Chapter Text
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That early spring morning was surprisingly warm, with a glaring sun shining high in a sky with no clouds. Izuku had little beads of sweat lighting up his face, his messy green hair glued to the forehead while walking hastily down the street.
He was late for class – was there ever a day when he wasn't? -, but this time it was bad. He had stayed up all night studying for a history test, hitting his head on the wall and hoping the forceful and repetitive bumping would help his unfocused mind remember dates and names. It didn't work too well, as one would expect.
Waking up and feeling like he hadn't slept a minute, Izuku grabbed a blue cardigan, throwing it on to hide the wrinkles of the white shirt he put under it while trying to smooth its crooked collar with his hands. Light gray pants, forgotten on a chair a few days before, were what he put on in a rush before leaving the house, running with a piece of half-eaten toast in his hand and a frantic look on his freckled face, hurrying to the bus stop.
College had just started and he was already falling behind, trying to adjust to the new city after spending his whole existence in small, sleepy town in the countryside. His life had always been quiet and peaceful, with his only worries being coming home in time for dinner after being out all day with his friends, and having to walk for miles to go to the comic book store a town over. His life had gone to pot when his mom decided it was finally time to move to the big city to let him continue his studies.
He felt like a tiny, frail plant that got ripped out of his comfortable vase to be re-potted in a giant terrain where he was too scared (and angry) to let his roots grow. People in the new concrete jungle scared him, running around with cold expressions and not a single care for the other, everyone just focused on their own little world.
Izuku sighed. He felt like a terrible son. His mother was working two jobs to allow him to go to college, but he honestly felt like this was all a waste, both of money and time. He wasn't so sure about all of this university thing, but his mom was just so hopeful about his future! He just didn't have the heart to disappoint her, especially after a harsh divorce with his father left her scared, exhausted and with little to no money left.
The boy sighed again at the thought, approaching the bus stop. He pulled out his favorite comic book out of his bag and started reading, excited, but he realized halfway through that the bus was nowhere to be seen. In fact, the whole street looked empty, with little to no cars passing by.
Nervously tapping his foot on the ground, Izuku waited, and waited, and waited, but no buses were in sight. “Of course, this has to happen when I'm already this late” he thought, rolling his eyes. Glancing at the clock one more time, he gave up and started walking fast in the direction of the university, his heavy backpack weighing on his shoulders.
He started mumbling to himself. What could have happened to the bus? Why was it this late? He wondered if skipping classes entirely, feigning a sudden illness, could be the solution to avoid his problems. What excuse could he conjure up? A stomach bug? A sudden cold? Seasonal allergies? Eyes on the ground, the boy was so concentrated on coming up with a plausible explanation for his absence from class that he didn't notice, turning a corner, what was happening in front of him.
The whole street was filled with people of all ages, holding up banners, chanting and yelling, forming a compact group that moved through the avenue. Flags were waving, making a snapping sound while wrapping on themselves when the wind hit them too fast, and hard rock music came from a tall amplifier placed in the bed of a pickup truck, blasting through the crowd. The green-haired boy was now sure the demonstration was the reason the bus was so late, especially considering the amount of people blocking the street. There was some sort of tension like a hidden current passing through the bodies of the protesters, making the air tense and heavy.
Izuku was trying to look around to find an opening in the crowd when he accidentally bumped into a scrawny white-haired guy, letting out a surprised little shriek. Losing his balance, he fell to his butt and stared at the tall boy, who was now eyeing him with a grin on his face.
“And what are you doing here?” The stranger smirked, menacingly. He was dressed in black from head to toe, his white hair and ringed red eyes creating and eerie contrast with it all, and had a small scar on the left side of his chapped mouth, emphasized by a small ring piercing on the bottom lip.
“Preppy boy got lost on his way to school?” he sneered and all of a sudden, a small group of people (who Izuku presumed were the punk's friends) closed in on the green-haired boy, who was still sitting on the ground, too surprised to move.
“S-sorry” Izuku stammered, getting up and trying to dust off the dirt from his pants as best as he could. Maybe if he waked away fast enough he could pretend nothing happened... he jolted when an unknown hand grabbed his shoulder and stopped him in his tracks before he could get away. “Where are you going, goody-two-shoes? Come on, the fun is about to begin, you don't wanna miss out!” Another boy chimed in. Turning around, he found himself face to face with a terrifying guy in a leather jacket. Spiky black hair and blue eyes gave him a chilling look, but the most intimidating thing were his piercings and tattoos. It looked like every inch of his body was completely covered by either small little gold rings that pierced his skin, or scar-looking tattoos that reminded Izuku of a burned-up zombie.
“I don't w-want any t-trouble” the green haired boy babbled, squirming to try and get away from the hand that still had him in its grasp. At first, he was just inconvenienced, but now things were getting scary, and Izuku wanted none of that. He just didn't have it in him: scuffles and brawls were definitely not his thing.
“You don't, but we do! That's exactly what we came here for. Do you think we give a shit about slogans like 'make school, not war'? Nah, princess, chaos is what we want.” said the white-haired boy.
Izuku looked around, panicking and hoping for some passer-by to notice what was going on and help him, but everyone was too focused on the rioting demonstrators to realize what was happening to him.
“Dabi, see if he has something interesting in that bag of his. Maybe his mama left him some money for lunch.” The white-haired boy commanded, and the zombie-looking thug obeyed, wrestling Izuku's backpack off of his shoulders.
“Stop! Please! I don't have any” the green haired boy begged while clutching to the rucksack straps, his emerald eyes darting from one person to the other, anxiously. He heard a clear ripping sound of the zip of his bag breaking when Dabi pulled at it with too much force, and suddenly notebooks, coins, pencils and comic books fell to the ground, scattering. The boys around him started laughing.
Izuku hoped the asphalt would open up and swallow him whole to spare him from the humiliation of the moment. He felt a mix of shame and rage and felt his face burning red; he just stood there and did nothing, being ordered around like some stupid doll! He tried to pick his things up when a sharp voice pierced through the thug's cackles.
“HEY! ASSHATS!”
Heads turned rapidly to search for the person who yelled.
A blonde boy lazily resting his back against a walled fence flicked the remains of a lit cigarette away, embers scattering as it touched the ground. He took a step forward, walking out of the shadows that covered him, and quickly approached the group.
