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The ashes crossed the air and found their way into the heroes’chests.
The entire town had been warned about a villain more dangerous than the others, with a stronger claim toward the names in the rank, even if this meant putting this city down for personal revenge. The authorities and heroes tried to appease the public breakdown and the whispers but the most informed shadows remained afraid of the outcome of this fight. Their reputation couldn’t solve the sentiment of injustice that ate them alive after the inevitable loss of innocents on the battlefield, it couldn’t bring them back to life either.
This villain’s quirk was strong enough to put someone down in the blink of an eye, explaining his ease in escaping from jail in the first place. Everyone whispered his name in conversation, afraid to get his attention and be the target of his tricks, even in the heroic field: High school students prepared themselves for the worst, and the multiple agencies in the town made sure to have backup plans if things went wrong. Izuku Midoriya was used to this lifestyle since his teenage years, a terrible habit that left some indelible scars on his broken soul. His life as a quirkless teacher wasn’t as bad as he thought, and was welcomed with comprehensive students and respectful coworkers…even when the echoes of this terrifying past haunted each of his nights, forcing him to stay up until he found reassurance in his lover’s embrace.
Seeing his childhood friend alive was a miracle he used to pray for, especially after being marked by the frames of his lifeless body on the bloody ground. The freckled man failed to save Shigaraki, but he never forgave him for attacking the most important person in his life: All those years of unshared confessions could’ve been transferred to a simple grave in the cemetery under different circumstances. Today, the green-haired man couldn’t help but look at the charming crimson eyes and realize how he’ll be forever grateful to spend another morning by his childhood friend’s side.
After all, Katsuki Bakugou was his everything. The entire world knew about their strong bond and unique chemistry between them, marking history when they became unforgettable to the world. They were seen as the inspiring figures for the next generation as the Wonder Duo, and the best of lovers under their civilian identities: There was no Kacchan without Deku, even under the sheet where timeless confessions were shared with gentle kisses and stolen chuckles, filling the close proximity between their heated bodies.
However, this tranquility was interrupted by the unexpected attack of the villain, which caught everyone off guard, forcing the empty streets to facilitate access to aid and join the crime scene as soon as possible. The emergency was sent to every agency in the surrounding area, and Izuku Midoriya was in the middle of his history class when he heard the terrible news. After making sure each of his students was safe with his colleagues, he didn’t think twice before rushing outside the building and running to the spot sent by his classmates earlier in their conversations. The familiar song of his heartbeat echoed ten times louder inside his sensitive ears, taking a quick glimpse at his costume, the famous gift made by his loved ones to give him access to a forgotten dream.
Once he arrived on the battlefield, he was forced to see the silent town, marked with irreversible damage. His emerald eyes widened and immediately searched for clear information about the situation toward his friends, who explained how things were worse than any of their expectations. Some heroes checked the remaining streets to put the last shadows in a safer place, while others played the observers by exploring this painting they’ve known by heart: There was no doubt, this mission was the most important one this city had ever faced since All Might’s downfall!
It didn’t take long until the familiar voice echoed in their area, mocking their shitty behavior concerning a fight ”they should’ve seen coming”. The first heroes decided to end this as soon as possible, until a certain rhythm appeared in their fight: The person under the mask, amused by the situation, got bored with this little introduction and stared at the recognizable figures, who sent a death glance in his direction. Izuku held his fist tighter, thinking about a plan to reduce the most damage, until a certain name caught his attention….
The villain didn’t hesitate to claim out loud the list of targets he’ll send to the cemetery, and Dynamight was one of them. The freckled man’s blood boiled on the moment, his nails meeting his scarred palms with a darker glance that immediately replaced his previous worries: The safety of the town remained a priority, but he would rather die than let some asshole touch one of his lover’s hairs.
Katsuki Bakugou represented a genuine source of inspiration for the youngest and Izuku’s biggest pride, but the signs were evident when the blond returned home with injuries that took more time to heal. The golden-haired man kept his famous grin and harsh behavior on screen, but no one knew how his face turned sadder once he was alone with his thoughts, with the emotional support of the one who loved him at his worst. Izuku already saw too many injuries on the hero’s body to recall their bleeding scars and the sudden call from the hospital, or the descriptions of events that weren’t supposed to happen in the first place. His childhood friend saved many lives, but he almost lost his too many times: If his lover had to disappear from this world, Izuku would be resigned to be nothing but an empty shell with bleeding scars.
