Work Text:
"I wonder if I'm just a special character in /this/ chapter of your life or if I'll be here for the rest of the book" Izuku turned his head to look at Katsuki with a smile.
The sun sets behind him, making the greenette look like a dream. Katsuki's breath catches in his throat at the sight and his chest feels so tight and warm.
A welcomed feeling.
Katsuki cups Izuku's cheek "You are a recurring character"
Izuku's eyes shine and their lips brush softly.
"So I hope you /stay/ till the end" Katsuki said resting his forehead against Izuku's
"Always".
- - - -
Katsuki slowed his jog, as the memory played in his head, tears sprung at the corner of his eyes and his chest hurt. He hunched over and gasped for breath.
He had gone for a jog. He /needed/ to clear his head. No Katsuki didn't go jogging in hopes he'd see Izuku, no that's crazy.
That's moronic.
Izuku /left/ . Why would he actively look for someone who /left/ him?
He wouldn't.
Katsuki just needed to clear his head, wrap his head around how he went from being so happy... to... to this pathetic man that jogs in hopes of seeing his ex.
Katsuki sat on a bench taking a deep breath and watched as the sun broke through the morning clouds.
He begins to wonder... When did he become like this?
He was so happy /just/ six months ago.
- - - -
6 months earlier
February
Katsuki sat grumpily in the booth at the bar with his idiotic friends. He threw back his shot glass and his friends all gave each other wary looks.
"Fuck love" Katsuki says glaring at his empty glass "Fuck dating and fuck hooking up"
Eijirou laughs, slapping a hard hand on Katsuki's shoulder. "Oh come on bro don't be like that! It's the month of /love/! What about Kenji huh? Aren't you guys like-"
"No" Katsuki replies setting the glass down "We-uh, I broke up with him"
"Awww why?" Mina questions with a pout to her lips "At least you could have waited till after valentines day!"
Katsuku rolls his eyes ``He just wanted to be a sugar baby. Im /not/ looking for that"
"Oof" Hanta says with a wince
"Well that's what you get for dating some 20 year old college kid! All they are looking for is sugar mommas and daddys!" Denki says
It earns him a slap behind the head from Eijirou. Who nods his head toward Katsuki when Denki yelps and pouts. Katsuki sits toying with his empty glass, he really did like Kenji.
Sure he was young but he was bright, funny and real cute.
But he really didn't /like/ Katsuki in the same way Katsuki liked him. That was okay, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt any less knowing Kenji humored Katsuki in hopes that he'd get treated like a sugar baby.
That Katsuki would spoil him with riches.
Katsuki wasn't looking for that kind of relationship, sure he could sustain that. But Katsuki wasn't getting any younger and while his goal had always been to be the best and reach number one. Katsuki had begun to wonder if there was more to life.
He wanted more out of life than just the number one spot.
Katsuki wanted a /real/ relationship. Real companionship, but maybe Denki had a point.
That within itself was rare.
Katsuki is too old to date around, hook up and whatever the fuck else you wanna call it. If he didn't find his person years ago, he sure as shit wasnt gonna find em now.
Not in all these young cats he kept finding himself dating.
"Nah. Dunce face is right '' Katsuki says as he grabs a beer off the tray that the server had just dropped off. "Fuck dating. Fuck hook ups. Fuck relationships"
"Hell yeah!" Denki shouts "That's the spirit blasty!"
Hanta and Denki raise their beer and shout "Permanent bachelors!"
Katsuki raises his beer and their three bottles clink together.
Eijirou stares at them, at his best bro. "Don't give up in love! Your special someone is out there"
Eijirou winced as if Katsuki had slapped him when the blonde glared at him.
"Hey guys!" Tetsu says as he squeezes into the booth slapping a wet kiss to Eijirou cheek "Sorry i'm late! Some guy tried to rob a store, like right in front of me"
That was so easy for Eijirou to say, so easy. He had found his special someone years ago, in UA when they were training to be heroes.
He was gonna marry that metal head in a few months from now.
Of course it's /easy/ for him to say.
So Katsuki swears off love and focuses solely on his career as a hero.
It works perfectly. Katsuki is at the top of his game, living his absolute best life.
Then two weeks later, disaster strikes (not really, Katsuki is just dramatic as hell). The disaster comes in the form of green hair, smattered in freckles, thighs that could crush heads and ass you can bounce a coin off of.
Katsuki feels a hard hit into his backside and he stumbles slightly forward. He glares over his shoulder just for his eyes to shoot wide open at the prettiest man he has ever seen gathering his balance, eyes rapidly blinking.
"Oh shit" the guy curses "Im so sorry!"
Katsuki turns around to face the greenette properly.
"Are you okay? I wasn't paying attention to where i was going-" then he pauses and his eyes widen when he finally realizes who he bumped into "OH MY GOD YOU'RE-"
Katsuki slaps a hard hand over the guy's mouth and looks around at the early birds. Some of which were looking at them, there isn't a lot of them but still enough to cause a ruckus and Katsuki did not want that.
"Shut. Up." Katsuki says, gripping his freckled cheeks a little tighter. "I'm gonna let your mouth go but you /better/ not scream or any dumb /loud/ fanboy shit you were aboutta do or i'll blast your ass. Understand?"
The guy nods and Katsuki releases him.
"This is so cool!" He whispers, eyes shining in awe.
Katsuki would be a liar if he said that, that look didn't fuel his ego.
"Yeah yeah. I know. I'm amazing! I'm your favorite'' Katsuki says trying not to sound like he is bragging "You should watch where you are going"
The guys laughs like bells and Katsuki gets a weird tossy-turning feeling in his stomach. "I know I know I'm so sorry! I didn't even see you there, to think i bumped into my /second/ favorite hero"
Wait. What?
