Chapter Text
Izuku sat on the edge of the hospital bed, room dappled in golden afternoon light as he signed the final line of his discharge paperwork with a flourish. They had kept him for two weeks under observation, making sure his wounds healed and that there were no sudden negative reactions to the toxins that had been forced into his system. While there had been some scares, it seemed as if the skies had finally cleared and sunshine was gracing his world once again.
The first two days had been hell, his body deciding to go through some twisted version of withdrawal that threw the doctors for a loop as they scrambled to figure out which way it’d go. Every minute was a guessing game, waiting to see if he’d simply vomit once again or have a seizure. For Izuku everything passed in a haze of discomfort, his body shifting back and forth between extremes almost as if it was hellbent on giving him whiplash with no time to recover, laughing at his pathetic attempts to prepare for what was to come next.
Katsuki had stayed by his side throughout it all, whispering encouraging words strewn with expletives, always ready to hold his hand and offer something – anything the greenette could anchor himself to.
After the third day Izuku was nothing more than a ball of exhaustion, an empty husk with nothing but the desire to sleep the day away and heal over the rollercoaster of events that had thrown him around like a ragdoll. He drifted in the grey, dreamless expanse of nothingness for what seemed like years, letting the hours pass him by like leaves caught on the wind.
Once everything had finally seemed to calm down, Izuku was faced with the sudden realization that he was going to be stuck in the hospital until deemed fit to leave, nothing but staff, Katsuki and his newly assigned therapist for company. That was days upon days of daunting free time he’d never had before, and the very idea sent pangs of anxiety racing up his spine. What was he even supposed to do? He’d already counted the seventy-two tiles lining the ceiling in neat little rows ten times over forward and backward.
Katsuki was his savior once again, bringing anything he thought the greenette might enjoy – books, crafts, a sketchbook and multicolored pens, sewing, etc. If you can find it in your nearby craft store, he’d probably tried it.
They’d finally given him the okay this morning, and Izuku had practically jumped at the chance to escape the endless white walls and floors and the smell of antiseptic that clung to his nose. Sure, the staff were more than kind and made sure he was comfortable, and even joined in on some of his winding conversations once in a while to shake things up. Despite all this, Izuku couldn’t fight the itch at the back of his mind begging him to leave – a feeling that he tried to ignore by doing anything and everything; hell, he’d even picked up knitting (and was quite good at it thank you very much) despite the mild tremors that seemed to constantly run through his hands.
Izuku passed the clipboard with his discharge papers back to Dr. Ishikawa, bright smile lighting up his face as he slowly stood, wincing at the tightness in his thigh and soreness of his ribs. Katsuki passed him his crutches before swinging a duffle bag over his shoulder, just as eager to leave the place as he was.
“Now Midoriya,” Dr. Ishikawa said sternly, hand on her hip as she stared the duo down. “Don’t forget to take your meds every night with food, and don’t you dare slack off on your stretches or your therapy sessions.” She flashed him a warm smile that reminded him of sunflowers and summer days, face softening as she stepped forward and pulled him into a comforting hug he hesitantly returned.
It only lasted for a few seconds before she pulled away, giving them one last look before settling on the blonde who met her gaze head on. “You have my number, don’t be afraid to call me if anything happens alright?”
“I will.”
“Oh, wow I never thought I’d see the day where you didn’t immediately tell me to fuck off!” She said, voice laced with dramatic pride as she reached up and ruffled already messy blonde spikes. “I’m so happy I could cry.”
Katsuki immediately pushed her hand away with an equally playful sneer, already making his way to the open door. “Let’s ditch this place, Deku.”
Izuku nodded as he slowly followed after, unable to stop the giggle that escaped his chest at the middle finger Katsuki flashed at the woman before leaving the room.
____
They shuffled back into Katsuki’s apartment, the beginnings of exhaustion pulling at Izuku’s mind until he was sure every stitch would unravel leaving colorful threads knotted across the hardwood floor. They had decided to go to the store on the way home, picking up the essentials and anything Izuku’s heart desired. Now all he wanted to do was flop down on the couch and cuddle with the man diligently putting away groceries, maybe watch a movie…or two.
