i will follow you into the dark
Rating: T
Warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a happy ending, Fluff
Summary: Izuku has finally returned to UA, and Katsuki will never let him go again.
Or: Izuku and Katsuki finally discuss their feelings.
A/N: Hi again, friends! Since chapter 322 is out now and dominating all of our lives, I felt inspired to write. This is intended to be a sequel to my fic "Tell Me I'm Dreaming," and takes place immediately after the events of chapter 322. So, spoilers are ahead for that chapter! I hope you like it <3
I'd also like to note: Izuku ate and took a bath when he got back, I just couldn't figure out how to work that in. Fear not, he is a clean and fed boy :')
AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/33153718
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Katsuki watches the gentle rise and fall of Izuku’s chest as he sleeps, undoubtedly for the first time in days. He’d fallen asleep the second his head hit the pillow on the small bed in Recovery Girl’s office, and hasn’t budged since.
In the 12 hours Izuku has been back at UA, Katsuki has left his side once, only with substantial convincing from Glasses and Shitty Hair.
“Dude, he’ll probably be out cold for a few more hours. At least go scarf down some food and take a nap,” Shitty Hair said.
“Shut the fuck up,” Katsuki retorted, “I ate this morning. And I have slept.”
Kirishima let out an exasperated sigh that irritated Katsuki to no end.
“Did you come here just to piss me off?” he snapped.
“We are concerned for your well being, just as we are Midoriya’s,” Iida said, “you haven’t fully recovered from your own injuries yet. You need to rest.”
“I said I was fucking fine.”
Iida looked at him with knowing eyes and a gentle smile. It annoyed Katsuki even more.
“He won’t disappear if you stop watching him, Bakugou."
“Yeah. We’ll stay with him,” Kirishima added with a thumbs up.
Katsuki gritted his teeth. As much as he hated to admit it, they were right. His empty stomach only served to fuel his anger more.
“I hear they’re serving spicy curry for lunch in the cafeteria,” Iida coaxed.
Katsuki had relented at that point, not because it was his favorite, of course, the growling in his stomach was just giving him away.
Katsuki returned less than an hour later. Kirishima and Iida admittedly had reassured him, to some degree, but it wasn’t enough to quell his anxiety. Iida scolded him for refusing to rest, but did nothing to stop him, as if he knew his efforts were futile. The pair stayed with Katsuki at Izuku’s bedside a while longer, but left him to his devices nonetheless.
Half and Half stopped by some time later, tapping on Katsuki’s shoulder and waking him from a restless sleep in a shitty plastic chair at Izuku’s bedside.
“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to sleep in your bed, Bakugou?” he asked, sitting in a chair adjacent to him.
“I was sleeping just fine before you fucking showed up, you Half and Half bastard,” Katsuki snarled.
“I’ve been here for an hour and a half, actually,” Todoroki stated. Always so fucking deadpan.
“Why the fuck did you wake me up now then?”
“You looked uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine, asshole,” Katsuki grumbled. Todoroki looked unconvinced.
“I figured you would say that. Here, I brought you this,” Todoroki produced a blanket from behind his chair and handed it to Katsuki.
“I don’t need your fucking charity," Katsuki grumbled, but accepted it anyway, silently grateful for refuge from the chill in the room.
“It’s no trouble,” Todoroki patted his shoulder.
“Tch.” Katsuki shrugged him off.
They sat in silence for a while. Izuku still hadn’t budged. Katsuki was worried, but some part of him was thankful that Izuku was finally fucking resting.
“Everyone is proud of you, you know,” Todoroki said quietly.
“Haah?!”
“It took courage, what you did. We know it’s not easy for you to express your emotions,” he paused, considering his next words, “it... doesn’t come naturally to me, either.”
“No shit!” Katsuki barked. Todoroki raised a finger to his lips to shush him and nodded at Izuku, who had grunted in his sleep.
