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The media called them the Wonder Duo, even though they weren’t officially partners or anything. Hell, they didn’t even work at the same agency. But in the middle of bigger battles, they always seemed to find each other. And they would fight against any onslaught, back-to-back. And they always won.
But it didn’t feel like winning as Katsuki poured himself another glass of wine. He was sitting in a restaurant that he’d made a reservation for weeks ago. It was a popular place and the mood inside was bright and busy. The menu looked good, though Katsuki hadn’t ordered anything other than a bottle of wine.
He was supposed to be sharing it.
With a sigh, he pulled out his phone for the millionth time. Still no reply from Izuku. They’d made plans to celebrate Katsuki’s birthday here over a month ago. He’d even reminded Izuku that morning with a text of their meeting time and the address.
Izuku was over two hours late.
Draining half the glass, Katsuki put his phone away and then stood up. Luckily it was just a small table tucked out of the way, so no one would necessarily know that he’d sat there all alone for hours. On his birthday.
Again.
Putting some money on the table, he wandered to the entrance. He almost expected to see Izuku there, red-faced and out of breath as he ran down the sidewalk. But of course, Izuku wasn’t there. Lately, Izuku was never there.
Katsuki turned in the direction of their shared apartment and started to walk.
He and Izuku had been dating practically since graduation. They’d moved in together to save money and one thing turned into another and they’d started making out after drinking one night. Neither one regretted it, so they’d become a couple. They kept it out of the media, of course, but their friends and family knew.
That was all years ago now. Back then, it’d been different. They were both busy and overworked, but they made time for each other. They both did their share of the chores. They went on dates and little trips together. They made each other a priority.
But then Izuku started climbing in the rankings, and with each number he rose, more and more in his life got cut. The trips, the dates, the special events, the chores. Now he couldn’t even trust Izuku to start the rice or take out the trash or put away the laundry. Hell, he couldn’t even trust Izuku to show up to his own boyfriend’s fucking birthday dinner.
Izuku always had an excuse. There was always some villain or bus filled with children to blame. He was the Number One Hero, after all. He was busy. He had people to save. He just forgot, no big deal. He’d just take a raincheck and they could try again later.
Only, Katsuki was sick of being forgotten. He had fistfuls of IOUs and rainchecks from Izuku that never actually got cashed in. Unless they met up on the field or he woke up in the middle of the night, he never even saw Izuku in person any more. Just in delayed text messages and on TV, saving the day again.
Katsuki was a hero too. So were most of their friends. And they all managed to make time for dates and chores and significant others and, for some, even kids. They made important things and people a priority and it showed. But Izuku, well...he never prioritized anything except work. He only slowed down when he was stuck in the hospital after another risky maneuver or major villain attack. And even then he demanded the fastest healing quirks and meds and got out right away, just so he could end up there again in a matter of weeks.
Katsuki had priorities. His job. His friends. His parents. Having a balanced lifestyle that didn’t drain him dry. Izuku used to be a priority too. The biggest one, actually. But Katsuki wasn’t Izuku’s priority. He wondered if he ever was, even back when they were still figuring things out and falling in love like a couple of idiots.
But now Katsuki realized he was the real idiot. For believing in Izuku. For waiting year after year for some big change of heart or sudden epiphany from the nerd that never came. They’d had a ton of fights and screaming matches in the privacy of their own apartment, but Katsuki didn’t feel like fighting or screaming anymore. He was tired of putting in all the effort while Izuku did nothing.
Katsuki was done.
Izuku came home to see Katsuki packing a bag. Izuku racked his brain, trying to remember if Katsuki was going on a trip or working out of town. Nothing clicked, so he checked his phone and scrolled past all the updates from his team until he found the text from Katsuki about tonight.
“Kacchan, I’m so sorry! I got hung up at work and I forgot all about dinner,” Izuku explained, walking into the bedroom with a tired smile. “Look, I’ll make it up to you. Maybe we can order some takeout or…”
Katsuki didn’t stop packing or look up. Izuku’s heart squeezed and he reached out for his boyfriend, but Katsuki jerked away from him with a scowl.