His childhood friend had always been his biggest source of inspiration and victories: Having him as a best friend and first love was a symbolic promise meant to last for a lifetime, traumatized after the numerous near-death experiences they’ve known since their fragile youth. The media described him with strong words that couldn’t transcribe the ethereal beauty of his genuine smile when he kissed his lover in the room, nor the stolen kiss in the early morning, quickly followed by a gentle “I love you” against the freckled man’s ears. Those moments belonged to a narrative that the two men cherished, who found love at the least unexpected, and chose to chase after each other in the most unforgettable way.
Everyone in their surrounding knew how Izuku and Katsuki were each other’s muse.
After all, many pages were marked with golden ink, which recited their adventures with a tender narrative that became their favorite tale. The green-haired man offered his forgiveness for the venom that used to drown him in sorrow and cause heartbreaking tears on his porcelain skin, such as Katsuki’s, who never felt worthy of this endless love offered by his best friend. Their dynamic was endearing, but it was the most breathtaking creation they’ve brought to life, hidden behind handholds and love confessions.
“You’re dead if you ever think about touching one of his hairs. Believe me, you’ll be buried six feet underground before you even realize if I see one of your shitty fingers touch him,” threatened the shorter man with a menacing glance. This stranger was amused by the current situation until he found his new source of entertainment when the shorter man was calmed down by the rest of the group, despite the curse leaving his venomous lips. Jumping straight into the actions would make things worse than they already are, but Izuku wished to have contact with his partner to warn him to stay away from this asshole!
“We got the area covered and secured for the moment, you and the rest of the team should distract the villain until the backup arrives,” Aizawa added with a serious tone. He was more than concerned by the emergency of the situation, conscious that a single second of inattention, as innocent as it was, might lead to a no-return point in everyone’s narratives. “Midoriya, I know you want to rip his head off his body like all of us in the room, but I count on you to not kill him on the spot if we want to send him straight to jail. Did I make myself clear ?”
Izuku simply nodded, forced to have no other option than obeying the previous order. He understood the reasoning behind this decision, even when the temptation to go against his old teacher’s recommendation was more than necessary, but he trusted the mobilized heroes to avoid irreversible damage. This villain seemed to know what he was doing and the green-haired man despite the idea to be useless in such a scenario where every life matters…which didn’t stop him from checking on Katsuki as soon as possible.
At least, no before making this villain pay for the previous threat!
—-
It wasn’t surprising to see the green-haired man turning into a different person when his lover’s life was on the line: After all, Izuku had always been possessive and overprotective toward his childhood friend since their teenage years, but the current circumstances became worse when he had the confirmation Dynamight had joined the battlefield. The news crossed his ears a few minutes ago and his body immediately moved to reach the taller man, despite the tiredness of his own body, but his old classmates were wiser than he was and predicted each of his movements.
They tried to resonate with his stubborn mindset and convinced him to stay here until he regained enough strength to see his boyfriend once the time had come, even if each second passing by felt like a stab in his heart. His friends tried to reassure him, a gesture deeply appreciated by the shorter man, conscious that his worried eyes were concentrated on the endless sky above his head, hoping to see the familiar shadow moving in the air.
His secret wishes were heard by the subtle wind when the recognizable blond appeared in the breathtaking sky, becoming the center of attention with his impressive skills on the battlefield until the villain decided to make him the highlight of the show. The scarred hands held the fabric of his clothes tighter, ignoring the pain caused by his nails when they went through the fragile skin, marked by the sweat from his previous fight. The rest of the area was secured enough to have a camera on every side of the street, with the reporters looking for the good angle concerning the two flying figures in the air, throwing mutual curses at each other.
The shaking legs reflected the anxiety rising inside the freckled man’s chest, praying for his lover’s safety but something inside his chest warned him that his naive dream won’t see the light of day. Technically, Katsuki risked his final breath each morning, and the biggest gift received from fate was the relief to see the golden spikes arriving in the corridor of this welcoming house, with the gentle smile crossing the teacher’s lips. The blond was also known to be an overprotective partner and as crazy as his lover about such things as meaningless injuries on their precious bodies! The calloused hands always checked the huge scars on the fragile cheek, secretly missing those stupid freckles, and got enough luck to rest into the nerd’s warmth once the night had come.
A dead silence filled the camp, highlighted by lost glances staring at each other with a million questions at the tip of their lips. The worst part was how they needed to wait for the authorities’ confirmations to let them know how the situation was under control, even if the shorter man was doing his best with his impatience. A slight groan of pain escaped the green-haired man’s lips when his nails found a recent injury he created himself, due to the previous minutes of intense stress. The entire city was waiting for the final outcome of this heated conflict, until the news crossed their curious ears:
The villain was defeated at the price of Dynamight’s life, still unconscious on the ground.
