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"Do you wanna spar together Kacchan?"
Izuku greets him with his usual beaming smile, eyes scrunched up to the point Katsuki doubts he can even see him. He never understands how the other boy can just look at him like that, with so much meaning in his expression, without any reservations. No shyness, no embarrassment, nothing.
"Can't, nerd." He watches the other's expression fall, and instinctively starts talking again, "I sparred with Shitty Hair this morning and kinda fucked my shoulder, and the Recovery Hag said not to do anything with it until tomorrow. Said I need to save my stamina so she can use her quirk one more time on it tonight."
Izuku's eyebrows furrow at that, hands immediately reaching out to grab onto Katsuki. That was another development that came with their developing friendship, something none of the other extras dared to do. The nerd had no reservations about putting his hands all over Katsuki, no worries about setting off the ticking time bomb. He saw heads turn every time eager palms grabbed onto him, everyone wincing and waiting for the explosion. Katsuki himself, waits for the explosion. And yet, so far, none had come. The rage that is supposed to boil over seems to vanish, and he can never think of much at all with the calloused hands on him.
"Are you alright? Do you need to lay down? I could get you some ice, or a massage, and you're supposed to elevate injuries right? Or is that just for legs? How would you even elevate your shoulder? Well you could definitely use a compress on it, so maybe just skip the elevation? Maybe if you rest it on a table or something that counts as elevation, or you could-"
"Deku."
His head jerks up at the sound of his name. "Sorry! Didn't mean to get carried away!" He chuckles awkwardly, fingertips gently thrumming against his shoulder. "I was just worried."
"Didn't I tell you not to worry about me?" He cocks an eyebrow.
"Well yeah, but-"
"Do you not think I can take care of myself, nerd?" He scoffs. "I don't need help."
"Of course not, Kacchan's the best!" Izuku quickly replies, raising his hands in defense. Katsuki's shoulder feels colder without the palms on him. "I was just making some suggestions, not that you need any of course, but I was hoping I could help you even if you don't need any just because I think we are at that point now, but maybe I''m wrong and-
"Deku!" He cuts him off sharply. "I'm messing with you, nerd. No need to get so worked up"
Katsuki watches the tips of his ears flush pink. "Sorry Kacchan!"
He rolls his eyes fondly. "Come to my room when you're done sparring."
"What! Why?" Izuku tilts his head.
"We can watch a movie or something."
"Together?" Izuku squeaks, the flush spreading across his face.
"No, dumbass, by ourselves." Katsuki raises an eyebrow. "Do you not want to?"
"Of course I want to!" He yelps. "I just didn't think Kacchan wanted to spend time with me like that!"
Katsuki scoffs in response, roughly ruffling the other boys hair and smirking at the squeak he gets in response. "You think too much, nerd. One of these days your head is just going to explode from all the useless stuff running around in there."
Izuku squawks indignantly, "It's not useless! My thoughts are very important, thank you very much!"
"I bet 49% of them are All Might."
He gasps, feigning offense. "Thinking about All Might is not useless!"
Furrowing his eyebrows, he scrunches his face in confusion before continuing, "Wait, what's the other 51%?"
"Me, obviously." He grins as Izuku's face turns even redder.
"I do not think about you that much!" Izuku smacks his shoulder playfully. "You really think I think about you more than All Might?"
"Of course, nerd, I'm number one at everything, including the number one thought in your head." Katsuki's smirk just widened at the eye roll he got.
Izuku smiles cheekily. "Yeah, it takes a lot of thought to decipher how you turned out so stupid."
"What did you just call me!?" Katsuki's hands spark in response. "I'll kill you, you damn nerd!"
Izuku just laughs as he runs with a fuming Katsuki on his tail.
Right as Katsuki hits unpause on the All Might: Silver Age II movie Izuku had begged to watch, someone pounds on his door. He can't help but groan at the interruption. It had taken a lot for him to finally invite Izuku into his room to do something together, alone, and some idiot just had to come by and ruin it. He had an entire plan on how during the movie he would slowly edge toward Deku and test the waters of their new friendship.
Deku never seems to hesitate before putting his hands all over Katsuki, but he isn't as sure. He doesn't really touch anyone, let alone his childhood friend turned enemy turned something else. The few times he does touch the extras, it's limited to hair ruffles and shoves, nothing more and nothing less.
But as much as he hates to admit it, he likes Izuku's touch.
He likes when the boy grabs onto his shoulders when he's excited about something, as if Katsuki is the only thing grounding him. He likes when his hand is grabbed and he's dragged to be shown whatever stupid thing has caught Izuku's interest. He likes feeling their thighs press, and fingers touch, so sue him.
He might be a little touch starved.
So someone interrupting their alone time where he was finally going to get his dose of skin to skin contact, pisses him off even more than he already would be with someone knocking on his bedroom door.
He swings the door open, letting it slam into the dent he's carved into the wall. "What."
"Great to see you too, Bakubro!" Kirishima grins.
"Is that Midoriya?" Kaminari sticks his head past the doorway, peering into his dorm. "What's up bro?"
"Dunce Face, if you don't get your head out of my bedroom right now, you won't have a head." He grits his teeth, knuckles whitening from his death grip on the doorway. "What the fuck are you guys doing here."
"Well, we we came since you promised you'd join us for movie night this week!" Kirishima says. "Unless we're interrupting something..."