“Fuck you, Izuku,” Katsuki spat as he zipped up the last bag.
“Wh-What?! It was just dinner, Kacchan!” Izuku exclaimed, shocked at his lover’s icy tone.
“Yeah, my birthday dinner.”
“Oh shit.” Izuku’s heart sank. “Baby, I’m so sorry, I totally forgot-”
“Well, I didn’t.”
“Ka-”
“Save it. I’m leaving, Izuku.”
“Kacchan, don’t do that! Let’s talk it out, c’mon, you know I didn’t mean to-”
“No, Izuku. I mean I’m leaving. We’re done.”
Izuku choked on a sob and tried to grab for Katsuki’s arm, but the blond was faster as he lifted the bags and quickly walked from the room.
No! Kacchan couldn’t leave! Not like this! They’d had fights before, but Katsuki didn’t even seem invested this time. It was like all the fight was gone already, which didn’t make sense. Kacchan was always ready for a fight.
Katsuki stopped to put on his shoes and Izuku sniffled and crouched beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. He couldn’t let Katsuki leave. They’d been together so long. He loved him so much. How could Katsuki just give up on him like this? On them?!
“Kacchan, please. Don’t do this. I’m sorry, okay? I’m really, really sorry and I’ll make it up to you!” he begged, squeezing at Katsuki’s shoulder in desperation.
“It’s too late for that,” Katsuki sighed and he didn’t even sound sad or angry, just...tired.
“It’s not too late, we can talk it out!”
“No, I’m sure you’re too busy for that,” Katsuki hissed as he stood back up.
“Ka-”
“Bye, Izuku.”
“Kacchan, no! Please don’t leave me!”
Izuku tried to grab onto the bags, but Katsuki pulled them away and then stepped outside. Before he could even follow, the door was slammed in his face. By the time he could shove his feet into some sandals and open it again, Katsuki was gone. Izuku raced down the hallway and then down the stairs. He made it just in time to see Katsuki getting into a cab and then that too was gone, cruising down the street. He could have used his quirk to chase the car or stop it, but he didn’t. Suddenly he felt numb.
Kacchan was gone.
Izuku didn’t sleep much that night, despite being exhausted from work. He just kept pacing the apartment. He’d tried to call Katsuki probably a dozen times, but didn’t get an answer. Eventually, the calls stopped going through and Izuku didn’t know if that meant Katsuki had blocked his number or just turned off his phone.
Either option stung.
By the time the sun was starting to rise, he was out of tears. His face felt puffy and gross as he sat on the bed. Their bed. Well, not anymore.
And he wanted to blame Katsuki. God, did he want to. Katsuki had walked out! Had just up and left after all these happy years! And they’d been happy, hadn’t they? Sure, they didn’t see much of each other recently, but it was prime tourist season and work was busier than ever. They still had sex and late-night chats from time to time. Only, now that he thought about it, Izuku couldn’t remember the last time he and Katsuki’d had sex. Surely it was only a few weeks ago at most, right?
Okay, maybe it’d been awhile since they’d been intimate or had a chance for a good talk, but they did other fun stuff! Like...like vacation! Izuku could still remember Katsuki grinning as he posed on top of Mt. Fuji. They’d climbed it over a few days - a lifelong dream of Katsuki’s. Izuku scrolled through the pictures on his phone until he found the one he was looking for. That was their most recent trip. The timestamp showed two years ago.
Oh.
So maybe they weren’t happy. And maybe they didn’t do fun things. Or spend much time together. Or have sex. Or...birthday dinners.
With a sigh, Izuku flopped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He’d been crying all night over what Katsuki had done to him, but now he was facing the realization that maybe... maybe it wasn’t Katsuki’s fault.
I’m sure you’re too busy for that.