Their faces turned paler at the shocking revelation, explaining why their first questions were centered around the blond’s state and if he’ll make it out of here alive but the only thing that caught the teacher’s attention was the vulnerable position of his lover. The worst part of this blurry conversation was the fact that the man he loved was probably dying a few meters away from his current location, unaware of the tears that threatened to fall down his broken cheeks. His body moved on its own and ignored the distant calls from his friends, flying in this empty sky with cautious glances until he spotted his final destination.
The background noise was unbearable, reflecting the cruel reality where the potential death of a hero remained a source of entertainment for the media, who needed their shocking title, but none of it mattered when Izuku stood there, in the corner with a pale expression on his face. His tighter fist reflected the sudden weight of the tears he hadn’t shared yet, and the terrifying scene under his eyes. The frame gave him a bitter reminder of the abrupt separation he faced during his youth, with the river of blood beside the unconscious body and the sudden fear that started to drain his last ounce of hope.
Katsuki was standing there, with his ripped costume, explicit injuries exposed to the most curious eyes, and the ghost of an unforgettable past. His mouth opened to release a slight breath that barely left his trembling lips, making a heavy gasp when he understood how the body was slowly losing its strength. The freckled man stayed frozen, with thousands of thoughts crossing his mind, until his body moved on its own to run straight to the unconscious man. A quick glance around the buildings revealed how the fight had been tough enough to exhaust both of the rivals, but it was the least of his worries!
The weight on his fragile body felt like a thousand stabs in the chest, similar to darkness consuming his final breath while the scarred hands immediately grabbed his unconscious partner, moving his trembling fingers into the dust that found home in his skin. This glance, that used to shine brighter than any midnight sky, disappeared under the hesitant thumbs that made it reach the blond’s low pulse. It was a question of time before facing the terrifying frame of a grave with broken promises in a cemetery but if there was a chance to be saved from this terrible ending, Izuku was ready to take the risk!
The bloody injuries proved how he needed to get a checkup as soon as possible, before seeing spread infections on his fragile organism. The memories of their tender morning replayed inside Izuku’s mind, recalling the gentle smirk and the stolen kisses against his cheeks, the light promises to see each other again….unaware of the tragic accident meant to separate them at the end of the day. Izuku Midoriya cared about the others, more than his own life and yet, he knew he was ready to beg the stars to get a second chance and kill this villain on the spot!
There was something heartbreaking about the exposition of Katsuki’s fragile skin against the warmth of the scarred hands, cupping his cheeks with trembling thumbs. The media always described the great Dynamight as someone untouchable, but Izuku already observed the multiple facets of this harsh reality, where even the blond itself couldn’t handle this semblance of peace. The two men already spent too many nights talking about the possibilities of leaving this world without a last goodbye, acknowledged how living in a world without their missing half was worse than death….
For the first time in his life, the hero admired by a city, was smaller than a bug, ready to be killed by giants. Izuku’s broken hands couldn’t bring his previous strength back, despite his desperate apologies that left his broken lips. His heart shattered into millions of pieces, but he needed to stay strong...even if he was ready to stand there until their bodies both became ashes transported by the air, recalling the details of a scene that traumatized an entire country.
“You had always been the center of attention, but never understood how your vulnerabilities reminded me how life is as fragile as a newborn cry,” Izuku confessed between two breaths, resting his head against the other’s forehead. Until now, he used to be the one receiving the calls from the hospital and hated the idea of being the broken shadow standing on the crime scene, with the sensation of losing his missing half. “You never listen and see where it leads you? When will you learn that death isn’t a friend to play with, and when the time has come…there’ll be no awakening. Do you want me to grow old beside a stupid grave that wears the name of the man who used to brighten my world ?”
His broken heart was desperate enough to let the heat of their skin erase the worries. Dynamight was a symbol of courage for the media, Katsuki Bakugou was a human cherished by his loved ones, and Kacchan… a tender lover who created the most unforgettable narratives. The sensation of losing everything in the blink of an eye made things harder to deal with, even if the background voices begged to send the unconscious man to the closest hospital.
“Shit, you got me cursing your name when I never thought I would do that on my living,” Izuku mumbled with a broken tone. He made the promise to never let his anger take the lead over their timeless bond, but the pain was too much to handle, even for the strongest soldier. “I’m trying to hate you for your stubbornness when it’s the same flaws that lead us back to each other. I’m not strong enough to pretend, not when holding this weight reminds me of the delicateness of a breath against our skin, and its ethereal beauty. You really want me to be desperate for the return of a ghost for the rest of my life ?”
