Work Text:
Izuku nursed his third beer, a nice buzz thrumming through his veins. Sitting at the bar surrounded by his friends, with Kacchan sitting directly to his left, Izuku never felt more at peace.
“Hey, nerd,” Kacchan exclaimed, elbowing Izuku in the ribs. “Be sure you drink some water too, okay? Don’t need you puking in my car.”
“Mmm, okay, Kacchan,” Izuku replied happily, getting the bartender’s attention so he could ask for a glass of ice water. He turned towards Kacchan, glimpsing at the fond smile adorning the blonde’s face. Without thinking, Izuku reached out and booped Kacchan’s nose. “Cute,” he giggled, now stroking his forefinger down the bridge of Kacchan’s nose. “Kacchan has such a cute nose.”
Kacchan blinked, but his smile grew wider, more of a smirk if anything. “Yeah, nerd? You think so?”
“Yes, I know so,” the smaller man replied, puffing his chest out in triumph when Kacchan let out an amused chortle.
“You’re so weird, Izuku,” Kacchan stated, knocking his shoulder against Izuku’s and giving the bartender a polite nod of thanks when she placed the water on the bar in front of Izuku.
All Izuku could do was grin in return before finishing off his can of beer and pushing it to the side. Kacchan shook his head with an affectionate eye roll before turning his attention towards Kirishima to his left. Izuku hummed happily, slowly sipping his water as he took in the music rattling the glasses of liquor on the shelves, the way his heart hammered in time with the beat.
He was happy, content. It had been a while since he’d gone out with his friends; he’d been so busy with school, and testing out his new suit, and catching up with All Might and his mom. With everyone’s conflicting schedules, it was difficult to get everyone from Class A to attend casual dinners or nights out, but that was okay. Everyone did the best with what they had; that’s just how adulthood worked, Izuku supposed.
“You’re only drinking water there, handsome?” came a deep, smooth voice from his right.
Izuku turned his head, straw still between his lips as he caught sight of an extremely handsome man smirking down at him. He swallowed the water in his mouth, careful not to choke, before replying with a dignified, “Um?”
The man laughed, taking a seat next to Izuku and pulling the barstool close enough to him that their knees knocked together. “Ah, so you’re drinking water because you’re already three sheets to the wind, huh?”
“Um? I guess so?” Izuku replied, placing his half empty glass on the bar with a small frown. “I’ve had three beers already, and I’m sort of a light weight.”
“Gotcha,” the man stated with a smirk, knocking his knee against Izuku’s again, though Izuku was sure it wasn’t an accident.
The bar wasn’t super dark, so there was just enough light for Izuku to make out the man’s face. Dark hair framed a narrow face, a slim nose with high cheekbones. His mouth was thin, corners quirked up in a knowing smile. He was handsome, yes, but Izuku didn’t really have a type for dark hair.
“Tadashi Aoi.” He held his hand out expectantly, eyebrows raised as he stared openly at Izuku.
“Oh, um, Midoriya Izuku.” Tadashi’s hand was warmer than expected when he shook it, and Izuku couldn’t help but think of someone else’s warm hands as he did.
“No shit?!” Tadashi exclaimed, now leaning forward in his seat so that his face was directly in front of Izuku’s. “You’re Deku! You saved the world!”
“Y-yes, that’s me,” Izuku replied, trying to move away from Tadashi. He felt his face burning as Tadashi crowded closer, both knees pressed against Izuku’s thigh.
“Wow! Hero Deku!” Tadashi continued, running a hand through his hair. “Let me buy you a drink.”
Izuku blinked. “Uh, okay, sure, why not.”
As Tadashi turned towards the bar, raising his hand to get the bartender’s attention, Izuku felt a sharp jab against his ribs. Turning in his seat, he found Kacchan glaring at him through narrowed eyes.
“You good, Izuku?” he asked, motioning towards Tadashi with a harsh look.
“Yes! I’m good!” Izuku replied, giving Kacchan a reassuring smile. “Tadashi is getting me a drink!”
“So I heard,” Kacchan replied, his voice even, controlled. “That a good idea, nerd?”
“I’m fine, Kacchan! I’ve already drank half my water. What’s one more drink?”
