see you and stop you and take you away before you ever make it to the woods. Once you’re there, Deku will be in control." 

He looked up at Katsuki "You’ll help me?" he whispered. 

"It’s your life. If you want to throw it away..." He sighed again "I also figure I owe Deku one. So you tell him I sent you. Tell him he and I are even. Eye for an eye. Life for a life. Hand for a lover. You tell him to not ever come near my house again." 

"Yes- anything. Just help me," Shouto begged, "Let me get to him." 

Katsuki stepped away from the door. It opened behind him. "Take the painting. From here until you’re in the woods don’t make a sound." He motioned for Shouto to follow. He scrambled after him. He grabbed his blue converse tied them on, and grabbed Izuku’s painting. Katsuki walked down the hall, leaving wet footprints in his wake. Shouto crept along near the wall. 

They stopped at the top of the steps. Below, his mom and Touya stood in front of the door. Keigo had just left. Mom was crying into her hands as Touya held her close "Mom it’s going to be alright. Keigo and I are gonna take it from here. He’s going to be just fine. I promise. You’re doing the right thing." 

She sobbed into his brother’s chest "I just love him so much..." she cried "But I can’t handle this! I thought I could do this but-" 

"It’s fine," Touya said "I thought this would happen. Putting you and an unstable teenager together... It’s going to be ok. Things will get better. It’s only for now, okay? He just needs to get out of here for a while. Get some distance between himself and this guy. Once he cools off, we can all sit down and talk." 

Shouto rolled his eyes. There would be no distance. He was going to Izuku tonight. In just a few minutes he’d be in his arms again. He turned to Katsuki and nodded. Katsuki spoke softly "I’m going to break something in the other room. I’ll try and keep them distracted. Once they leave the foyer, run like hell. Get to the woods. That’s Deku’s domain. He’s not going to let you go once he has you." He looked down at Shouto "Last chance to back out. Last chance at a normal life." 

He only smiled at Katsuki. He wanted Izuku. 

"Alright then," Katsuki said and vanished. Shouto watched as wet footprints made their way down the stairs silently. He walked past his mother and brother into the parlor. A moment passed before there was a loud CRASH. 

Shouto leaned back out of view as Mom and Touya jumped apart "What the hell was that?" Touya asked. 

"Sounded like something fell- god I hope it’s not the vase I think it’s original to the house-" they both ran into the parlor. 

He moved, sliding down the banister. He clutched Izuku’s painting to his chest. He ran from the foyer to the kitchen and ran out the door. The forest line was right there. He ran around the fountain, down the path, and into the woods. 

It was dark, but the moon was full. Its light shone down on the woods, illuminating the path. Shouto ran, trying to remember the way to the pond. He turned a few times but soon he came across the clearing. 

The moon shone down on the inky black pond. The tree that leaned over it was black in the night. It was serene. Shouto approached the pond and set the painting down. He got why Izuku loved this place. He inhaled softly. The air was relaxing. The wind blew through his hair. He closed his eyes enjoying the cool night air. "Izuku," he called to the pond. "I’m here." 

The water began to ripple. A head of wet dark curls appeared in the water. It rose up, revealing more of Izuku. He was soaked to the bone, wearing his cream-colored shirt and brown pants. "Shouto?" he asked softly "You’re here!" He ran across the water to the bank. With each step, he changed. He looked more like the Izuku Shouto had come to know. Cute t-shirts and jean shorts. He looked flushed and happy. He collided with Shouto, wrapping his arms around his chest "You came- does this mean?" 

Shouto pulled back from him and cupped his face "My family wants me to leave. They’re trying to take me away." 

His eyes widened. Then, a dark look crossed Izuku’s face "No, no! You’re mine!" he growled "You’re mine Shouto they can’t have you." 

"They want me to leave tomorrow," he said "But I had to come to you. I need to be yours. I don’t care-" he cut himself off and pulled back "I brought you something." He leaned down and picked up the painting. "It's yours. I thought you should have it. We can-" he looked around "Display it?" 

Izuku took the painting, looking down at it. "Oh god, Shouto!" he cried. Tears sprung in the corners of his eyes "This is so wonderful... It’s my painting!" he said "This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me." He hugged it to his chest "Thank you Shouto... 

He gave Izuku a soft smile "I’m glad you like it." 

Izuku looked down at the painting again and gently placed it on the ground "You’re too good Shouto... I’m really sorry but I can’t give you a choice anymore. I can’t pass you up. But you’re mine now. Forever." He reached up and cupped Shouto’s face. "I won’t let you go." 

"Izuku," Shouto said placing his hands on his hips "I came here to tell you yes. I’m ready. I don’t need to see my family again. They don’t love me. I want to be with you. Whatever that means. I’m ready." 