“I’m just saying, your efforts aren’t unseen. We know you’ve been working hard, and that this has been weighing on you for a long time. If it weren’t for you, Midoriya might not have listened to us.”
“You don’t know shit,” Katsuki grumbled, averting his eyes. Katsuki was beginning to feel uncomfortable. He wasn’t good at this shit, and Todoroki knew it, so why wouldn’t he shut up?
“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. We can change the topic,” Todoroki said, as if he could read Katsuki’s mind.
“Or we could stop fucking talking altogether,”
Todoroki smiled and nodded, returning his gaze to Izuku. Katsuki’s eyes followed and he frowned.
“He’s such a fucking idiot,” Katsuki muttered, leaning forward in his chair and resting his chin on his hand. Todoroki chuckled.
“He is certainly reckless,” Todoroki nodded, “I’m disappointed to learn he felt he had to keep such a big secret. But, he is my friend, and I will continue to be as supportive as I can. He would do the same for us.”
“No, he’d do more, and end up getting himself fucking killed."
“That’s…" Todoroki frowned, "probably true."
They were quiet for a few minutes, and then Todoroki fucking piped up again, much to Katsuki’s dismay.
“I know Midoriya appreciated what you said,” his voice was soft.
“Words don’t matter. Actions do,” Katsuki’s response was immediate.
“Well your actions have spoken clearly. “You're a better person than you think you are, Bakugou.”
Katsuki whipped his head to glare at Todoroki with an insult on his tongue, but he found himself speechless instead, staring with an incredulous look on his face. He mentally kicked himself for it.
“I just hope you know that, too,” Todoroki offered a half-smile.
Katsuki was frustratingly taken aback. He averted his eyes and looked at the ground with a scowl. That damn fucking Half and Half.
Todoroki thankfully shut his mouth after that. Katsuki wasn’t sure how long they sat together in silence. It wasn’t until the sun had set and the room began to fill with darkness that he heard Todoroki rise from his seat.
“I’m going to go lie down. You should, too,” Todoroki said plainly.
Katsuki sighed. He was right, but there was a sickeningly uneasy feeling in his gut whenever he thought about leaving that he just couldn’t shake.
“I…I can’t,” he whispered.
“Okay.”
Todoroki patted his shoulder again, and Katsuki didn’t push him away this time.
“Thanks,” Katsuki shrugged, “for the blanket or whatever.”
Todoroki nodded. He left the door cracked behind him on his way out.
Katsuki pulls the blanket around himself and reclines in his chair, putting his feet up on Todoroki’s abandoned one. It’s really fucking uncomfortable, but Katsuki knows it would be impossible to sleep if he were anywhere else.
After too many attempts to reposition himself comfortably, Katsuki groans and sits up straight, turning his head to watch Izuku again. He’s still sleeping soundly.
Katsuki leans forward and, without thinking, brushes his hand through Izuku’s hair, pushing back a few stray curls. The moonlight flickering through the blinds illuminates his face, and Katsuki thinks that, somehow, this is the most peaceful he’s seen Izuku in ages.
Katsuki can’t remember the last time Izuku wasn’t at least slightly on edge. He is always looking over his shoulder, as if he’s expecting the enemy to be watching. He spends every minute of his free time training or muttering to himself about battle strategies. The nerd doesn’t even know the meaning of the word “relax.”
Katsuki slides his hand down to cup Izuku’s cheek. His skin is soft and warm, just like last time, and he can’t help but feel an awful sense of dèjá vu. He stays that way for a few moments, just reveling in the fact that Izuku is really here. This isn't a dream, he’s finally here, and Katsuki will never fucking let him go again.
When Katsuki reluctantly moves to pull away, Izuku reaches up to grab his hand, nuzzling into it.
Katsuki is startled, as Izuku is seemingly still asleep. He brushes Izuku’s cheekbone with the backs of his fingers, and swears he sees the ghost of a smile on his lips.