Kacchan frowned, but before Izuku could reassure him, Tadashi patted Izuku on the arm and presented him with a brand new drink.
“Oh, sorry,” Tadashi claimed, handing Izuku the glass as Kacchan glared at him angrily. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No,” Kacchan bit out, baring his teeth. “Izuku, I don’t really feel that well, so I might head out.”
“Oh, okay,” Izuku replied, frowning. “Do you want me to -”
“No,” the blonde snapped. “No, you stay here and have fun. I’m sure Shitty Hair or Four Eyes can get you back to the apartment if you need a ride.”
“Right, okay,” said Izuku, watching as Kacchan slid off his stool and forcefully clapped Kirishima on the back of the shoulder.
Kacchan barely even looked at Izuku as he said his goodbyes, and Izuku couldn’t help but feel like he had done something wrong. Kirishima caught his eye and tried his best to give him a reassuring smile, but Izuku felt his shoulders deflating. The new drink in his hand, the glass sweating in his palm, felt tainted.
“Hey, that was Dynamight, wasn’t it?” Tadashi asked, craning his neck to get a better look at Kacchan’s back moving away from them and towards the door.
“Yes,” Izuku replied, placing the drink on the bar and pushing it away from him. “That was Dynamight.”
Tadashi whistled. “Never expected to see a guy like that here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Izuku asked, feeling his temperature rising.
“Well, I mean, a guy like him thinks he’s better than everyone else, doesn’t he? Thinks everyone else is below him, and that he’s the most superior of all.”
“Kacchan is not like that!” Izuku exclaimed, unable to keep himself from defending his childhood friend.
Tadashi raised his hands in surrender. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “Kacchan?”
Izuku cleared his throat, balling his hands in his lap. “I mean Dynamight.” He took another breath. “He seems standoffish, but he’s good at his job. He cares about those around him, even if he can be a bit… prickly.”
“Sure, man, whatever you say,” Tadashi replied, a bemused look on his face. “But I’m not here to talk about him, I’d like to talk about you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you,” Tadashi emphasized, leaning his elbow on the bar and getting closer to Izuku again. “What’s Deku like?”
“I’m just Izuku right now,” he muttered with a shake of his head.
“Okay.” Tadashi grinned, snatching the opening Izuku accidentally made for him. “So, what is Izuku like?”
“Uh, I mean, I’m not actually an active hero right now,” Izuku told him, now rubbing the palms of his hands against his jeans.
“That’s okay, I’m sure you’re interesting in plenty of other ways.”
“Oh, well, no, I don’t think -”
“Deku-kun!”
Oh thank goodness.
Ochaco bounded up next to Izuku, wrapping a hand around his bicep and giving him a small tug. “Deku-kun, where did Bakugo go?”
“Kacchan said he wasn’t feeling well, so he went home,” he replied, thankful for the distraction.
Ochaco hummed in response, eyes wandering towards Tadashi and looking him up and down with disdain. “Is that what he said?”
“That’s what he told me,” Izuku stated, trying to ignore the fact that Tadashi was desperately trying to get his attention again.
“Well, Iida told me he was about to head out and offered me and Tsu a ride home. Do you want in?” Ochaco asked, tugging Izuku’s arm again. Bless Ochaco and intuition.
“Yes! I should really get home and make sure Kacchan is all right,” Izuku quickly agreed, sliding off the stool and taking a step away from the bartop. Turning back towards Tadashi, he stated, “Well, it was nice to meet you. I’m leaving now.”
“W- wait, can I at least get your number?” Tadashi asked, also standing up and grabbing his phone from his back pocket.
“So sorry!” Ochaco exclaimed, pulling Izuku backwards. “But we really need to go! Bye-bye!”
“Nice to meet you!” Izuku waved, letting Ochaco drag him away. “And sorry I didn’t even finish the drink you got me!”
The two friends made their way through the crowd, finally approaching Iida and Tsu waiting for them by the door. Iida gave Izuku a small nod of acknowledgement before opening the door for his friends.
“Ugh, what a creep, Deku,” Ochaco stated, finally letting go of Izuku’s arm now that they were safely outside.
“Well, he seemed nice at first,” Izuki told her, falling into step beside her and Tsu as they followed Iida to his car. “But then Kacchan interrupted, and everything got… weird.”