Katsuki’s parting words still rang in his head. And, yeah, Izuku was busy. He was the Number One Hero in Japan! He had paperwork and patrols to do, sidekicks and interns to train and spar with, conferences and events to attend, PR and branding opportunities, meet and greets, TV interviews, and more. But Katsuki was a hero too.
Standing up, Izuku walked around the apartment with more purpose. The dishes were done and the kitchen was sparkling. The fridge was fully stocked. The living room was tidy. The bathroom was clean. The laundry machine was empty and a few items were still hung out to dry on the balcony. As Izuku opened the sliding door to bring them inside, he saw that it was all his own clothing - the civvies he wore to and from work.
Izuku hadn’t washed them. Nor hung them up. Hell, he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d helped out around the house or made food. The kitchen wasn’t sparkling because of him. The fridge wasn’t stocked because of him. The living room wasn’t tidy because of him. The bathroom wasn’t clean because of him. Hell, he rarely even used those rooms anymore. Mostly he just passed out in the bedroom and then stumbled out the door to shower at work before another long shift.
I’m sure you’re too busy for that.
Katsuki was busy too, Izuku knew that. Katsuki was a top-10 hero, after all. But Katsuki still cleaned the house and cooked real meals and sorted the recycling and did the laundry and took out the trash. Katsuki had remembered Izuku’s birthday even though it was still months away - he’d already made plans with Inko for a nice dinner out, just the three of them. Izuku had the reminder in his phone to prove it.
Had Katsuki made it so far in advance just so Izuku would show up?
The tears returned as Izuku clutched at the clothes Katsuki had so thoughtfully washed and hung up for him. When was the last time Izuku had done anything for Katsuki outside of a fight with a villain? He honestly couldn’t remember. Shit, he couldn’t even show up to Katsuki’s birthday dinner. Which had been planned for months too, if the calendar notice on his phone was any indication.
But Izuku forgot.
Katsuki had made Izuku a priority. For years. But Izuku never reciprocated. He never even noticed that they were slipping apart. They’d always been side by side, so he’d never imagined that Katsuki would just...walk out of his life. Then he pictured Katsuki waiting for him in some fancy restaurant all alone and he sniffed, wiping away tears. Katsuki didn’t deserve that. Katsuki was a great boyfriend, a great person.
But Izuku forgot.
Through the grapevine of press releases and the 1-A group chat, Izuku eventually learned that Katsuki had gotten his own new place and basically started over. Izuku hadn’t seen him since that night he’d walked out. Izuku’d assumed they would meet up and talk things over after a few days, but he couldn’t get through to Katsuki’s phone and when he’d tried to visit the blond’s agency later that week, Mina and Kirishima had escorted him back to the front door.
It hurt to see how mad his old friends were. How long had they felt this way? How long had he been pushing everyone away with his behavior? How long had they watched Katsuki give and give and give while getting nothing back?
Izuku went back home after that, calling into work for the first time in years. He spent the afternoon crying and writing all his regrets in a notebook. He thought about sending Katsuki a letter, but it didn’t seem right. How could he expect Katsuki to come back to this, to him?
So Izuku set out to make some changes. He dropped his third patrols and made sure he was home by 7pm every night. He cooked and cleaned and did all the chores. He spent time with his mom and his friends. Everyone seemed surprised but pleased to see him not only reach out but also actually show up. He didn’t bother talking to any of Katsuki’s friends. They were all mutual friends by this point, but he didn’t want to put them in an awkward position.
It wasn’t easy to do everything by himself. Practically every single day, he realized just how much Katsuki had been doing that Izuku never saw or acknowledged or really appreciated. Even at work, he realized how difficult some of the tougher fights were without Katsuki around to help. Other heroes were there, of course. And Katsuki was somewhere in the city, fighting villains elsewhere. But he wasn’t by Izuku’s side.
The Wonder Duo, such as it was, had ended.
Eating alone was something he was used to, but sleeping alone wasn’t. Before, he’d crawl into a warm bed late at night and try not to disturb Katsuki too much. Now, the bed was cold and empty. He’d washed the sheets and his own pillowcase, but he left Katsuki’s be. He hugged it sometimes.