He feels his cheeks warm at the insinuation, a fresh wave of anger spreading through him. It's honestly a miracle his fingers haven't broken through the wall. "Shut. The. Fuck. Up."
"Does that mean you're coming?" Kaminari jumps excitedly. "Cause you did promise! Also, Tsu and Ochaco went to get Midoriya for movie night too, so they're probably at his room looking for him right now."
He rubs his hand across his face, exasperated. He can't even be too mad because he did agree to movie night, if only to shut the idiots up from their constant pestering about how he needs to get out more. But now that he's finally gotten Izuku alone, he doesn't want to go. But there's obviously no way for him to say that without confirming their insinuation that he was on a date with the nerd.
"Fine, we're coming." He rolls his eyes, beckoning Midoriya to get off the bed where he had cozied up. He can't help but think about how cute the nerd looks cuddled in his sheets, which spikes his annoyance even more watching him get up. "Text Pink Cheeks and tell her so they don't search the entire dorms for this idiot."
He feels his brain short circuit a second later when warm hands curl around his bicep.
"What movie are we watching?" Izuku smiled at the two extras.
"When we left, Mina and Sero were arguing between romance and horror, so they definitely haven't picked something yet." Kirishima's eyes flickered between Izuku's fingers and Katsuki's wide eyes, trying to suppress his smile. "You guys can help them pick since they're both too stubborn to ever give in."
"Well I hate horror, so I'm going romance." Izuku seems oblivious to effect his fingertips have. "What do you think Kacchan?"
"Don't care, I never vote anyway." It took him a few seconds to even realize a question was being asked of him. And honestly, if it kept Izuku's hands on him, he would do whatever the nerd wanted.
"Whipped." Kaminari whispers under his breath.
"What did you just say?" Katsuki's hands spark.
"Nothing!" He grins back at them, leading them toward the main room with the TV.
When they enter, most of the extras are spread out on the couches and floor. But the spot in the corner of the main couch that Katsuki vehemently claimed when they first moved in is empty, along with the spot next to it. As if it was reserved for someone else, someone that everyone expected to sit next to Katsuki, someone that Katsuki wouldn't yell at for daring to sit so close to him. He hates the smug smiles he gets when he plops down and pulls Izuku into the space next to him.
"Did you guys decide on a movie?" Kirishima sits down beside Ashido and pulls her to his chest.
"Nope!" She replies, "But we narrowed it down to Paranormal Activity or Ten Things I Hate About You."
"Wait, Paranormal Activity actually sounds kinda fire, might have to change my vote..." Kirishima says sheepishly.
Ashido whacks his arm in retaliation. "Are you kidding me? You're gonna break the tie!"
"Betrayed by her own boyfriend, that's cold, kero." Tsu shakes her head.
"I really wanna watch Ten Things I Hate About You, I mean, just look at Heath Ledger!" Hagakure exclaims.
Kaminari pipes up, "Well Midoriya voted for Ten Things I Hate About You, so we tie again."
"Midobro, please change your vote!" Kirishima pouts.
"Sorry, I hate horror movies!"
"Well, what do we do now?" Jirou says, "We're stuck in a tie."
"Wait, who voted for what?" Izuku asks, slowly leaning against Katsuki. The contact creates a warm fuzz around his brain, cooling the annoyance that was bubbling up from the chatter of too many people.
"Paranormal Activity got votes from Kiri, Jirou, Sero, Ochaco, and Tsu, and Ten Things I Hate About You got votes from me, you, Todoroki, Hagakure and Ashido." Kaminari replied. "So 5 each, we're stuck."
"Maybe we could rock, paper, scissors for it?" Ashido suggests.
"Well how do we decide who is playing?" Kirishima responds.
Hagakure raises a glove. "Kaminari better not be representing us cause he totally sucks at rock, paper, scissors."
"I do not!"
"I've watched you lose 15 rounds in a row, kero." Tsu pats his shoulder gently. "You suck."
"This is so rude and uncalled for."
"So then who should play instead?"
"I am not that bad guys, I can prove it!"
"Wait, Ochaco voted for horror?"
"I don't want to represent our side."
Katsuki feels the start of a headache. "Can you guys shut the fuck up?!" He yells, effectively silencing the entire room. "I vote for the romance crap, no more tie, start the damn movie."
Everyone stares at him with gaping jaws, shock evident on their faces. "Bakubro, you're finally voting?"
"Yeah, yeah, shut up."
"Bro!" Kirishima fake wipes his tears. "I've been trying to get you to vote for so long, they grow up so fast!"
"Why the fuck did you vote for romance dude?" Sero raises an eyebrow. "I thought you'd be with us, you love horror movies."
"I believe it is because Izuku voted for romance, and Bakugo is attempting to court him." Todoroki says calmly.
"The fuck did you just say!?" He feels his cheeks turn bright red at the words. "Court him, like this is the fucken 19th century or some shit? Maybe I just want to watch a romance movie, and it has nothing to do with Deku!"
"Ah, Ashido told me you would deflect." Todoroki nods. "Apparently it is common for people to act like they don't care about people they do?"
"Not everyone, just Bakubabe!" Ashido giggles, winking at the fuming blonde.
"What the fuck are you telling people Pinky?" Katsuki starts to stand, ready to blow someone up. "I am going to murder you and cut you up so that-"
"How about we just start the movie guys!" Izuku grabs his arm and pulls, gently enough that if Katsuki wanted to resist, he could. Too bad the second he got calloused hands on him, the only thought left in his head was keeping them there.
