funmalibmillie - Tumblr blog

funmalibmillie · 2 months

Link

How dialogue is set up for this chapter:

“…” = Audible Speech

Long Italicized Text = Thoughts, Memories, Dreams

Long Italicized Text and Crossed Out = Deep Desires, Unspoken Truths by character in thought

-Bold and Italicized Text with hyphens on either end- =Action Done While Talking

Katsuki fumbled in his sleep at the offensive noise. He’s used to getting up at the ass crack of dawn but that is not his regular phone alarm. Speaking of…where was his phone? Sigh, whatever. He probably left it in his home office again. Slamming down the top of the foreign digital alarm he thought he made sure to never see again when he graduated, he sat up and yawned with a twinge of familiar sorrow suddenly washing over him. Izuku’s funeral was yesterday, but the after events of it and Izuku’s message, the…ring, then came more of the despair, regret, and rage, and then the bleak, bitter cold winter wind at the stream with a strange girl…wait a minute.

He rubbed his eyes and gazed around the room. Something was definitely off. This twin bed is not his California King Bed. Didn’t he throw those old band posters in the trash (of course not the vintage Silver Age Edition All Might strategically tucked underneath one of them) after he graduated? Why was his ring collection still on that bookshelf and where the fuck did the rest of them go!? He got some of those when he was undercover in another cou—Oh. The realization struck him like Sparkplug’s quirk—Kisara. He was in the past—thanks to Kisara. He had been given a second chance – an opportunity to rewrite the past…with Izuku. He swore to himself that if nothing else, he’d find her again to give her the keychain back—and if somehow overcame being an asshole…maybe he’d hug her. A step at a time.

Katsuki from 2200 (Kats 22) dashed out of bed and hurried into his old reflection on the mirror. Staring into his own slightly younger face, he felt a renewed sense of determination. His alarm clock said 5:02AM, but the Clepsydra above him indicates 2 days and about 18 hours. After a quick shower and change of clothes—his past self will forgive him—as it is a sacrifice worthy of the cause, he grabs the backpack, keychained ring and charm glinting in the peaked sunlight shining through the curtains of his room. He didn’t understand why but he kissed it for good luck as he stepped out into the spring air for his love brigade mission before time ran out.

----------------------

Mitsuki couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off about the 19-year-old staying in her home that looked exactly like her brat. He had come back from the Heights Alliance dorms, claiming to be her son, but deep down, something was off about him. She just couldn’t out her finger on it. Despite their family having a solid TIC to expose the Toga girl, Mitsuki was convinced that the boy was an imposter that somehow had figured out their secret. Mother’s intuition indeed.

What was more frustrating was that the damn kid didn't seem like a lethal threat, but Mitsuki remained vigilant. If he was the shapeshifter girl, that meant her brat was in trouble and there will be fucking hell to pay if the League of Villains got their grimy hands on her boy again. If the kid is not the villain fugitive, then who the hell was he? The next morning, she decided to keep a close eye on him, observing him silently as he moved around the house. He carried out all the usual activities her Katsuki would do, but there was an unusual quietness to his actions. It was as if he was trying too hard to not call attention to himself.

Mitsuki's only interaction with the boy occurred when he left the house, heading in the opposite direction of Best Jeanist’s agency where she knew he interned. Curiosity got the better of her as she called out to him, careful to not reveal any details:

Mitsuki: Hey brat! Aren’t you going the wrong way?

Katsuki: HAANH!? No, hag! I just left something at UA and then I’ll head right over to Denim Head’s!

He didn’t wait for her to respond and simply walked away. As he did so, Mitsuki couldn't ignore the doubt gnawing at her. Reasonable answer…Wrong kid.

Determined to uncover the truth, Mitsuki ventured into her son's room, searching for any clues that might reveal the boy's true identity. She scoured the space, almost giving up hope until her gaze fell upon a notebook with a torn-out page. It appeared that the boy had taken the top page with him, but the faint imprint of its contents remained on the page below.

With a surge of determination, Mitsuki grabbed a pencil and carefully scraped its lead over the blank space, hoping to unveil the hidden message left behind. As the letters slowly emerged, Mitsuki's heart skipped a beat and she howled with glee, her suspicion all but forgotten. Inko owes her 10,000 yen.

“’OPERATION NERD REDEMPTION???!!!!!!’ MASARU, GET A LOAD OF THIS SHIT!” ----------------------

Katsuki Bakugo of 2196 (Kats96) understood himself to be a complex individual, often misunderstood by those around him. His sharp tongue and aggressive nature made people perceive him as irascible and aggressive, even towards his closest friends. Well, they were right, but anyone who truly knew Katsuki Bakugo understood that there was no genuine anger behind his words—sometimes... It was simply his way of being brunt, forward, and unapologetic in expressing his honest feelings.

There was, however, one person in Kats96's life who had managed to carve a soft spot in his heart – Izuku, childhood best-friend turn one-sided-enemy/punching bag turned hero rival turned friend/love interest since…well…a long fucking time ago. Up until this point, he had convinced himself that prioritizing his career and becoming the next Number 1 Hero was more important than risking their rekindling friendship. It is for that reason ONLY that Kats96 denied participating in Izuku’s damn quirk analysis project this morning…yep. The ONLY reason…

Ok, Ok, OK!

He may have lied to Deku, but truthfully he just didn’t want to be around if fucking Shindo Yo appeared out of nowhere on campus like yesterday and shamelessly flirt with the nerd. Damn Pan-Quake’s been lurking around for the opportunity just to get into Deku’s pants, and the nerd was allowing it!!

Whatever…Kats96 thought. It’s not like that human vibrator would ever get far would Deku anyway.

Nope, Kats96 just told the nerd—maybe he could have been a little nicer, but eh—that he wasn’t interested and that he’d be at Best Jeanist’s today on practice patrol. That morning had gone all fine and dandy other than a damn migraine he suddenly got since midnight last night. Coupling that with the lingering anger at thought of Shindo Ho feeling up Izuku might have led to an overly aggressive response toward a purse snatcher.

Which…led him here to damn Billie Jean’s office for the umpteenth time. Best Jeanist stared at Katsuki with a mixture of disappointment and concern, the silence only coupled by the occasional cough that had progressively gotten worse since the war. This was the third time that the young hero had let his temper get the better of him this week, and Best Jeanist knew it was high time to teach him a lesson about keeping himself in check. He took a deep breath and began to recount a regretful memory from his own youth as a new pro-hero.

"It was December 31 of 2179," Best Jeanist began, his voice tinged with sorrowful nostalgia. "I was just a rookie back then, eager to prove myself. There was this petty villain who had been robbing a bank and causing trouble in the city—pretty standard, nothing too serious for pro heroes. But I let my childish nature consume me, just as you have been doing, Bakugou."

Kats96 rolled his eyes, frustrated. He had heard this story countless times before. While he felt a pang of regret for his recent actions, his mind was preoccupied with other matters. He was in the midst of graduating, wrestling with what to with and how to do Deku, moving into his new apartment, etc. The constant lectures from Denim Head were only adding to his mounting stress.

Apparently, the memory was one of Best Jeanist’s greatest regrets as a hero, but the stupid story doesn’t apply to Kats96 because he’d never get himself so worked up to let his feelings and frustrations affect his work. He wasn’t going to become Number 1 that way or win the nerd over! But still, he sat there as he always did, legs spread on the seat, arms folded against his chest, red eyes looking everywhere but at the older blond, tuning him out.

--Flashback to Best Jeanist: December 31, 2179 (Age: 20 Years Old)

It was a night of celebration and hope for the New Year, when Tsunagu Hakamada (AKA Best Jeanist) was still a young and ambitious hero. Fresh from apprehending a notorious bank robber, he reveled in his triumph as he stood before a crowd of eager reporters and throng of evening celebrators. He basked in their adulation, striking poses for the cameras, unaware of the events that were about to unfold.