“What the fuck do you think you're doing, huh?” He barked angrily, hands on his hips. “Why don't you go play tag near a sinkhole and see who falls in first, instead of harassing someone who clearly wants nothing to do with you?”
Izuku was stunned. The guy coming towards him was the last person you'd expect help from. The tall stranger was wearing a black leather jacket decorated with band pins and patches, with blonde spiky hair shooting straight up in a way that looked apparently messy, but it was clearly the result of meticulous skill. A silver chain with a small lock decorated his neck and his ears were filled with small piercings; the stretched-out earlobes were adorned by two black wooden tunnels. Many rings weighed down his fingers, highlighted by black painted fingernails.
Under the jacket, a white, loose tank top with a discolored band logo on the front was riddled with large holes, leaving Izuku wondering what the usefulness of a piece of clothing like this was, considering it didn't leave a lot to the imagination. Ripped black jeans completed the look together with a black pair of combat boots decorated with bright orange shoelaces.
The stranger stepped right in front of the group of punks and put himself between them and the green haired boy, who quickly scrambled to pick up his belongings scattered on the floor. “You ok, Freckles?” he heard him say, looking over his right shoulder. Izuku gave him a frightened nod in response.
Dabi took a step forward and got closer to the blonde, just inches from his face.
“Piss off, you little hero wannabe, you don't know who you're fucking with.”
The other guy laughed. “Oh, I know it quite well, you burnt bacon-looking asshole. I'm familiar with you and your buddies. I know that you like to set things on fire, and people too, and that the only thing covering your psycho ass is your politician father's money.”
Izuku gulped, eyes wide. Setting people on fire?! Who exactly were these guys?
Dabi smiled menacingly. “Huh, you heard him, Shigaraki?” He addressed the white-haired boy. “He knows all about us!”
Shigaraki scoffed. “So you know damn well you're gonna regret this sooner than later, if you don't fuck off.”
The stranger grinned from ear to ear, a strange fire in his intense red eyes. “Nah, I don't think I'm gonna regret it one bit.”
Everything happened so fast Izuku almost didn't notice it.
The blonde boy ducked to avoid a punch from Shigaraki, the closed fist swinging right above his head, then reacted quickly and delivered a fast blow to his jaw, sending him flying. The reaction from Dabi was immediate, and the blonde boy took a punch to his face that left his right cheekbone scraped and reddened. Izuku let out a shaky breath he didn't even notice he had held in until that moment, when his unexpected savior managed to land a hit back on the black-haired punk, leaving him stunned for a couple of seconds.
In that moment, a group of policemen who were alerted by the bystanders appeared, ready to put a quick end to the brawl. “POLICE! STOP RIGHT THERE!”
The fully geared men triggered a strong reaction from the crowd of protesters, who started booing, yelling and throwing random objects. A small clash between demonstrators and law enforcement ensued and, in that moment, the blonde boy smiled shrewdly at Izuku, who looked like a trembling little bunny, his wide emerald eyes darting everywhere and a terrified expression on his face. “Time to scram, Freckles!”
Izuku felt a strong hand grab his wrist when he pulled him in through the crowd, and the two boys started running. They ran and ran and ran, pushing through a sweaty wall of bodies, squirming away from hands that tried to grab them, trying to put some distance between the police and the thugs.
Izuku felt his heart exploding in his chest from fear, agitation and something else he couldn't figure out. Out of breath, his brain a foggy mess because of the high anxiety of the whole situation, he tripped and fell on the hard paved road, ripping his pants on the knees. He didn't have time to feel pain, though, as the hand still firmly wrapped around his wrist yanked him up and without even knowing it, he was running again.
The blonde was expertly guiding him through the maze of narrow lanes, looking like he knew every corner of the city. The sounds of the rioting people yelling and following them grew faint but the boys didn't stop, their feet stomping the ground in unison as their heavy breaths echoed in the streets.
After countless turns and what Izuku thought were hours of running (but couldn't have been more than 10 minutes), they turned a corner and found themselves in a small square that looked almost walled in by the tall houses that surrounded it; unexpected, a church towered all over it, with its Gothic architecture looking almost out of place compared to the modern residences by its side. The sun rays managed to get through the buildings to light a fraction of the church's steps, enveloping that corner in a mystic aura. It was quiet: the high brick walls running all around the perimeter seemed to be hugging the square, protecting the church and its visitors.
A few passers-by gave the two a weird look, muttering to one another in a hushed tone.
Without a word, both boys slowed down and the blonde finally let go of Izuku's wrist. They looked at each other and the greenette threw a glance over his shoulders, almost afraid to find out that someone had managed to follow them; when he realized they were actually alone, he let out a sigh of relief. He put both hands on his legs, wheezing and panting loudly, unable to take a breath.
The blonde boy on the other hand looked like he had just finished a quick jog in the park; only the thin layer of sweat covering his forehead and a note of heaviness in his breathing betrayed his efforts. He had a wild smile on his face, his red irises glowing like they were ignited from an actual fire inside of him. He laughed, let out a loud “WHEW!” that scared a few unaware pigeons and ran his fingers through his spiky hair. “Nice little run, huh?” he grinned, giving Izuku a firm pat on the back. The other boy nodded, not having the strength to say anything in response.
The blonde held his hand out.
“I'm Katsuki, by the way.”
The green haired boy tried to squeeze an “Izuku” out of his lungs, but only a feeble sound came out.
Katsuki's brow shot up in confusion. “Huh?”
“... uku...”
“Huh? Deku? What kind of name is that?”
The greenette shook his head, took a deep breath in and blurted out “IZUKU! MY NAME'S IZUKU!”.
The blonde laughed. “Too bad, kiddo, you're Deku from now on.”
The other guy lowered his head in defeat, but felt a heartwarming feeling creeping up from his stomach. He couldn't remember the last time he had a genuine interaction like this with a person since he moved to the city, and honestly it felt like a breath of fresh air.
“Wait here.” Katsuki said, leaving him confused. Izuku saw him enter a bar and watched him walk out a couple of minutes later with two beer bottles in one hand, gesturing him to sit on the church's steps. He expertly popped the caps off of the bottles in a swift motion using the end of a lighter and then offered one to Izuku, sitting down on the marble stairs hit by the sunlight. The greenette stared at him with wide eyes. “Is this... for me?”