Okay, all the time. It still smelled like Kacchan.
And Izuku still missed Katsuki terribly, even months later. He’d left up the pictures of them and all their little momentos. It hurt that Katsuki hadn’t packed any of them to take, but that was okay. Izuku enjoyed looking at them. And he had plenty of time now, alone and at home.
He supposed he deserved it.
Nearly six months to the day of Katsuki’s departure from his life, Izuku finally saw him. Izuku was walking along a street he’d been on many times. It was winter and he was bundled up in a warm coat and scarf. He’d finished with work over an hour ago and was just wandering around because going home was lonelier than walking the streets of Tokyo by himself.
He just happened to glance at the window of a nice Italian restaurant he’d always wanted to try but never got around to it. Katsuki was inside eating dinner with a man Izuku didn’t know. At first, he only really noticed Katsuki. His Kacchan looked happy and healthy. Katsuki was dressed up a bit and looking polished, unlike Izuku’s windblown self. Katsuki was smiling at the man. The man was smiling back. They touched hands over the table and Izuku felt the rest of his heart burst into pieces.
Katsuki was on a date. Without him. Katsuki was moving on. Without him.
Katsuki was smiling and talking and drinking wine and looking happy and Izuku was jealous. Insanely jealous, because he wanted to sit across from Katsuki. He wanted to spend time with him and laugh and smile and talk with him. They’d hadn’t done that in so long - even before the break up, they hadn’t gone out for dinner in forever. That’s probably why Katsuki'd wanted to go out to eat for his birthday in the first place.
But Izuku forgot.
And now he was standing outside a restaurant, staring at the best thing that had ever happened to him, chatting and flirting with someone else. It hurt. It wasn’t fair. But it’s probably what he deserved.
Izuku found a nearby bench and sat on it. He didn’t want to make a scene in the restaurant. He knew that would just piss Katsuki off. But he couldn’t make himself leave, either. It was cold and this was stupid and he should just go home and respect Katsuki’s privacy, but he couldn’t. So he haunted the little strip of sidewalk just out of view of the restaurant’s window. He paced and then sat. Sat and then paced.
Finally, he heard the little chime of bells above the restaurant's door and this time it wasn’t random people walking through - it was his Kacchan. Katsuki was wrapped in a nice peacoat and a scarf Izuku didn’t recognize. He looked good. Warm. Then Katsuki’s date stepped outside, his hand on the small of the blond’s back and Izuku stood up.
“Kacchan,” he called out, walking nearer to the couple.
He wanted to reach out, wanted to grab Katsuki and run off with him, but he didn’t. He just stood at the edges of the little patch of light coming from the restaurant. He could see how Katsuki stiffened and then slowly turned around.
“Go away, Izuku,” Katsuki barked, clearly annoyed.
“Please, Kacchan. Can’t we talk? Just for a minute?”
“Iz-”
“Please! Just a minute, I swear. I’m so sorry, Kacchan. Please just let me apologize and make things right,” he begged, taking a step forward into the light.
Katsuki’s date did a double take upon realizing who he was. Izuku had a pretty famous face, after all. Even when it was tinged red from the cold and wind. Izuku took some small solace in not recognizing the man at all. He couldn’t be a hero, at least not a top-100 one.
“Izuku…” Katsuki sighed, looking up at the night sky and releasing a heavy puff of breath that drifted above them. “Fuck. Fine. One minute.”
“Thank you, Kacchan!” Izuku shouted, walking towards Katsuki and reaching for his arm.
Katsuki snatched his arm back and scowled. Izuku held his hands up innocently, but gestured with his chin for them to have a moment of privacy. Katsuki closed his eyes for a second, but then mumbled something to his date and followed Izuku.
Izuku tried to get his thoughts in order as they walked - several feet of cold, empty air between them. He’d been planning what he wanted to say to Katsuki for months. Had written speeches and letters in countless notebooks. But now that he finally had the chance, he just hoped the words would come out right.
