Work Text:
'Man, you have no idea how much i wanted your Autograph...'
And when his final breath leaves him, the image of all might fades, and jeanists voice windles to nothing, katsuki's gone. The rain greets his vacant body as if to wash away the remnants of war and of his past sins. Life is cruel. Now the child lays in deaths merciful hands. She wishes for it to be different. No child should go through what these children did. So she walks.
Time knew that death would appear. Time knows everything. Time knew what death wished for and... understood. Time took the child, wrapped him in ribbon then weaved and sewed him in where he belonged. Where he could change. They watched as Times gorgeous tree sprouted a new bud that was sure to grow into a beautiful branch. She hoped. And he knew.
There was buzzing in his ears, the soft tickling of a loving voice calling out to him, telling him it was morning and her little sunshine needed to wake. And when the waves finally parted and ruby's revealed themselves, he realized he felt peaceful. It had been a long time. A long time since his mother showed him this type of affection. Her kind and gentle smile. A long time since his room looked so bright. A long time since he'd heard the birds chirping peacefully outside. After all, birds don't sing when danger's near, and in war, danger always lurks. The boy doesn't know how to process this, so he closes his eyes and let's himself drift.
The next time he surfaces, his room is different. It's darker. Not in the sunlight way but in the decorations. Like he had floated a few years forward. When he got to a certain age Mitsuki started being tougher, she still loved him, she just didn't show it the same way. Sometimes he wishes she did. Sometimes he just wanted a hug without being interrogated as to why he wanted one as if he was planning on doing something terrible or being asked if he was getting soft. But going off his room and the fact he could hear his mom cursing as she helped his dad cook, It had it have been at least a few years since he stopped hanging out with izuku. Oh izuku, he left him on his own again, after he had just apologized. He left his best friend again. He didn't feel ready to look him in the eyes, his grip on consciousness seemed to be slipping and he couldn't get a better grip, not yet, so between one blink and the next, he felt himself get light as he slipped he heard his mom's laughter from downstairs and he smiled, happy to glide back into whichever ocean accompanied him.
Katsuki's feet faltered slightly as he gasped, he was walking, his old lackies following behind him telling him he was a bit harsh on izuku today. The bitter taste of bile raked across his tongue when he told them it was Dekus fault for getting in his way. His lungs began coiling suddenly when his shoe connected with the bottle. His memories caught up with him too late. The others screamed in fear and ran. He tried. His body wasn't as well tuned as he was used to so it wasn't too surprising when the sludge engulfed him. He tried to direct his explosions better this time. He knew that last time he accidentally caught the buildings on fire. Not that there was much control when he couldn't even breathe. He heard when the heros arrived, heard them say there was nothing they could do. Bullshit. There was always something you could do. His lungs were on fire. His mouth was covered and he felt the this terrible liquid sliding into his mouth, at that moment ruby met emerald. Izuku! He felt his eyes fill. The Monster said something but he couldn't hear. Izuku, please. He couldn't remember the last time he begged like this but he couldn't stand it anymore. He knew that when izuku showed up he got to breathe. He watched as the now quirkless child rush towards him, his tormentor, and throw his bag at the monster drowning him. The air poured into his scorched lungs, he nearly cried. Instead of crying he called out asking why the other boy was here. Hearing the boy say his legs moved on their own reminded him of the battle before the greenie left. How katsuki's legs moved before he could think, he could feel where his chest and abdomen were peirced, the the phantom pains ached even though he knew his body hadn't experienced it yet. At that moment All Might swooped in, grabbing his arm and ridding the rest of his body of that horrid fluid. The next hour was a blur. Katsuki was being praised, praised for nothing, he didn't do anything helpful so why were they saying he did so well? It didn't help that they were the same ones who gave up on saving him so easily. It also didn't help that he could feel how his throat and lungs burned, scorched like the trees after a forest fire or the ground after a volcanoes eruption. And the taste! It made him want to rip his tongue out. He was nauseous the feeling twisted in his gut waiting for him to let his guard down to strike. All the while those stupid heros voices grated at his ears like nails on a chalkboard.
When he finally slipped away, he went after izuku.He found him on a street leading to his house. Last time katsuki followed the boy after the attack he just yelled at him, this time he also thanked him. Then he left. When he made it home, his mother simply asked if he was alright, and when he said 'yeah sure' she didn't even bother with a reply, simply looking away and ignoring his existence. When he turned and started up the stairs he heard her call out that he needed to do better and not cause the heros so much trouble. He made it to his room. His body ached. After sitting on the floor for a minute, he gathered the strength to take a shower. After all, his skin was cold, clammy, and covered in that dreadful slimy gunk. And as he lay in bed that night he couldn't help but think he should float just a bit, maybe a few weeks more, so he dived into his own personal ocean and sighed as his feet touched the water. It was terrible to relive this day he hoped the next time he woke up it would be better.
For the next few months he skirted in and out of consciousness. He saw how much work izuku was putting in, even in class the boy trained. It wasn't too surprising, after all, izuku had been better than him in that regard. Actually, izuku had been better than him in most regards. Izuku is kind. Izuku cared even when the person doesn't deserve it. And izuku always got back up when he fails. Not katsuki, not weak, worthless katsuki. The one time izuku was counting on him, everyone was counting on him, he died. He messed up and he died. What if this wasn't a second chance like he assumed? What if this was all just his life flashing before his eyes just like in the stories? Honestly katsuki wasn't sure if it mattered. Maybe he deserves this. He's sure the others would forget about him sooner or later. Well, maybe not kirishima, but he should.
When his school announced he and izuku made it into UA, he was surprised, he must have slept through that memory, that event in this timeline. Later, he cornered izuku like he had before, only this time he bowed much like he did when he apologized and he congratulated him. He told his old friend that he was proud that he kept going, then, he turned, with a smile on his face, he left, leaving the green haired boy speechless in the shadows of their old hell.
When the next school year started, he was one of the first students in class. This time, he kept his feet on the floor. This time he was kind. This time he helped the others. This time he told izuku what he was feeling and why. He told izuku about the life he lived before this, and smiled as the boy rambled his questions and theories. He smiled because,This time, when All Might hugged him, he hugged him back. Because this time, He told Aizawa-sensei, Principal Nezu and All Might about what happened and At first they didn't believe him but he told them the secrets they kept and what would happen that day. Even still, there's only so much you can choose to not believe when you're friends with a human lie detector. So when the USJ attack happened he was already throwing his classmate out of the locked building and when All Might fought AFO they actually killed him. This time he went to therapy.
And this time, this time he asked for that autograph.