The longer Izuku drowned in this river of blood, the more vulnerable he became: He didn’t even notice when tears fell down his cheeks, meeting his fragile skin that searched for an unreachable warmth. The teacher closed his eyes and held the calloused hands tighter, apologizing for being too late, knowing how this fight wasn’t over and he’ll stay until the very last breath…
“I don’t want to talk about you in the past tense. I would rather die than live with the empty side of the bed and longing for stupid smirks that’ll never come back when we had so many things to achieve,” he added with a sigh, moving his thumbs against the other’s cheeks, stealing a gentle kiss against this dusty skin. “You can’t leave me behind, you’re all I have. Seriously, how could you even think about leaving this world when I’m nothing without you, we complete each other as a whole and I refuse to let you go so easily.”
Their narratives haven’t started on the best bases with the complexity of their teenage years but it didn’t justify the burnous dance shared with death in their twenties. The two men were devoted to each other to the point of portraying the same story all over again in a different universe if this means falling for their missing half a thousand times! They’ve been through so many obstacles together and a stupid villain won’t be the reason for their separation, not when they had so many promises and secrets to share for the rest of their lives.
“I was supposed to marry you,” he confessed with a broken tone, using his last card to bring the other back to life. “Shit, I was supposed to be the one standing on one knee and asking you to be mine for an entire lifetime, we would’ve laughed at our stupidity and prepared the most chaotic ceremony… it would’ve been ours. I would’ve woken up every day with the pride of seeing the man I love wearing my last name and instead, you chose to let me propose to a lifeless corpse, that’ll become a forgotten ghost very soon. It’s unfair to have so much love to share in every universe, and see this ethereal adventure take such an abrupt turn.”
This time, the green-haired man gave up and rested his head against the blond’s chest with messy curls resting on, the hero’s chin, longing for a reaction. Izuku was devastated by this unpremeditated loss and held onto this source of comfort for the last time, begging the stars to save his childhood friend from a dangerous dance with the Grim Reaper. The shaking hands held the calloused ones tighter while releasing the final prose to his final creation, dedicated to his muse.
He didn’t notice the subtle change until they became obvious to his teary eyes: It started with invisible whispers, transported by the wind against the teacher’s ears, until he felt a light movement against his palms. The emerald eyes widened, regaining his breath and moving his two palms to check for his pulse, praying for the best and everything stopped when the familiar crimson eyes met the emerald ones, stunned by the previous interaction. Izuku didn’t know when his heart missed a beat and melted when the calloused palms met his cheeks, wiping his nasty tears with the same stupid smirk that charmed his heart too many times.
Katsuki Bakugou was still alive and this idiot had the audacity to look at him with his seductive smile!
“I do, freckles,” he mumbled with a cough. He never thought that fighting this asshole would make him more tired than he already was and blamed his body for taking some rest at the wrong time, especially when his lover confessed his final goodbyes. “I started to think you’ll never get on your knees, maybe we should thank this asshole for speeding things up - And for your information, you always described my stubbornness as one of my best qualities, the same one that made you fall for me.”
“You…Don’t tell me you heard everything and chose your reply only now ?” Izuku hated how much he loved this idiot with his whole heart, even when his lover treated this as some game to make fun of. The teacher was ready to sacrifice himself to follow his childhood friend in the afterlife, but Katsuki considered this a vulgar story to share with their friends! “Why didn’t you reply earlier and how can you be so stupid- You’re a pain in the ass, I don’t know what to do with you, Katsuki Bakugou.”
“And yet, you still proposed to me, too bad you can’t take your words back,” the blond replied with a low tone. He groaned when the freckled man punched his shoulders, making an adorable frown on his face, forcing the hero to roll his eyes and welcome the trembling body inside his warmth. The shorter man didn’t fight back and complained in his beard while resting his head closer to his lover’s chest, finding reassurance in the heartbeat that echoed as his favorite song. “You'd better bring me a good-looking ring, if I have to wear your last name for the rest of my life, it better be unforgettable.”
“I was dead worried about your state and the only thing you can do is to tease about some proposal I would’ve made under better conditions. You’re lucky I love you enough to tolerate your shitty behavior…Don’t ever do that,” Izuku mumbled with a loving tone, ignoring the heavy tears that rolled down his cheeks. “I don’t know what I would do without you, if you think about leaving this world, you'd better bring me with you or I’ll kick your ass in the afterlife!”
“Now you’re scaring me,” added the taller man, losing his palms into the messy curls when the scarred fingers held his waist tighter, releasing the light sobs. The teacher was still under the influence of their unforgettable reunion and promised to make their lover pay for this stupid trick once they returned home! “I never wanted any of this either, I’m glad to know my stupid corpse deserved such confessions, even in my last breath. Listen, I’m sorry for all of this, but I would also die rather than lie in a world without you….this makes us equal, idiot.”