Both Ochaco and Tsu sighed at that.
“What?” he asked, glancing back and forth between the two girls.
“You’re so totally hopeless, Deku,” Ochaco told him, taking his hand in hers and giving it an affectionate pat.
“Bakugo can be really territorial sometimes, can’t he?” Tsu added, hooking her arm through Izuku’s and knocking her hip against his.
“I don’t… understand?” Izuku replied, becoming even more confused as the two girls just laughed in response.
“Hey, you three, keep up! I would like to get home at a reasonable hour!” Iida scolded, turning around so he could glare at his three friends.
“It’s not even midnight,” Ochaco told him, though she was grinning nonetheless.
Finally secure in Iida’s car, Izuku stared out the window as Tsu and Ochaco told the latest gossip and drama that they had picked up from their night out. Tonight was a small affair, really, with a mix of Izuku and Kacchan’s respective friend groups. Todoroki had an overnight patrol, and Kaminari was home visiting his parents, but it was a nice night.
Still, Izuku felt a knot tightening in his gut at the thought of Kacchan leaving early. He wasn’t entirely sure what Ochaco and Tsu had meant, but to be fair, he knew he was a bit oblivious at times.
But what about Tadashi? Why did Kacchan get so weird? Izuku knew Kacchan was protective, but he didn’t understand why he got angry.
“Izuku, we’re here.” Iida’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Oh, okay, thanks,” Izuku replied, undoing his belt and opening the passenger door. “Hopefully Kacchan is still awake. I want to make sure he’s feeling better.”
Ochaco snorted in the backseat. “I’m sure he’s fine, Deku.”
Izuku nodded once and waved goodbye to his friends, being sure to thank Iida one more time for the ride.
Walking towards his apartment, he felt the knot tighten more at the thought of seeing Kacchan. They had been living together for a couple of months now, and it was going well so far; just as expected, Kacchan was an excellent roommate, his cleanliness rubbing off on Izuku within a few weeks of living together. But he had never seen Kacchan sick. What would he do?
He opened the front door as quietly as possible, shut it behind him even quieter. He toed off his sneakers and placed them next to Kacchan’s at the genkan before making his way deeper into the apartment. Kacchan wasn’t in the kitchen or the living room, and Izuku couldn’t hear any sounds coming from the bathroom, so Kacchan must be in his bedroom.
“I should get him some water,” Izuku muttered to himself, making his way to the kitchen to rustle around the fridge for a water bottle.
Water bottle in hand, Izuku approached Kacchan’s room, the door looming over him. Taking a breath, Izuku knocked on the door.
“What?” came Kacchan’s sharp voice from the other side.
“Just me,” Izuku replied, hand on the doorknob. “Can I come in?”
“Whatever,” Kacchan replied.
Taking that as affirmation, Izuku opened Kacchan’s door and stepped inside. Kacchan was lying on his bed on his back, ankles crossed and arms resting behind his head as he stared at the ceiling above.
“Hi, Kacchan,” Izuku said, making his way towards the bed and sitting on the edge. “I brought you water in case you still weren’t feeling well.”
“Whatever,” the blonde repeated, not even looking at Izuku.
“Are you still not feeling well?”
Kacchan shrugged.
With a small frown, Izuku reached out and placed his hand on Kacchan’s forehead. Kacchan tensed slightly before letting himself relax at Izuku’s touch.
“No fever,” Izuku stated, pulling his hand away. “Is it your stomach? You didn’t have anything to drink, though….”
“I never do,” Kacchan added, turning his head to the side so he could watch Izuku.
“Is it your heart? You’ve definitely been taking all of your meds, right?”
“‘S fine, Izuku.”
“Then what -”
“He was flirting with you, you know,” Kacchan stated, finally sitting up so that he and Izuku were face to face.
Izuku blinked. “I - I know?”
Kacchan scoffed. “And? What? He got you a drink. Did you get his number? Decide to go on a date?”
“I didn’t even touch the drink after you left, Kacchan,” Izuku told him, frowning. “And no, I didn’t get his number. He was sort of a jerk anyways.”
“I could have told you that.”
“What’s with you, Kacchan? What’s going on?”
“Absolutely nothing,” Kacchan replied coldly, lying back down on the bed and turning around onto his side so that his back was to Izuku. “I’m tired, Izuku. I’m going to sleep.”