"Oh..." Izuku’s eyes got wider "Ok! Right now. I’ll make you mine." he pulled back and Shouto watched as his clothes vanished. Izuku was naked under the moonlight, his feet stepping into the pond. His skin looked dreamy bathed in silver. His hair almost black from the low light. "Take off your clothes," he ordered. 

He nodded and stripped down. He untied his sneakers, took off all his clothes, and folded them neatly into a pile next to the painting in the grass. He looked to Izuku for his instructions. Izuku’s eyes roamed his naked body. Shouto felt like a lamb being sized up by a wolf. He shivered in delight. 

Izuku held out his hand, the water behind him looking inviting and cool. The moonlight glittered off him "Come on, the water is fine." 

Shouto took his hand and stepped into the pond. 

The water of the pond was so cold. But Shouto found he didn't mind. Not when Izuku was there. Not when he was coaxing him deeper and deeper into the cool water. Soon, Shouto found himself up to his shoulders. Izuku threw his arms around his neck, the moonlight shining down on them. It was magical. 

"This is perfect. You're here," Izuku said softly. They pressed their naked bodies against one another. "You're all mine..." 

Shouto nodded. Right. He was Izuku's now. That was fine by him. He'd always belonged to someone, and if he got to choose he'd pick Izuku. Sweet, soft, and kind Izuku. He'd take him every single time. "I'm yours." Shouto parroted back. 

The look of pure bliss that crossed Izuku's face was intoxicating. "Say that again." 

"I'm yours Izuku. You get to keep me. Forever." 

Izuku pulled Shouto down into a kiss. Their mouths interlocked perfectly. The hairs on Shouto's arms stood up as they stood there in the cold water kissing. Izuku pulled back after a moment and laid his head on Shouto's shoulder "I wanted to keep you when we first met. Take you by your hand and take you away..." 

He blinked, holding Izuku tighter to him. "You mean... When I was little?" 

He nodded "Yeah, not like this though. But I wanted to bring you here. To my little oasis. I could tell you were hurting." Izuku walked his fingers up Shouto's bare chest. "You would have been so cute. A little kid here with me. I would have taken such good care of you. But I think this-" he squeezed Shouto's pec "Is better. I might not have been able to keep a kid entertained all that long but I think I can keep you very busy." 

"Busy with what?" Shouto asked. 

"Sex," Izuku said simply. "We're going to have a lot of sex." 

That sounded- and Shouto did not use these words lightly- fucking awesome. "Ok," he said very eagerly. "Are... are we gonna right now?" 

Izuku hummed "Yes. We are." he pulled him further in, there were a few large rocks in the pond, one was close to the edge nearest the large tree. "Here Shouto like this," he had Shouto lay across the rock "You should hold on." he instructed "You'll feel better with something to grab onto." 

He nodded and hugged his arms around the rock. Under the water, cool hands gripped his ass and spread his legs apart. "Will it hurt?" Shouto asked "I've never..." he trailed off. 

"At first? Maybe a little. But I promise I'll take such good care of you. Later, you can do this to me too." 

The idea of putting his cock inside Izuku was intoxicating. The idea of Izuku putting his cock into Shouto was also rather appealing, if a bit intimidating. "Ok..." he whispered, "I'm ready." 

Two crooked fingers were presented in front of Shouto's face "Suck on these, get them nice and wet." He obediently took them into his mouth, slurping and rolling his tongue around his fingers. Izuku's other hand reached around and wrapped around Shouto's hard cock. He jolted, his hips thrusting into his hand. "So cute..." Izuku mumbled, kissing his jaw. 

The praise made Shouto's head feel light. He leaned back into Izuku, trusting him to make him feel good. He pulled the fingers out of his mouth with an obscene pop. It made Shouto shudder. "I've never..." 

"Me either," Izuku said lifting Shouto out of the water slightly to slide the tip of his pointer into his ass. 

"Oh!" Shouto cried out. The intrusion was painful "Izuku-" 

"Shh..." Izuku whispered "It's ok. I've got you. It won't hurt long-" his finger was so cold- then the pain faded. It didn't feel good, but Shouto wasn't in pain at least. "Let me see." His finger pushed deep. Something sort of like pleasure rolled through Shouto. It made his cock twitch in Izuku's grip. "Right here?" He asked as his finger moved-

Pleasure. 

Shouto groaned, his entire body relaxing at once. "Th-that!" he begged "Izuku do that again-" 

Izuku kissed his cheek "You got it-" he began to finger him, aiming for that blissful spot that made Shouto see stars. 