“You’re a dumbass,” Katsuki mumbles, propping his elbow on the bed to rest his head in his free hand.
“I can hear you, Kacchan.”
Katsuki jolts up in surprise to see Izuku staring at him with one eye cracked open and a smirk on his lips.
“Shit, did I wake you?” Katsuki tries again to pull his arm away, but Izuku holds on tight, as if Katsuki is his lifeline and he’s barely hanging on.
“D-don’t go,” Izuku stutters, burying his face in Katsuki’s hand. Katsuki caresses his cheek again and frowns when he finds wetness there.
“Are you crying?” Katsuki asks, though he’s not sure why, because he already knows the answer.
“N-no,” Izuku sniffles. Katsuki rolls his eyes and sighs.
“Hey, look at me,” Katsuki whispers, lifting his free hand to Izuku’s other cheek and turning his head to face him.
Izuku whimpers, holding Katsuki’s arms in a vice grip as he looks up. His eyes are sunken and glassy, overflowing with tears that Katsuki wipes away with his thumbs.
Fuck, he looks like a fucking zombie. His face is paler than usual and littered with scratches, and heavy, dark circles line his eyes. Katsuki suppresses a sudden urge to wrap him in his arms and hold him tight.
“What’s wrong?” Katsuki murmurs, stroking his cheeks in what he hopes is a soothing manner.
Izuku’s face contorts and a new wave of tears begin to fall.
“I-I’m so s-sorry Kacchan,” he snivels.
Katsuki holds his face tighter.
“I told you, we get it. Don’t beat yourself up, you’ve already done plenty of that.”
Izuku chokes a laugh through a broken sob and Katsuki counts it as a small victory.
“I a-am pretty messed up, h-huh?” Izuku hiccups, “but so are you.”
“Tch. I’m fine,” Katsuki lies, feeling a familiar twinge of pain in his side.
“I kn-know you better than that, Kacchan,” Izuku meets Katsuki’s gaze, “d-don’t think I didn’t see you bleeding back there.”
“I was bleeding. I’m not anymore, see?” Katsuki points to his newly applied bandages, “The old lady patched me up.”
Recovery Girl had given Katsuki a thorough scolding for tearing his wounds. Something about being too reckless, to stop throwing himself in front of danger because isn't it hypocritical of you to tell Midoriya to look after himself, but you won't do the same? That had pissed Katsuki off to no end, but he’d accepted her help anyway.
“Y-you could’ve hurt yourself-”
“But I didn’t! Quit worrying about everyone else,” Katsuki looks Izuku dead in the eyes, “think about your goddamn self for once.”
Izuku shakes his head frantically.
“I can’t. I said so many terrible things I- I h-have to apologize-,” Izuku tries to get up, but Katsuki is lightning fast as he moves to sit on the bed in front of him, gripping his shoulders to hold him in place.
“You can do that later. You need to fucking relax. Did you forget you were beaten to a pulp?” Katsuki reminds him.
“Kacchan, I’m f-”
“Don’t fucking say you’re fine! You’re not, and you know it.”
“It doesn’t matter, Kacchan!” Izuku shouts,“I can’t- I can’t just sit here while everyone else is-”
“Everyone is safe,” Katsuki lightly shakes him, “and we’re safer if we're together.”
Izuku presses the heels of his hands to his eyes.
“It doesn’t matter,” Izuku repeats himself. His voice is shaking. “I ne-”
“Shut the fuck up. You matter,” Katsuki says firmly, pulling Izuku’s hands away and holding onto them.
Izuku weakly lifts his head to meet Katsuki’s eyes. He looks taken aback, and even more exhausted than before, but Izuku is just as stubborn as Katsuki is, and Katsuki can tell he still has an argument left in him.
“Izuku,” Katsuki watches Izuku's eyes widen as he utters his name for a second time. It feels foreign on his tongue, but he knows the weight it carries, and he'll say it over and over if it makes Izuku happy.