"Yup, I got it." Kirishima grabs the remote and starts looking for the movie.
"I'm so excited!" Hagakure squeals.
Katsuki just pulls Izuku closer.
Katsuki loves Izuku in all his forms- overthinking, nerding out, hyper,- but he thinks his favorite is competitive Izuku. He's the only person who can really match his freak in the training room- God, he needs to spend less time with Ashido. She's been rubbing off on him in all the worst ways. The other day he saw Kaminari ace a new move, and his first thought was slay. He's Katsuki fucking Bakugou, why the fuck is he thinking slay!? Anyway, Izuku is the only person who can really compete with Katsuki. His other classmates might be strong, but they don't match his energy, his aura, if you will. Jesus fuck, Ashido.
Izuku gets all confident and finally yells back at Katsuki, all nerves and overthinking out the window. He puts his all into every fight, and he makes sure Katsuki does the same with constant taunting. It gets Katsuki's heart racing until he can't tell if he wants to kiss or kill him.
Probably kiss.
Cause confident Izuku is sexy. It's weird as fuck. Katsuki knew that Izuku was cute, with his doe eyes and constant mumbling and soft hair and chubby cheeks. But sexy? It hadn't even been a thought that crossed Katsuki's mind until a month ago when they were sparring and he got slammed into the ground with brute strength and pinned down. Izuku's smirk while looking down on him is engrained in his mind, probably for the rest of his life. Ever since then, every time they spar, it's all he can think about. How good he looks sweaty, his calloused hands, how easy it would be for him to manhandle Katsuki.
It's becoming a problem.
"Get over here, Deku!"
"Gonna have to catch me first, Kacchan!"
The moment he had been cleared for his shoulder injury, Deku had been on him, ready to spar again. He's chasing Deku across the empty room they use for sparring, explosions boosting him forward. Deku spins around last second, kicking his leg out to try and slam into Katsuki's side. Luckily he's ready, and grabs onto the offending ankle and swings Deku. He's always been good at quick recoveries though. He's immediately back on his feet, lunging at Katsuki with a feral smirk. "Cheap trick, dickhead!"
He swears he blacks out for a second. He fucking swore. It's like he's trying to kill Katsuki. His momentary panic leads to just a second of hesitation, a second that Deku does not take for granted. He slams his entire bodyweight into Katsuki, sending them both to the floor and pinning his arms down above his head. He can't help but just stare at the boy above him, hair slick with sweat, panting, and staring at him with narrowed eyes.
"Why did you freeze? You scared of me, Kacchan?" He sneers.
Katsuki swallows. "Obviously not, idiot. I just got distracted. We've been here for like two fucking hours, forgive me for getting distracted for half a second."
Izuku immediately softens his facial expression, back to his normal one of pure concern. "Are you feeling alright? Did I push you too hard?"
"I'm fine, dumbass. Don't worry about me."
"Well Kacchan is never distracted during training. Something must be going on!"
"Nothing you have to worry about."
"So there is something!" Izuku tightens his grip. "You can talk to me about anything, I promise I won't judge!"
Obviously Katsuki isn't going to talk about his growing feelings for Izuku with Izuku. Now that he thinks about it, if he had a crush on literally anyone else, Izuku would be his person to confide in. He's always been good at handling Katsuki's feelings despite how unusual they are. And the way Izuku is looking down at him, he kind of wants to tell him. But he's not ready yet. "I'm not telling you shit, Deku."
Izuku flinches like he's been burnt. His shoulders immediately sag, grip on Katsuki loosening again. "I thought we told each other everything important now"
"We do!"
"But it's affecting your training so it's obviously important! You don't let anything affect your training!" He furrows his eyebrows, a devastatingly sad expression taking over his face. Katsuki's heart twists painfully at the sight. "It's important, and Kacchan doesn't want to tell me.
Katsuki immediately wants to fix it. "I do want to tell you."
The grip on his wrists tighten once more. "I just-I don't think I'm ready yet." His voice is soft in a way that used to seem impossible for him but seems to be happening more and more when he talks to Izuku. "Is that okay?"
"Of course it is, Kacchan." Izuku matches his quiet tone, a soft smile taking over his face and his eyes scrunch up with happiness. Katsuki feels his heart kick at the sight.
"I know the view is incredible, but you gotta get off me eventually, nerd." He teases, breaking the vulnerable atmosphere.
"I-you could've thrown me off if you wanted to! Are you sure you don't like the view, Kacchan?" He responds indignantly, but his cheeks give away how flustered he is. Katsuki wants to bite them. Maybe that's a strange thought.
He just raises his eyebrow.
"What?" Izuku tips his head, hair falling into his eyes.
"You still haven't gotten off me, dumbass."
"Oh!" He yelps, quickly getting up and reaching for Katsuki's hand. He thanks god that they're already sweaty so Izuku can't tell how clammy his hand gets every time he grabs onto it. "My bad, sorry Kacchan."
"Don't worry about it, Deku." He smirks. "Maybe I was enjoying the view."
He walks away, grinning to himself at the stuttering mess he leaves behind him.
Katsuki knows he lets Izuku touch him more than anyone else.
Maybe he has a soft spot for the nerd or something, sue him. He's touch starved anyway.
But he also can't help but notice that the nerd loves touching absolutely everyone, and he lets everyone touch him back.