Every touch had him quivering. He gripped at the cold rock, as little sounds escaped his lips "Yes... yes..." he moaned "More please-" he begged, pushing his hips back into his hand "I..." 

"I've got you," Izuku promised, pressing cool kisses to his jaw. A second finger pushed in, and Shouto felt so good. The fullness didn't hurt. "You're so good for me." 

He was good? Shouto gave a soft whine. It was good to be good. To be told he was doing good. "Ah yes-" he moaned loudly "Izuku..." he begged. 

"I'll give you more." Izuku cooed, "Don't worry." He said and moved his hips. Shouto felt the tip of his cock- blunt and cool. "Just... Relax." He told him and began to push in. 

"Ah-" He cried out "It... It hurts..." he whimpered. 

Izuku rubbed his hips "I know, Shouchan it's ok... Just take a deep breath. I'll make you feel so good you just have to relax." 

"I-" He looked back over his shoulder. Izuku smiled softly. "I trust you," he told him. 

A look crossed Izuku's face "You shouldn't..." he said and pushed the rest of the way in. It hurt but after a moment Shouto's body adjusted. 

Pleasure. Unlike any he'd felt before. He let out a long groan, his body going limp at once. "I-Izuku..." he whined, "Feels... good." 

Izuku pressed a kiss to his shoulder "Good. I'm glad, it should feel good." He started to thrust slowly. The drag of his cock felt good. Izuku was slow and gentle. Making sure Shouto felt amazing. His cock ached as precum dribbled from the head. "I'm never ever letting you go..." Izuku whispered to him. "You're mine. I'm keeping you." 

He nodded "Yeah-" he moaned out "Yours... I'm yours." 

His thrusts grew rougher. Faster, harder. Shouto moaned out, grabbing at the rock he was pushed up against. His brain was getting hazy. This felt so good he might explode. He could feel his stomach already tightening. "Promise..." Izuku growled into his ear "Promise to love me forever." 

"I-" Shouto cried out. Izuku's cock had struck his prostate. "I promise!" he yelled "Izuku- I'll love you forever." 

"Even after you die." 

"Forever!" 

Izuku stilled. He bit into Shouto's shoulder. It hurt then- it felt... good. Izuku had broken the skin, blood dripping down his chest. He could feel a cold tongue lap at the blood. "Mine," Izuku whispered. " Mine." 

Shouto gasped as he came. A pure rush of pleasure ran through him. "Fuuuuck!" he yelled out. Cum poured from his cock. 

Izuku gripped him tightly, pumping into him before hissing "Yes-" he cried. Cum poured inside Shouto. It felt hot. Heavy. 

He panted. He'd had sex. Shouto for the first time in his life- he had sex. "I..." he tried to form words. He looked back at Izuku over his shoulder "I love you." 

"I love you too," Izuku told him. "It's why I'm not sorry for this." 

Something slithered out of the water. A black shadowy tendril. It wrapped up Shouto's body. More came. His arms were grapped and restrained behind his back. Shouto supposed he ought to feel panicked. But an odd calm had washed over him. He was pulled away from the rock. He leaned back into Izuku's arms as the black tendrils wrapped around him tightly. "What..." his mind had turned cloudy. 

"It's a beautiful night." Izuku whispered in his ear "Look at the moon." 

Shouto looked up. 

The moon was round and bright as it shone its light down on them in the spring. "...The moon is beautiful." He whispered back. 

"Are you ready?" Izuku asked. 

"Yeah." Shouto didn't know what he was ready for exactly. But... He was ready. 

Izuku's cool hands held his hips "Take a deep breath."

Shouto inhaled. Unknowingly for the last time. 

He was pulled under the water. He felt himself being dragged down the light of the moon growing dimmer and dimmer. Izuku turned him around. Shouto exhaled, his breath coming out slowly, the bubbles flying past his head. Izuku looked incredible. Ghostly white, illuminated even in the dark. Shouto struggled in the grip of the tendrils. They released around his arms. 

He reached out to Izuku. Wrapping his arms around his neck. Izuku smiled and cupped Shouto's face "I knew it. When we first met," he spoke, unhindered by the water. "I knew we would be together. Forever." 

They reached the bottom of the pond. Izuku was right. It was deeper than he thought. Izuku hit the bottom first. Then- he vanished. For a moment Shouto panicked. But the longer he looked the more he saw. 

He was floating above something. Bone could seen along the bottom of the pond. Between the greenery that coated the floor. He was out of breath. But he pushed. Shouto pushed the muk- as well as the large rock that covered the bones. 

It revealed a skeleton. The skin had long since rotted away. But it was clear, at least to Shouto what this was. Izuku's body. He was laid over the top of it. A skeletal hand wrapped around his neck. 

"Mine." Izuku's voice whispered to him. 