Lost in his own success, Best Jeanist neglected to ensure that the villain's cuffs were secure. Little did he know, this crucial oversight would lead to a chain of tragic events that would haunt him for the rest of his life. As the villain broke free, he sprinted towards a police car and sped away, carelessly swerving through the crowded streets.

It was then, in a chilling moment of realization, that Best Jeanist noticed a young woman standing by the sidewalk, unknowingly in harm's way. Helplessly, he watched as the reckless villain's stolen vehicle careened towards her. The impact was swift and devastating.

In the chaos of the scene, the woman's ten-year-old son cried out for Best Jeanist's aid. The hero's heart sank as he made a split-second decision, driven by his arrogance and tunnel vision. He dismissed the pleas of the young boy, deeming the capture of the villain to be of utmost importance. Little did he know the immeasurable pain and regret that his callousness would cause.

Though he eventually managed to apprehend the villain, the damage had already been done. The young boy's mother had tragically lost her life that cold wintry night, leaving him shattered and alone. As the sirens echoed through the city streets, the child fled from the scene, disappearing into the shadows and crowd of onlookers.

Best Jeanist couldn't escape the overwhelming guilt that consumed him. At the core of his soul, he knew that his arrogance had cost an innocent woman her life, and a child his world. From that day forward, the regret gnawed at his heart, driving him to tirelessly search for the boy who had vanished without a trace.

Over fifteen long and arduous years passed, with no sign of the lost child. Yet, Best Jeanist never lost hope. Determined to right the wrong he had committed in his youth, he combed the city relentlessly, leaving no stone unturned. He sought the child in every corner, refusing to let guilt win.

He completely changed how he handled hero work and actively sought young, brash, arrogant, naïve heroes-in-training (i.e. Lord Explosion Murder God Dynamight rolling his eyes in front of him) to prevent them from sharing the fate. During the war, when he faked his death and was held in the chamber of Nomus, he thought he caught a glimpse of an older version of the boy, but over time, he believed it only a dream.

Overall, it wasn't just a tale of arrogance and childish behavior; it was a cautionary tale of the devastating consequences that accompany a lack of empathy and understanding, hoping its lesson would ensure that no more lives would be lost due to arrogance and inaction.

--End of Flashback

Meanwhile Kats96 rolled his eyes and shook his leg in agitation, his fists bouncing with the rhythm. Maybe he should’ve taken the nerd up on his Quirk Analysis Exercises. At least there, he’d be sparring with the extras instead of—

Best Jeanist cut through his thoughts, “-akugo…Bakugo! Are you even listening to me?”

Kats96 (mentally coming back into the room): Listen, I didn’t mean to break his arm alright? His nose? Yes. His arm? No.

Best Jeanist laments, “That’s not the poin—"

“I understand your fucking point, Denim Head!" Kats96 replied, his voice enflamed with annoyance. "But this lesson doesn't apply to me! And even if it did, it's future Dynamight’s problem, not mine! I get it! I’ll ease up next time! Can we just drop this?"

Best Jeanist sighed, his shoulders slumping. He had hoped that would finally grasp the importance of emotional control, but it seemed that his words were falling on deaf ears. Nevertheless, he remained calm and composed.

"Bakugou, I get it. Transitions can be overwhelming. But this lesson is not just about villains, it's about life. You’ve grown considerably since your first year, but this arrogance, childishness, and unchecked emotions can cloud your judgment and may lead to something you regret later on," The veteran Pro Hero said, his opinion tinted with both wisdom and concern.

Realizing he had unjustly snapped, Kats96 winced. He knew that Best Jeanist always had his best interests at heart, even if he didn't fully understand the struggles he was facing. The fiber hero simply nodded in acceptance, understanding the turmoil that his intern was going through.

Kats96: I-I didn’t mean it like that. —He looks down, his frustrated brow softening a bit— I understand, and I hear you. Trust me. I do. I just… —He brushes his hand over his faces and slumps back into his chair, looking up at the ceiling—

Best Jeanist closes in on the uncomfortable silence.

"I want you to take a break, Bakugou," he said, his voice gentle. "Go out for a lunch break. Clear your head, and when you return, we'll discuss your transition to desk work for the next two weeks. It will give you a chance to gather yourself and reflect."

Kats96 doesn’t argue this time. He grunts in begrudging acceptance and leaves the office.

Well that was shit. Kats96 thinks to himself as he heads to the nearest café, gritting his teeth. Just remember your why. You’re going to be Number 1 Hero within 5 years of your official hero license and then you’re flaunt it in Damn Deku’s face and tell him there’s never going to be a better person for his taut toned freckled ass than the Number 1 Hero so he’d better wise up and go out with—

Out of the corner of his eye, he spies a familiar tuff of green hair and eyes, a stocky glorious vision of mythical Grecian proportions engaged in an intimate conversation with … some extra he’s never seen before. His heart sank. The big problem that Kats96 couldn’t deny was that the fucking extra was hot: vibrant copper-colored hair that framing his chiseled face in waves and a presence that was a striking sight to behold. His light blue eyes, reminiscent of the clear summer sky, and god damn it if the fucker didn’t have a built body just like Kats96. He even had the same fashion style as him!

WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?! AND WHY ARE YOU WITH MY DEKU?!

He couldn't help but get closer, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation without being seen or recognized. As he stealthily got within earshot, the stranger's eyes flickered towards him, a smirk playing on his lips. He seemed to enjoy the secrecy, aware that Kats96 was hiding in plain sight. Izuku, oblivious to the situation, continued chatting, unaware of Kats96.

A devilish grin played on the guy’s lips as he deliberately concealed Kats96's presence from Izuku. To call the explosive ash blond confused was the understatement of the damn year. Who the hell is this guy? Have we met before? There was no way that Izuku knew someone like that that Katsuki didn’t meet or hadn’t seen before. At least not someone like this guy, hovering a little too close to the nerd to just be mere acquaintances. And why was this cocky bastard smiling at him like a cat that ate the canary?

Kats96's curiosity turned into astonishment when none other than god damn, Shindo Yo approached the pair. Overhearing them, he almost had half a mind to give damn Pan-Quake a Paul Hollywood Handshake at his initial dismissal of the copper headed extra if the stupid human vibrator wasn’t making Deku uncomfortable with his incessant flirting, until the new guy jumped in.

Copper Head: Hey, can’t you take a fucking hint?

Shindo: Excuse me?

Copper Head: The nerd said he wasn’t free and he isn’t. He’s doing analysis, still. He’s helping me.

Shindo: Oh…And you are?

Damn it, if the guy did sound like him too. What the hell is going on?! Anxious to hear the response, around him everything stilled. If Kats96 could stare any harder from his position, he’d shoot an AP Shot through his eyeballs at the extra. His ruby-rimmed eyes then widened, heart shattering with an overwhelming inferno of jealousy engulfing his soul. He was at a loss for words, unable to comprehend the sight unfolding before his eyes. The stranger slings an arm around Izuku’s waist and kisses him. HE. FUCKING. KISSES. HIS. DEKU. He seethed, desperately trying to hide the small explosions reactively producing on his palms avoiding drawing attention to himself.

Deku, completely oblivious to Kats96's presence and even the shell-shocked Shindo’s at that point, looked breathless and dazed as the shithead passionately kissed him in front of god and everyone. The ginger haired man then turns his attention to an equally shocked Shindo, stretches out his hand and introduces himself: “Names Junichiro Aimu, ya little Fuckboy. I’m Izuku’s boyfriend.”

----------------------------

Rewind to earlier that day.