Izuku groaned. “You are so difficult to talk to sometimes, you know that, right?”
“Whatever.”
With a sigh, Izuku got up off the bed. “Well, fine. Good night, Kacchan.”
“Night.”
Once he was back in his own bedroom, Izuku changed into his pajamas and collapsed into bed. He tossed and turned, trying to get into a comfortable position, but no matter how comfortable he was, he found that his mind would not shut off. Sometimes he wished that his brain had an off switch, something to control the way he constantly overthought everything.
His thoughts drifted to Kacchan in the other room, how he had suddenly detached himself from the conversation he was having with Izuku. Though Kacchan was often harsh, all sharp edges and jagged lines, something about him seemed… dejected, in a way. Like he had experienced some sort of rejection.
He kept thinking back towards their time at the bar; when they had arrived at the chosen location for their friends’ small get together, Kacchan had seemed happy. He was even smiling! Kacchan had led Izuku towards the bar, eased him into a barstool and ordered himself a water and Izuku his first beer. They had been chatting amicably with Kirishima and Iida, they had joked around with Mina and Sero, and Kacchan even watched Izuku and Ochaco bicker back and forth about some reality TV show they had both been watching.
Everything had been fine, but something -
Izuku’s eyes sprang open.
It was when Tadashi showed up that Kacchan started acting strange. He became snippy, snarling like a dog trying to protect their owner. He had downright glared at Tadashi, red eyes burning bright.
“Wait,” Izuku exclaimed, sitting up in bed and staring at the door. “Wait, ohmygosh!”
He threw the comforter off his body, not even caring that it slid to the floor as he ran out of his bedroom and back towards Kacchan’s room.
“Kacchan!” he called, loudly knocking at the door to get the other man’s attention. “Kacchan! Wake up!”
He could barely make out the sounds of Kacchan moving around inside, the way he muttered under his breath as his feet hit the floor.
“What the fuck do you want, Izuku?!” Kacchan demanded as he wrenched open the door. “It’s nearly two o’clock in the morning, what is so important that you had to -”
“You were jealous,” Izuku interrupted, causing Kacchan to choke on the rest of his sentence.
“The fuck?”
“You were jealous,” Izuku repeated slowly, feeling the rapid beating of his heart beneath his chest. “Of Tadashi. You were jealous that he was flirting with me, and that I let him.”
Kacchan just blinked.
“That’s why you left. You were jealous of seeing another man flirting with me, so you said you weren’t feeling well. Do I have that right?”
“I - What the fuck, Izuku?” Kacchan stated, releasing his iron bound grip on the doorknob so he could cross his arms over his chest. “Think you got me all figured out, huh?”
“No, I really don’t,” Izuku stated, shaking his head wildly so that his green curls bounced. “I think I do, but there are parts of you I’m still trying to understand. I’m doing my best, Kacchan, I really am.”
Kacchan squinted at him, tilting his head to the side as he studied Izuku. Izuku felt like he was being held under a microscope, that Kacchan was taking him apart bit by bit and scrutinizing every frayed edge.
“And so what if I was?” Kacchan’s voice cut through Izuku’s thoughts like a knife.
“Huh?” Izuku asked, blinking up at Kacchan slowly.
“I said - “ Kacchan leaned in closely, so that he and Izuku were face to face - “so what if I was?”
“‘Was’ what?” Izuku asked, swallowing the lump in his throat.
“Jealous,” Kacchan explained, a predatory smile now forming on his lips. “Jealous of the way that bastard was looking at you, jealous of the way you smiled at him and not me. Jealous that you let another man buy you a drink. Jealous because I know that no matter what I do, no matter how much I repent for my sins, I’ll never be good enough for you.”
Izuku’s mind went blank as he stared up at Kacchan, standing firm as Kacchan invaded his space.
“You spent your whole life looking at me, and yet when your attention lingers for just moment, I can’t help but feel envious,” Kacchan continued, reaching up so he could grip Izuku’s chin with his forefinger and thumb, forcing Izuku’s head up so that the younger man couldn’t look away. “So, Izuku, what do you have to say to that?”