Izuku led the way to a small park nearby. It was abandoned at this time of night, looking cold and lifeless as the swings moved eerily in the wind.
“Alright, this is far enough,” Katsuki snapped. “Spit it out, Izuku. What are you going to say to make it all up to me?”
“I forgot,” Izuku started and Katsuki huffed, throwing his hands in the air. “Kacchan...wait. Let me finish.”
Katsuki crossed his arms tightly over his chest, jaw firmly set. “Clock’s ticking, Izuku.”
“I...I forgot,” Izuku rushed. “I forgot to treat you like an equal partner. I forgot to pay attention to things happening at home. I forgot to show you how much I love you. And I do, Kacchan, I love you more than anything! More than All Might and hero work. More than the city or my job or my...my mom.”
Katsuki didn’t say anything, his face a blank mask.
“I’ve loved you since we were four years old, catching bugs and getting scraped knees. We haven’t always been perfect or...even kind to each other, but I never stopped loving you, Kacchan. You shine so bright. You always have - always will. And I-” he paused, voice catching on a sob in his throat. “I just love you so much, Kacchan. And I’m sorry that I forgot to show you that every single day. Because that’s what you deserve. And I promise to do better.”
“Y’know,” Katsuki started and his voice was rough. “Words and promises don’t really mean much to me anymore, Izuku. Never fuckin’ have. You say you love me and that you’ll do better, but what will you really do?”
“I’ll prove it!” Izuku insisted, stepping closer to Katsuki even as the blond turned his face away again. “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it. I swear.”
“I want you to make me a priority like I made you. I want you to remember my birthday and our anniversary because those dates matter to you, and not just me. I want you to remember to do the one fucking chore I ask of you before you leave for work, because I do a dozen of them when I get home. I want you to take care of your fuckin’ body for once, because maybe an idiot like me fuckin’ wants it around a bit longer! I want you to turn down fuckin’ jobs and missions sometimes. I want you to spend time with me like we used to. I want you to fuckin’ act like you actually give a shit about me!” Katsuki ranted angrily. “Because honestly, Izuku, I’m not sure you do.”
“Kacchan…”
“Love isn’t just a feeling you can keep inside and never act on," Katsuki went on, clearly worked up. "It’s something you have to work to maintain. Something you have to express to those around you, so they fuckin’ know it’s real. Because I don’t believe you right now, Izuku. I really, really don’t.”
Izuku sniffed and hung his head. “I fucked up, Kacchan. I know I did. Every single day, for a long time. I fucked up over and over. I forgot things - important things - over and over. And I’m so sorry. I was too wrapped up in work and carrying on All Might’s legacy.”
“You think you’re the only one who can save people?” Katsuki asked bitterly. “You think you’re the only one trying to fill someone else’s shoes? You think you’re the only one who looked up to All Might?! Did you just fuckin’ forget the rest of us out there doing patrols and shit?! Risking our lives and saving just as many people as you?! We were the fucking Wonder Duo for a reason - it was supposed to be both of us carrying his torch.”
“I know it’s not just me,” Izuku whined, wiping at his teary eyes. “I know that. And I’m sorry I ever made you, or anyone, feel that way. I put a lot of pressure on myself, I always have. Too much pressure. And I’ve never been good at taking care of myself, you know that.”
Katsuki grunted, but didn’t turn to look at him.
“But I’m trying, Kacchan. I really am. I take days off now and I’m getting better about cooking and chores. I turn down missions and I haven’t had to stay overnight at a hospital in months!”
“Why now?” Katsuki asked, finally swiveling his head in Izuku’s direction.
“Because of you,” Izuku replied miserably. “You made me realize that I had everything I could ever want. More than I ever could have hoped to deserve, and I ruined it. I was selfish and short-sighted and I ruined the best thing to ever happen to me! I never meant to hurt you, but I did anyway. Over and over and over again, but you still forgave me for so long! Way longer than I deserved, I understand that now. I do. But I still love you, Kacchan. So much that it hurts. More than I can express in words, more than I can even comprehend. You’re...you’re everything to me. And I miss you so much, Kacchan. It’s like I’m going crazy without you. So I’ll do better this time, I promise.”