“Nah, it's for the old man over there, do you see him?” Katsuki laughed. “Of course it's for you, dumbass.”
Izuku's eyes filled with tears. “Thank you!” he murmured, trying to hold back the tears. The blonde boy looked confused, not sure of what was going on. “It's... just a beer, and a cheap one at that” He brushed it off, looking away. “This kid is way too pure for this world. And I'm not sure if this gives me a little bit of hope in humanity or if it pisses me off beyond comprehension.” He found himself thinking.
Izuku swallowed a couple of times, looking like he was trying to regain his composure, then asked, his voice cracking: “Why? Why did you do that? … Help me, I mean.”
Katsuki let out a small chuckle, throwing his head back with his eyes closed, enjoying the warm sun on his pale skin. “Honestly? ... No fucking clue.”
He paused.
“But... you looked like you needed saving.”
His words hit Izuku like a punch in the gut and the greenette found himself unable to control his emotions. Big tears pooled at the corners of his wide emerald eyes as he started sobbing.
“Hey, what kind of fucking reaction is that?!” Katsuki yelled, surprised. “Come on! What are you, a baby?”.
Izuku laughed wetly, tears still rolling down his cheeks. “You're right, I'm sorry!”
It took a couple more sniffles, but he finally calmed down; he raised his beer bottle, smiling. “Here's to you, then! The punk hero that saved the day!"
Katsuki smirked. “You're damn right I did.” The bottles clinked and they drank in unison.
The blonde laid back on the stairs and closed his eyes. “Yeah, nice words, hero, but why the fuck did you do it?” He asked himself. “I mean I get it, you thought he had a nice ass, but since when having a nice ass was an excuse to randomly go and protect strangers?” Something made him snap when he saw Dabi and Shigaraki pick on Izuku; maybe because he knew what they were capable of doing, maybe because the terrified look in the green-haired boy's eyes was something he couldn't ignore. “Or maybe you thought saving him would give you an opportunity to know him better?” He mentally flipped off the voice inside his head.
Katsuki Bakugou didn't ask people out. Since he started playing the drums and wearing dark, ripped clothes, he met tons of people who approached him with the sole intention of getting in his pants: many were girls, but he knew he wasn't interested in them from the start; many were men, and in that case, it was different... but every encounter begun in bed, and that's where it ended. Every relationship he had had was purely physical, and none of them lasted more than a few weeks; they burned intensely and consumed quickly, like a match struck to incinerate; no one seemed to look for anything more than sex... and Katsuki had convinced himself it was better this way. Nothing to tie him down, no worries, just the occasional quickie to let off some steam.
Izuku was not his usual type: preppy, a giant head of green hair over a skinny freckled body (body equipped with a perfectly round, cute butt, Katsuki had to admit) and wide puppy eyes that seemed to follow him everywhere; but maybe that was what captivated him. The blonde had felt many eyes on him, devouring him from head to toe, lusting over every inch of his muscled body, but no one had ever looked at him like that: those emerald pools harbored a mix of fear, hope, a tinge of embarrassment and immense gratitude.
Izuku, blissfully unaware of the blonde's thoughts, sighed. He felt drained and exhausted, even if his day had just begun. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in, the cool spring breeze filling his nostrils and bringing along the scent of blooming flowers, leather, cigarette smoke, beer, sweat, and a deep, warm note of burnt caramel. The last scent was subtle, but persistent enough to leave Izuku with a lingering hunger. Maybe there was a bakery nearby? Oh, how he would have loved a cinnamon roll in that moment. But he didn't see any shops in the square? Or maybe he was too focused on running and didn't notice? That burnt caramel scent was making his mouth water. Maybe he could buy a couple of pastries on the way back home?
“Huh? What the fuck are you muttering about? Burnt caramel?” Katsuki raised an eyebrow.
Izuku's eyes shot open as he realized he was mumbling to himself - a terrible habit he just couldn't get rid of. "N-Nothing! Don't mind me and my blabbering.'
"You're fucking weird, you know that?" The blonde boy sneered, looking more amused than irritated. Izuku couldn't help but blush, his freckles being lit up by a red shade. The color deepened as he slowly realized that the caramel scent that was making him hungry was coming from Katsuki, even though Izuku couldn't figure out what caused it.
The blonde, unsuspecting of the greenette's curiosity, was resting his upper body on his elbows, almost lying on the stairs. Holding a cigarette in his right hand, his chiseled jaw was pointed upwards to catch the thin rays of sun passing through the buildings. He had taken his leather jacket off and now his loose tank top, draped across his chest, was leaving most of his muscles exposed to the chilly air; sunlight reflected off of his solid arms, highlighting his toned biceps and caressing his movements every time he brought the cigarette up to his lips to take a hit. The green-haired boy was surprised to see he didn't have any tattoos, at least that were visible; he expected Katsuki's arms to be filled with intricate, permanent designs, but the only thing covering his skin was a thin layer of blonde hair that made Izuku think of one of those ripe but still firm peaches he loved to eat so much during the summer months... Izuku suddenly felt like he hadn't recovered from the run at all; his heart still beating fast in his ears, his breath shallow.
“What?!” He thought, panicked. He jolted upright, only to let out pained cry when his left knee sent a twinge of pain along his leg. He looked down and saw the gash in his trousers, the edges of the frayed cotton stained red by dried up blood. He probably hurt himself when he fell, but the adrenaline of the moment numbed his pain... until that moment.
Katsuki opened an eye. “Huh? You all right, Deku?”
“Y-yeah, don't worry! Thanks for the beer... a-and the rescuing. I'll head home now!”
The blonde sat upright and looked at him from head to toe. That's when he noticed the blood, and his expression turned serious. “Quit shitting me, are you hurt?”
“It's just a small cut... I'll go home and put a band-aid on it!” Izuku minimized. “You did way too much for me already!”
Katsuki, still sitting on the stairs, grabbed his leg to observe the cut closer.
“Stop acting like a kid. The bleeding may have stopped, but you need to disinfect this as soon as possible. The cut is deep....” He stood up, putting his jacket back on with a swift movement and finishing the beer in one gulp. “Come with me. Can you walk?”