"YOUR SECOND?" Katsuki yells before checking himself, remembering he didn't want to actually cause a scene. A quick glance around shows no one is paying them mind anymore.
"My second" The greenette reaffirms before slowly starting to jog away.
Instantly Katsuki jogs beside him.
"You know i'm like the number one hero right?"
The greenette laughs with nod "Of course but doesn't mean you're /my/ number one"
Katsuki's head jerks "The fuck it does. I'm everyone else's. Why can't i be yours huh?"
"Wow Mr. Dynamight. I didn't think this would bother you so much" He giggles.
He giggles. The fucker at giggles and Katsuki's stomach twists up again.
"Who the hell is your favorite?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Because i'm asking!"
The guy snorts but does not bother answering Katsuki. So Katsuki continues jog beside him, pestering him about his favorite hero and the clear hero nerd ignores him.
HIM. The great explosion murder god dynamight!
"This was fun!" The nerd says as he comes to a stop "You are fun jogging partner Dynamight"
"I'm not on duty. Dont call me that" Katsuki says
"Oh? What should I call you then?"
"Bakugo... Katsuki"
The nerd sticks out his hand "Midoriya Izuku. It's nice to meet you Bakugo"
Katsuki takes his hand "who's your favorite hero"
Izuku laughs "Wouldn't you like to know"
"I would! It's why I keep asking!"
Izuku snorts and gives Katsuki a breathtaking smile. "Bye Bakugo!"
Izuku walks out of the park, crosses the street and leaves Katsuki wondering two things.
1 - who the hell is his favorite hero?
2- when Katsuki was gonna see him again?
Question two gets answered three days later and Katsuki continues his quest of trying to find out this guy's favorite hero.
He doesn't have /any/ luck but he does gain a jogging partner so a win is a win.
- - - -
March
"So you're gonna tell me who your favorite hero is?" Katsuki questions Izuku as they settle on a bench with cups of coffee.
Izuku snorts, a small smile dancing across his lips.
They had been running together everyday for the better part of a month. Katsuki is absolutely hell bent on finding out /who/ is his favorite hero. He is the best, who could be better than him?
It's the only reason Katsuki kept running with Izuku. Not because he enjoyed the greenette's company or that they got along well. Not because Katsuki liked his laugh or the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about something he enjoyed.
No. No. It was because he /needed/ to be number one to everyone. Including this fucking nerd.
"Are you losing sleep over it, Bakugo?" Izuku questions, still smiling.
"Absolutely not"
Izuku snorts again, "Sure seems like it."
Katsuki squints but says nothing. They sit in silence watching the sun rise over the horizon. But Katsuki isn't watching the sunrise, he is looking at Izuku. Taking in his side profile, the way his freckles dance across his cheeks like specks of paint.
Izuku is /really pretty./
Katsuki's face heats up when Izuku turns to look at him and turns away.
"Its Chargebolt" Izuku says
"H-huh?" Katsuki replies confused
"Chargebolt is my favorite hero"
Katsuki whips his head toward Izuku "FUCKING PIKACHU???"
Izuku laughs and those godforsaken moths flap their shitty wings in Katsuki's stomach.
"Yes. Him."
"You know. He is like, chronically dumb?" Katsuki replies clearly trying to reason with Izuku
"No he isn't."
"Uh- yes he is. I went to school with him. I know!"
Izuku smiles and sips his coffee.
"What the hell do you like about him anyways?"
"He is a loveable doofus" Izuku's cheeks tinge pink and he doesn't meet Katsuki's eyes.
Something nasty rises in him. He knows what it is but no fucking way is he /jealous/ of goddamn /dunce face/.
"HE IS A DUMBASS" Katsuki voice rises a few octaves. Honestly he should be embarrassed
"He is relatable"
"To who?!"
"To me and many others"
Katsuki's face scrunches "he is a moron! The fact he has even survived this /long/ is surprising"
"Makes him all the more relatable. Don't you think"
"No!?"
Izuku laughs and smiles so bright he is honestly rivaling the sun right now.
"I'll become your favorite hero" Katsuki says all determined
"Will you?"
"I will."
Izuku laughs as he stands. Turning Katsuki with that too bright, too cute smile of his "I wish you luck Dynamight"
"I don't need luck!"
Izuku nods his head and waves goodbye.
Katsuki is gonna be his favorite. He vows it.
- - - -
April
Katsuki collapsed in his bed, dead tired. Hero work was really kicking his ass, he hasn't had time to run with Izuku.
Not that he looks forward to it.
It's just a testament to how busy he has been.
Katsuki's body slightly aches from today's villain fight. Some knucklehead with an arthritis quirk was attempting to rob a bank, obviously it didn't work out but Katsuki got hit with it. Now he is aching like an 87 year old, like he doesn't already ache.
Katsuki grabs his phone as he gets comfortable in bed.
To Izuku:
<< Am I number one yet?
They exchanged numbers, it was practical you know? They are running partners or whatever.
Katsuki didn't need it for any other reason. He didn't.
He gets a response almost immediately.
From Izuku:
>> Did you see Red Riot's rescue? He had like 8 people on his shoulders!
>> He might be my new favorite!
Katsuki squints and furiously types back.
<< fuck do you mean??? I SAVED so many more people than him!
<< That's why I'M number one!
>> Don't brag. No one likes a bragger Katsuki.
<< IT'S NOT BRAGGING IF IT’S TRUE!
>> Whatever you say
>> You did amazing taking that bank robber down today though. Thankyou for keeping us safe Dynamight.😊
Katsuki feels his cheeks heat at the praise. He wills his face to cool down as he writes his reply back.
<< It's nothing. You're welcome or whatever.
>> You aren't number one but you totally moved up
<< You are little shit ya know that?