He was about to do just that when he heard a soft thud coming from the hall, warning bells sounding like sirens in his ears. His body tensed as he rested his crutches against the table, holding one menacingly in both his hands like a bat.
“Kacchan, did you hear that?”
The hero was next to him in the blink of an eye, staring down the hall with a calculating gaze. “I’ll go check it out, stay here.”
“But Kacchan-”
Katsuki shot him a sharp look, effectively cutting off whatever protest he could muster. His face softened with understanding as the seconds passed, calloused hand coming up to brush a curl from his face. “I’ll be fine, babe,” He sent him a cocky wink before turning away, smirk pulling at his lips. “I am Ground Zero after all.”
Izuku chuckled lightly as he watched the man peer into different rooms, before disappearing into the one he knew was Katsuki’s. Anxiety grew in his chest like twisted vines as the seconds passed, and all he could do was wait, nervously tapping his fingers on the wood of the table. He hated it.
“Oi Deku! Get your ass in here!”
Izuku jumped at the loud voice, taking a moment to calm his racing heart before grabbing his remaining crutch and making his way down the hall, wondering what could’ve caused the noise. A mouse maybe? A really big mouse?
“Kacchan? Are you okay-?”
“WELCOME BACK MIDORIYA!”
The greenette jumped for the second time that day, eyes wide at the people piled into the master bedroom – from Katsuki’s friends who quickly accepted him, to Mizuki and even the small form of Ai standing proudly in the front. Hell, Aizawa was even in his sleeping bag tucked away in the corner. They all had massive smiles on their faces, and some were even holding presents. Izuku didn’t know how to react to the emotions overflowing throughout his being, brain short circuiting as he stared wide eyed.
“W-What?”
Katsuki walked forward from where he’d been leaning against a wall, smile on his face as he ruffled Izuku’s already messy curls, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.
“Welcome home, Deku.”
Home.
A quick intake of air caught in his throat at the word, tears blurring his vision as he went up on his toes and captured Katsuki’s soft lips with his own, smiling into the kiss at the whoops and hollers of their friends in the background.
Yeah, he was home.
Pulling away, but keeping an arm around Katsuki’s waist, Izuku flashed the biggest smile he could muster.
“Why are you guys in our room?”
____
Music thrummed through the room along with the chatter and laughter of friends, each one happy and having a great time. Izuku was sat on the couch, slotted comfortably between Katsuki’s legs, back pressed against his solid chest with the blonde’s own resting against the curved arm. He held a glass of water in his hand, sipping idly as he watched people laugh and drift like clouds across the spacious living room. It was weird to see such different worlds colliding in hectic harmony, colors meshing together to create a beautiful painting that brought a smile to his face.
He was happy. Truly, utterly happy. It was a saccharine warmth that made its way into every crevice of his body, making his movements slow and lethargic with relaxation. He hadn’t felt this way for…years. The last time he can remember had been way back when he was four, just before he’d figured out he was quirkless. He’d been exploring the forest with Katsuki, sunlight dappling his face in warm golden tones and shifting shadows through the leaves. They’d been hand in hand, filled with wonder and ready to take on the world with smiles and the uncrushable desire to strive forward and be the best.
So much had happened since then, so much had changed. Their lives were a turbulent storm of emotions and sometimes Izuku was convinced he’d drown, but now the sea was finally calming down with sun breaking through the clouds. He took the same hand he held so many years ago, long fingers intertwining with his own as it rested on his shoulder.
“You alright, shorty?” Katsuki’s breath ghosted against his ear, low enough for only him to hear.
He nodded, giving a reassuring squeeze to his hand. “Yeah, just thinking is all.”
“Thinkin’ bout what?” The hero’s remaining free hand ghosted past his hip, warm fingers slipping beneath his shirt to settle like an anchor on his ribs.
Izuku relaxed even further into the blonde, head resting against his shoulder. “How I’m happy.” He muffled a yawn with his hand, eyes suddenly feeling heavy as exhaustion weighed down on him like a ton of bricks. He could feel the soothing rumble of Katsuki’s chest as he spoke, but was too tired to actually grasp the words leaving his mouth.
It was only when the music was turned down to nothing but a gentle murmur that he realized his eyes had fallen shut, and somewhere in between the guests had quietly left until only he and Katsuki remained.