Katsuki tilted his head back and looked up through the barren trees. Izuku looked too. The moon was watching them from a bed of clouds, casting a faint glow over Izuku’s last chance at redemption.
“I’m not moving back in,” Katsuki said after several minutes of silence.
Nodding, Izuku choked back a sob. This is what he expected. Of course Katsuki would never take him back. Who would? After years of fuckups and failures, who would ever want to be with someone like him? Especially someone as handsome and amazing as Katsuki. Even Izuku could admit that the man Katsuki was on a date with was attractive. Katsuki would be able to find someone else. Love someone else. The very idea made Izuku want to throw up or kick over a building, but that was fine. Kacchan deserved to be happy.
“I’m not moving back in, but I’ll give you one more chance. Just one, Izuku,” Katsuki clarified.
Hope blossomed across Izuku’s chest like wildfire and he launched himself at Katsuki. Wrapping the blond up in his arms, he squeezed him tight and cried into his coat. His heart felt like it was going to explode.
“Thank you, Kacchan,” he sobbed. “I love you so much!”
Slowly, Katsuki’s arms wrapped around Izuku’s neck and ruffled his hair. Izuku closed his eyes, happy and relieved beyond all measure.
“But I want you to prove yourself,” Katsuki said after Izuku’s tears had slowed down. “I need to see that you’ve changed. That you’re trying. I want to go on dates again. I don’t want to have to do all the chores or all the emotional labor. I want you to pull your fair fuckin’ load in this relatonship. I need to see it, Izuku, because I can’t go through our old shit again. I won’t.”
“I know, Kacchan. You’ll see. I’ll be the best boyfriend ever.”
“I don’t want the best boyfriend,” Katsuki sighed. “I just want you, at your best.”
Izuku squeezed the blond even tighter and pulled his face away from Katsuki’s coat so he could smile confidently at the other man. Katsuki was everything he'd ever wanted. He wasn’t going to let him down again. He knew what life was like without Katsuki in it now and he never wanted to experience it again.
“You’ll have it,” Izuku promised before leaning in and pressing a chaste kiss to Katsuki’s soft lips.
Miraculously, Katsuki kissed back and Izuku deepened it immediately, eager to prove himself. Elated just to feel Katsuki back in his arms and on his lips. They stayed like that for a long time, hugging and kissing in the icy moonlight.
Katsuki loved Izuku. He’d loved the nerd since they were kids, even if he tried to deny later. So he knew when Izuku interrupted his date with Tanaka, there was a good chance he wouldn’t return. He’d told the other man to leave, that he’d call him in the morning. That he’d had a good time and he was sorry his ex was there to ruin things. Tanaka had looked displeased, but offered up a smile and a nod. Tanaka had squeezed his hand and then wandered off down the street while Katsuki followed Izuku in the opposite direction.
Tanaka was a nobody. A teller Katsuki had saved a month and a half ago during a bank robbery. They’d hit it off while Katsuki carried the man to safety. Tanaka was tall and nice, with a decent sense of humor. He had an okay job and a tiny apartment, but he had plenty of time and attention for Katsuki. And that was enough, at least for now.
Tanaka wasn’t the first person he’d dated or slept with after leaving Izuku. He wondered if Izuku had hooked up with anyone during their time apart, and realized it was probably wrong of him to feel jealous. He was the one who left. He didn’t have a claim to Izuku anymore.
It felt like it, though. When Izuku had called out to him on the sidewalk, he’d turned around with a thudding heart. That familiar voice. Those warm eyes. That damn smile. It felt even more true now, with Izuku back in his arms.
And it’d hurt, before. When he’d sat by day after day as Izuku grew further and further away. He’d tried to talk about it. They’d fight. Make promises. But nothing ever came of it. Izuku never showed the capacity to make any real change. All the chores were still left to Katsuki. All the planning, all the reminders, all the stress of keeping their life together afloat. Izuku was a great hero. And he had the potential to be a great boyfriend, but he always fell short.