Katsuki pushes back the hair that’s fallen in front of Izuku's face and knocks their foreheads together.
“Izuku,” he repeats, “ You fucking matter,” there’s a sharpness to Katsuki’s tone he hadn’t intended, but he can tell Izuku gets the message. He swears he sees the color return to Izuku’s bloodshot eyes before they squeeze shut, overflowing with new tears.
Izuku buries his head in Katsuki’s chest and wails. Katsuki immediately wraps his arms around him and pulls him into a tight embrace, ignoring the aching pain in his injured shoulder and side.
“I-I’m s-so sorry,” Izuku’s entire body shakes as he clings to Katsuki. Katsuki holds him tighter, rubbing gentle circles on his back.
“Shh, it’s okay. Everything’s okay,” Katsuki murmurs, trying his best to soothe him, but Izuku only cries harder. Katsuki’s own eyes begin to burn.
“It’s s’not o-okay, Kac-chan,” Izuku stutters.
“Nobody is mad at you."
“Th-they should b-be,” Izuku insists miserably
“Well they’re not.”
“I think All M-might is.”
“Haah?! The fuck kind of reason does All Might have to be mad at you?” Katsuki is baffled. “I should fucking clock him in the face again.”
“Y-you punched All Might?!” Izuku lifts his chin to stare incredulously at Katsuki.
“Damn right I did. But that’s beside the point. Why the fuck’s he mad?”
Izuku hides his face again, his voice muffled by Katsuki’s now damp shirt and his own sobs, “I w-was so mean t-to him. I told him I d-didn’t need him anymore and r-ran away, I-”
“Breathe, Dek- Izuku,” Katsuki whispers, brushing Izuku’s cheek with his fingers as Izuku begins to hyperventilate. “Breathe. He’s not mad, he’s probably just worried.” He better not be fucking mad.
“I-I have to t-talk to him too,”
“It can wait. Right now you need to fucking rest.”
They stay that way for a while, wrapped in the safety of each other’s arms as Izuku’s cries slowly start to dissipate. At some point, Katsuki isn’t sure when, traitorous tears start to roll down his own face. Izuku notices before he does, feeling the sudden moisture on his shoulder, and he tells him so.
“I’m not fucking crying,” Katsuki grumbles, though his voice is hoarse.
“It’s o-okay Kacchan,”
“Shit,” Now they’re both blubbering idiots.
Izuku squeezes Katsuki tighter as they cry together. Katsuki tries not to wince as he returns the gesture, his shoulder screaming in protest, but Izuku notices. Of course he fucking notices.
“K-Kacchan-,” Izuku’s voice is laced with unnecessary concern as he immediately loosens his grip and starts to pull back.
“Don’t,” Katsuki growls, rubbing his eyes, “Don’t fucking worry about me.”
Izuku sniffles and shakes his head, “I c-can’t help it.”
Katsuki heaves a sigh. “I know.”
Izuku places his shaky, scarred hands on either side of Katsuki’s face in a gentle caress that makes Katsuki’s heart fucking squeeze. When he finally lifts his eyes, he finds Izuku looking at him with a wobbly smile. His cheeks are tear-stained and there's a trace of something haunted behind his eyes, but it's undeniable that a weight has lifted from his shoulders.
Katskui quirks his lips in a half smile. Fuck, he’d missed Izuku.
Izuku yawns and lies back in the bed. “I’m tired again.”
“Well, get some sleep then, nerd,” Katsuki moves to slide back in his chair, but Izuku stops him, grabbing his hand.
“Wait! I- could-” Izuku bites his lip, “could you...stay with me?”
Katsuki squeezes his hand. “I’m not going anywhere, nerd. Someone has to keep your ass in line," he smirks.
Izuku laughs, the first real laugh Katsuki has heard in ages, and Katsuki thinks it might be his favorite sound.
“No, I mean here, next to me,” Izuku scoots over in the bed and pats the space next to him.