>> I've been told😊
Katsuki huffs a breath that if anyone else was around to hear it. They would have thought it sounded fond. Katsuki opens his chat with Eijirou
To Shitty Hair:
🖕<<
>> What i do?😅
🖕🖕<<
>> BRO?!
🖕🖕🖕<<
Katsuki doesn't wait for a reply, setting his phone down and closing his eyes letting sleep take him to dreamland. Where he dreams of sparkling green eyes, a sunshine smile and joyous laughter that brought on moths and a bunch of feelings Katsuki wasn't ready to unpack.
- - - -
May
Villain activity died down enough that Katsuki could get back to his normal routine.
The one where he runs with Izuku and tries to become his favorite hero.
Katsuki arrives in the usual park, at the usual bench where Izuku is wearing black leggings, stretching. Katsuki slows his walk to admire Izuku's physique, he has /the/ thickest thighs Katsuki has ever seen on someone. There is /no way/ those thighs aren't considered deadly. Katsuki wants to feel them wrap around his head and /squeeze/ until he pops.
Katsuki's eyes trail up and land on Izuku's nice plump ass. It looks firm yet at the same time looks so squeezable, slappable and biteable.
Katsuki tilts his head, bites his bottom lip and stares /hard/.
Izuku is an extremely attractive man, Katsuki can admit that. He is just the kind of guy Katsuki goes for, just /his/ type.
Katsuki can admit it to himself, he has a slight crush. He doesn't know when or how it happened but he /likes/ Izuku.
He is witty, smart, really fucking pretty and he makes Katsuki feel /things/.
"Like the view?" Izuku questions looking over his shoulder with a flirtatious smile as he does a few lunge stretches.
"If I do?" Katsuki replies joining him in the stretches
"Take a picture it last longer"
Katsuki smirks, "Gonna pose for me?"
Izuku laughs and takes off running. Katsuki stretches a bit more before catching up to the greenette. They have flirtatious banter as they run, a new development in their relationship.
But Katsuki doesn't mind, Izuku can take it just as much as he can dish out and Katsuki /likes/ that.
He /likes/ Izuku.
After their run, they do post-run stretches to help with muscle and joint stiffness. Katsuki drinks from a bottle of water and watches as Izuku lifts his muscle T-shirt to wipe the sweat on his forehead. Katsuki's eyes track the sweat that drips down those washboard abs.
Katsuki is so unashamedly checking Izuku out that he /almost/ misses two things.
1 - Everything Izuku is saying to him
2 - The fucking nerd is wearing hero Shoto merch.
The waist of Izuku's tights have 'Shoto' in red and blue lettering all around. That's when Katsuki takes notice that the right side has fire going down the side and the left ice.
"So are you busy saturday?" Izuku questions
"Hah?" Katsuki looks up just as Izuku drops his shirt, hiding his crime of wearimg halfie's fucking merch. Izuku's face is about ten times redder than it should be, even after their run.
"I- well. Um" He stammers "I was wondering. If you wanted to go out... with me?"
Katsuki's mind freezes, momentarily forgetting the disgrace of Izuku's workout outfit.
"Like a date?" Katsuki questions, his ears slightly red.
"Y-yes"
"You asking me out???"
Izuku now looks puzzled and looks around him. It's just him and Katsuki in the park, "Well i'm not asking out the trees thats for sure"
Katsuki scowls slightly "You askin me out while wearing another hero's merchandise????"
Katsuki is so /obviously/ scandalized by this.
Izuku looks down at his leggings and sways slightly "He is /my/ favorite"
"WHY DON'T YOU ASK HIM OUT ON DATE THEN! IF HE IS YOUR FAVORITE"
"I dont wanna date pro-hero Shoto. I wanna date you..." Izuku pouts
Katsuki's face heats up and he snaps his mouth shut with an audible click because "You wanna date /me/ ?"
Izuku scratches his freckle cheek and his eyes dart everywhere and his cheeks are the prettiest shade of pink. "Well.. yeah... unless i misread the flirting and you aren't into me like /that/ ... then um.. we can just forget i even asked-"
"Im interested!" Katsuki's voice goes up higher than he expected it too, startling Izuku. He clears his throat "I- um yeah... I'd love to go on a date with you!"
Izuku lights up and Katsuki can't help but match his energy.
Saturday, 6pm. They will be going to a movie then dinner.
Katsuki would be a liar if he says he isn't excited.
Friday, night before the date
To Izuku:
<< Oi! Since we're going on a date...
<< that means i'm your favorite hero now.
From Izuku:
>> No but you're definitely like, in the top 15! 😊
Katsuki huffs, a faint smile ghosting upon his lips.
<< shitty nerd
>> just for you😙
Katsuki smirks before bringing his beer bottle to his lips. He is so engrossed in his phone that he hasn't noticed that his friends have stopped talking and are all eyeing him curiously.
The group glance at each other before Denki nods his head to Hanta, who nods his head to Mina, who nods her head to Tetsu, who leans close to his fiance.
"Hey babe... something is /wrong/ with Bakubro" He says in Eijirou's ear.
Eijirou looks away from the boxing match that plays on the TV just above their booth "Huh?"
Tetsu points to Katsuki with his eyes, who still is busy on his phone. Smiling. It's a tad unsettling for the friends.
It takes Eijirou a second before he grins all big "Ahh he is probably chatting with this sweet little thang he started running with!"
Mina makes a face before turning her sights on to a preoccupied Katsuki.
"Who ya texting blasty?" She questions
Katsuki looks up before shoving his phone into his pocket "None of your business pinky"
"Is it a cute little ting you run with in the morning?" She asks in a sing-sing tone. Her teeth digging into her straw of some fruity drink.
Katsuki shoots Eijirou a glare and the red head looks away, bringing his glasses to his lips and not meeting his best friend's eye.