And it's starting to drive Katsuki crazy.
"Are you okay, Izuku?"
Katsuki looks up from his notebook to see Todoroki draped over Deku from behind his chair, arms wrapped around his chest as he leans down to see the nerd's homework. They'd been studying alone together at the kitchen table for hours, before the nerd squad had to barge in looking for their leader. Pink Cheeks and Frogface had enough brain cells to not interrupt the peaceful quiet of Izuku's mumbling and Katsuki's pen tapping, heading for the kitchen once they saw the atmosphere, but the Icy-Hot idiot seemed to not get the memo.
He knows that Todoroki had no romantic feelings for Deku, but their close relationship pisses him off anyway. Who gave that idiot the right to call Izuku by his first name anyway? The first time it happened he nearly had an aneurism. He always seems to be floating around them too, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.
"Why the fuck would he not be okay?"
Todoroki furrows his eyebrows, leaning down to rest his chin on Izuku's head. Katsuki grips his pencil tighter, nearly snapping it in half. "He seems stressed about this assignment. I thought he might need assistance."
"If the nerd needs help, I'm right here!" He growls in response. "He doesn't need some second rate idiot teaching him shit when he has the best."
Todoroki nods in understanding. "Ah, I see what is happening. I assure you Bakugo, I am not attempting to court your mate."
"Hah!? What the fuck are you talking about, you half-and-half bastard?" His face is bright red, a mix of anger and something else from the small smile Izuku is trying and failing to suppress by pressing his lips together.
"Ashido informed me about how alphas are typically territorial over their omegas, so I understand that you don't want anyone else taking Izuku away from you." Todoroki keeps a blank face, as if everything he is saying is completely normal, but he pulls away from touching Izuku. Katsuki can't help the breath he lets out at the sight.
"What the actual fuck, Icy-Hot?" The pencil in his grip splinters.
"Is that incorrect? Would you like me to help Izuku?"
"No! Fuck off!"
"So I was correct." He nods in understanding.
"What!? No, I didn't mean that either you fucking idiot!"
"You are confusing me, Bakugo. Perhaps I should ask Ashido for further clarification. The fanfictions she sent me with Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics helped to some extent, but perhaps they don't translate exactly? Or many I just need to read more to fully understand." He ponders, still completely serious.
"I am going to murder that pink idiot." The pencil snaps in two.
Izuku coughs, bringing his attention back. "Can I just ask, why am I the omega in this situation?"
Katsuki scoffs in response. "Obviously between the two of us, I'd be the alpha, don't be stupid."
"What!? Why? I'm strong too now!" Izuku's gapes.
"Not stronger than me! I'm number one. Anyway, you're too much of a nerd to be an alpha, especially with your mumbling crap."
Todoroki nods in understanding. "I see, so Bakugo is the alpha because he is dumber than Izuku."
"Hah?! You wanna say that again you Icy-Hot bastard?" He shoots up, gripping the two sharp ends of the pencil in his hands and scowling and Izuku's peals of laughter. "I'll murder you right here!"
"What is going on here?" Ochaco walked back in, Tsu following suit holding two bowls of pasta. "Why is Bakugo murdering Todoroki?"
"He is angry because his alpha instincts came out when I made physical contact with his omega and offered to help him with homework, which he perceived as me trying to encroach on his mate." Todoroki explains.
"I'm sorry, what?" Ochaco's eyes flick between them.
"I am not a fucking alpha, you idiot!" Katsuki would've murdered him by now, if it wasn't for the soft giggles Izuku was trying to hold back.
"Oh, so Izuku was right then? He is the alpha, and you're his omega?"
Izuku bursts out laughing at that, Ochaco following suit after seeing Katsuki's pained expression. "I swear to fucking god, half-and-half, you're the dumbest fucking person I have ever met. No one is an alpha or an omega, that is not a real thing outside fucking fanfiction." He grits out. Izuku just laughs harder.
"I see. I should probably inform Ashido of this." Todoroki softly smiles at him. "Thank you for being such a good friend and informing me of this, Bakugo!"
Izuku is clutching his sides at this, gasping for air. Katsuki's heart feels like its soaring at the sight, and before he can question why, he zeros in on Ochaco's hand gripping Izuku's shoulder as she cackles. Katsuki wants to cut her hands off.
Maybe that could be considered a little extreme.
He can't find it in himself to care.
"We are not fucking friends, you Icy-Hot idiot." He drops the broken pencil onto the table. "C'mon Deku, I want the pencil I left in your room last week since I broke mine."
Deku finally catches his breath, wiping tears out of his eyes. "I have pencils in my backpack, Kacchan, we don't need to go all the way back to my dorm for that! I always keep extra considering your track record of breaking them."
Yeah, it's kinda cute that the nerd is so thoughtful, but it's really fucking up his plan to get Ochaco's hand off his shoulder. "Don't care. I want that one, and I can't get into your room without you so we're going."
"Oh! Okay then, I'll see you guys later, I guess!" He scrunches his nose cutely, grabbing his things and standing up.
Ochaco's hand finally drops from his shoulder, and Katsuki's heart feels lighter.
He knows he's fucked.
Another development of their rekindled friendship is their moms reinstating family gatherings. Katsuki had grown up with Auntie Inko constantly fussing over him, and as much as he hates to admit it, he misses her constant doting during their time apart. Of course he loves his own mom, but Auntie always showed her affection through constant touching and worrying, whereas his mom is much more reserved like himself.