If he was being completely honest, Izuku really didn’t have much to say to Kacchan. He just stared into intense vermilion eyes, watching as a fire burned behind them. Kacchan’s grip tightened on his chin, but Izuku didn’t really mind. It was subtle, but he could hear Kacchan’s harsh breathing. Without thinking, Izuku curled his fingers in Kacchan’s shirt, bunching the material in his fist as he and Kacchan breathed in tandem.
The moment hung in the air, tense and thick. Izuku felt that if he moved an inch, if he spoke even a whisper, the moment would end, be cut clean through with a knife.
Izuku always tended to overthink, to let his thoughts fester in his mind until he felt as though he might explode. But right here, in this moment, Izuku felt oddly calm, brave. So, without thinking, he raised himself on his toes, high enough so that his lips met Kacchan’s. He felt Kacchan tense in surprise before immediately relaxing, letting Izuku take the lead. It was just a soft press of the lips, the tiniest bit of pressure that made Izuku dizzy. Kacchan’s grip loosened on his chin, and he let out a small, barely noticeable moan as Izuku slipped his tongue past his lips to prod against the blonde’s.
Suddenly, Kacchan pulled away, chest heaving as he stared down at Izuku with eyes blown wide, pupils dilated so only a sliver of red could be seen. Izuku stood ready, coiled like a spring, waiting for Kacchan to make his next move.
A choked cry, and Kacchan was pulling Izuku in his bedroom, closing the door behind him so that he could shove the younger man against it. Before Izuku could even think about what was happening, Kacchan’s hands were all over him, wandering up and down his sides and his lips captured Izuku’s in a heated, desperate kiss.
Izuku moaned, arms wrapping around Kacchan’s broad shoulders, hands clasping behind his neck to keep Kacchan close. Kacchan nipped at Izuku’s bottom lip, licked into his mouth as though trying to get deeper. Izuku moaned as Kacchan’s hands finally settled on his hips, pushing the fabric of his shirt up so his fingers could graze exposed skin.
“Fuck,” Kacchan murmered, lips now trailing along Izuku’s jaw towards his throat.
“Kacchan - Kacchan,” Izuku whined, spreading his legs so that Kacchan should shove his knee between his thighs. “I didn’t - I didn’t know, I never -”
“‘S fine, Izuku,” Kacchan replied, hands now roaming up Izuku’s ribs, pushing the shirt further up his body. “Just - I need to be sure. Do you want this?”
Izuku let his head fall against the door with a thump so he could look up at Kacchan. Kacchan just watched him with wonder, face an adorable shade of pink, pupils wide, lips kiss-swollen and wet.
“I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember, Katsuki,” Izuku answered honestly, large hand cupping Kacchan’s right cheek, pressing up against the scar there.
Kacchan gave him a soft smile - so, so soft that Izuku felt his heart stutter in his chest. Turning his head slightly, Kacchan was able to press a kiss to the palm before dragging his hands down Izuku’s body and settling them on the back of his thighs. With barely any effort, he lifted Izuku up, and it was all Izuku could do to instinctively wrap his legs around Kacchan’s trim waist.
Before he knew it, Izuku’s back hit the mattress and Kacchan was climbing over him, situating himself between Izuku’s legs. Izuku gazed up at him, watching Kacchan’s eyes rove over his body.
“You’re so… you’re just amazing, Izuku,” Kacchan murmured before kissing Izuku fully on the mouth, hands squeezing Izuku’s sides.
Izuku lost himself to the feeling of Kacchan’s lips on his skin. When Kacchan’s fingers tugged at the hem of his shirt, Izuku adjusted himself to help Kacchan wrestle him out of the offending material. Kacchan’s lips, his hands, scorched his skin, and Izuku couldn’t help but moan in pleasure as Kacchan allowed himself to map out Izuku’s body.
Kacchan over him, his hands and mouth roaming his body, the sheets tangling around them. Izuku lost himself to pleasure, a dizzying buzz in his head. Letting Kacchan take control felt natural, right, though Kacchan was a quick learner, adjusting and readjusting depending on the soft noises spilling from Izuku’s lips.
Izuku himself couldn’t keep his hands off the other man’s body, hands squeezing his ass, fingers pressing into his slim waist, nails grazing his back. Usually he would be embarrassed to be in such an intimate position such as this, naked and spread open, but with Kacchan, it felt completely natural. Fitting together like two puzzle pieces, jagged edges and all.