Yours. He silently agreed. 

Shouto lost consciousness there on the pond floor. 

***

Rei had no idea why her life ended up the way it did. Why it seemed she was never allowed to be happy. Made to marry a man she did not love. Made to give birth to children that she did love but nonetheless bearing them was a horrible trauma. All four of her children were lights that came from darkness. 

And she hurt them. 

She had hurt Shouto, her baby, so badly that his face bore the fruits of her trauma. Her children knew such little love. Her own son had been missing for hours. Ran off to be with a boy who would likely prey on him because he was seeking the love she never properly gave him. This entire ordeal was her fault. 

Rei sat on the back step of the house. Touya was at her side, rubbing her back in soothing circles. Her oldest had suddenly turned into a man and she had missed it. Across the yard, Keigo was talking to one of the police officers. He had rushed back after getting the news that Shouto had run away. 

The sun had started to rise above the treeline. Still no sign of Shouto. Keigo nodded at the officer and walked back to them. "They're still sweeping the forest. But if they don't find anything soon they're gonna call it off for now." 

"...He's in there," Rei said, keeping her eyes on the treeline. "I know he is." 

"Mom, you saw the kid Shouto was talking to right? This... Izuku?" Touya asked. 

Keigo frowned "The officer said he doesn't know of anyone in town who fits the description. And it's a pretty small town... It's possible they left. Shouto could be miles away now." 

She shook her head. "No. I know he's nearby. I can... I can feel it." She grabbed at her arms "I shouldn't have given up... If I hadn't..." 

"Mom you can't blame this on you." 

"No, Touya he was trying to tell us something. I refused to listen." She looked down at her feet "This is all my fault." 

As she said the words, another officer came out of the woods. He was holding something in his hands. She tried to make out what it was. Shivers ran down her spine. No. She stood up, fresh tears running down her face. 

In his hands was what looked like a painting in a plastic bag. In another clear bag were clothes. Folded neatly. A pair of powder blue sneakers piled on top. Shouto's clothes. "Sir," The officer called another. She watched as more ran over to him. They talked for a long moment. Then, another officer walked back to Rei. 

"...Well?" Touya asked. "They found something, right? We can see they found something." 

The police officer frowned. He took off his hat and held it in front of him. "I'm so sorry," he said. Rei could feel her world crashing down around her. Time slowed down. No no no no no. Not this. Anything but this. She was shaking her head frantically. "There's a pond... In the woods. And your son-" 

"NO!" Rei shouted "No- please- he can't be." She fell down to her knees.

Touya inhaled behind her "You're joking. This is a sick joke-" 

"His body was found." 

Rei screamed. 

***

One week later. 

Touya returned to the house a final time to collect some things. He didn't want to stay long. His siblings were cowards. Neither Fuyumi nor Natsuo had dared to come here. Touya had been there that night and yet here he was getting Mom's stuff. 

She was back in the hospital. She likely would remain there. At least for a while. She hadn't spoken a word since they got the news. Since that horrible moment when they learned that Shouto was... 

Shouto was dead. 

His death had been ruled as a suicide, but there was an APB out for Izuku. But there were no leads on him. 

His body had been found in the pond in the woods. He was found on the floor of the pond. On top of another skeleton. At least a hundred years old they said. All the remains had been removed from the pond. Shouto would be buried in just a few days. The other set of remains had been taken away for DNA testing. Honestly, though, Touya didn't care. 

He couldn't bring himself to care about anything. 

Shouto had been failed by everyone. From birth to death, Shouto had been abandoned by everyone. Never listened to. The least loved. Touya hadn't listened. Shouto had been trying to tell them something. 

Touya walked into the foyer of Bakugou House. He looked up the steps to the massive painting. "I don't suppose you know what he was trying to say, do you?" he asked the painting. "Almost wish ghosts were real." 

Shouto had believed in ghosts. 

Something else occurred to him. The book. Shouto had thrown a book at him. Touya ran to the kitchen. It was untouched from the last conversation he had here. The tea kettle sat on the cold stove, unused. There, on the floor was it. A leather-bound book. 

He picked it up and flipped through it. It was a journal by the looks of it. Old given the dates. Touya turned to leave the room. 

He stopped. 

Something had flashed in the corner of his eye. He could feel his heart rate pick up. Touya was being watched. He closed the journal. Slowly, he turned to face the window. The back one. The one that showed the yard. The one that had a clear view of the tree line. 

Nothing was there. 

Touya sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose "I need more sleep." he said and left the room. 

Outside, at the edge of the woods stood two boys. They held hands, water dripping onto the ground below them. They turned and walked away from the house one final time. They vanished into the dark woods, together.