Izuku nodded, the pain spreading quickly with every step he took, and followed the blonde who was already walking away.
Katsuki was guiding him through the warren of narrow streets that made up that old part of the city, and the greenette followed obediently; he barely knew the route from his home to the campus, so he felt completely lost. He still hadn't made any close friends since his moving, so he wasn't exactly curious to explore the vastness of the city alone.
The blonde was walking ahead, confidently taking turns, when he glanced over his shoulder. He watched as Izuku followed him blindly, a few steps behind, wide eyes focused on him and a slight limp in his step.
Katsuki couldn't help but think he looked like a lost puppy, and he felt the sudden urge to pick him up and pet his head. “You ok over there?” he asked. “Do you need help?”
It was pretty obvious that Izuku was in pain, but he shook his head and kept walking. “All good, I don't need you to be my cane yet.” He smiled.
Katsuki grinned. “Good boy.”
The greenette was grateful that the other boy was looking away because he felt a heat wave rise from the bottom of his stomach to his flushed face, and he was sure his cheeks were now cherry-red. “Good boy?! What am I, a dog?” A quick image of himself with droopy ears, a wagging tail and a collar around his neck, being ordered around by... The sharp sting in his knee brought him back to reality, and Izuku never felt so thankful to feel pain in his life. He picked up the pace and closed the distance between the two of them, trying his best to ignore everything in his head.
Katsuki stopped and took a small key out of one of the countless pockets in his jacket; he used it to unlock a worn down, wooden door that creaked open revealing an empty, run-down theater. Izuku's eyes shot open in surprise, but he felt a wave of worry wash over him: what the hell was that punk doing, bringing him in an abandoned theater? He didn't have the time to think as the blonde boy pushed him inside and closed the door. The greenette was shocked and angry at himself for how compliant he was being; he stood still in the dark, but soon the other grabbed him by the wrist. “This way. Watch your step, the lights don't work here.” Izuku let himself be led in the darkness, taking small and hesitant steps, guided only by the strong yet gentle touch of Katsuki's hand around his wrist, until he saw light filter through the outline of a door. He could hear muffled rock music coming from the other side, and the sound of people talking and laughing. He gulped, anxious.
Katsuki finally let go of his arm and opened the door, suddenly screaming "YO, EXTRAS! GUESS WHO GAVE ZOMBIE BOY AND METH KID A KNUCKLE SANDWICH TODAY?!". He pointed at his chest with both thumbs, a fierce smile on his face. He ducked as a small pillow went flying over his head, followed by a girl shouting “Why the fuck did you have to come in yelling? You scared the crap out of me!”.
A hearty laugh came from a boy, buff body and long spiky red hair kept in place by a headband.
A boy with bright yellow hair and black bolt shape dyed on the side stared at Katsuki from a worn-out red armchair, mouth agape and wide eyes. "No way bro! Did you really do it? I would have shat my pants if I were you"
"You could probably shit your pants by thinking too hard, dunce face" Katsuki mocked him. “Oh, anyway,” he added after a couple of seconds "you'll be happy to know I brought an injured puppy home. Here's Deku, everyone."
The girl, pink hair and colorful clothes covering her athletic body, squealed "A PUPPY?"
Izuku peeked through the door, smiling sheepishly and giving them a shy wave. "I suppose I'm the injured puppy, right? " The girl clapped, excited, and let out a loud "OH MY GOD HE'S SO CUTE!".
Katsuki pointed at the group. "Deku, meet Raccoon Eyes, Dunce Face and Shitty Hair."
The girl rolled her eyes. "Yeah... or rather Mina Ashido, Denki Kaminari and Eijirou Kirishima." The greenette laughed. "I'm Izuku, nice to meet you!"
"Where did you find him, bro?" The red-haired boy laughed.
"I saved his ass because Freckles here decided to start a fight with Shigaraki Tomura himself."
The green-haired boy sighed. "Come on, it's not like that! I was distracted and I just happened to bump into him... that apparently was enough."
"And so you decided to be a hero and save a poor little boy in trouble?" Mina teased Katsuki, a naughty glare in her eyes. The other boy shrugged.
"Yeah... What can I say? I guess shitty nerd over here caught my attention." Izuku felt his heart race a bit but he tried to convince himself he was just pissed at being called a shitty nerd. Once again, his aching knee seemed to sting just at the right moment to distract him from his thoughts; Katsuki noticed his pained expression and walked across the room, stepping into a small bathroom. He washed his hands, grabbed a first aid kit and then gestured Izuku to follow him, pointing at an armchair in the corner of the room. "Sit there and let me take a look at that wound." The greenette obeyed, feeling once again like a trembling lamb being guided around by a grinning shepherd dog. He sat down, slowly sinking into the soft leather and sighing in relief, only to flinch at the pain of his throbbing knee.
Katsuki knelt and placed himself in front of the greenette, the first aid kit between his legs, and began to take out bandages, disinfectant, tweezers, scissors and band-aids. He gave Izuku one of his signature grins before saying: "Truly sorry, Freckles, but I'll have to cut the fabric off of your pants... Unless you decide to take them off for me, that is."
The other boy jolted and covered his head with his arms, trying desperately to hide the deep red that was now threatening to spread from his face to his whole body. With a high-pitched voice, he yelled: "IT'S OK, YOU CAN CUT THEM OFF, I'LL BUY A NEW PAIR, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!"
Katsuki, in turn, fought hard to repress a laugh coming up to his lips. He didn't know why, but he loved to tease this little nerd. He knew he had just met him, but Izuku had an innocence to him that made Katsuki want to protect him with all his might; he grew up surrounded by people who had no problem fending for themselves, so stumbling across this scared, inexperienced boy who looked like he didn't know how to live fascinated him. The way his freckles were highlighted by a deep scarlet blush every time Katsuki teased him ever so lightly was almost addictive for him; he found himself slowly wanting more and more.
"Stay still" The blonde demanded, and started to cut the stained fabric off of the greenette's pants. He squinted to analyze the cut then, once he assessed the situation, he poured the disinfectant on Izuku's skin to clean the wound. As soon as the liquid touched the cut the other boy felt a sharp burning sensation, and couldn't help but let out a faint whimper; Katsuki's head shot up and the green-haired boy found himself lost into two burning red pits that were staring back at him from the ground up.
