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Katsuki's palm crackles against the brick wall he traps Ochako against. She looks up at him with wide eyes, unaware of the stone blackening inches from her head. Concern knots in her brows and pulls her lips into a frown, creating a look of pity that puts a vile taste in Katsuki’s mouth. He hates that expression; he hates it most from her. Never before has he felt so small while confronting anyone. It boils his blood and fries his nerves.
Suddenly he can’t bring himself to look at her. He isn’t able to stand how her expression makes his stomach twist. His body shadows hers, still he feels like the one being cornered. She always manages to make him feel so little.
“Stop,” he says gruffly. He can see Ochako shift on her feet. She rubs one knee against the other.
“Katsuki-kun—“
“I don’t need your pity,” he hisses. He palms feel clammy against the wall, the crackles now blackening the brick, “You don’t have to look at me like that.”
Guilt swirls in the girl’s chest, and she puts her hand over it in a lame attempt to quell it. The blonde in front of her is struggling. With what, she can’t make out. She can’t understand the flurry of emotions that burn his throat every time he sees her and Izuku together. The bile that bubbles inside him when he sees their interlocked fingers. The ache in his chest that squeezes his heart when he hears her say his name. Izuku.
“I’m not some helpless bitch,” he narrows his eyes at the girl. She waits patiently for him to continue, but somehow her kindness sears his flesh. “I’m not this thing you think you need to be empathetic to. I am capable.”
Ochako nods and Katsuki slams his other hand against the wall on the other side of her. She becomes fully encaptured, yet her eyes still look at Katsuki in a way that makes him feel afraid. She’s looking for something in his expression, and he’s scared she’ll find it.
“Katsuki-kun,” she brushes her bangs out of her eyes and keeps her hand hovering under her chin, “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I think you are plenty capable.”
The blonde clicks his tongue in disagreement.
“It’s true, you’re one of the most capable people I know,” she flatters him. Any other time he would have laughed, told her she is right and dismiss the compliment with a smirk; however, right now the words stung him.
“Stop doing this...” he says, voice bordering a plea, “I can’t take it anymore.”
Ochako falters, resting her weight against the wall as Bakugou bows his head. She glances up and around for a moment then back down at the boy in front of her.
“Katsuki-kun,” she says softly, wincing when he turns away from her. He’s so upset, but he isn’t clear on what. “You’ve always been more than capable, we both know that.” Ochako hesitates, thinking over her next words carefully. “You can do anything you want and no one can stop you, not even me. Okay?”
Her smile returns with a loving warmth and Katsuki had to jerk his head back the other way. It’s sickening sweet...
“You don’t understand...” he says in a grumble under his breath. After a moment of silence he hears her shift behind him, and just as she opens her mouth to ask again what he said, Katsuki turns on his heel and corners her once again. “I said, ‘You don’t understand!’” he seethes.
Ochako stares up at him with worried brows and he scowls.
“Stop looking at me like that, it hurts ,” he spats, the girl hardly even blinking at the venom in his voice.
“Katsuki... kun...” she says softly.
“Tell me you love me,” Katsuki blurts. The weakness begins to come in cracks on his cheeks. It wells up in his eyes and spills over, gliding downwards until it reaches his chin. It glistens in the afternoon sun.
“I... love you.” She states it so plainly, so simple, so Ochako. Yet it feels hollow, empty, lackluster to all of the I-love-you’s she’s told Izuku.
He wants more.
“Again.”
“I love you.” It aches. It means nothing to her and everything to him. It warms his chest before tearing into it like the fire it is.
“Again!”
“I love you!” It sears his heart and tears him open. She’s uncomfortable, too soft to let herself hurt him more. Katsuki wishes he never cornered himself.
“Tell me again...”
“Katsuki-kun...”
“Please...” His whole body begs her. His hands hover near hers, wanting to hold them, feel the tips of her fingers. She could make him as weightless as he feels.
“I love you...” Ochako’s slipping away. She ducks to the side and begins walking towards the school front.
“One more time,” he calls out at her, watching as she stops in her tracks and takes a deep breath.
“Katsuki-kun...” she digs her toe into the floor, “I... I’m sorry.”
And she’s gone.
The boy grips his heart through his chest, the ache is too terrible. It courses through his body and fills him with a sudden heaviness. The fire quiets into an ache, leaving his heart a withered piece of charcoal, still hot to the touch. Trying to rekindle itself with the memory of Ochako’s sweet voice echoing around him.
“I love you... I love you... I love you...”