"Loud mouth asshole" Katsuki curses before taking a swig of his beer "His name is Izuku and I've got a date with him tomorrow"
Katsuki gives the information willingly, he is too old to act as if these idiots truly bother him. Plus Mina would pester him till he'd want to explode his own face.
"Ohoho! Is he like the freak of the week? " Hanta says, wiggling his eyebrows like the horndog he has always been since high school.
Katsuki shakes his head "Nah. I /really/ l ike this one. And get this /he/ asked /me/ out!"
"Whoa! You didn't even have to make the first move?" Tetsu says
"Nope" Katsuki pops that 'p' smugly as he sips his beer.
"Now hang on!" Denki says squinting "How old is Izuku?"
"24" Katsuki replies "he'll be 25 in July"
Silence before the group erupted into laughter calling Katsuki a "baby craddler" and a "manther". Katsuki looks down at his napkin, smoothing it out over and over again. Heat creeped up his neck, to his cheeks and up into his ears.
So Katsuki has a type. Sue him.
He's always dated younger, a year or two. Then as he got older it became young enough to be in college but old enough to legally drink, rule.
It's the first time in a while Katsuki isn't dating a grad student. Izuku is already well into his career as a doctor and well this felt different to Katsuki. He couldn't exactly pinpoint why, but whatever made this different could be a /good thing./
Katsuki deserves good things, right?
"He is wannabe sugar baby" Denki laughs
It snaps Katsuki out of his thoughts, he looks up at Denki.
"Shit" He says, making everyone snap their attention to him "You think that what he is doing???"
Denki shrugs "I mean... I dunno. What's a twenty-five year old want with a pro hero ten years his senior?"
Shit.
Denki had a point... the fuck was a hot piece of ass like Izuku doing trying get with a guy as old as Katsuki?
Sure Katsuki wasn't ya know Gran Torino old. He is considered still in his prime... but you know...
Didn't Izuku want someone younger? Like him? Unless he wanted to date Katsuki to become his sugar baby...
Maybe he should cancel this date.
He did swear off dating and all that. Yeah. He'll cancel.
Katsuki pulls out his phone "I should cancel my date-"
Eijirou and Tetsu slam their on top of Katsuki's phone
"No!" They shout and Eijirou glares at Denki before reaching over both Tetsu and Mina to slap him behind the head.
"Don't listen to Denki, he is two margaritas in. One more he'll be giving someone head" Eijirou says
"Heyyyy i'm only in the open my legs margarita stage" Denki whines, everyone ignores him.
"Don't cancel your date" Tetsu says
"But-"
"No!" Tetsu shakes his head "If you walk into every interaction with someone with this thought that they are /only/ gonna use you. Kats my dude, you'll /never ever/ be happy"
"So give Izuku a chance, yeah?" Eijirou says
Katsuki nods and puts his phone away. He could do that, worse that could happen is the date goes horribly and he has to cut ties with Izuku.
The date does not go horrible. In fact Katsuki doesnt think he has been on a better date.
- - - -
June
"What the fuck are you wearing?" Katsuki says with a grin as he drops his leg from his pre-run stretch.
Izuku struts toward Katsuki dressed in a bubble gum pink sweat suit. Early 2000s juicy couture track suit style.
"You like it?" Izuku questions giving Katsuki a quick kiss.
Katsuki holds his hand out so he can make Izuku spin. To you know /really/ appreciate the tracksuit. Izuku spins nice and slow, letting Katsuki get a good look, he eyes travel the length of Izuku's body.
Biting his bottom lip as his eyes land on that glorious ass that has 'PINKY' bedazzled across it.
"PINKY? REALLY?" Katsuki shouts
Making Izuku giggle "What? She's /my/ favorite"
"YOU ARE DATING /ME/! I SHOULD BE YOUR FAVORITE!"
Izuku laughs and pats Katsuki cheek before starting his run "Top ten baby. You are in the top ten"
Katsuki chases after him "I /need/ to be number one!"
Izuku smiles brightly at Katsuki, making his heart jump into his throat from how beautiful Izuku is. "Guess you have to work harder!"
Work harder, he does. And yet Katsuki remains in the top ten of Izuku's favorite hero list.
That's fine (it's not). Katsuki enjoys a Challenge.
He'll be Izuku's favorite. Just you watch.
***
Katsuki can ignore his age gap with Izuku, /usually/ . He can ignore it when his friends joke about Izuku being a sugar baby, he can ignore it when Izuku calls him a grandpa and threatens to send him to a retirement home. Katsuki even ignored it when his mother decided to drop by and Izuku answered the door looking like he had been mauled by a bear.
The bear being Katsuki.
Mitsuki had mentioned Izuku being spunky and full of energy that she wasn't sure how Katsuki was keeping up. Izuku laughed and said someone had to keep "Grandpa Dynamight well oiled for the villains". His mother had howled in laughter and told Katsuki to "Keep this one. I like him"
Katsuki could have ignored it when Izuku decided to tell everyone that they met because he "couldn't handle seeing an old man sit by himself. It broke his heart"
It was all in good fun, Katsuki knew it. It's funny as hell, Katsuki enjoys the silly jokes. He has never been insecure about his age, he /knows/ looks fucking great for 35, Katsuki is in his prime.
But how he could ignore it when he saw the way people looked /at them/ , looked at Izuku. Katsuki knew Izuku didn't really look his age, he was kind of baby faced but not completely. How he could ignore it when more than once Katsuki was 'mistaken' for either Izuku's uncle or father (this really grinded his gears, they don't even look related).
How could he? When Katsuki watched Izuku get hit on by guys and girls his age when they went out dancing. Watched when Izuku politely declined offers and pointed Katsuki out in a crowd.
Izuku was everything but ashamed about dating an older man like Katsuki. Even when Izuku was accused of being with Katsuki just for money.