“C’mon nerd, let’s get your ass to bed.” Strong arms snaked beneath him, scooping him from the couch bridal style, taking extra care to make sure his still healing body was comfortable. The greenette curled into the warmth of his boyfriend, every muscle like putty in his hands as he was gently placed on the familiar sheets of his bed. He distantly registered the sound of shifting feet like someone getting ready to leave, and – in a sudden bout of panic in his fatigue addled brain – Izuku’s hand shot out and grabbed onto something soft against his fingertips: Katsuki’s sleeve.
“Stay.” He whispered, eyes half open and heavy with sleep as he gazed up at the silhouette above him, framed in delicate light that softened his features and made him seem almost angelic; a being he was lucky to witness, let alone hold in his arms and call his own.
“Are you sure?” The blonde’s voice was velvety as it drifted throughout the quiet of the room, sinking past his bones to settle in his chest like a lullaby. Izuku hummed in approval, feeling the bed dip as another body slipped in next to his own. Familiar arms found their place around his waist, a comforting weight that kept him grounded – a reminder that someone loved him despite all the flaws he had in abundance, and Izuku loved him back just as much.
As the stars hung heavy in the sky like precious jewels hand-picked by the gods, the two fell asleep in each other’s embrace, both realizing without a doubt that they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
____
As a pro hero, Katsuki had heard enough screams to last him a lifetime. There were the ones so wrought with pain and fear your heart couldn’t help but ache, and there were the ones calling out for help that were like a shot of pure adrenaline; making you work faster, pushing you to be better. None of these, however, held a candle to the strangled whimper that tore its way from his boyfriend’s throat like a razor through delicate flesh, eyes glassy and unseeing as he stared holes into his trembling hands.
They had just finished cleaning up breakfast – Izuku cleaning and Katsuki on dryer duty – when the greenette decided to wash his hands, only to freeze as if his world had collapsed.
“Oi, Deku? Are you alright?” The blonde asked, concern growing in his chest and worming its way between his ribs like a parasite with every passing second that remained unanswered. “Deku, what’s wrong?”
He brought up his hand and waved it in front of his slack face, knowing that touching the man would probably cause more harm than good. “Izuku…?”
The motion seemed to crack whatever daze he’d been in as emerald eyes slowly made their way up to meet his own, deep green brimming with unshed tears. It was as if the second reality came crashing back down the damn broke, sending Izuku into a fit of heaving sobs that had his shoulders shaking uncontrollably until he was sitting curled up on the floor, back against the counters.
“Hey, hey, hey its alright. It’s just me, you’re here in my kitchen cause we were doing dishes. You’re safe and no one will ever hurt you ever again. You’re safe.” He repeated the grounding exercise his therapist had taught him over and over until it seemed like the other had calmed down, holding out a tentative hand palm side up. Izuku stared at it warily for half a second before taking it into his own, scooting forward until his head rested on Katsuki’s shoulder.
“You up to explaining what just happened, freckles?”
A beat passed before the greenette hesitantly nodded, body heaving with his shaky inhale. “Yeah but- um…” A self-deprecating laugh slipped past his lips, “It’s kinda stupid when I say it out loud.”
“It’s not fucking stupid if you had this type of reaction. It could be the smallest thing, but that doesn’t make it any less valid.”
“Who knew you could be so kind – the great Ground Zero: a sweetheart.” Katsuki could feel the embarrassed flush making its way up the back of his neck, and was suddenly very happy the other man was tucked against his shoulder and couldn’t see.
“Oh, shut up and tell me what happened you dork.” Izuku laughed softly at that, warm breath ghosting across his collarbones.
“It was uh, it was the soap…”
Katsuki turned his head to look at the small, unassuming bottle with a light purple label, wondering how something like that was the reason for the last twenty minutes. “The soap?”
Izuku hummed in confirmation, taking a moment to take another calming breath. “Yeah…he-” his voice caught in his throat, words snatched away from the tip of his tongue. “He always smelled like lavender. I think it was a lotion or something maybe? And I- I know it’s stupid and irrational and shouldn’t even be a thing but I just smelled it and all I could think about was that room and that chair and the pain god I was so scared Kacchan.” Scarred hands fisted the material of his shirt, trembling ever so slightly. “I was so scared.”