It’s times like these, that Kats22 is grateful for his dumbass friends.

He left his childhood home and marched right up to the gates of his Alma Mater and then…fucking forgot that he needed his student ID to get in. The universe must have pitied him as Shitty Hair was just passing nearby, finishing up a morning run. After a brief conversation at the gates, Kiri let him in and now they were walking side by side back toward the main campus.

Kirishima: So…you left your keycard at Hakamada-san’s, Bakubro? It’s a good thing I saw you at the gate for my morning jog, hunh?

Kats22 feigns annoyance: Tch. Yeah, yeah Shitty Hair. Thanks or whatever.

Kirishima furrows his brow and tilts his head in suspicion before asking, “………… What makes you TIC?”

Kats22 was too taken aback at the sudden demand for the code to be angry, “What?”

Kirishima squints his eyes even further and stops walking entirely, “You never thank me and normally you wouldn’t have forgotten your key card. TIC…Give it.”

You know what? It’s times like these, that Kats22 hates his dumbass friends.

Kats22 pinches the bridge of his nose and curtly responds: “Fucking First of all, GroundZero 926 BJ Green. Second of all, next time Shitty Hair, if you thought I could be that vampire bitch, why the hell would you let me on campus and walk beside you, HANH?!?

Kirishima (sheepishly scratches the back of his head): Oh…well you do have a point there…but at least I know you’re you! Seriously, I still think Ground Zero would have been a better hero name for you, but eh. So, Bro, headed back to the dorms?

Kats22: Y-You…oh god. It’s a good thing you end up with Mina. No, I need to talk to Deku. I need to know this is all real and I’m not dreaming. Is he still doing that Analysis Training shit?

Kirishima: This morning? Yeah, but I think he and Mineta are gonna be finished up soon. I just did mine yesterday and geez…Midobro’s analysis is something else. No wonder Nezu-San is having him do it.

Hell yeah it is. Kats22 smirked. That’s my nerd.

After the war, new laws and reform strategies were put in place on hero work and civilian engagement through quirk analysis & evolution along with more quirk-support item control statutes. There was so much to recover from. No matter how it was first spun, when the backstories behind the league’s most active notorious leaders were displayed to the public, it had to be acknowledged that while it will never excuse the devastation, trauma, and loss they caused, most of the time, villains are made by the society that rejected, abandoned, overlooked or abused them.

With Stain’s lingering influence along with many pro-heroes having retired after Shigaraki’s first awakening, a reform on heroics was implemented, and while the hero charts remained, the intent behind them was not as shallow as before and gaining rank was far more arduous. Detnerat’s scattered support items prompted for the General Course and Support Course graduates from every hero school & workers from every hero agency to play a more active role in control, surveillance, and distribution of these pieces. And, despite what that bastard Dr. Kyudai Garaki had done with the Nomus and League of Villains, his original thesis on Quirk Singularity, otherwise known as the Quirk Doomsday Theory, could not be ignored. The decrepit fucktard was right, and now that Katsuki thought about it, Kisara’s quirk would have definitely ranked as extremely powerful and dangerous considering the implications of it in the wrong hands. He shuttered at the thought and found himself hoping for her safety.

Overall, as quirks continue to evolve, there needed to be a better way to track and monitor them and the first institutions that began implementation of these changes were the hospitals, pro-hero agencies, and hero schools. This plan was developed to address not only those who had powerful quirks when first presented at age 4, but also those who quirks leveled-up later (like Round face’s major advanced use manipulating gravity against Toga). Given Izuku’s unique experience with not only being quirkless, but then getting a fucking multi-versatile overpowered quirk that was passed on to him non-genetically as well as his natural affinity for analyzing quirks, Rat Principal personally appointed him one of the main UA student leads under his supervision to start this task and lay the groundwork on this effort as everyone was recovering from the war. It was also, honestly, part distraction to make the greenie sit his hot ass down and rest from fighting against the successor of history’s greatest villain in the biggest war Japan and the world has ever seen…well…as normal as that shit can be anyway.

It was the perfect resolution for a restless teenager arguing about he could still help round up the remaining escaped convicts, including the still missing Toga Himiko. And this is where All Might came to Deku’s mental rescue. It was about damn time. Taking note of how they both were during Deku’s vigilante days, All Might grew into a more firm mentor/fatherly role with his inheritor and pretty much demanded that premature Pro-Hero prioritize recovery and GRADUAL growth in his percentage use of OFA as was the original plan. Damn nerd was frustrated, but the retired number 1 didn’t let up.

Reliance on teenagers for the defeat of the world’s worst alliance of villains was appalling to start with, so after the war, the veteran pro-hero found new purpose from being All Might, the Symbol OF Peace to Yagi Toshinori, the Symbol TOWARD Peace for the sake of the next generation of heroes and reestablishing order, trust, and economic stability to Japan and the US with the loss of so many heroes, including Star and Stripe. Teaming with the top performing hero agencies across his global connections and those at I-island, and advocating (and somehow winning) for the inclusion of Hawks, Lady Nagant, and Stain into the decision making efforts of Japan’s newly established hero commission, Yagi-San used all 40 years’ worth of his connections and influence to effectively enforced a better environment for post war Japan in the wake of All-For-One’s destruction that became an example for the rest of the world. He felt it was the least he could do. In honor of the words he stated to his successor on the rooftop before offering him OFA, he took up other honorable avenues adjacent to heroics making an impact on the world. Quirkless but not powerless.

Nothing was perfect, but the foundation was fucking better. People not only slowly began to trust in the profession again, but they were more inclined to see the human behind the hero, instead of vomiting the blind praise they used to offer. Arguably, Yagi gained as much respect and notoriety in his latter quirkless years as he did as an active pro-hero and eighth One-For-All holder. But there was only one OFA wielder Kats22 was interested in.

Kirishima (continues to rattle on): Ya know…It’s been 2 years…and I still can’t get over Mineta’s change

Kats22 feigned interest: Oh. Oh yeah. Fucking Grape Juice…It’s one hell of a shock alright.

Kirishima: Well he goes by WineNDine now, remember? I caught a glimpse of Midobro working with him today, and whoa. He’s changing everyday. Whatever Yuuga did, super ma-.

Kats22 cuts in: Deku's at USJ now, right Shitty Hair?

Kirishima: Oh, Yeah! Should be anyway. You should be able to catch him if you… you… Bakubro? Where’d you go?

---------

Kats22 raced to USJ—a mix of uncertainty and anxious anticipation gripping his every step. 10 days. 10. Fucking. Days that Izuku’s been gone. An eternity of grief swelled in that time as he mourned Izuku’s death and the regret that lingered in his heart. Almost ripping the door off its hinges he scanned the expansive USJ in desperation. Several people were there, but of course, he only wanted one person. The only thing Kats22 acknowledged about being in the past thus far was the absence of certain scars and muscle aches after three years of hero work, but the only thing that could fully convince him that he was truly there would be:

Him.

Although already panting heavily and sweating profusely, the sight robbed him of any remaining breath he had. There, in the wide stretch of the massive, multi terrain training grounds, stood a man with striking green and gold flecked eyes, matching green hair, and a lithe, muscular body, seeming almost ethereal. Izuku bulked up more after his stay in America, but none of that took away from the power oozing from this current version of him. Intrigued yet hesitant, Kats22 observed from a distance as Izuku provided suggestions for quirk techniques with grace and precision. His voice, smooth and kind, carried authority that commanded attention. Even his every movement, from the way he walked to the way he effortlessly conveyed strength, exuded a mesmerizing masculinity.

Izuku! Kastuki gasps out in whisper, tears brimming in his eyes with joy.