Katsuki slowly was beginning to wonder why Izuku was really with him. Katsuki slowly was paying too much attention to his age gap with the greenette, becoming self conscious of his age.
***
"I've gotta go! Hospital emergency" Izuku says, pressing a quick kiss to Katsuki lips before grabbing his jean jacket off the back of his chair. Izuku throws the gang a wave "later guys!"
Izuku had a day off but much like the heroes he was hanging around. He was on call at the hospital, and Katsuki watches his boyfriend leave with a fond grin.
"Man" Denki says "Izuku is really accomplished for a guy his age"
"Hah? Of course he is." Katsuki says proudly "He is ridiculously smart"
"Yeah no duh" Hanta chimes in "Dude talked circles around me about /my/ own quirk"
Katsuki laughs.
"He is so young! And still has so much life" Denki says "Don't you guys miss being that young?"
"We aren't even that /old/ " Eijirou says
"Tell my bones that babe" Tetsu replies then giggles all high pitched and stupid when Eijirou shoves his face into Testu's ribs mumbling into them.
The sight almost makes Katsuki gag. They are too cute and sweet, he wonders if he and Izuku are /that/ bad.
He doubts it.
"I don't mean like that" Denki says "I feel so out of loop when it comes to youngins"
"Oh I know what you mean!" Mina says "I was patrolling with some interns? They were throwing around some weird ass words like 'rizz'"
"What the fuck is a rizz?" Katsuki questions, although he is sure he's heard Izuku use it before.
"Bro. You are the one with a young boyfriend. Shouldn't /you know?/ " Hanta says
"Honestly I'd think Kats would be all hip but he is still a grandpa" Denki says with a laugh "Do you even understand Izuku when he talks?" before ow-ing dramatically when Katsuki kicks his shin under the table.
Katsuki can understand Izuku just fine... most days. Suddenly a memory of Izuku laughing way too hard at an extra's joke is at the forefront of his brain. The way Izuku had explained the joke to Katsuki twice before deciding you just gotta understand the slang to get the joke.
Now suddenly... Katsuki was wondering if he was 'hip' enough for Izuku.
Suddenly Katsuki was paying attention to his age gap again and felt as if maybe he should... get in loop with the young cats.
- - - -
July
Katsuki had been acting weird, he was /always/ weird in the silly way. You know the way that makes you laugh till your sides hurt and smile fondly because you like that person that much.
No, Katsuki was being weird in a way that he /wasnt / being himself. He wasn't /not/ himself? He just...
"Alright so i rizzed up the villain" Katsuki says going into detail about a recent villain fight he had.
He is this.
Using slang all incorrectly and at first it made Izuku laugh. Hearing Katsuki's gruff voice say "standing on business" whenever Izuku would tell him the new hot gossip from his job or when he said Kirishima's outfit at an event gagged him.
But now Izuku is just a tad concerned, why was Katsuki suddenly using slang he never used before and especially when he had no idea what it meant.
Izuku places a hand on stop of Katsuki's and snorts "You rizzed up a villain"
"Well yeah?"
"Do you know what rizz means?"
Katsuki shrugs and Izuku chuckles
"It's basically like you know flirting"
Katsuki stuck his finger in his ear in a mock clean "eh? Come again?"
Izuku snorts, "Hearing is all messed up huh grandpa?"
Katsuki glares "Little shit"
"Yeah but rizzing is slang for flirting babe. So did you rizz up a villain?"
"No"
Izuku leans across the counter of Katsuki's kitchen, pecking his lips. "Good wouldn't want your ranking to drop when you /finally/ reached top 5 huh?"
Katsuki's teeth sunk into Izuku's bottom lip. "What's a guy gotta do to be number one huh?"
Izuku giggles "I can think of few things"
"That so?"
Izuku hummed.
***
To Izuku:
<< Sorry i have to work on your birthday.
Katsuki sat on a rooftop looking over his corner of the city for patrol this week. It was quiet, a higher perch allowed him a better view of everything. That's why he was up here, he totally was not sulking about not being able to spend Izuku's birthday with him.
From Izuku:
>> That's alright! The city needs protecting!
>> Don't worry your ranking is safe. Even if you are missing my birthday 😉
Katsuki snorted
<< Brat.
>>💕
Katsuki smiles and puts his phone away, just in time too. Some idiot is trying to rob a fabric store.
Later that night, when his shift was over Katsuki laid in his bed looking through the pictures and videos Izuku had sent him of his birthday night out with a few friends and colleagues.
Izuku knew Katsuki could easily see these on social media but it warmed Katsuki's heart that Izuku sent them to him personally. Izuku was clearly having the time of his life, it was apparent in the video on him throwing back 10 shots
Izuku threw his arms up and shouted "I'M 25 BITCHES"
Katsuki cackled, then winced when Izuku had down another 10 shots like juice in the video. Katsuki can't drink like that anymore, he'd be down for the count by shot 5, beer was okay and an occasional fruity drink sure.
But Katsuki could not drink like he was 25 anymore.
Katsuki clicked the next video, Izuku was standing on the table in what was clearly a karaoke bar room and was literally belting out the words to a song that Katsuki didn't know and frankly didn't like.
He doesn't understand how Izuku can listen to the stuff but what was is that thing Izuku says when he is basically 'you do you'.
Ah. That's right.
To Izuku:
<< Go off king.
From Izuku:
>>😂😂
>> periodt💅
Katsuki laughs and continues to look at the pictures.
<< You look like you had fun
>> I did
>> Come with me next time!
<< I'd love to!
>> ❤
Katsuki isn't sure how he'd fair, his body isn't what it used to be but for Izuku, he would do just about /anything/.
- - - -
August
Katsuki and Izuku's relationship is getting pretty serious and along with the seriousness of their relationship brought Katsuki insecurities about their age gap ten fold.