“Now, now, be good and try not to scream, ok?”
Hearing those words sent a shiver down Izuku's spine, and the boy felt his brain short-circuit. He wanted to scream at the audacity of that phrase and slap that idiot right on the spot, but he didn’t; he sat there, eyes wide, a weird tingling sensation washing over him and making him feel like his body was on fire. Katsuki didn't wait for an answer and kept on cleaning the wound, focused; he bandaged it all up securely and stood up like nothing happened, walking over to the couch. "All done... now make sure to disinfect this tomorrow morning as well."
Izuku was glad the other boys were minding their own business, laughing and talking, because he felt like dying right there on the spot; luckily, they all seemed engrossed in a conversation about a girl who they insisted was in love with Denki, and didn't pay attention to him.
The greenette took a deep breath and let his gaze wander around, studying the peculiar windowless room they were in. It looked like it had been furnished with random objects, which gave it a curious look: a large, ruined dark couch sat in the middle of the room, two once red armchairs on its sides and a black vinyl coffee table in front of it. Mismatched carpets were covering the floor, adding to the feeling of chaos together with ripped up old playbills that covered the walls, glued one on top of the other. What was probably the old theater dressing room was now being used as a makeshift rehearsal studio, with a drum set in a corner surrounded by guitars and cables. It looked like the perfect hang-out space, complete with a fridge, a led screen TV, a gaming console, the obligatory hanging plant - Mina's touch, probably- and heaps of pillows scattered around the area rug: messy, but nice and (unexpectedly) clean despite its haphazard appearance.
Izuku was still looking around when Kaminari suddenly laughed. "Guys, you know what's good for dealing with stress and pain?" He waved around what looked to be a rolled up, thick cigarette. Katsuki grinned. "Eh, so you're not completely useless, dunce face!"
Izuku looked at them, surprised. Wait, was that... weed? Just looking at it made him feel like a criminal. He had never tried pot before, he had only smoked a cigarette once and that made him cough like an old man and almost throw up.
Katsuki extended his arm but before he could grab the joint, Kaminari slapped his hand with an ironically shocked face. "The one who rolls it up, fires it up!"
"Then go ahead and light it, you stupid face, and quit stalling!"
Denki laughed and put the joint between his lips, igniting it and taking small hits to ensure it burned evenly. A thick cloud of smoke invaded the room with a dense and earthy herbal scent; Deku honestly didn't find it unpleasant, but it made the back of his throat tingle when it wafted in his direction.
Kaminari took a few other puffs then passed the spliff to Katsuki who was laying on the couch with his eyes closed, a bent arm behind his head and his combat boots up on the armrest; he took the joint and brought it to his lips, taking a long hit and waiting a few seconds before slowly exhaling spirals of white smoke. He took a few more puffs then stretched out his arm to pass it to the next person.
"Ohi, Izuku, have you ever smoked before?" Kirishima asked after a while, inhaling. The greenette gulped. "N-no... I mean, I've smoked cigarettes, but not... this."
"Wanna try?"
Deku stood silent for a few seconds, so Kirishima was quick to add: "Yo, no peer pressure! We won't judge you, ok? Forcing someone to do something against their will isn't manly at all. We are not assholes." He smiled. Denki chimed in. "But it's true it helps with pain, sooo..." he said shrugging and pointing at the bandaged knee.
Deku fidgeted a bit with the hem of his cardigan but got up and went to sit down on a chair next to Mina. "Alright, count me in!"
This wasn't something he would usually do, but he felt strangely at ease around that group of people. He spent his whole life being looked down or mocked, but he felt there wasn't any trace of judgment in this group; they truly seemed to be genuine people despite their intimidating appearance.
Kirishima laughed and gave him a strong pat on the back. "There you go!"
Mina brought her chair closer, took a quick hit from the joint, exhaled and explained: "Take a small puff and inhale slowly, ok? Take it easy, or you're gonna cough like crazy."
Katsuki shifted from his position and sat up, legs spread out and both arms softly resting on the backseat of the couch. "Ooooh, I don't wanna miss this." He had a softened grin on his face, his half-closed eyes - redder than usual - illuminated by a flicker of curiosity. Izuku could feel his gaze on him as he shakily placed the joint between his fingers and took a small puff, resisting the urge to cough as he inhaled the burning smoke; he waited a couple of seconds then let out a shaky breath, exhaling a cloud that he dissipated with a quick wave of his hand. The group around him started cheering and clapping, and the yelling got louder as Izuku took another more confident hit. As he went in for a third one, though, his face became redder and redder as he finally started to cough, causing the boys to laugh uncontrollably. The joint got passed around until they smoked it all and, after a while, Mina got up to grab a trivia game as they all sat down on a big carpet in the center of the room, around the coffee table.
Izuku positioned himself between the girl and Kaminari, but jolted when he felt Katsuki push Denki away to sit down close to him; he felt his cheeks get redder and hoped the others wouldn't notice.
He felt pleasantly lightheaded as he looked around, feeling a bit slowed down like he was underwater; he suppressed a giggle fit when he saw Kirishima repeatedly drop his game cards on the ground, unable to hold them properly as he laughed uncontrollably.
The temperature in the room was slowly rising and the lack of windows didn't help: Izuku started to sweat and took off his cardigan, his soaked white shirt sticking to his back. He felt his mouth slowly drying up both for the heat and the weed and was incredibly grateful for the sodas Mina had placed on the table, along with bowls filled with snacks. He sat there feeling pleasantly limp and relaxed, laughing at the stupid faces Kaminari made - so much that his belly hurt.
He tried not to, but he kept glancing at Katsuki: his blonde head was like a magnet for his gaze and Izuku found himself staring at him in a trance, before forcibly snapping out of it and going back to reality. He shook his head and was quick to blame it on the weed.
It took a while for the group to finally settle – and to stop laughing for no apparent reason – but they managed to get serious enough to play; from the beginning, though, it was clear that Katsuki had the upper hand. The boy kept answering to every question, no matter the difficulty, and soon the others started grumbling.
“Oh, come on, Kats” Mina rolled her eyes “could you stop answering for one fucking second?”. The blonde smirked. “You're the one who challenged the Supreme Champion, so nah.”