Izuku is too engrossed in his project to notice Kats22. After taking notes in his (UA Official) hero analysis notebook, he looks up at the specimen of the day: “That’s great! Mineta-Kun! Keep your movements sharps by keeping your head and heart clear and focused and you’ll have better mastery of the newer aspects of your quirk in no time! Amazing progress!”

Hope ignited within Katsuki’s chest. Unable to control the whirlwind of emotions crashing through him, he gathered his courage and ran towards his recently deceased friend (and soon-to-be-lover if he has anything to say about it, and he does, fuck you very much), ticking off everything he could recall about his nerd.

As Kats22 neared, his heart pounded with both excitement and trepidation. Standing before him, he took a deep breath and locked eyes with the only one who made being a hero worth anything. "Deku?" he whispered tentatively, his voice choked with emotion.

Izuku’s green eyes widened, flickering with a mix of surprise, fondness, and recognition. "Hey Kacchan! I thought you were going to be at Best Jeanist’s today," he replied. Good god, he missed his voice.

Without hesitation, Katsuki reached out and delicately traced the contours of the man's face, feeling the warmth and familiarity of Izuku’s freckled, soft skin. Tears streamed down his's face as he drank in the sight and feel of the man he believed he had lost forever.

Izuku, too, was overcome with emotion. Excitement, confusion, anger. In that order. Excitement at the fact that man he’s been pining over since forever is caressing his face and looking at him with a desire that he has only seen in his dreams. Then confusion enveloped that joy into worry as to why Kacchan was doing it as if Izuku had died in his arms or something, and then anger. Katsuki hasn’t cried since his vigilante days, and Izuku’s now glowing toxic green eyes and sparking verdant shots of electricity through his body meant that whoever caused those tears on the blond’s flawless skin were going to be ‘six feet under’ due to a well-aim Detroit Smash. Without thinking, he grips Katsuki’s arms and looks him over fervently for injuries.

Izuku: “Kacchan?! What’s wrong?! Were you hit with a quirk today?!”

Shit. You’re acting out of character, dumbass. Reel it back! Katsuki thought as coughed into one of his fists, relaxing into Izuku’s touch and not so subtely wiped the tears away before speaking: “I-I’m fine. Stupid Beautiful Nerd. It’s uh…a-allergies.”

“O-Oh.” Izuku says, relaxing his grip. Suddenly, he realizes what he was doing and assumes that continuing to hold Kacchan like this would make him feel looked down upon or weak, so he rips away his touch—much to the blond’s dismay—as if he were on fire. “…but why were you touching my face and stuff? Was there something on it?”

Kats22: My lips if you let me. “Um, I—”

“Bonjour Izu-kun.” Greets Aoyama Yuuga, and Kats22 couldn’t be more thankful to Kami for the Sparklespawn. “How has my little WineNDine been faring, ce matin?

Izuku seems also grateful for the interruption, “Hey, Y-Yuuga-kun! Mineta’s been great! His quirk has really transformed and might I add, you’ve been an awesome support to helping in…uh…the way you have been.”

“Oh merveilleuse!” Yuuga smirks, “et Merci, but I haven’t helped my doll with anything that wasn’t already there.”

Transformed is an understatement. Despite his transfer to the support course, Mineta was actually Izuku’s first project case in their second year as laid out by Nezu to get a true feel for how good his quirk analysis aptitudes were. Even those with an IQ quirk couldn’t hold a candle to Izuku on analyzing anything, especially meta-abilities. To the extreme excitement of one green-haired analytical nerd, he practically had a field day taking Mineta’s Pop Off quirk apart and putting it back together, revealing more and most, if not all, of its secrets. Giving the nerd free reign, unleashed what Nezu himself described as “unparalleled genius” after he reviewed the teen’s quirk analysis for Pop-Off (see Izuku’s work below). To be honest, the thought of someone like Nezu praising his nerd made Katsuki fist-pump with pride internally.

Mineta’s first use of the balls on his head was just one side of his quirk that Izuku dubbed as “harvesting.” Most of those damn sticky purple balls began to relax over time, unraveling into soft waves and curls. But that wasn't all; Izuku noted their composition also started to change, adapting itself to reflect the process of fermentation, clarification, and aging/maturation. All four of these stages were the process of winemaking. Go fucking figure. Seems a perfect complement for the SparkleSpawn who adores French cuisine and high-quality cheeses.

Mineta glides to the three in conversation, eyes locked on a twinkling blond in particular: Hey there, Yama-love, you here for me?

Yuuga blushes, “Oui, mon petit amour. Midoriya-kun tells me you were on your best behavior.”

Mineta clutches his imaginary pearls, “You wound me! Of course I was well behaved!” Turning his eyes toward to the greenie, he comments “That was great Mido, thanks! I feel myself getting better everyday! Oh, Hey there Bakugo-San, how’s it going?”

Kats22 has a moment of rebooting his brain before responding, “Alright, I guess. Glad to see you’re getting uh…good or whatever.”

Good God. Katsuki wasn’t attracted at all to Mineta, so that’s not why he was staring. It was just so fucking odd. Even years later, several of their classmates just…stared at Mineta in disbelief over the change. It had happened so often that both Yuuga and Minoru started to just laugh it off and walk away hand-in-hand —like they were doing now— as Katsuki and Izuku numbly watched on. Don’t get him wrong; it was a good change. A GREAT change, actually. It was just again…so…fucking…weird. Half of the people who knew old Mineta still believed he might be under the influence of a quirk that no one—not even the teachers—really tried to save him from. But the little guy benefited, and he definitely seemed more at ease with life than he was before.

It was like Mother Meta blessed his purple balls dropping with a glow up. The Perverted Purple…well…he was that…had always been known for his sick ogling and eye-fucking of just about anyone with boobs and a vagina. The little shit spent most of their first year trying to get into the girls’ side of the dorm or drill another hole in through the boys locker changing room to get a peek at them changing. Most of the 3-A guys assumed but never got confirmation until the summer after the war that while it was natural to have sexual urges and feelings, Mineta’s was by far, more unnaturally aggressive as if he was trying to show everyone his attraction to women rather than just simply be attracted. What was weirder was that the class acknowledged the tension Mineta had with Yuuga, though it was overshadowed by the clusterfuck dumpster fire that lay between Bakugo and Midoriya. Before being outed as the UA spy, Yuuga did keep to himself on his personal life, but Mineta had always actively kept his distance from him in particular. To be honest, everyone just chalked it up to Mineta being a closet homophobe. Nothing more was spoken about since it was all hypothetical, until…

After the war, things changed, for all of them, yes, but him specifically. When the summer came, everyone tried to settle back into a life without the looming threat of escaped convicts, Toga, the remnants of the Paranormal Liberation Front, the incarcerated Shigaraki and ending reign of All-for-One. All students went home to be in the comfort of their families…except Mineta. Aizawa never said anything, but whatever happened in the war revealed something about little pervert’s family, and whatever was found out was enough to get child services involved.

The rest is a mystery. The only thing damn Pinky found out (There’s a reason Katsuki was going to recruit her for his agency in the future) was that apparently Yuuga and Mineta grew up together like Izuku and Katsuki did, and they reconnected over the summer once Mineta was free of his original living situation. Then, all Class 3-A knew after that was that Mineta Minoru left the UA Hero Course for the summer as ‘Grape Juice’ and then, BOOM!, the little fucker came back, self-announced his transfer from the Hero Course to Support with a whole new personality, look and attached at the hip to an eternally smirking Yuuga who bestowed him with a persona: WineNDine.

The guy who would spend time telling all the guys about the top-rated porn sites; when and where to spy on the girls when they did shit as mundane as stretching while objectifying their every move had undergone a complete metamorphosis. His once restless and obsessive demeanor toward the female anatomy had been replaced with maturity, and what’s more, he carried himself differently, no longer trivializing the girls around him and instead treating them with respect. The effect of the change was immediate and fucking jarring. Too jarring.