“I don’t think-”
“Just until I fall asleep,” Izuku pleads, “...please?”
Katsuki finally relents and slides in next to him. Izuku looks relieved, draping the blanket around them both and curling up to Katsuki’s uninjured side. Katsuki wraps his arm around Izuku’s waist, careful not to dislodge the bandages there. He briefly wonders why this feels so natural.
Izuku’s voice is barely above a whisper when he speaks next. “I- I’m scared, Kacchan.”
“I know. But everything’s gonna be fine."
“I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.”
“No one’s gonna get hurt. We’re gonna figure this out, and we’re gonna figure it out together.”
“I really shouldn’t be here,” Izuku sighs.
“Shut the fuck up. You really wanna be out there? Where people are lookin’ to wring your neck at every turn?”
“Of course not! But that’s exactly why I should be. No one here is safe while I’m around.”
Izuku startles when Katsuki suddenly grabs his chin and lifts it up with his free hand to make Izuku look him in the eyes “Bullshit. I already told you, you can’t win this alone. So stop trying."
Izuku swallows hard, on the verge of tears again. Katsuki tucks Izuku's head under his chin.
"Saving people is how we win, remember? That means you gotta let us save you sometimes, too." Katsuki holds Izuku tight as he cries, gently combing his fingers through thick green curls.
“You should be here," Katsuki continues, "you belong here, Izuku." With me, he adds, but only in his thoughts.
Izuku stills and lifts his head from Katsuki’s chest to stare at him with wide, curious eyes. He's no longer crying. “Kacchan?”
“What?” Katsuki is confused as he watches Izuku’s cheeks flush a deep red.
“I belong with...you?”
Fuck, did he say that out loud?
Katsuki suddenly becomes very aware of their proximity and feels his own face heat.
Their faces are already inches apart, and Izuku is coming closer, cupping Katsuki's cheeks with freezing cold hands. He's close enough that Katsuki can feel Izuku’s heartbeat, his breath on his nose, and fuck, when did their legs tangle together?
Izuku’s thumb lightly strokes his cheekbone and Katsuki finds himself inadvertently leaning into his touch. His breath catches in his throat when he finally meets his gaze. Izuku’s eyes are soft and warm and he’s smiling, a real smile that is secretly Katsuki’s favorite, one that he hasn't seen in far too long. He decides he would sooner die than see it extinguished ever again.
He's embarrassed by his accidental confession, but something about the way Izuku is looking at him, with that soft gaze full of light and wonderment Katsuki knows is reserved only for him, makes the anxiety melt away. The eyes that used to infuriate him now leave him feeling warm and safe, like he has a place in this world, and he realizes there's nowhere he'd rather fucking be than right by Izuku's side.
"Did you mean that?" Izuku whispers, breaking him from his reverie.
“Yeah. Stay with me,” Katsuki grazes his fingers across Izuku's cheek. "...please."
Izuku's smile is breathtaking. It lights a fire in Katsuki's chest.
"I will," Izuku breathes, leaning in to close the distance between them.
Their lips meet halfway in a desperate kiss and a jolt of electricity courses through Katsuki's body. Izuku's hands tangle into Katsuki's hair and Katsuki cradles his face as they explore each other for the first time. It's messy and uncoordinated, but Izuku's lips are soft and inviting and nothing has ever felt so fucking right.
Katsuki's hold on Izuku's waist tightens, pulling him closer, but it's still not close enough. They've been through a decade of miscommunication and separation, unchecked feelings, and the debilitating fear of losing each other. Now that Izuku is here, safe in his arms, Katsuki wants nothing more than to stay in the warmth of this moment forever, to melt into each other and never let go again.
"K-Kacchan," Izuku pants as he slowly pulls away. Oh, right, breathing.
He presses his forehead to Katsuki's as they gasp for air, and they cling to each other as if the other could disappear at any moment.
Katsuki's head is spinning as he looks at Izuku. His cheeks have flushed deeper, lips kissed red and swollen, eyes blown wide as he stares in amazement.