He missed watching Izuku fit in with his family too. He and his mom had always bonded over making fun of Katsuki, something that used to drive him mad. Somehow, he hopes they gang up on him again.
What had always driven him even more crazy, was Izuku's relationship with his dad. Where his mom had taught him passion through noise, his dad taught him passion in the quiet things. His dad taught him to cook and jog, where his mom introduced the drums and boxing. The stuff his dad picked, he always seemed to struggle with more. He could cook extremely well, but not without clanging pots or yelling at anyone who stepped into the kitchen. He could run fast, but his strides were powerful, not graceful. But he kept trying, over and over, just for the soft smile his dad would give him when he succeeded.
And then Izuku came along, and he completely sucked. He burnt everything he cooked, he tripped over his own shoes, and yet Katsuki's dad looked at him with pride.
The pride that Katsuki wanted.
It made no sense to him, as a child. He was better than Izuku in every way. His meals were tastier, he ran faster, and yet Izuku was still winning.
But now that he's older, he hopes Izuku gets pulled into the kitchen with his dad, forced to taste everything to make sure it's perfect. He hopes his dad brings Izuku on morning runs, and patches up his knees when he inevitably trips and falls. Mostly, he hopes his dad still looks at Izuku like he hung the stars.
He knows he looks at Izuku that way now too.
"I'm so nervous, Kacchan!"
"Why, nerd?" Katsuki is pulled from his thoughts at the words. "You've been to my house like a million times."
"But I haven't seen Auntie Mitsuki or Uncle Masaru in so long! What if they don't like me anymore?" Izuku picks at the skin around his nails until Katsuki grabs his hand to stop the movement. His hands have never been as tender and loving as Izuku's. His hands are trained in destruction, in violence. But he's been trying to learn to use them for comfort. For love. So he rubs his thumb against the back of Izuku's hand, hoping he's doing it right.
"They'll love you."
Izuku tightens his grip on his hand. "But how do you know?"
He knows they'll love him because of one main reason.
Katsuki loves him.
The realization doesn't hit him as hard as he expects. Maybe he always knew, deep down. The way he feels around Izuku isn't the same as he does with his other friends, no matter how hard he tries to deny it. No one around him ever seemed surprised by how they acted together. He's not even really surprised by the realization, mainly because it's a simple fact. Katsuki loves Izuku. He probably always has, even if it was buried under layers of self-hatred and confusion.
But regardless of whatever he thought he felt for Izuku, it was always about him. Izuku always had been the center of his life, even if it was when he wanted desperately to destroy the dreams of the little boy chasing after him.
He can't imagine a life without Izuku, and after getting the calloused hands on him, he knows he will never be able to let go of the nerd.
"Just trust me," Katsuki squeezes his hand three times. "You do trust me, don't you?"
"Of course I do!"
"Then stop worrying so much." He grabs the house key from his pocket, and unlocks the door to his childhood home. Stepping inside with Izuku following closely behind feels so familiar, but in a way that squeezes his heart so tightly he thinks it might burst. He kicks off his shoes with ease, nodding at Izuku to do the same when he stares blankly. "We're home!"
"There you two brats are!" His mom walks down the hallway reaching to ruffle both the boys' hair. "How are you doing, Izuku? Hopefully Katsuki didn't make you deaf on the way home. I swear, that boy never learned to shut up."
He swats her hand away from his head. "You hag! I was nothing but a delight on the train, thank you very much!"
"Kacchan's probably permanently changed my ears to accept his screaming at this point." Izuku laughs.
"Izuku, my baby!" Auntie Inko rushes over to them, wrapping her son in a tight hug as tears stream down her cheeks. "Have you been taking care of yourself? There's barely any fat left on your body, you better be eating enough! And all these new scars, oh my baby, why did you have to pick such a dangerous dream?"
"I'm fine, mom." Izuku sniffles, trying to hold back sobs of their own.
Katsuki plays with his fingers, waiting with patience he never seems to have.
"Katsuki, how are you dear? I have't seen you in so long, you're so big now! And so muscular too, just like my Izu, are you sure you both are eating enough? I hope that All Might isn't training you too hard." Arms wrap around him tightly in a hug that feels like home.
"I'm fine too, Auntie." He awkwardly pats her back, but she doesn't seem to take note of his unease around physical touch. She's never seemed to mind.
Just like Izuku.
"You brats can come to the kitchen, Masaru is cooking right now." His mom guides them all away from the door. Izuku's gaze stops on every picture frame littering the walls of the hallway, lingering on the childhood photo of them playing together in All Might onesies.
"Dad!" He immediately heads over to give his dad an awkward side hug.
"It's good to see you, Katsuki. I missed you." He responds quietly.
Their peace only lasts a second though. "Oh, so he gets dad and all I get is hag?"
"Well he's not the one screaming all the time!"
"Kettle, meet fucking pot!"
"It's your fault I'm this way anyway!"
"Like hell it is!"
Two giggles sound quietly behind him.
"What?"
"You really are just a replica of your mom." Izuku smiles sheepishly as Auntie Inko nods in agreement.
"How dare you!? I'm nothing like that hag!"
"Katsuki wishes he was like me!"
Izuku just laughs harder as they continue arguing.
"Izuku, would you mind helping me cut the carrots?" Katsuki is pulled from his mom's stream of curse words by his dad's voice.