Still, Katsuki loved him. He loved him so damn much, it fucking hurt. Feeling Izuku drifting away from him had been torture. Like having his teeth ripped out one by one with every missed event or forgotten promise. But, despite everything, he still loved him. And he wanted to believe him. Maybe Katsuki finally leaving had been a big enough kick in the ass to wake Izuku up and decide to change. Katsuki would know once they got back to the apartment. He’d heard from friends that Izuku hadn’t moved, so he’d see how the nerd was living now. Would it be clean? Would there be food in the fridge? Would any of Katsuki’s stuff or their shared things still be around?
God, he wanted to believe. He knew he was setting himself up to be let down, but if there was even a tiny chance that Izuku had changed for the better, how could Katsuki deny him? How could he choose a lifetime of dragging around this broken heart? How many Tanakas would he have to go through before he found someone who made his heart pound and his breath catch like Izuku did? Because Izuku knew him inside and out. They were a perfectly matched set. Had been perfect, at least. Could be perfect again, maybe, if Izuku would just put in the work, do his fair share, and give him enough attention. Like he was now: kissing Katsuki back eagerly, tilting his chin, and brushing that scarred hand through his hair.
They’d been making out for several minutes now and it wasn’t slowing down. If anything, things were getting more and more heated. God, he’d missed this. No one ignited his body like Izuku. No one knew all his sensitive spots or how much he liked kissing. Just kissing. Well, and a little heavy petting. It was hard with winter coats on, but they made it work - grasping greedily at each other.
“Can I take you home?” Izuku asked, pulling away reluctantly.
“I’m not moving back in,” Katsuki reminded him. “Not until you prove yourself.”
“Okay. That’s, um, that’s reasonable,” Izuku nodded, though he didn’t let Katsuki go and in fact held him even tighter.
“But yeah, for now...you can take me home,” Katsuki grinned, leaning in for another kiss.
The smile that broke out over Izuku’s face was like watching the sun rise on the top of Mt. Fuji. Beautiful. All encompassing. Katsuki had missed it. Seeing it on TV wasn’t the same. Izuku always seemed to smile the brightest when it was just the two of them together. He’d missed this smile. His smile. Just seeing it again made him want to cry. It’d been so long since Izuku had smiled just for him. Since Izuku only had eyes for him.
Without delay, Izuku scooped him up and launched into the air. It was too damn cold for such a stunt, but Katsuki didn’t care. He held on tight as Izuku bunny hopped on the rooftops until they were back at their old apartment. Katsuki had missed it too. He’d left behind a lot of shit when he’d decided to leave.
Katsuki was pleased to see that the apartment was clean. And all of their old stuff was still there, even the pictures. The tacky skull blanket Katsuki loved and Izuku hated was still on the back of the couch. Somehow, he knew then that Izuku hadn’t seen anyone else. At least not seriously. Because how could Izuku bring someone back here, with Katsuki looking at them from a dozen picture frames?
It didn’t really matter. He’d seen other people, fucked other people, and he still loved Izuku. But it definitely meant something to him, to know there wasn’t a replacement in Izuku’s eyes. That it was Katsuki or no one. That he was special. Important. A priority. And it wasn’t like he’d loved any of the people he hooked up with - mostly he was just trying to fill the emptiness Izuku had left behind. Trying to fill the hole in his heart, but they were all wrong.
He didn’t have long to look around the apartment, though. He snuck peeks while they made out in a jagged line heading for the bedroom, dropping clothes left and right. Izuku sucked a mark onto the special little spot behind Katsuki’s left ear and he moaned, rutting his hips against Izuku's.
By the time they finally made it to the bedroom, they were both naked and hard. Izuku’s cock was dripping and Katsuki’s entire neck and chest were flushed. They rolled on the bed, kissing and groping each other all over. It was frantic and urgent, like one of them might disappear again.