He doesn't know why. It's never ever bothered him before in his past relationships.
But Izuku. He is perfect, there wasn't anything wrong with him, he didn't want Katsuki for his money. Izuku genuinely enjoyed his company and yet Katsuki was starting to wonder if he even /deserved/ Izuku.
Izuku could have /anyone/ it was obvious with how often he was propositioned /even/ while out with Katsuki.
Yet, he /wanted/ Katsuki.
That alone should be enough for Katsuki.
It is enough.
But Katsuki has this dreadful feeling that Izuku would leave him. For someone better, more deserving, /younger/.
Katsuki /knows/ this thought process is one step away from self sabotage.
He can't help it, the little voice in his head is /loud/.
***
Katsuki is acting really weird these days. Well he had been acting weird for a while and whenever Izuku asked him what was wrong, Katsuki was adamant that nothing was wrong.
But /something/ was terribly wrong.
Katsuki walks into the club, he is meeting Izuku and his friends. With the collar of his shirt popped, a backward cap and sunglasses over his eyes.
Katsuki very much looks like those frat boys Izuku used to go to college with.
Just what is he wearing?
"Sup homies" Katsuki says as he slides into the booth and slaps a wet kiss on to Izuku's cheek "Hey baby"
"Hi Kacchan" Izuku replies with a small smile and slight blush high in his cheeks.
Kacchan, was a nickname Izuku had heard in passing from Mitsuki when she was telling Izuku all the embarrassing stories of Katsuki's childhood.
"Ready to get litt?" Katsuki question rubbing his hands together and looking around at Izuku's friends
Izuku's friends shouted a loud 'fuck yeah', Katsuki smirks and orders a round of shots for the table. Izuku forces a smile as he watches Katsuki take shots with his friends.
Why was Katsuki acting this way?
It's a question that plagues Izuku all night, he barely just /barely/ enjoys his night out.
"You're friends are fun" Katsuki says to Izuku as they enter Katsuki's apartment. Katsuki wasn't drunk but he was definitely buzzed.
He felt nice.
Izuku hums, pulling off his jacket and shoes. He had been quiet most of the night. He clearly had stuff on his mind, Katsuki walks up behind Izuku wrapping his arms around Izuku's waist.
"What's the matter, love?" Katsuki questions kissing his neck.
Izuku turns around in his arms, looks up at Katsuki. "What's going on with you?"
"Huh?"
"You haven't been acting like yourself"
"I haven't?"
Izuku shakes his head 'no' sadly "what's on /your/ mind? Why have you been acting weird?"
Katsuki didn't know how to answer. More like Katsuki didn't know how to tell Izuku, he was afraid that Izuku would leave him for someone better and younger, maybe more around his own age.
Katsuki couldn't speak about his insecurities. Because what if talking about them makes Izuku leave? What if talking about them changes the way Izuku sees him?
Katsuki couldn't handle that. He wants Izuku to stay. He didn't want to give Izuku any reason to leave.
"Nothing" Katsuki says giving Izuku a smile
Izuku pouts "If you are sure"
"I am"
Izuku hums and he fingers Katsuki's collar before smoothing it down. "For what it's worth. I like /my favorite hero/ , just the way he is" Izuku pulls off Katsuki's cap fluffs out his hair and smiles softly "he doesn't need to change"
Katsuki pulls Izuku closer and smiles down at him "I'm your favorite?"
"You were /always/ my favorite Kacchan '' Izuku digs into his shirt pulling out a necklace that had a grenade charm on it.
Suddenly Katsuki realized that while he never saw the necklace, Izuku /always/ wore it. It's one of Katsuki's first items of merchandise and there are many versions of it. This one, was an original first design, they don't sell this version anymore. Which means Katsuki has been Izuku's favorite for a long, /long/ time.
Oh. The realization hit Katsuki like bricks. On some level Katsuki /knew/ Izuku had to be fucking with him whenever Katsuki asked who his favorite hero was.
But to have /the/ confirmation he was actually his boyfriend's favorite?
Did things to Katsuki. Made him feel unexplainably soft and warm. Made his heart feel so full.
They share a soft kiss, Izuku's head just under Katsuki's chin.
"So please. Stop whatever this is okay?" Izuku says his voice is small and pleading. It makes Katsuki's heart hurt.
So he grips Izuku tighter "Okay."
***
Katsuki stops using slang, stops trying to dress younger but his insecurities fester and rot like a disease.
He /cant/ stop it.
Katsuki can't help but this Izuku /deserves/ better, someone around his age. But he /tries/ because he doesn't want to lose Izuku.
Katsuki /loves/ him. Terribly so.
It's starting to affect his relationship in the /worse ways/. Katsuki is overthinking every little thing Izuku says, or does. The way Izuku acts with others, the way others look at Izuku.
It is not having a positive effect on Katsuki's mental health. He feels as though he is being wound up too tight and can't breath within his own skin.
It all comes crashing down on one of Katsuki's patrol routes, his shift is about to end. Katsuki and Izuku have plans to have dinner, it'll be the first time in a few weeks they actually have some time together.
Katsuki is excited. Maybe things can settle down after this, Katsuki knows not seeing each other as often also has been affecting their relationship.
Katsuki is heading back to his agency when he spots his favorite color within the crowd. He knows those curls, he has run his fingers through those curls.
Katsuki happily starts making his way toward his boyfriend but stops short when he sees Izuku happily chatting with a rookie hero. Katsuki squints, he has seen the kid a few times in the news. Water Hose that's his name, he has lots of potential.
Katsuki watches as Izuku hands him a bento box, watches the way blush rises on the young hero's cheeks. The hero says something to Izuku that makes him throw his head back in bright laughter and makes Water Hose blush deeper.