"Of course, I would love to help!"
"I can do it, the nerd will just end up cutting himself anyway." The words leave his mouth before he can think to stop them.
Katsuki shrinks into himself. There's no way you could do it, you useless Deku. He wanted Izuku to get along with his dad again, but somehow his jealousy creeps back up, weighing on his chest until he feels like he's suffocating.
A gentle hand rests on his shoulder. "I asked Izuku to do the carrots so you can help me with the pork. The carrots are much easier."
Rage bubbles up in his stomach at the knowing gaze in his fathers eyes. Like he expects Katsuki to be jealous, to be rude, to try and put down Izuku and imply that he can't do anything himself. He knows he created the persona himself, but the fact that even his father assumes the worst from him? It's like a knife to the gut, and Izuku's nods and quiet reassurance that he wouldn't take over or get in the way of Katsuki's relationship with his dad twists the knife.
They work side by side in tandem, while the moms pop open a bottle of red wine and irritate the fuck out of Katsuki. Izuku tries to keep them entertained with stories, but keeps getting interrupted by Katsuki shoving various foods in his mouth for him to taste test.
"Can I speak to you for a moment, Katsuki?" Masaru smiles gently, hand brushing the top of his arms.
Katsuki glances at the pot simmering. "Sure, but is it okay to just leave everything here?"
"Izuku can take care of it." He raises his eyebrow, expecting Katsuki to object.
"He can."
Masaru's smile widens a little before he turns and guides them outside to the patio. He sits on the wooden swinging bench, patting beside him for Katsuki to sit as well. His dad had bought the bench when Katsuki turned 7 and became even angrier at life, as a way to get Katsuki to sit outside and cool down every time he got into a screaming match with his mom. As he grew older, he found himself sitting on the bench in the quiet of the night even when there was no rage to get rid of. He'd think through problems, refusing to stop rocking until he solved them. He broke his streak the first time he sat and thought about Izuku.
"You know that I love you, right?"
His heart clenches at the words that come so easily to his dad. "Yeah, whatever, why?"
"I know you don't hate Izuku anymore."
Katsuki immediately opens his mouth to refute the statement, but is cut off, "Don't try and deny it. I saw you guys today, and it's different. I also know it's different when I'm involved."
"What do you mean?" He instinctively goes to pretending.
"You know what I mean."
"I'm sorry." He chokes the words out through the lump in his throat. His dad had always been the only person he could apologize to, until he finally worked up the courage to say the words to Izuku. "I don't know why I do it."
"Yes, you do, Katsuki." Masaru gently wraps his arm around him. "Be honest with me so you can be honest with yourself."
"Do you wish he was your son?" The words left his mouth before he could think. He felt tears fill his eyes at his own words, a realization of something he hadn't been able to form into words finally coming to the surface.
"Katsuki."
"Yeah?" He stares at his feet as they move up and down through the air.
"Look at me."
He looks up, and the look on his father's face is so soft. He wonders if he could learn to be that soft.
"You are my son, and I love you. You are everything I ever dreamed of in a son. You're strong, you're brave, you fight for what you believe in and you always do your best."
"He's more like you."
"Maybe. But you're just like the woman I chose as my life partner. And honestly, you're like me in a lot more ways than you realize, Katsuki. You love like me."
Katsuki scoffs at that. "I'm not gentle like that."
"I watched you blow on the curry before feeding it to Izuku so he wouldn't burn his mouth."
"So what?" His cheeks flush, darkening as he realizes the implication. "I do not love Izuku."
"Katsuki." He shoves his dad's shoulder at the deadpan look he gets.
"I don't!"
"I don't want him as a son; I have you for that. But as a son-in-law, I would be thrilled." Masaru grins as Katsuki flushes an even deeper red.
"Shut up?"
"He doesn't have a dad, Katsuki. When he was very young, Inko asked me to be a positive male role model in his life. Of course I couldn't fill in like a full dad would, but I tried my best to teach him the things I knew. I won't act like my relationship with him was solely based on Inko's request. I love him like family. That doesn't mean he replaces my son, not at all. My heart is big enough to love you both entirely. Whoever decides to walk down the aisle, I'll be by their side."
Katsuki rolls his eyes dramatically at the last statement, the vice in his chest finally loosening. "Thanks, dad. Should we head back inside?"
"Oh definitely. I love the kid, but seriously, he cannot cook."
Katsuki is laying in bed at 8:30pm, like normal, when he hears a knock at the door.
"Whichever one of you fucking idiots is knocking on my door right now, you better have a really good fucking reason or I will blow your head off!" He stomps over, swinging the door open and letting it slam into the growing dent in his wall. Todoroki is on the other side, a blank expression on his face. "It's my fucking bedtime, you Icy-hot idiot."
"Ah, I apologize." Todoroki nods politely. "Would you prefer if I came back tomorrow."
Katsuki sighs. "No. Whatever. Just come inside, dumbass."
Todoroki smiles slightly, stepping through and looking around the dorm room. He slams the door shut.
"Are you here to fucking stand there and stare at my stuff, or did you have an actual reason?"
"I do have a reason! Sorry." He sits criss-cross on the floor, despite the empty bed and chairs available around them. Katsuki joins him on the floor, confused as silence stretches on between them.
"Are you going to tell me it?" He raises his eyebrows, staring at the blank heterochromic eyes.