The first day in class after he walked in, Aizawa broke a damn record with how fast he wrapped his scarf around him thinking he was the vampire bitch. Yeah, the hobo was involved in getting Mineta out of a rough situation, but even he was shocked at the change. People had resist the urge to ask for his TIC everyday.

But that wasn’t the only thing that shocked everyone. The pervert went from aggressively heterosexual to Yuuga-sexual...? If that was even a thing? Evidently it was. Talk about a blind-side hit. Rumors quickly spread throughout the school, and the students were left to piece together what had happened to the boy they had once known. Whenever someone asked Yuuga about it, the flamboyant blond would only grin devilishly, strike a pose, and go: “Mon petit ami WineNDine? Oh, nothing too crazy. Let’s just say…I made an honest man out of him.”

Everyone waited for the other shoe to drop and for the grape bastard to go back to being…well a bastard…in a moment of relapse. It was only natural! The change was too drastic and honestly? It was a bizarre ass, unsettlingly unbelievable pairing. But no. Since then, he never changed. Yuuga and Mineta were some of the few that started as pro-heroes after graduating but didn’t ultimately stay as such. Kats22 smirked at the thought that even from his time, the two partnered with Sato and opened up a popular high clientele restaurant/vineyard in Yamanashi that had just won its 3rd Michelin star in 2200. Mineta was bitched, yet he didn’t seem to mind, and it was weird but welcomed, especially by the girls.

Izuku must have noticed Katsuki’s dilemma with the couple as they walked away, since he broke the blond from his self-induced haze: “Yeah…I’ve had to train myself to not do that so much. I’m pretty sure he’s not under a quirk unless it’s like an alternate universe thing, but it’s still...”

Kats22 nods absent-mindedly, “Y-yeah. Still fucking weird.” But not more weird than the fact that I’m in the past talking to an alive Izuku.

To Katsuki’s credit, his eyes may have been fixed on the purple mystery, but the entirety of his remaining 4 senses were acutely attuned to Izuku’s presence—fearing that he’ll somehow disappear from his grasp. The smell of sea salt and green tea from his shampoo mixed with the slight natural musk from his gym activities, the heat of his body near Katsuki’s skin beckoning him to touch, the sound of his voice that melted away his tension, and taste…well…soon. Right now, Kats22 was stuck between a rock and hard place, he guessed, but if all else went as planned, Izuku’s ass will be met with the same fate. Oh god, he couldn’t wait.

“Good thing though.” Izuku continued, oblivious to Katsuki’s internal struggle. “Mineta seems happier and check this, Kacchan. I’ve observed that his hair will reflect his level of stress. Those balls on his head in our first year were wound up tight because he was stressed out about stuff. When he relaxes as he is now, those balls loosen up and lay like natural curly hair like mine”

Kats22 snorts: So…he’s a visual representation of balls dropping? Are you fucking serious? Impressive Analysis, Zuku.”

Izuku blushes and stutters at the unexpected praise from an unexpected person, “O-oh. T-thanks, Kacchan!”

Kats22 witholds a moan, God. Say my name again. “Um…listen Deku, you have a minute? I uh, could use your nerdy ass brain for something Best Jeanist ask me to do.”

Izuku’s eyebrows shoot to the ceiling, “Really?! What is it?! Is it analyzing more quirks?! Because I’ve been dying to take look at his—"

Kats22 can’t hold back the grin creeps onto his face at the excitement. Damn, he really missed him. “Cool your tits, nerd. I’ll tell you more when we’re, uh, alone.”

Izuku reels back his excitement: Oh, yeah, sure. Give me 5 minutes to wrap things up, and I’ll meet you…

Kats22 suggests, “At the front. Let’s meet at the front, and head back to my room. I’ll walk you through everything.”

It’s 9:30AM, Kats22 thought to himself, Past me doesn’t get out of Billie Jeans’ until 2PM, and I was out for lunch around noon. I should still be over there for Part 1 of this to work. But first…I need to get a few things. A burner phone for one.

Izuku narrows his eyes at the blond before nodding: Cool. I’ll see you in a few minutes.

And if anyone in USJ noticed Kats22 stared longingly at a certain greenie’s ass as he walked away, they were wise to not mention it.

Those were the longest few minutes of Kats22’s life as he stood outside of USJ. Now that he’s laid eyes on Deku, every moment away felt like he was going to lose him again. He couldn’t steady his growing heartbeat at the anxiety the longer the seconds ticked by. In the nick of time, Izuku comes out of the front door of USJ: “Hey Kacchan. Ready?”

Oh thank god, Kats22 sighs: “Yeah, let’s go, Zuku.”

He couldn’t resist the urge to put his hand on Izuku’s lower back briefly as they walked toward the dorms, if not just to reaffirm the belief that his nerd was alive and walking with him. He noticed the pretty flushed look and blush on the greenie’s cheek as he did so, and all the while he kicked himself for not for not admitting his feelings when he had the chance years ago. He’s going to make this right. Even if it kills him.

Izuku bashfully comments, “Wow, maybe I should take you to Chiyo-san to make sure you didn’t get hit with a quirk. That’s 2 times now.”

Kats22 brow perks up at the adonis greenie beside him: “What is?”

Izuku: You haven’t called me Zuku since before your quirk came in. Not to mention you touching me earlier and uh, I mean like…right now…WHICH I DON’T MIND AT ALL! I…damn…I mean.

Kats22 relishes in the thought that Izuku likes his touch before teasing him, “Well, it’s not a crime is it, Deku? To call you, Zuku?” Or touch you?

Izuku waves his arms emphatically while shaking his head, “No! No, but I’m curious as to what caused it. I’m fairly positive something’s making you TIC.”

Kats22 responds without hesitation: GroundZero 870 RG Green

Izuku relaxes his tense shoulders, “Oh, thank Kami. I was prepared to smash your ass into a new millennia if you were Toga.”

Kats22 whispers to himself, You could still smash my ass if you want.

Izuku tilts his head: What?

Kats22: What? I-I uh I mean…I was saying wouldn’t your stupid Danger Sense have picked up on that if I was the vampire bitch?

Izuku: O-oh. Well, Yes and No. I think it relies on a person’s intentions. In the war, it didn’t fire-up as it normally would the first time I interacted with Toga, because she was saying all these feelings she had for me and stuff. In the midst waving her knives in my face, she was trying to get me to be her-

Kats22 winced at the audacity, “Boyfriend. Yeah, I remember that shit now.”

Izuku rolls his eyes: “Pretty unorthodox way to confess your love.”

Well, hold my beer, nerd. You ain’t seen nothing yet. Kats22 scoffs, “Tch. That’s a fucking understatement.”

Now, that he thought about it. The vampire bitch’s obsession of those she claimed to love was staggering. She strove for complete absorption and possession of the one’s she wanted to be like through the blood she forcefully took from them. Kats22 always wondered why the old sightings of the manhunt for Toga neared Musutafu and even when she was later captured, Aizawa’s blood covering her, she didn’t reveal much but only grinned maniacally, saying she’ll return for the person she loves soon enough. Before then, Aizawa had always thought she was after Eri to get her for Shigaraki, but maybe her target was someone else near her. Someone else she claimed to love.

Hmm…I’ll need to address that eventually if my assumption is correct, Kats22 thought to himself.

Ever hyperaware of the growing scowl on Katsuki’s face, Izuku breaks his concentration, his voice full of concern, “K-Kacchan?”

Kats22 absentmindedly responds, not noticing they were standing in front of Height Alliance: Yeah?

Izuku: We’re here. But you spaced out. You sure you’re ok?