"I missed you," Izuku whispers between heavy breaths.
"Me too,"
Katsuki tucks Izuku's head into the crook of his neck and holds him tight.
“I am….glad to be back,” Izuku murmurs, “it was terrifying out there. I was so exhausted."
No shit, Katsuki thinks.
"Do you want to...talk about it?"
"I-" Izuku pauses, considering. His voice is small when he says, "Maybe later. I don't...I don't want to think about it right now."
Katsuki laces the fingers of one hand with Izuku's and squeezes.
"Okay. But, uh, I'm here if you do. Want to talk or whatever." Katsuki tries his best to sound encouraging. Izuku tilts his head up and nods with a smile.
“Okay.”
There's still so much Katsuki wants to say, but he can't put it into words. He's always been better with actions. He thinks back on all that he said before Izuku passed out in his arms, and wonders if it was enough.
Out of the corner of his eye, Katsuki notices Izuku peering up at him.
“What are you staring at, nerd?” Katsuki smirks as Izuku averts his eyes, color blooming on his face again.
“I- I’m not, I just- thank you, Kacchan.”
"For what?"
“For everything.”
Katsuki shrugs. “I didn’t do shit."
"Yes you did," Izuku brushes a lock of hair behind Katsuki's ear, "you're here right now. You listened, you encouraged me, you made me feel safe enough to come back here. I wouldn’t have had the strength without you.”
Katsuki is at a loss for words.
"Todoroki was right, you know," Izuku says softly, "you're better than you think you are."
Katsuki feels his face flush and looks away. But then it dawns on him.
"You were listening to us?"
"Uh- just a little...only bits and pieces."
"You were awake? Why the hell didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want to interrupt you," Izuku shrugs. "You and Todoroki never talk, it seemed important. Plus, I was so out of it I thought I was dreaming at first."
"So you were just eavesdropping like a creep?" He teases, snickering when Izuku buries his face in embarrassment.
"I'd rather talk to you than that Half and Half bastard, dumbass," Katsuki ruffles Izuku's hair.
"Sorry, Kacchan."
"Quit apologizing."
Normally he probably would be pissed, but there isn’t even a trace of anger in him right now.
"I'm not the only one who's reckless, by the way," Izuku playfully nudges Katsuki.
"I'm not fucking reckless."
Izuku frowns. "Kacchan, you were stabbed. And you tore open your wounds trying to get to me when you should've been taking it easy. You took off into battle without a second thought."
"Sounds familiar," Katsuki glares at him.
"I know. I admit I don't always think things through….and sometimes I think too much. I never put myself first. You made me realize that. I'm...going to try to work on it. But you can't deny that you do it sometimes too."
Katsuki is silent again.
"And when was the last time you ate? Or slept somewhere other than a tiny chair? You tell me I need to take better care of myself, but you don't do the same."
"I'm fine." Katsuki insists, but Izuku knows him better than he knows himself and sees right through the lie.
Katsuki sighs. Deep down, he knows Izuku and the old lady are right. Sometimes... he can be a dumbass and a hypocrite.
"My body…I told you, it moved on it's own. I just saw you in the air and fucking panicked. You were about to die," Katsuki’s voice shakes, “You were about to die, and it was like… like my entire fucking life flashed before my eyes. There was so much I needed to say to you, I couldn't handle the thought of losing you, Izuku. Especially before- before I had the chance to-, " Katsuki squeezes his eyes shut and grunts in an effort to hold back tears that were threatening to fall.
Katsuki feels Izuku's gentle touch on his cheek again and meets his gaze.
"I know. It's okay. Let's just agree that we're both idiots and try to be better, together. If not for ourselves, then for each other. I can't stand the thought of losing you either, Kacchan," Izuku's eyes are impossibly soft
"I really do appreciate everything you said, Kacchan. It means so much to me. I know it's not easy for you to do that."