"Oh, yes!" Todoroki nods decisively, as if suddenly understanding something. Katsuki thinks he will never understand him; he seriously gets stranger every single time they speak. "I wanted to ask you about romance."
"Get out." He refuses to let his and Izuku's friendship turn into some weird spectacle between their friends, and he knows if Todoroki knows anything, Ashido and then the entire class will know within the day.
"Do you not want to talk about romance?" Todoroki tips his head, unmoving from his spot on the floor despite Katsuki's command.
"Not with you." He sneers back. "My private life is private for a reason."
"Oh, I understand!"
"Good, now get out."
"You thought I wanted to talk about your romantic life."
What the fuck else would Katsuki think? Todoroki has about as much emotion as a rock, and honestly sometimes even rocks outdo him. He swears he's getting a headache from this conversation. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"I wanted to ask you about my romantic life." Todoroki blinks. "Is that okay?"
"First of all, didn't even know you cared about romance. Second of all, why the fuck would you come to me and not Izuku? He is actually your friend, and is like into all that sappy romance crap too. Or like your siblings?"
"You are my friend, Bakugou." Todoroki gives another small smile. "I wanted to ask you because while Izuku is more emotionally intelligent, he overthinks everything and I think you are more straightforward, like the person I think am interested in. Also my family supposedly has 'trauma' and 'aren't emotionally stable'". He punctuates his words with air quotes.
"Izuku is not better than me in anything, you Icy-Hot bastard." He grits out.
"Okay."
"Just fucking ask, idiot."
"How do you know if someone is interested in you romantically?"
He thrums his fingers against the carpet. "Well you can test the water by seeing if they feel the same way as you do when you are interested in them. But honestly, the easiest way to know if they like you back is to just ask."
"How do you know when you are interested in someone romantically?"
Katsuki sighs. He thinks about it, then thinks about Izuku and immediately gets giddy thinking about Izuku. He knows he's down bad. "I guess when you want to be around them."
"I want to be around you?" Todoroki tips his head, confused. "Does that mean I am romantically interested in you?"
"What the fuck? No, dumbass, you're not into me." Katsuki scrunches his nose at the thought. "It's more than that. You want to be around them all the time, no matter what mood they're in and you want to do everything with them. You think of them all the time when they're not there, you see them in the little things around you. You want them to be happy, and you want to make them happy. You care about all their interests, even if you'd think they're stupid coming from someone else. You want them to be by your side forever, and you can't imagine a world where they aren't there."
He's really down bad.
"You really like Izuku." Todoroki echoes the thought. "And it does make sense you see him in the small things, he is quite short. Not sure that applies to my situation though."
"Shut up." His face heats up at the first statement, and he willfully ignores the second.
"Have you told him you feel this way?"
Katsuki scoffs. "Of course not."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know if he feels the same way."
That's not true. Katsuki knows Izuku feels the same way. He knows it in the little looks they share, in their fingers brushing and Izuku's flushed cheeks. He knows in how Izuku looks for him everywhere. Izuku loves loudly, even when Katsuki is too cowardly to do the same back. He makes sure Katsuki never has doubts about his feelings, because even without asking, he knows Katsuki's fears about their past affecting their future.
He knows they're just dancing around each other at this point. In the quiet of the rocking chair back home, he realized that he is terrified. Terrified of speaking the words aloud, of making it real and tangible, because what if it goes wrong? He may not be a bully anymore, but he's never been the best with feelings. He can't say what he means, he hides his heart with a venomous tongue and It shows in every relationship he has. And while he has close friends, they never get to know him on the deeper level that he wants Izuku to.
Izuku already knows him more than anyone else. So he knows Katsuki is afraid. And he's the most selfless person Katsuki knows, so of course he doesn't voice his own feelings aloud, and waits patiently for Katsuki to feel comfortable. Katsuki is grateful.
All that is way too much to explain to Todoroki though. His answer is much easier to explain.
"Can't you just ask him if he feels the same?"
"What? No."
"You just said that's the easiest way to know if they feel the same?" Todoroki furrows his eyebrows, confused.
"If he doesn't feel the same, it would ruin our friendship." What would really ruin it would be Katsuki bulldozing through it by trying and failing at romance.
"But it's Izuku?"
"What do you mean, it's Izuku?"
Todoroki looks even more confused. "I mean, it's Izuku. He's like the nicest person ever and he absolutely adores you. I don't think there's anything you could do or say that would scare him off ever. If anything, he would be flattered that you like him so much. It's just Izuku. He would probably ramble about how you're so amazing and that he can't believe someone as amazing as you would like him."
Katsuki can imagine it too. "Maybe."
"If you like him so much, wouldn't it be worth the risk to make him happy. You might not feel as good after, hearing he doesn't feel the same way. But he would feel really good, and you said part of the criteria is wanting to make him happy."
Fuck. The Icy-Hot bastard is right. He fucking hates when Todoroki has good points because he never seems to have any clue about what's going on anyway. Especially in this conversation where Katsuki straight up lied to him, and his shitty point still applies to their situation. Because if Katsuki does fuck up the romance and ruin their relationship, Izuku would still be flattered and ecstatic that he even tried.
Izuku is just that kind of person.
"Fuck off, Icy-Hot. You said this wasn't gonna be about me."
"Oh well, you solved my problem already so then I got distracted."