“THE AUDACITY! CALLING HIMSELF THE SUPREME CHAMPION!” Kaminari pushed him jokingly, getting a punch to the shoulder in return.
“Guys, guys! We have to join forces and take him down!” Kirishima laughed. “Come on, we're still in the geek category. Next question: in the Marvel Universe, what does the acronym 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' stand for?” Groans of despair arose from Kaminari and Mina. “HOW THE FUCK ARE WE SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER THAT!” the pink haired girl protested, but she was left shocked as Izuku and Katsuki yelled together “Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division!”
They apparently couldn't believe their ears as well, as they looked at each other in disbelief. The blonde grinned. “Oh, so shitty nerd here is not totally clueless, uh? Well, Deku, let's see how well you do with the next questions.”
Izuku, sprawled on the carpet with his bandaged knee and a stupid smile on his face, had a flash of determination in his half-closed eyes. “Bring it on” He taunted. Katsuki sat up, his posture shifting. “Ah, so you do have a feisty side after all, uh, princess.” he sneered.
Izuku chuckled. “I'm full of surprises.” he said looking the blonde in the eyes. “What the hell was this reply?” He asked himself, but before he could even think about it, Kirishima continued with his next question. “What's the most expensive video game ever made?”
“Grand Theft Auto V!” The greenette yelled, a fraction of a second faster than Katsuki. The red-haired game judge gave Izuku a nod, signaling he had won that point.
The blonde's eyes narrowed as he growled: “OH, COME ON! WE SAID THAT AT THE SAME FUCKING TIME!” The green-haired boy laughed. “Too slow.”
Katsuki grinned and jabbed Izuku's side repeatedly with his index finger. “Too slow my ass, you shitty nerd. I'm gonna win, you hear me?” The other squirmed to evade the poking, giggling.
Kirishima, Kaminari and Mina looked at each other in disbelief. Were those two... flirting?
The game went on, and something else slowly progressed with it. The two boys kept teasing each other, making fun of one another and constantly engaging in almost intangible physical contact. It was never something obvious: small things, like the blonde pushing Izuku when he grumbled about the fairness in points distribution, or the greenette's knee touching Katsuki's without the other moving his away.
The rest of Bakugo's squad couldn't believe their eyes: they had never seen the blonde boy act like this… Especially with a person he had literally just met.
The trivia game was almost over and Izuku and Katsuki were tied: only one point was separating them from victory. Mina, who was the one judging that last round, gestured them to stay quiet. “Everyone, FOCUS! Last question: how many Souls of Lords are said to be discovered in the prologue of the popular video game 'Dark Souls'?”
“AH! GOT YOU!” Katsuki was quick to answer, confident. “THREE!”
Kirishima looked at him, incredulously, stifling a laugh. “... You're wrong!”
“UH?!” The blonde's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “No, I'm fucking not. There's three: that motherfucker Gwyn, creepy ass Nito and that damned Witch of Izalith.” he explained, irritated.
Izuku looked at him and grinned. “Nope. There's four. You're forgetting about the Furtive Pigmy.”
Mina screamed. “CORRECT! IZUKU WINS!”
The three other boys started hollering, jumping up and down and heckling Katsuki. The blonde shot up and jumped on Izuku, blocking the greenette's head into a lock with his left arm and giving him a noogie. “SHUT YOUR COCKY MOUTH! I WANT A REMATCH RIGHT NOW, OR ELSE I'M GONNA THROW YOU BACK INTO SHIGARAKI'S CRUSTY ASS ARMS!”
Izuku responded by smashing a small pillow in his face and the two started to tussle playfully, rolling around on the carpet until Katsuki blocked the greenette's wrists with his hands and pinned him to the ground. Izuku's breath hitched. He could feel Katsuki's hair tickling his face, along with that damned burnt caramel scent that was making his head spin. It all lasted for less than one second and the blonde moved away in a flash, but the greenette stayed on the carpet, eyes wide open, hearing the deafening sound of his own heartbeat in his ears. “There you go, you killed him!” Mina got up and grabbed him by the wrist, laughing. Izuku sat up and threw himself at the bowl of chips laying on the table, munching away like a little bunny, eager to hide himself from the amused looks of the others.
Kaminari suddenly got up and declared: "Yo. We need some music." The group agreed and Kirishima started to take out his phone, but Katsuki slowly raised a hand and huffed. "I got this, extras."
He stood up, taking his leather jacket off and throwing it on the couch, then approached the pearly black and orange drum set that Izuku had noticed in a corner. He sat on the stool and stretched his back a bit, grabbed the drumsticks that were left on one of the drums and expertly twirled them between his fingers, a barely concealed grin on his face; he knew he had Izuku's eyes on him, and he enjoyed that. He began to play hitting the bass drum and a deep noise propagated around the room. He started with a slow beat, warming up, hitting every piece in sequence like he was feeling his way around the drums, then he started a repetitive beat as a simple background noise. Mina stood up throwing her arms in the air like she was at a concert and screamed “PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLAY 'CEMETERY DRIVE' FOR MEEEE!"
Katsuki sneered. "That song again?" he said, running his fingers through his hair.
"It's one of my favorites! Come ooooonnnn..." She didn't even finish the phrase as the blonde took a deep breath and began playing, hitting the drums with the perfect tempo and just the right amount of force. His red eyes, now fully open and focused, moved around the drum set as he skillfully hit the different pieces, his muscles flexing and dancing as he played, sweat trickling down his arms and forehead.
Izuku sat there, his mouth agape as he watched in complete awe: he felt like he couldn't take his eyes off of him, glued to every precise movement of Katsuki's muscular body, arched forward during the performance; the beat of the song increased as he moved faster, little drops of sweat falling all around him and his head moving to the rhythm. The greenette gulped as his eyes observed Katsuki bite his lip unconsciously, focused on the movement of his own hands. Izuku felt like the temperature of the room had increased tenfold: he unbuttoned the collar of his shirt, fanning himself with the trivia game cards - now forgotten.