“So, you’re back from the dead?” Izuku asked with a hesitant tone, reading behind the lines of his boyfriend’s loving glance. It was clear how the blond understood the meaning behind the choice of his previous words, knowing how a confirmation was still necessary after this emotional rollercoaster!
“As if I could ever leave your clingy ass, freckles,” he pointed out with a cheerful tone, holding the shorter man closer. Izuku’s face brightened with a light smile at the corner of his lips, aware of the rosy blush that colored his porcelain skin.
“And you also….accepted my proposal ?”
This was probably the response that scared him the most: the idea of facing all this scare and wasted tears to hear a negative answer would make him sadder than he already was but they hadn’t had the time to properly develop their thoughts on this topic. Sure, their past conversations were focused on their future projects and marriage was one of them, The teacher knew how this unexpected proposal, made in the euphoria of the moment, would cause some chaos in their lifestyle but he meant every single word shared in his speech. If his boyfriend didn’t want to project with this idea it would be fine-
“Why would I refuse? I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I need to make myself forgiven,” Katsuki admitted with a teasing tone, ruffling the messy curls with his delicate thumbs. The previous interaction melted his heart, despite its low heartbeat, but the blond was glad to be the one standing by his childhood friend’s side in stupid, but meaningful moments like this one.
“You do, but once you’ve reached the hospital to check your wounds," Izuku pointed out with a pleased tone, stepping back to steal a quick kiss on his lover’s forehead and take a glimpse at the other’s state. Some of his wounds were still bleeding after the pressure of their glued bodies, but he won’t let his boyfriend get special treatment after this stupid breakdown.
“This shit hurt,” he commented, as if his pain wasn’t obvious to the entire world. Katsuki wasn’t in the best shape but he didn’t mind standing there a little longer with his affectionate boyfriend, even if he already regretted his joke with hindsight. “I think I'll have more scars, do you still want to be my personal doctor ?”
“We’ll talk about this later, for the moment you’re still alive and it’s all that matters to me,” the freckled man confessed with a smile, losing his fingers into the blond’s cheeks to cup them in tender movements. His body moved on its own to shut the other down with a gentle kiss, feeling the taste of those light lips against his, realizing how they suddenly feel lighter than the previous fears that filled their bodies. “But you'd better prepare yourself for back pain, you’re sleeping on the couch for a few days, engaged or not.”
“I deserve it but you know I’m getting older, I can’t handle it-”
The previous gasp faded after the gentle laugh that transformed their proximity into a tender reunion between two soulmates who finally found peace by each other’s side. The gentle sound echoed as a melody to the blond’s ears, understanding how he would rather be scolded a few times by his boyfriend, than wake up beside a cold grave!
“You’re stupid,” Izuku whispered with a light kiss against the blond’s knuckles, wishing to stay in this tender embrace for the rest of his life. He shouldn’t be worried, not when his stupid boyfriend is gonna return to him in better conditions, with back pain and a new title that made Izuku’s stomach flutter. “I love you, even if you’re already giving me grey hair before my eighties.”
“Love you too, but I think I’m gonna pass out if you don’t send me to a hospital-” Katsuki mumbled with a groan of pain, promising to continue their sweet conversation on a hospital bed instead of a crime scene.
Izuku’s face widened when he noticed the emergency he had pushed aside for too long, lost in his own mind and tender promises. His emerald eyes glanced around the taller figures to see distinctive faces, letting him know how he would be contacted as soon as the results from Dynamight’s exams were released. The shorter man had no other choice but to let his childhood friend go, with a hidden smile, already excited and impatient at the idea of cuddling his favorite idiot.
“Kacchan…I’ll be there when you wake up, I promise,” he confessed with a soft tone, moving his thumbs into the calloused ones. Their heated palms intertwined with gentle movements, sharing the thousands of truths, awaiting them at the altar.
“You better,” the blond affirmed with a hidden smile, a rare gesture he reserved for his boyfriend, away from the vicious cameras.
Izuku swore he felt his own cheeks getting hotter after the previous goodbye, realizing how it was a matter of time before seeing the man he loved standing by his side. The environment slowly regained its sense while the freckled man glanced around, being reassured by the presence of his friends, who assured him that everything would be better soon. After all, the previous scene will probably be the source of gossip for a few days but Izuku Midoriya knew he would bring a ring to those fingers during the next meeting with his childhood friend.
-end-