Kats22 shakes his head and huffs and sigh: Of course I am nerd. I’m just thinking about…how to practically go about what Best Jeanist wants me to do.

Izuku: OH! That’s all? Well, I’ll try to give you whatever you think I can give you.

Kats22: Good, let’s head in and get started.

One change of clothes later—his past self will forgive him of the thievery—the two met in past Katsuki’s (Kats96) bedroom.

Kats22 fights off the urge to pin Deku against a wall and kiss him senseless, “Alright so. Here’s the deal. Part of doing hero work is sometimes going undercover, right?”

Izuku sits comfortably but carefully on his bed…where the damn nerd belongs: “Of course. But for this, are we talking like taking on another persona entirely or staying hidden so that your target doesn’t notice you?”

Kats22 lays out his lies with ease: In this case, the former. Denim Head thinks I could use a bit of a challenge, so I’ve been tasked with practicing out a few of his agency’s new support items. Here, take a look.

Taking the backpack he’s carried like a lifeline—ring and keychain carefully tucked into one of its small pockets, he pulls out the neck gear and the earring for Deku to look over before he explains the pieces. Their hands brush at the exchange sending a shiver down both of their spines.

Kats22 maintains his composure for the sake of the overall mission, “That choker is a voice-changing mechanism like what Eyebags has. Pretty self-explanatory. That other piece is an earring where when you put it on and fiddle with it, it will change facial appearances.

Izuku looked at the two items in utter amazement: “Whoa! These are sleek and discreet! Whoever is on the support staff at Hakamada-San’s agency is incredible! This is even better than Shinso’s! So wait…Best Jeanist wants you to test these out?”

Grateful his plan was going well so far, Kats22 responds, “Yeah. Try out a different facial feature, a different voice, hone up my acting skills, do all the basic steps a pro would need to do as if on an actual mission.”

Izuku furrows his brow, his voice becoming oddly melancholy, “So you want me to observe you using these tools in public places and pretty much analyze you and how well you use them?”

Unsure of how to interpret Izuku’s facial expression, Kats22 responds with a hesitant: “Yeah.”

Izuku nods his head, not making eye contact with the blond: “No.”

Kats22 (genuinely outraged): HAANH!? WHY THE FUCK NOT?!

Izuku, however, is too acquainted with the ash blond’s mannerisms to respond with any emotion, before huffing a dry laugh and looking up at his eyes: “Why me? Why didn’t Best Jeanist assign someone from his agency for this? At least someone with experience in going undercover—"

Oh no. No, no no. Just you only you. Kats22 hastily replies, “He knows what Nezu-san has you doing, and honestly who knows me better to give this type of feedback?”

Some part of Kats22’s pride was furious with him for this idea of having his actions be critiqued, but he took that bitchy part of him and choked it into submission at the reminder that the green teen before him now was dead in the future, and that even if Deku had lived, it was his own pride that caused the final rift in their relationship—platonic or romantic.

Izuku rolls his eyes, “That’s not the point.”

Kats22 responds with no bite, but a hint of desperation, “What the hell are you talking about, nerd?”

Izuku stands and hands the items back to Katsuki, “Let’s be honest, Kacchan. You would be offended if I critiqued anything you did. You actively didn’t want to participate in my analysis project this morning because—and I quote—'you didn’t need my shitty nerd brain to tell you what you already knew about your quirk.’”

Kats22 mumbles to himself in frustration, I swear to god I’m gonna kick my old self’s ass once I—

Izuku continuing on, not hearing him: “I think you need to pick someone else that you’d feel more comfortable with. Even Mina and Eijiro would be—"

Kats22 refused to let up until his nerd agreed to be by his side, “No, I want you forever to do this. I gotta grow out of that shit, right? Work with extras, become a better hero, a better person? for you? I know I’m not good at this Deku, but that’s why I’m asking for you directly. Give me a chance to try, please?”

Izuku stares at him shock, mouth agape: …………………….

Kats22 almost pleads: Zuku?

Izuku: …………………. You sure you weren’t hit with a quirk, Kacchan?

---------------------

Donning the neck piece and earring that transformed his face and voice, Kats22 and Izuku proceeded to the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall. Kats22 picked his image strategically. Vivacious ginger hair (all natural unlike damn Shitty hair) which glowed like fire in the sunlight, piercing light blue eyes that twinkled with a hint of his natural mischief, and a voice morphed into a deep and mysterious resonance. Eh, didn’t look half as good as him or his Deku, but it will do for Operation Nerd Redemption.

With this new persona, he would become a force to be reckoned with and a surefire object of scorn for his past self or anyone trying to make a move on his nerd. He made the mall visit fit with his dual sided plan for his impromptu mission. The task at hand was simple with a double sided purpose. Kats22 had to perform all the tasks required of a real underground mission with a different identity, all while remaining discreet. His first mission? Purchase a burner phone. Granted, he did forget his phone his haste run out of his apartment and he had kept the same number since they all graduated, so this kills two birds with one stone. Most importantly, this phone will help keep him in direct connection with Izuku. It was going to be messy if his past self-started messaging the nerd with conflicting details, but given his own track record, he shamefully admits that this part may not be much of an initial problem since he was shit at connecting with Izuku anyway. The other side of this coin was spending time with the nerd in public places. He couldn’t guarantee that every planned hangout with Deku would lead to his past self seeing all of the gestures of his disguised self, so the more they went to places that UA students frequented, the better the odds of painting the picture that Deku was in a relationship. And if that also conveniently meant that Kats22 got to make up for lost (gained?) time in the past and spend time with the man he loved, well, it’s a win-win-win situation for the Symbol of Victory. Kats22 was going to go plus ultra for the next two days and umpteen hours: doing everything he knows would rile up his past self into a forced confession, while living out the shattered dreams of romance he felt Izuku deserved while alive.

Izuku looks over Kats22’s new morphed look. It was getting harder and harder for Kats22 to not push his boundaries with the nerd: “Wow, Kacchan, it looks so real! Those support items completely alter your facial features and are perfectly hidden and changed your voice significantly. The blend-in is seamless and it’s like you were born with these features.”

Only partially offended that something other than ash blond hair and ruby red eyes would be eye-catching to Izuku, Katsuki teased-punctuating the name, “Oh? Like what you see I-zu-ku?”

Izuku sputters: Uh…w-well, the support items d-definitely are effective, but I would never ever change your original look. U-um, but! I will say to tell best Jeanist that since the facial distorting earrings only affect your face, they’ll have to be mindful of covering scars, tattoos, or other significant body features outside of the face that may be recognizable to others while using it.

Katsuki takes a casual step forward looking Izuku up and down like predator to prey, “You mean like someone with freckles all over their body like you?”

Izuku tries to get his bearings, but flails at the advance, “O-oh, um Y-yes! Like that. I guess you’d remember that when we were kids hunh? Well…at any rate a lot of people have freckl—"

Katsuki cuts him off while relishing at the oh-so-cute flushed look on his desired’s face: “Not like you. You have a specific layout of your freckles on certain parts of your body. It’s quite nice actually.”

Izuku chokes back an “eep” before his eyes go impossibly wide. A flirty Kacchan was not something his heart was prepared for: “H-How…How would you? For how long have you—? Y-you can’t possibly remember that after all these years, Kacchan. OH! Oh, I get it now. The dressing room at UA.”

Katsuki practically purrs, never losing his smirk. My Deku has a praise kink, hunh? File that away for later. “Of course nerd. We all saw each other for years in the changing room.” Ah, what the hell. He thought. Let’s go for the kill. “Did you know that you have Orion’s belt on your bottom left hip and Ursa Major almost dead center tucked between your shoulder blades?”

Izuku.exe had stopped working: “WHAT?!”