He was still staring with his mouth open as Katsuki grabbed the hem of his tank top and lifted it up to dry his forehead, revealing a sculpted abdomen glistening with a thin layer of sweat. Izuku grabbed a soda can and started gulping it down, trying to stop his spinning head. What the hell was going on in his mind?! Why did he have to react like that to every little thing the blonde boy did? He just didn't understand: yes, he was glad he protected him from Shigaraki and his gang, but gratitude wasn't all he was feeling. There was a weird emotion stirring in my stomach, something warm, tingly and fuzzy but terrifying at the same time.
In the meantime, Katsuki had gotten up from the drum stool and walked to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face to cool down after the song. He sat down on the couch, drying himself off with a towel and relaxing, listening to Kaminari playing his guitar. He tried not to look at him, but from the corner of his eyes he could see Izuku's green head of hair following his every movement.
Denki suddenly stopped playing, an off-key note fading away, and screamed: “Fuck! I forgot I had to go check the new amplifier for the concert and Jiro's shop closes in ten minutes!” Mina sighed. “Oh come on, man! You promised you'd check the microphones for me as well!”
“I didn't see you reminding it to me, Pinky!”
Kirishima stood up dusting chips crumbs off of his pants. “I'm coming too, I want to grab some lunch on the way there! Bakugo, you comin'?”
The blonde shook his head. “Naah, you guys go ahead.”
They said goodbye to Deku who thanked them profusely for their acceptance and Mina glanced at Katsuki, winking amused before sending him a kiss in the air. “You two have fun! It was nice meeting you, Izuku!” Katsuki gave her a filthy look and mouthed a “ fuck off” in her direction, but she was already walking out of the door. A comfortable silence fell on the room and he sighed: “Finally, some nice peace and quiet.”
Izuku didn't respond, seemingly lost in his thoughts. He was, sure enough, completely enthralled by the marijuana induced stupor and couldn't peel his eyes off of Katsuki. He was exploring every little nook and cranny of his figure trying to understand what the hell was making him feel like that. “ Is it his style?” The greenette wondered. “ Sure, I like his clothes and I think he looks cool with the piercings, the stretched earlobes, his eyeliner and all that.” He shook his head. “ No, it's not that. Could it be that I appreciate him being friendly with me? Yeah, no shit, meeting new people is nice and all, but no. I am glad he protected me, sure... No, it's not that either.” He wanted to rip his hair off in frustration. He was completely immersed in his thoughts when his eyes darted over Katsuki's chest and he noticed something peeking out from one of the many holes of his tank top. His breath hitched. “ Is that... A nipple?” He thought, his mind starting to slowly spiral out of control. “ Oh wow, it looks so soft. Oh my god, is the nipple smiling at me? Oh my god, how could it be smiling. What the hell, Izuku. What is that? Is it... a piercing? He has a piercing there as well?!” He gulped, his heart beating so loud he was sure the others could hear it on the outside. Why the fuck was he fascinated by a man's nipple? … And in that moment, the world seemed to slow down as he gradually put the pieces together.
Growing up, Izuku had never felt any sort of attraction towards another person, but he just didn't care; he thought something would eventually happen, and he didn't let himself be troubled by it. When his high school friends talked about their crushes, he pretended to be interested in a girl he randomly selected just to have something to share, but he didn't really know what he was supposed to feel. Sometimes, at night, he fantasized about holding hands, cuddling and sharing soft kisses with another faceless person, but he never had the courage to admit to himself one simple, giant, undeniable thing. One thing that was now becoming clearer and clearer and was carving itself into Izuku's mind, forcing his eyes open. He was totally, undeniably, gay.
He snapped back to reality when he realized he was hyperventilating, eyes wide open and a haze of shock in his tear-filled eyes. Katsuki noticed he was crying and stood up immediately, a worried look on his face. “Izuku, are you ok?” He asked, reaching out his hand. The greenette grabbed onto it like his life depended on it and stood up, his chest frantically moving up and down trying to get some air into his lungs. Without even thinking he grabbed Katsuki and squeezed him tight, throwing himself into his arms, scared and overwhelmed by the multitude of thoughts that were racing through his mind. The blonde stood there in disbelief, a deep blush covering his cheeks as he leaned in to wrap the other boy in a strong hug. “Hey... hey... shhh, it's okay...” he whispered, embarrassed and unsure of what to do as he shakily caressed Izuku's soft, curly hair. “Can you walk?” He said gently, placing his hands on Izuku's trembling shoulders. “Let's get some fresh air.”
He felt so fucking stupid, why didn't he say anything when the others let him smoke? Of course he knew that could happen! The other boy didn't respond, but tightened his grip on Katsuki's back. The blonde was afraid that the nerd could pass out as he watched his legs tremble. "Come here." He passed the greenette's arm around his shoulders to support him and the other leaned on him, stiff and scared.
Izuku, in a panic-induced blackout, couldn't understand what was going on: he could only feel the warmth of Katsuki's skin against his own while he was guiding him around in the dark of the theater, and that damned, damned burnt caramel scent that he was sure was going to be the death of him.
He suddenly felt the chilly spring air dry the sweat on his skin and realized he was now outside, sitting on a low brick wall just outside the theater. Katsuki had his hands on his shoulders and was talking to him, but the greenette wouldn't dare look at him; he kept his eyes shut. “Izuku, breathe with me.” He heard the other say, but he felt like his voice was distant and muffled, almost like he was underwater. He felt the grip tighten around his shoulders. “Breathe with me. One breath every five seconds.” the other repeated, and inhaled slowly as to show him. Izuku imitated him following the sound and they sat like that for a while, their chests moving at the same rhythm. He peeked from under his eyelids, but as soon as his gaze met Katsuki's worried red irises he shut his eyes tight again as his breath threatened to fail him once more, and he forced himself to quieten his brain and his heart.
When the greenette finally seemed to calm down and managed to look at him, Katsuki sighed in relief. “Are you ok, nerd?” He asked, genuinely concerned. The other took a deep, shaky breath in and sighed, moving his green hair away from his face. “Y-yeah... I g-guess so...” but as soon as he said that, he felt an overflowing mass of emotions overpower him. Tears fell on his lap as he started rambling. “It's just... It's a lot, you know? It's pro-probably just the built up tension from the run... A-and Shigaraki and the other asshole setting people on fire and, you know... it's the first time I've had someone save me, and as you can guess it's a bit embarrassing.” he sniffled. He sighed and tried to regain his composure, frustrated. Katsuki didn't say anything, but he kept his hand on Izuku's shoulder. There were a few minutes of silence as both boys didn't talk for a while, letting the sound of the birds chirping and the distant roaring of cars compensate for all the unspoken words, then Izuku resumed his rambling - but this time it sounded a little more coherent.