Katsuki can feel the jealousy rise like a wave in him. He can feel the little voice in his head screaming
'See? See? He /wants/ someone close to his age'
'He /deserves/ someone like Water Hose'
Something in Katsuki breaks.
***
Izuku can't understand where Katsuki's rage suddenly had come from. He had been silent all through dinner, Katsuki had barely acknowledged Izuku at all if he is honest.
Then they sat down to watch a movie and when Katsuki wouldn't stop shaking his leg. When he didn't seem interested in what they were watching, Izuku paused it.
"Kacchan" he said softly "What's the matter?"
Katsuki had given Izuku a small side eye before replying "Im fine, Deku"
Deku, that nickname was Katsuki, had picked off a drawing one of Izuku's past patients had done for him. She was six years old, a lot braver than Izuku had been that day.
Her arm was broken in three places and needed surgery at the time izuku had never done surgery on someone so young.
Dr. Deku, she called him.
Deku as in "you can do it"
Katsuki thought it was the cutest thing in history and if Izuku got to call Katsuki a nickname then he was allowed to call Izuku one too.
Izuku stared quietly at Katsuki. Studying him, something had been wrong for a while now. Something had been plaguing Katsuki's mind for the longest time. Yet the blonde insisted nothing was wrong but his actions did not match his words. Katsuki had begun acting weird, attempting to change himself into an image of a person Izuku no longer knew.
It was affecting Katsuki's mental health and Izuku had the /worse/ feeling it was because of /him/ and /their relationship/.
Then suddenly Katsuki stood up, he suddenly was shouting and they were arguing.
What were they arguing about?
Izuku can't even tell you.
Izuku is half way to tears as Katsuki stands at the ceiling to floor window staring out into the city night.
"Maybe we need a break Kacchan" Izuku says softly rubbing his arm in an attempt to comfort himself.
Katsuki whips his head around to stare at Izuku. "What?"
"Im /really / worried about you. You are clearly going through something. You have been for a while." Izuku says wiping his face, tears had escaped. "You don't want to talk about it... at least not with me and you are well within your right"
Izuku looks at Katsuki, the older man looks impossibly tired and worn out. It breaks the greenette's heart to see his Kacchan this way, breaks his heart to think their relationship could be the cause. Izuku doesn't want to break up, he doesn't want to leave Katsuki but this... it isn't healthy.
"I'm afraid our relationship is causing you too much trouble Kacchan" Izuku says walking toward Katsuki "Maybe... Maybe it's best if we part ways."
Katsuki's throat feels tight, the word 'no' just on the tip of his tongue but refuses to escape. Because Katsuki doesnt want that, he /really/ doesnt want that.
Izuku looks up at Katsuki, clearly waiting for him to say 'no' to express what has been bothering him but when Katsuki opens his mouth and nothing comes. Izuku just smiles sweetly, pressing the softest kiss to Katsuki's cheek before walking toward the apartment door.
Izuku pulls his sneakers on slowly, he was still giving Katsuki a chance. Izuku didn't want to go that much was obvious but Katsuki couldn't say the words that would get the greenette to stay.
Katsuki /wanted/ too. Katsuki /knew/ he needed too.
Izuku, with his shoes and hoodie on, looks at Katsuki with a sad smile, his beautiful green eyes shined with tears. "Maybe when you sort whatever it is that you are going through. We can try again. Okay Kacchan?"
Katsuki simply nodded and watched as the greatest thing ever happened to him walked out his apartment and for the time being his life.
- - - -
Present time
Katsuki gets up from the bench to finish his run.
It is devastating. When you know the words you have to say to make the person you love stay and yet you cannot say them.
It is devastating when you have no clue if you can fix it. What to do to /actually/ fix it.
A devastated man. Does devastated things.
***
Katsuki was running himself into the ground between work and the amount of alcohol he drinks when he is out. His friend didn't have any idea why, well they had a slight idea why.
They are sure it has to do with a green haired cutie they haven't seen in a while. The group of friends all share a look as they watch Katsuki throw back another shot.
"How many is that?" Mina questions
"That's the tenth one" Hanta replies as he winces to Katsuki taking another shot.
"O-okay buddy," Eijirou says, snatching a beer from Katsuki's hands. "Cut off time"
The gang knew Katsuki was out of it when he didn't fight Eijirou. They knew Katsuki was out of it, when he pressed his forehead to the sticky table and began to sob.
"Lets get him out of here" Denki says
"Tets can you grab-" Mina starts but is cut off when Tetsu slings Katsuki over his shoulder
"Already on it Mina" He replies before muttering excuses so people can get out his way.
In the car Katsuki had stopped crying and was eerily quiet. He stared out the window with a distant look in his eyes. It was like he was here but not.
The friends all shared worried glances.
- - - -
September
"Kacchan are you with anyone?" Izuku says, pressing his phone in between his cheek and shoulder as he reads over some paperwork.
"I- uh. I was with Mina? I think?" Katsuki says his words are slurred. Katsuki gasps "Look its Mina!"
"Good. Can you give Mina your phone for me?"
"Uh huh! Sure zuku" Izuku hears a distant shout and the passing of the phone.
"Hello?" Mina's voice rings through the phone.
Izuku sighs, extremely tired. "Hi Mina"
"Oh. Izuku" she says "hi"
"Kacchan has had too much to drink /again /. Can... you make sure he drinks water? And gets home safely"
"Of course" then a pause "He um. Really misses you"
Izuku's heart aches, he misses Katsuki too. But their relationship wasn't good for him. "I know. Please take care of /my favorite hero/ for me"
"Will do."
The calls hang up, Izuku crouches, puts his head between his knees and fights back the tears. He has an hour left in his shift, he cannot break down now.
No matter how much this hurts.
***
Katsuki is not doing well and heartbreak does not good on Japan's number one hero.