He gently inches closer to Izuku, savoring the increased warmth of the smaller’s body near his. Taking both hands, he gently places them on Izuku’s cheeks and chin, thumbs roaming tenderly across rosy freckled skin again. He leans in close to Izuku, their noses brushing, catching the faint hint of mint on his breath.

Mission be damned, Kats22 doesn’t currently give a fuck about being in the middle of crowded mall as he traces the ghost of his lips on Izuku’s face from right to left as he speaks: “Damn stars all over your body. Ya know, if I look really carefully, there’s Andromeda going from the right side of your face, over your nose and ending on the far left side of your cheek.

Izuku’s brain flew south for the summer, and while the eyes looking back at him hid the inherent red of his love interest in a steely blue, it certainly didn’t erase the fire boiling in his belly rising to his heart at the affectionate moment. Then reality came back to Izuku, before he lost himself:

Izuku then sighs in disappointment while placing his hands on Kats22’s to lower them: “Kacchan, Sugoi. You’re a really good actor.”

Kats22 is genuinely confused by the response: “W-what?”

Izuku shakes his head forcing a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes: “This is all part of your of undercover practice identity, right? Wow. You really had me going there.”

Kats22 nods his disbelief: “No, Dek-“

Izuku cuts him off, expression forlorn, not returning his gaze, “Didn’t you want to be out of here by 11:30?”

Shit. I didn’t anticipate that. Reluctantly, he nods and pulls away. I’m not letting you go.

Kats22 brings the soft touch of his hand to the underside of Izuku’s chin to grab the nerd’s attention, “You’re only half right on this Zuku.” –green eyes meet his in confusion— “but yeah let’s get this part done. You ready, nerd?”

30 minutes later

As Kats22 stealthily made his way through the mall, Izuku watched him intently, eagerly critiquing his every move while trying to forget their earlier interaction. Despite his vigilante days, Deku wasn’t a master of undercover operations, but he studied enough about it and knew Kacchan well enough to have a keen eye for detail and his rival’s (and hopefully boyfriend when he confesses after graduation) impulses to help his blond crush more effectively carry out his duties.

"You need to be more aware of your surroundings, Kacchan," Izuku advised. "Blend in with the crowd. Don't draw attention to yourself."

Old Katsuki would have been annoyed at the critique especially since he had done a few underground missions in the future to be used to these antics, but Kats22 was elated to have those green eyes on him and was honestly impressed that his Izuku was giving solid direction and guidance. So he humored the nerd by taking his advice to heart, Kats22 altered his posture and demeanor, mimicking the lackadaisical walk and swagger of his persona. He casually strolled into Seiyu, acting as if buying a phone was a covert task. Going directly into an electronics store could tip a villain off and narrow down what an undercover spy would buy. A department store like Seiyu selling all things from clothes, to snacks, household items, and such takes away some of that initial suspicion, while also effectively completing the other part of Kats22’s Redemption plan.

As he carefully selected a burner phone, his attention was divided. Not only was he focused on completing his mission, but he intended to use this opportunity to discover more of the things that Izuku liked, so he could prepare something for them for the next outing.

Kats22 noticed Izuku eyeing a few things in the store. Hero merch shit (no surprise there), a combination of sweets and savory snacks, and other miscellaneous things. From the corner of his eye, the blond quietly took mental notes, vowing to return to the mall alone later to purchase those items, unbeknownst to Izuku.

Satisfied with his success, Kats22 left, concealing the phone in his pocket making his way to the rendezvous point where the nerd was waiting. He couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as he anticipated the surprise he had planned. Gonna sweep you off your feet, nerd. As they walked toward the mall’s exit, Kats22 took note of the time: 11:37AM. Earlier in his old room, he proposed idea of going to a nice café near Best Jeanist’s agency under the guise of wanting to discuss the day in more depth and also gather more of his nerd’s insight. Izuku agreed, unaware of the other motive simmering beneath the surface of his actions.

Another 30 minutes later

Kats22 hadn’t thought about it, but the café they were going to and the streets around them seemed uncomfortably familiar and not for the main reason of it being near Denim Head’s agency. Focusing almost all of his attention on Izuku, he barely fully took in his surroundings. Still, it didn’t shake the feeling that there was just something about the area in the daytime that unsettled Kats22 though he could figure out why just yet. Swallowing it all down, he refocused his attention to the crux of the plan to change their past: Make his past self, jealous.

Speaking of which…Kats22 knew all too well when he was being watched and has had the feeling of eyes boring into him since the cafe came into view. His younger self should be out on the streets by now not too far from Denim Head’s agency. Fingers-crossed, phase one of his plan works.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his chosen target. Hook, Line and Sinker. Ash blond, red eyes, pale skin, eternal scowl…well hello there old me. And if the way Kats96 stilled like a stone, mouth agape at the pair, only to duck out of sight nearby was a clear indication of anything, Kats22 knew phase one was a go. All he had to do now was up the ante on the jealousy.

Izuku seemed lost in thought as they got closer to the café, “…I’m still a little confused on how you want to go about this. Observe you for 3 days?”

Kats22 moved in a little closer to his cute nerd, “Yep. It’s easy, Deku. You and I go out and do a few things together while I have these two support items on and you analyze how well I can adapt or change in into a character and personality different from how I normally am.”

Izuku blushes a bit at the increased proximity, “W-Won’t that look weird if I’m trailing behind you taking notes?”

Kats22 arches a brow with playful smile, “You mean, anymore than what you did when we were in middle school and you wandered around the city looking to take notes on heroes in action?”

Izuku: Touché. So…why exactly did you pick this place…uh…Setsuka Café?

Oh shit…That’s why he’s felt on edge. He only first chose the place because it was a few blocks down near Billie Jean’s agency where his past self (Kats96) would be nearby, but –Oh God. That means—His gaze whips toward the site of a looming familiar building a few blocks down that has and would eventually hold the worst and last memories he’ll ever have with Izuku. He’s about to drown in the memory when it is interrupted.

Curious as to where Kacchan’s gaze has gone, Izuku finds the target and stares at the building alongside Katsuki before commenting: “The Imperial is one incredible piece of work.”

“What?” The sight and sound of Izuku by his side as he should be relieves him immediately. He still can’t help but lightly touch his shoulder as the greenie talks just to fight off a memory that hasn’t happened yet.

Izuku: “The Imperial. Shoto was telling me that it was actually one of the buildings and plotlands his dad really wanted to buy for his hero agency when he first started going pro, but it was bought out by HeroTech Tycoon Chikara Hajime.”

Kats22 squints his eyes at the statement. Something about this sounds familiar, “HeroTech?”

Izuku nods, “Yeah, he’s been one of the top international companies making support items for pro-heroes other than Detnerat. Well…before they were taken over by the League of Villains.”

Kats22: So the guy buys a building and turns into a hotel and not another support compa—wait. What’s his name again?

Izuku: Chikara Hajime. Apparently, the hotel was an opportunity just to further build his equity and assets. He bought it ‘cause he cou—

Kats22 cuts him at the recognition of the family name, “Does he have a son?”

Izuku makes eye contact with ruby, curious about the odd question: “What?”

Kats22: A son, Deku. Does he have a son?

Izuku scratches his head, “Uh, I don’t think so. Nothing in the tabloids or any public record mentioned him having any kids though there was always speculation. He was married to a woman for about a decade but she died from a villain attack about 10 years ago. Or at least that’s what was shared with the public anyway.”

Kats22: You don’t sound convinced of that story.

Izuku: Well, the circumstances were just iffy. It was a bit of a scandal.

Kats22: A scandal?