“It's... It's also been a while since the last time I felt like part of a group and, as pitiful as it sounds, it honestly feels so good it's almost overwhelming. Yes, I have no damn friends. I'm a pathetic little nerd from the countryside who doesn't know how to survive in the city.” He lowered his eyes in frustration.
Katsuki felt his heart break into pieces as he listened. How could someone so pure and genuine have no one by his side? He felt like he was ready to burn the world to ashes just to protect him.
“It's ok,” he said, wanting to punch himself in the face - sitting there and repeating: “It's ok, it's ok” like a broken robot. He had never been good with words and emotions, and that to him looked like the perfect example.
Izuku didn't seem to notice as he went on talking about his life in the country, how he was forced to move, how life in general seemed to be shit and so on. As he listened, Katsuki found himself lost in his freckled face, mesmerized by the many shades of red his expressions seemed to have.
When the greenette finally paused, throat dry and his eyes puffy and red, he hid his face behind his arms. “I bet you regret saving me now, uh? You took a punch to the face, had to run from the police, had to take care of my knee and now you get to witness my very own first panic attack with a good amount of blabbering as the cherry on top. What a day, huh?”
The blonde grinned. “... And I got my ass handed to me at trivia for the first time, go figure.” He playfully punched Izuku on his shoulder.
“That calls for a rematch, you hear me? So don't you dare run away from me, I need to prove myself as the Supreme Champion.”
Izuku's eyes widened. Katsuki felt like he was in danger of falling into those green pools if he only took one step closer.
“So you... you do wanna see me again?”
“Why shouldn't I?”
“Uhm, for the countless reasons I just listed?”
“Naaah, that all adds to the fun. There's many things we could do together.” The blonde felt his blood rushing as his heart started beating faster.
Izuku stared in wonder at the thought of seeing him again. His heart fluttered as he looked into Katsuki's eyes, feeling their magnetic pull as he unconsciously leaned in closer. He stared at his lips - that looked so soft and so tempting – and, gathering all the courage he could muster, he held his breath, closed his eyes and placed a small, soft kiss on Katsuki's mouth.
The blonde stood there surprised, staring at him in disbelief. Izuku finally looked at him and, seeing his shocked expression, felt his heart break in a million tiny shards. He tried – and failed - to hold the tears in as he stood up and took a step away from the blonde. I fucked it up, I'm just a stupid fucking idiot , he thought. He was about to start running when he felt a strong hand wrap around his wrist and jerk him back, making him turn around.
“Uh? Where the hell do you think you're going?” Katsuki asked, pulling him between his arms. “I told you, don't you dare run away from me.” He wiped away a tear with his thumb, and this time he was the one who kissed him, closing Izuku's mouth with his own before the other could say anything.
This kiss was longer, more intense; the blonde slowly pushed his tongue in, Izuku's lips parting eagerly at the touch. The greenette jolted when he felt something cold and metallic graze his teeth and he pulled his head back, looking the blonde in the eye with a puzzled look on his face.
Katsuki grinned, a sly smile forming as he slowly opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out, showing a metal piercing shining in the middle of it. He leaned in again and licked Izuku's lips, feeling him shudder at the touch, as he went in for another kiss.
Izuku was still over the moon when he opened the door of his house, hands still shaking from the excitement. He was glad his mother still hadn't returned home that day, because he wasn't sure he would have been able to hide all of the emotions clearly written on his face from her. After he and Katsuki had kissed, they walked together in a comfortable silence until Izuku finally recognized the road that led to his home. Much to the delight of the greenette, they had kissed again, their hands a little more adventurous than before as they timidly caressed each other's skin... Izuku blushed at the thought.
He threw his backpack on the bed and went to take a shower, leaving his – now completely ruined – clothes on the bathroom floor. He flinched when the hot water touched his injured knee and he stood there, still trying to wrap his head around what had happened – the protesters, the thugs, Katsuki defending him and grabbing his wrist as they escaped, his fall... Izuku's racing mind jumped from one memory to another: smoking his first joint, the excitement of seeing Katsuki play, the blonde boy treating the wound on his knee and finally, the panic and their kiss... He let the hot water run over him in an effort to calm down his racing heart at the thought of Katsuki's soft lips pressed against his own. He felt like a schoolgirl, blushing in the shower while thinking about his crush, but he couldn't help it: he felt like he couldn't wait to see him again. …
Wait. See him again?
“WAIT WAIT WAIT” Izuku suddenly screamed out loud, panicked. “HOW THE FUCK DO I CONTACT HIM AGAIN!?” In the confused state he was in after the day, he had just waved a quick goodbye and left without a word, scrambling to get away before his flushed cheeks could become even redder.
Izuku felt a wave of desperation wash over him as he hit the shower wall with his fist, feeling a lump in his throat as he stood there, defeated. He wanted to punch himself in the face.
He quickly rinsed the shampoo off and stepped out of the shower; all he wanted to do now was buy a giant meal of takeaway food and cry for hours with his head buried in the pillow. “ God, I'm such an idiot.”
He angrily grabbed his clothes from the floor and was about to throw them in the washing machine when he noticed a little square of paper peeking out of the back pocket of his trousers. Where did it come from? He sure as hell didn't put anything there. He grabbed it, opened it and, once again, he was glad his mother still hadn't come home as he let out an overjoyed shriek.
He started jumping up and down, ecstatic, clutching the note to his chest; written down in neat handwriting, there was a phone number and the note: "You owe me a trivia rematch - and I'll make sure to win next time." signed, "Katsuki".
Izuku's face flushed red as he remembered the blonde's hands touching his butt as they were kissing: that was probably when he slid the paper in his back pocket. Still standing there, his green locks dripping water all over the floor, he gripped the note tight feeling incredibly lucky - and hopeful, for once in his life. As he ran out of the bathroom to grab his phone to add the number to his contact list, he couldn't help but smile. He was so, so damn glad he had woken up late, that day.