Katsuki raises an eyebrow. "Then go to bed, why the fuck are you still here? How the fuck did I solve your problem?"
"Well I know what to do now." Todoroki says, standing up and heading toward the door.
"Which is?"
"I am going to tell Sero that I want to court him."
"What the fuck?"
"Thank you for your assistance, Bakugou." He pats Katsuki's shoulder before walking away.
He really needs to kill Ashido one of these days.
"Kacchan? What are you doing here, it's past your bedtime?" Izuku rubs his eyes blearily.
Katsuki had spent the past three days thinking about his stupid conversation with Todoroki. Todoroki who had somehow pulled Sero and gave Bakugou a thumbs up earlier when he walked in on them cuddled together on the couch. Gross.
It's just Izuku.
The words had echoed through his head since their talk. Just Izuku, who he had known since they were in diapers. Izuku who believes in him him when no one else would, when he doesn't even believe in himself. Izuku who stares at him like he hung the stars in the sky. Izuku who means absolutely everything.
Izuku who is brave enough to stand by his side despite Katsuki pushing him away for years on end.
If Izuku can be that brave, maybe it's Katsuki's turn. After all, he always feels bravest when he's with Izuku.
"I know it is. I didn't mean to wake you up, I didn't think you slept this early." He had planned to just say it when Izuku answered the door, but now he thinks he should ease them into it. Or he's just stalling. Fuck. He's definitely stalling. But he doesn't feel as ready as he thought.
"Oh, I-um," Izuku blushes, "I started sleeping a bit earlier so I could make it to our morning runs easier."
They run together every other day, just like they did when they were younger and running alongside his dad. He feels his heart jump at the words, and he remembers what he has to do. Even if he isn't ready, even if he's terrified.
"Can I come in?"
"Uh, sure?" Izuku steps to the side, letting Katsuki in but staring in confusion. Katsuki sits on the floor, criss-cross. He judged Todoroki for it, but it was honestly kinda nice. Sue him. He pats the floor in front of him, and Izuku joins.
"Izuku," He starts, reaching out and grasping calloused palms. He immediately loses his train of thought. All he can think about are the fingertips clutching onto him in return, and the pretty green eyes boring into his soul. Like he can see everything. He can see Katsuki.
"You don't have to say it, Kacchan." Izuku smiles softly. "I already know."
Katsuki shakes his head. "I know you do, but you still deserve to hear it, Izuku."
"I do hear it. I hear it in the way you make my breakfast separate every morning because you know I hate pepper, in the way you let me put my arms around you when you hate anyone else touching you, in the way you save me a seat in every room." Izuku tightens his grip, leaning closer to Katsuki. "Even when you don't say it, I still hear it. I hear you."
He feels breathless. "It's not enough." He manages.
"You are always enough, Katsuki."
His heart clenches at the use of his real name coming from soft, bitten lips. No matter how much he complains, he's always secretly loved Izuku having a special nickname just for him. But after hearing his real life out of that mouth, he's not sure which he likes more.
"You deserve everything, Izuku." He whispers.
"You are everything I want."
"I hurt you."
"You healed me."
"I'm bad with feelings."
"I understand yours, and you understand mine. And if we ever don't, we can talk about it."
"We might fight."
"We will. We do that anyway."
"I'm not brave."
Izuku shakes his head, pulling Katsuki even closer until their noses are almost brushing. "Yes, you are. You're here."
I am here. Words he had heard his whole life, suddenly clicks in his mind. Because he's talked to All Might, he knows he went into many fights throughout his life absolutely terrified. But he still said those words, because showing up was what mattered at the end of the day. Doing it, even while being terrified.
Katsuki looks down at his lips, and back into his glittering eyes. "Can I?" He whispers, heart in his throat.
"Of course, Kacchan."
He slowly tilts his head and closes the gap, allowing his eyes to flutter shut as their lips gently press against each others. His hands shake as he gently cups Izuku's face. His heart feels like it might explode. Izuku pulls back, and a soft smile encompasses his entire face while his eyes scrunch with joy.
"It's okay, Kacchan." He pulls Katsuki's hand toward him, resting it over his chest. "Me too." Izuku's heart is also racing beneath his fingertips. He isn't afraid of Katsuki blowing him up despite his violent hands pressed against his heart.
"It's okay," He echoes.
"Come to bed with me?" Izuku stands, pulling Katsuki with him.
"Awfully forward, aren't you?" Katsuki teases, vulnerability already eating at him.
"Wh- not what I meant, shut up!" Izuku's face flushes a bright red. "I meant to sleep, and like cuddle. That's it!"
"Like I'd wanna cuddle with your clingy ass." He says, climbing in bed beside the other boy, laying on his back and pulling him into his chest. Izuku presses his ear to Katsuki's chest, listening to the rapid thrumming of his heartbeat.
"I'm proud of you, Kacchan."
"Cringe." He immediately deflects, before sighing. "Why?"
"You're brave."
"I'm scared." He finally admits aloud.
"I know. That's what makes you so brave."
"I think I have a tiny bit of bravery left in me."
"Hm?" Izuku lifts his head so he can meet Katsuki's eyes.
"I love you, Izuku Midoriya."
The blinding grin he gets in return makes every second of terror worth it.
It's even more worth it when he hears, I love you too, Katsuki Bakugou, whispered into his ear and kisses pressed to every inch of skin Izuku can find.
He thinks he can learn to love.
Izuku is worth it.