"I meant every fucking word," Katsuki says firmly.
"I know. And I forgave you a long time ago, Kacchan. Yeah, things were rocky for a while, but I see you. I see how you've changed, and how much effort you've been putting in. I feel safest and strongest when I'm with you. You're the most amazing person I've ever known, and you always will be."
Izuku's eyes well up with tears again as he smiles, and Katsuki feels like his heart could burst out of his chest. He presses a gentle kiss to Izuku's palm and cups his face, tracing his lips with his thumb.
"You make me stronger," Katsuki stares deep into his eyes.
Katsuki feels his brain short circuit as Izuku presses a gentle, sweet kiss to the corner of his mouth. Katsuki holds him there as he pulls away, chasing his lips with his own.
This kiss is softer and less hurried, but just as passionate. They're completely enveloped in each other as they revel in the fact that this is real. There’s nowhere in the world either of them would rather be. Katsuki didn’t realize just how badly he needs Izuku until he was gone, and thinks that, maybe, Izuku feels the same way.
It feels like it’s been an eternity when they slowly break apart, and Katsuki can’t help the smile that spreads across his face.
Izuku lays his head on Katsuki's chest and cuddles up to his side. Katsuki idly strokes his back, just relishing the moment.
Fuck, he’d missed Izuku.
"I don't mind if- uh, if you keep calling me Deku, by the way," Izuku mutters..
"You don't like it when I say your name?"
"No! No, that's not it- I mean it is a little weird, but uh- I like it? Hearing it in your voice, I mean," Izuku rambles on, and Katsuki finds that he's even missed that too.
"I just, um, I mean- Deku is fine too. It has a different meaning for us both now, you know? It stopped being an insult a long time ago. And, uh, it feels, um...special, I guess? I don't know. My point is, either is fine. I don't want you to feel like...like you're disrespecting me, or something," Izuku's face is bright red as he notices Katsuki smirking at him.
"You're such a nerd," Katsuki laughs when Izuku scowls, and presses a kiss to his forehead, “I’ll call you whatever the fuck you want me to call you.”
“Either is good. I promise.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see then, huh?”
"Yeah," Izuku smiles, then his brows furrow and he pauses. "Katsuki."
They both frown and Katsuki shakes his head.
"Nope. Too weird. I'd rather be Kacchan forever,” Katsuki grimaces.
“I think so too,” Izuku laughs.
"You should sleep, nerd." Katsuki murmurs.
"Mm, yeah,” Izuku yawns, “You should too, Kacchan."
"Yeah, yeah."
"But you'll still be here when I wake up, right?" Izuku looks up at him with pleading eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Izuku breathes a sigh of relief and snuggles closer.
"Tomorrow...tomorrow is gonna be hard."
"Nah. I'll beat the shit out of anyone who tries anything funny. Like I said, we'll get through this.”
"Together?"
"Together."
-------
bonus:
Sunlight is filtering through the blinds of the room's tiny window when Katsuki awakens. He feels more rested than he has in ages. Izuku is still curled up at his side with his head on his chest, snoring softly, and Katsuki can’t help but smile.
“Nice, bro!” someone whispers from the doorway. Katsuki’s head whips up to see Shitty Hair and Sparky, grinning at him with their thumbs up.
Katsuki is filled with white hot rage as his face flushes. If it wasn't for the fact that Izuku has him pinned, he would beat the shit out of those assholes.
“See ya, loverboy!” Kaminari whistles as they bolt out of the room.
Oh, they are dead meat when Katsuki’s hands are free.
--
A/N: I wrote this while listening to "I Will Follow You into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie and "Make You Mine (acoustic)" by PUBLIC-highly recommend them if you're looking to yearn lmao
The large block of italicized text is meant to be a flashback- I hope that was clear :')
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!! Feedback/reblogs are appreciated as always <3
Also- shout out to @sheiireen for her very helpful advice on this. She's amazingly talented, you should check her out!!