Having Kacchan inside him felt like heaven, and with each “Kacchan!” that spilled from Izuku’s lips, the other man thrust harder, deeper, whispering praises in Izuku’s ear.
When it was over, sated and quiet, Izuku let his mind wander to the man lying beside him.
“Stop thinking so hard, nerd,” Kacchan grumbled, rolling onto his stomach and throwing an arm over Izuku’s chest. “Can hear you from over here.”
“Sorry, Kacchan,” Izuku replied, turning his head so he could stare at Kacchan. Blonde hair was sticking up in an almost comical way from Izuku’s hands running through the strands, pink dusted Kacchan’s cheeks in a way that accentuated his scar, there were scratches - red and angry - on his shoulders and back, but the way Kacchan was smiling….
Oh the way Kacchan was smiling so contentedly, warm and gooey, made Izuku’s heart melt in his chest.
“What?” Kacchan asked, finger tracing a bruise on Izuku’s collarbone.
“Nothing, Kacchan, I’m just happy,” Izuku told him, leaning over to peck Kacchan on the nose.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Were you not happy before?” Kacchan asked him, snuggling closer to Izuku so that their bodies pressed together.
“I was, I think,” Izuku answered honestly, turning on his side. “But I always felt like I was missing something, you know?”
Kacchan just hummed tiredly in reply, his fingers skimming down Izuku’s side before settling on the jut of his hip.
Izuku chuckled. “I think we might both be too tired to talk about it now, though.”
“Sorry.” Kacchan’s hand squeezed his hip apologetically. “I’m also still processing all of this.”
“Do you regret it?” Izuku found himself asking.
“This? You? No, never,” Kacchan answered without even a moment’s hesitation. “My only regret is… Well, I think you know.”
“And we’ve talked about our past plenty of times before, Kacchan. I’m really only focused on the here and now.”
Kacchan grinned, a slow uptick of the corners of his mouth. “I just want you, Izuku. That’s all. If you’ll have me, that is.”
“Bakugou Katsuki, do you really even have to ask?”
Izuku had never heard Kacchan laugh so freely before, so openly. He wished he could bottle it up, save it for later.
“I know, Deku, you’re absolutely obsessed with me,” Kacchan teased, turning on his side so that his back was to Izuku. He shifted backwards so that his back was pressed to Izuku’s chest. Instinctively, Izuku wrapped his arms around Kacchan’s body, marveling at the fact that the explosive blonde was the little spoon. He filed that away for later.
“Says the guy who faked being sick because he was jealous of another man flirting with me,” Izuku quipped back, burying his face in the crook of Kacchan’s neck.
“Hey, I never said I wasn’t obsessed with you,” Kacchan replied easily. “Now go to sleep. It’s almost four in the morning, and I’m exhausted.”
“You did put in a lot of work recently,” Izuku stated, feeling smug. The ache between his thighs was an excellent reminder of their recent activities.
“Fucking pillow princess,” Kacchan grumbled, but Izuku could hear the fondness in his voice.
“I like when you take care of me.” He kissed Kacchan’s nap, relishing in the goosebumps that formed under his lips. “I can take care of you next time, though. If you want.”
“Next time, huh? Maybe if you let me sleep there can be a next time.”
Izuku couldn’t help but to laugh. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. Get some sleep, Kacchan. But, um, can we talk more about this - us - tomorrow?”
“I would really like that,” Kacchan murmured, body going slack in Izuku’s arms.
He kissed Kacchan’s nape one more time before nuzzling his face in his shoulder. Kacchan sighed happily, his heart beating soundly against Izuku’s chest.
“I - I think I love you, Kacchan,” Izuku whispered, jolting in surprise when Kacchan’s body shook with silent laughter.
“Yeah, I know, Izuku,” Kacchan told him, turning his head so he could smile at Izuku. “I love you too, okay? Now please, let me sleep.”
Izuku couldn’t help but laugh too, holding Kacchan tightly against him and keeping him there. He stayed awake until he heard Kacchan’s even breathing, until his heart found a steady rhythm in his chest. With one last kiss, Izuku let his eyes slip shut, mind full of the man sleeping securely in his arms.