Katsuki rubbed a soothing hand up his spine, tracing gentle patterns that had no rhyme or reason. “It’s not a stupid reason, and it’ll never be one.”
____
The next day every soap in the apartment was changed to citrus.
____
“Hey, Kacchan.” Two soft pokes were delivered to his cheek, the offending hand sleepily swatted away. “Wake uuuuuuup. I had an idea.”
Katsuki blearily cracked his eyes open, glancing at the digital clock mocking him from the bedside table. “You had an idea that was so important you had to wake me up at three in the fucking morning?” The blonde gave his best glare to the man lying next to him, curls adorably tousled from sleep.
“Yup!” Izuku said excitedly, popping the ‘P’ as he threw the comforter off and away from their bodies. “Now get up, we have work to do!” In a blink the greenette was up and out the bedroom, letting the open door wash the bedroom in golden light.
“Fuckin’ fine.” Katsuki murmured as he reluctantly stood, not caring in the slightest that he was only in a pair of dark boxers. “Shit better be worth it.”
He shuffled out of their room and followed the soft humming of his boyfriend to the kitchen, eyes widening at the array of ingredients and supplies laid out on the counter tops. Izuku stood proudly in the center of it all like a conductor commanding a symphony, confident demeanor offset by the fact that he was in nothing but one of Katsuki’s oversized sweaters and underwear.
“…Are we baking?”
“Mhm! I thought that since we weren’t able to before, that we could maybe do it now?”
It was then Katsuki noticed the dark bags beneath his eyes, the only sign of a fact he’d been suspecting over the past week. His features softened as he brought up a large hand to ruffle the unruly curls into a bigger mess, small smile pulling at his lips.
“Fine, but it better be fucking good.”
Izuku bumped his hip with his own, sly smile on his face. “Only the best for you, Kacchan.” They stared at each other for a silent second before the greenette spun on his heel, marching towards the mixer and army of ingredients lined up next to it, a battalion ready for war. “Now, let’s get started cause we have a lot of shit to do!”
____
“Now you see, the secret to having bomb ass brownies is using real chocolate and cocoa powder.” Izuku explained as he mixed in the chocolate with the butter they’d just melted. Already the smell filling the kitchen was heavenly, and they still had two more desserts – cupcakes and cookies – to make. Katsuki watched as Izuku gently folded in the rest of the dry ingredients, entire body relaxed with the comforting motions. In a moment of distraction, the blonde’s hand shot forward, pointer and middle finger dipping into the batter before skillfully swiping it across the other man’s cheek. His eyes were comically wide as he processed the brown smear across his skin, eyes glinting mischievously.
Oh shit, this can’t be anything good. Katsuki thought, accepting his fate as a dead man with open arms.
Izuku maintained eye contact as his own arm reached forward, three fingers scooping up a hefty amount of batter before oh so slowly smearing it from his jaw and down his chest.
“Bitch.” Izuku whispered softly, fighting the grin that threatened to take over his face.
“Hey, I’m not the one who wasted so much batter.”
“But you started it-!”
Katsuki leaned forward and caught his protest with his mouth, lips melding together in a way that just felt right.
When they finally pulled apart, Izuku gazed up at him with a half-lidded expression that sent the hero’s heart jackrabbiting against his ribcage, beating a staccato rhythm that was unfamiliar but exhilarating all the same. He was so distracted he missed the sly hand coming up, wiping another line of batter across his forehead.
“You’re still a bitch.” The greenette whispered playfully, leaning forward to peck the tip of his nose before turning around to continue with the desserts they’d briefly forgotten.
____
“Tell me again why we decided to make three different kinds of things instead of just one?” Katsuki mumbled, sprawled out on the couch as their baking adventure drew to a close. Izuku crawled up next to him, resting his head on his shoulder, legs a tangled mess.
“Cause they’re delicious.” He said like it was obvious and a completely justifiable reason for not getting any sleep (it was). A soft yawn escaped passed his lips, eyelids heavy with sleep as he nuzzled closer to the blonde who was stifling a yawn of his own.
“Night, Deku.”
“G’night, Kacchan.”
Within seconds the duo was fast asleep, the light of dawn peeking past the closed blinds to paint their embrace in warm rosy tones.