And yeah, a part of Katsuki was still angry at Izuku. Still wary of being hurt again. But a larger part of him still loved Izuku so much it fucking hurt. He’d tried for months to move on. To let go. But he still cried most nights, even if there was someone sharing his bed for the evening. They weren’t the right someone. The person he loved and trusted and craved more than anyone.
Izuku worked him open hastily, but Katsuki didn’t care. He wanted it, needed it. His heart was pounding and he wanted Izuku to be inside him right fucking now! He wanted Izuku to surround him. He was so tired of being alone, being distraught. This was all he’d wanted - Izuku to want him back. To hold him. To love him. To do his fair share.
When Izuku pressed inside, Katsuki moaned and gripped tightly at Izuku’s shoulders. Izuku hissed, but didn’t tell him to let go. Their movements went from frenzied to slow when Izuku leaned down to kiss him. Katsuki sighed at the stretch in his ass and in his hips as Izuku pressed over him, bending him into place like no one else could.
He felt Izuku bottom out and groaned into the kiss, rocking his hips up to grind them together. Izuku shuddered and started a deep, steady rhythm. Their mouths slid over each other eagerly, tongues swirling and dancing together.
Izuku changed the angle slightly and Katsuki cried out, feeling that familiar cock hitting him just right. His own dick twitched and he clung even tighter to Izuku, kissing him harder so he didn’t beg for it. He was going to cum soon, too soon. He didn't want this to end. Having all of Izuku's attention on him felt just as amazing as the dick rubbing against his prostate. He'd missed this so much. The frenzied kissing, the hands gripping him tightly, the mumbled praise in his ear. The way his body came alive at Izuku's touch.
“I missed you so much, Kacchan,” Izuku panted above him, one hand twisting a nipple and the other holding Katsuki’s hips in place
“Ngh! F-Fuck, Izukuuuu," he whined, barely able to pull in enough air to say anything coherent.
“You feel so good. So perfect. I wanna make you cum so bad, baby,” Izuku muttered, always one to babble when things really got going in bed.
Katsuki was used to it, even after a long absence. He loved how focused Izuku was during sex. So in tune with Katsuki, always eager to please and to watch him cum. And fuck, he was close already.
“Shit, I’m-” he started before Izuku’s thrusts sped up even more. “Ah-ahhhn!”
His vision blanked out for a moment as his orgasm tore through him, cock jumping as it released rope after rope of cum between them. Fuck. He hadn’t cum from just his ass in a long time. It felt incredible and Izuku was still going, pushing him to the brink of overstimulation. And then Izuku stopped and groaned lowly, still muttering praises and filth alike as he came deep inside.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Izuku pulled out. The last few drops were wrung out of him and he moaned as he finally slid free. Katsuki’s hole oozed lube and cum and Izuku had to fight the urge to lick it clean. Maybe next time.
God, just the fact there could be a next time made Izuku’s heart soar. Of course, he’d hoped that Katsuki would forgive him. Would give him another chance. It was more than he deserved, he knew that. At best, he’d expected a huge fight or something. Not reconciliation. Not a chance to prove himself. Not this.
“Fucker, don’t cum inside,” Katsuki grunted, rolling over to watch as Izuku retreated to the bathroom. “I have work tomorrow.”
“Sorry, I forgot,” Izuku replied as he returned and wiped them both clean with a wet rag.
“Tch.”
Izuku smiled and laid back down, carefully wrapping Katsuki in his arms.
“I love you, Kacchan,” he said earnestly, pressing a kiss to Katsuki’s temple.
He just wanted to say it. He didn’t expect Katsuki to say it back. Not yet. He’d have to earn that back too.
“Prove it,” Katsuki challenged.
Izuku grinned. “I will. I promise.”
“Good.”
Squeezing Katsuki tight, Izuku brought the blanket over them and snuggled in for the night. He knew he’d sleep like a baby. His Kacchan was back. His Kacchan was home.
Izuku felt like the luckiest man alive - and that was something he would never forget.