"I ruined everything" Katsuki says to Mina as she helps him into bed
"Oh honey" She says sitting on his bed and running a gentle hand through his hair "want to tell me what happened? I thought everything between you two was okay."
"They were," he replies "I got way too caught up in my head. I ruined things"
"Caught up in your head about what?"
"Stupid things. Things that don't matter as much as Izuku does"
Katsuki doesn't say more, Mina doesn't pry. He'll tell everyone when he is ready.
***
When Katsuki finally /is/ ready to tell his friends what happened between him and Izuku. They are supportive.
"This is classic miscommunication" Denki says "Why didn't you talk to him?"
"Denks" Tetsu scolds
"Its okay. He is right" Katsuki says with a shrug "I just couldn't. And i think now it might be too late."
"It's never too late" Eijirou says "But i do think you need time. To understand your feelings and insecurities"
Katsuki thinks Eijirou right but-
"What if it's too late then?" Katsuki questions his voice so low, it almost doesn't sound like him.
"I don't think it will be" Eijirou answers confidently "y'all just need time"
They just need time.
Katsuki /needs/ time.
- - - -
October
When Katsuki sees Izuku for the first time in passing. He was on patrol in the district in which Izuku's hospital is stationed and passed by a cafe the greenette frequents. Katsuki's breath was stolen much like he was seeing Izuku for the first time.
Two months since the split, Izuku was still /the/ most beautiful man Katsuki had ever laid eyes on.
It makes Katsuki more determined to get his shit together.
He'll get Izuku back.
***
When Izuku sees Katsuki for the first time, he goes running. Izuku had changed the times he went running to avoid bumping into Katsuki.
Katsuki wasn't running, in fact the man was obviously coming home from a shift. He had a burnt orange hoodie on, a headband pushing his hair back. Katsuki had dirt all over his face and yet still Izuku found himself drooling over him.
He misses Katsuki.
Izuku ducked behind a trash can when Katsuki had turned in his direction, obviously he had felt Izuku staring. If he had seen Izuku, he didn't show it. Katsuki passed the park with small smile dancing upon his lips.
Izuku played with his grenade necklace.
Kacchan looks good. He looks better and that made Izuku happy to see. He is happy that Katsuki is taking better care of himself.
His favorite hero was doing okay.
- - - -
November
Katsuki hates the cold. Snow had fallen and covered the earth in white fluffiness that he could very much do without. The cold had come early this year, barely felt like autumn had its time to shine.
Katsuki shoved his hands into his coat and walked down the street. Breathing fogging out before him like a dragon.
Katsuki was better these days, figured his stuff with the help of some counseling. Katsuki has seen Izuku a handful of times now, they wave to each other in passing.
Sometimes Katsuki sees him when he is jogging in their usual park after some of his shifts. It amuses Katsuki how Izuku will stare until Katsuki looks in his direction and he'll duck behind the first large object he can find.
It's cute.
Katsuki hasn't had a chance to have a proper conversation with Izuku yet.
He is too nervous to text him and ask, too nervous to go in person and ask as well. But when he is given the chance he’ll grab it by the balls.
He swears it.
Katsuki is so lost in his thoughts he doesn't realize he has arrived at the diner he is meeting his friends at. But also that he has bumped into someone until they mumble apologies.
"I'm sorry!" A voice Katsuki knows all too well.
"Izuku" Katsuki's breathes
Red eyes meet green.
Izuku cheeks are flushed red from the cold "Kacchan"
There's a beat of silence before a loud annoyed groan is heard.
"Can y'all look into each other's eyes on a different day?"
Katsuki eyes flick to the person who stands behind Izuku, the rookie hero. The one Katsiki absolutely lost his shit over.
Water Hose.
"Kota!" Izuku scolds, Kota rolls his eyes
"Im going inside" He shoves past them and enters the diner
"Sorry about him. He is grumpy" Izuku says
"I would be too if my boyfriend was staring into someone else's eyes" Katsuki replies with a casual shrug of his shoulders.
"My what?" Then Izuku cackles clutching Katsuki's arm. "Oh no, no Kacchan. Kota? Kota is my cousin."
Oh.
OH.
OHHHH.
Katsuki replays the interaction he saw all the months ago. Now he can see it, the familia way in which the two were interacting. The blush on Kota's cheeks wasn't blush at all but embarrassment. Much like the one that flushes his own face.
Katsuki will blame the redness on the cold.
"Oh" is all Katsuki says
"Yeah"
Another moment of silence before Izuku smiles that smile that makes Katsuki's knees weak.
"I've gotta go." He says "it was nice seeing you Kacchan".
All Katsuki can do is hum and watch Izuku walk into the diner and sit with his /cousin/. Then a moment later Katsuki follows in, heads to the table the idiots are at and sits down.
Deep in thought.
***
"He is staring again" Kota says to Izuku
"What no-" But Izuku's mouth snaps shut when he looks over his shoulder and spots Katsuki staring and watches as the older male gets up and begins to make his ways over. "oh gods he coming over here"
"Oh no, whatever will you do?" Kota says sarcastically
Izuku shoots him a glare and Kota makes an oof sound when Katsuki slides in their booth.
"Would you like to go out some time?" Katsuki asks, wasting no time at all.
"Me?" Izuku points to himself
"Yeah" Katsuki replies "You."
Izuku's face heats up and he looks around, Katsuki's friends give him a thumbs up and Kota just looks absolutely done.
"I've got my shit together" Katsuki says, ears turning pink "if that's what you are worried about."
"Please say yes or something" Kota begs "You are so annoying when you are heartbroken"
Katsuki raises an eyebrow and Izuku can't deny he has been miserable since they split. So he smiles all sweet and says
"How can I say no to /my favorite/ hero?"
Katsuki beams and grips Izuku's hand tightly and Izuku holds Katsuki's hand just as tight.