Izuku: Yeah…old photos of him and his first wife often had a little kid with them, but even those medical files have been removed as if the kid never existed. The next woman he got married to had reportedly some ties to a mafia family and also…between you and me and All Might… No one could really pin anything on either of them, but when stuff with Detnerat revealed their association with the League of Villains, HeroTech seemed to have some connection with supporting them. And even before the war, there was a rumor that they were financially providing for the movement of quirk related drugs.

Kats22: Like Trigger and the Quirk Destroying Bullets? Why do you know so much about this?

Izuku: Oh, it was a side project All Might and I worked on when I went vigilante. But again. No one could pin anything on either of them, so it’s frustrating, to say the least. Oh! His current wife used to work at this café actually. It’s how they met.

Crimson eyes widened in surprise: “WHAT THE FU—"

“Midoriya!” Calls out a cheerful intruder.

God, this asshole couldn’t have come at a worse time. Kats22 wasn’t expecting the human vibrator to make an appearance. Damn Deku’s future fiancé…well not anymore when I’m done with this past. I’ll put a pin in that Chikara shit for later. He couldn't help but steal glances at a particular spot in the distance, where a hidden figure remained and lingered. Good. Only Kats22 was aware of the fourth pair of eyes fixated on the interactions between Izuku, Shindo, and himself. Katsuki of 2196 (Kats96) was silently observing, consumed by curiosity, and what Kats22 knew from personal experience, jealousy and longing.

As Shindo approached, Kats22 could already see the somewhat contorted expression on Izuku’s face at the new arrival. Izuku may have been engaged to Shindo in the future, but right now Izuku likes him only as a friend and doesn’t reciprocate his romantic feelings. Probably because damn Pan-Quake often made Deku feel uncomfortable and pressured, unable to escape his persistent advances. Case in point? Right now.

Izuku tilts his head and half smiles, “O-oh hey…Yo-kun.”

Unperturbed, Shindo continues, actively ignoring the person next to them, “I thought you weren’t free today? You said were doing on your analysis project.”

Forcing himself into engaging in conversation, Izuku responds, “I-I am. I mean, I-I’m not free today. I’m still working on—"

Shindo (oblivious to his discomfort): Seriously, Zu, uh-Midoriya, you should take a break every now. Maybe now is the perfe—

“Oi, can’t you take a fucking hint?” Kats22 interfered, placing his hand on Izuku's arm protectively. Fucker’s not even thinking about the nerd being uncomfortable!

Surprised by the assertiveness of the third person he actively ignored, Shindo retorts, “Excuse me?”

Disguise or no disguise; past, present or future, Katsuki Bakugo of 2200 ain’t no bitch, “The nerd said he wasn’t free and he isn’t. He’s doing analysis, still. He’s helping me.”

Shindo remains undeterred, boldly crossing his arms and arching an eyebrow, “Oh” —looking back at Izuku and man in front of him in a barely masked irritation— “And you are?”

Kats22 holds back a snicker as he can taste the tension in the air before he catches a glimpse of it. There, now hiding closer in a shallow alley next to the café, a familiar set of crimson eyes glare at the trio. Kats22 catches spiky ash blond tuff of hair quickly duck out of view, only to peek out once more. BINGO. THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THIS IS TOO PERFECT! Kats22 couldn't resist smirking at the hidden Kats96. Like the finest of wines, he savored having Kats96 witness the chaos about to unfold, knowing it would fuel the jealousy he planned while knocking Pan-Quake down a few notches. He’s gonna spoil the living shit out of Kisara in the future once he found her again.

The rigidity in the air became palpable as Kats22 turned to Izuku, his aura dripping with a newfound sense of possessiveness. He tucked an arm around the smaller boy’s waist, ignoring the smaller’s squeak as he pulled him close, body to body.

There was a flash of confusion in Izuku's eyes and blush blooming across his freckled cheeks, but before he could react, Kats22's lips met his, his eyes briefly fluttering shut. Time seemed to stand still as he felt a surge of emotions flooding through him. In that stolen moment, Kats22 allowed himself to drink in the sensation. It was electric, a current that shot through his entire being, leaving him breathless and craving for more.

As they kissed, Kats22's mind raced. No other kiss he ever experienced could compare to this. Deku's lips were better than anything he had ever dreamed, soft and warm against his own, burgeoning a passion that threatened to engulf them both. He’s tempted to risk violating public decency laws right now just to slam Deku’s body even closer into his; bite him, bruise him and claim him as his own in front of what will won’t be his future fiancé. The sound of restrained pops where Kats96 was standing brings Kats22 back to the moment.

Grudgingly, Kats22 broke the kiss, turning his attention back to Shindo. Izuku stared at Kats22, his eyes wide with astonishment and dreamy haze, skin a raging strawberry, the usually loquacious boy rendered—for once—speechless. Good, I did that. The air around them seemed to vibrate with a newfound energy. Breathless, Kats22 tried to find his words amidst the chaos of his thoughts. A devilish triumphant smirk graced his lips as he stretches out his hand toward the shocked earthquake sidekick:

“Names Junichiro Aimu, ya little Fuckboy. I’m Izuku’s boyfriend.”

-----------------------------

Kats96 didn’t hear anything else but the sound of his thunderous heart and rushing him from the café back toward the Best Jeanist agency. Izuku didn’t even turn around to notice the rushing blond. Rage coursed through his veins and rung in his ears, overshadowing the confusion he felt at the new development of damn Deku having a boyfriend. How did this happen right under his nose?! He watched helplessly as the stranger dared to lay claim to the one he desired most. He could tell the nerd felt something for the guy, because Kats96 hasn’t seen Izuku have that look in his eyes—one of wonder, amazement, satisfaction—since they were kids and those green eyes were always focused on him…as they fucking should be. There’s something wrong with this…there’s no way. There’s absolutely no fucking way. There’s gotta be some damn quirk involved, and I’m gonna figure what the fuck is going on. No one is going to have that fucking nerd but me.

Moments later, a ping comes through on his phone. It’s the bakusquad (there won’t be a day where he’ll like the name) group chat.

Dunce Face: Holy Hell, guys! Look who I saw at the mall this morning! Who the hell is the hot Ginger all over our Greenbean?!

#bakudeku #izuku midoriya #bakugou katsuki #katsudeku #decchan #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #ao3 izuku #mha bakugou #mha deku #time travel

5 notes · View notes

funmalibmillie · 4 months

Text

What?! She write AND cook?! lol. Happy holidays to you all!!

#christmas #foodpics #foodporn #food #homecookedgoodness #the grinch

3 notes · View notes

funmalibmillie · 5 months

Text

Chapter 9: Operation Nerd Redemption

Ripple by MaliBMillie Chapters: 9/15 Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Sneak Peak of CHAPTER 9: Operation Nerd Redemption

At 3:07AM, he glanced over his outline one more time, just to make sure he was pleased with what he planned. He even put in a note about seeing if he could his hands on that dumbass All Might rubber ducky since the auction was supposedly happening around this time. If memory again serves Katsuki from 2200 (Kats22) right, he knew exactly where Izuku and Katsuki from 2196 (Kats96) would be today. Ripping the page from his spare notebook and stuffing it into the backpack along with the other tools, he then makes his way to his old bed. This time, armed with the knowledge of what lay ahead, Kats22 vowed to change fate. As he drifted to sleep, a soft smile of relief settled in his jaw: I’m coming for you, Zuku, and this time I won’t fail.

"Operation Nerd Redemption" is under way. STARTING RIGHT THE FUCK NOW.

---------

ON HIATUS AFTER THIS MY LOVES! HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!

#bakudeku #archive of our own #bakugou katsuki #dekubaku #my hero academia #ao3 fanfic #katsudeku #mha bkdk #bnha bakugo katsuki #kacchako #deku #mha deku #boku no hero acedamia #boku no hero academia #theyre idiots your honor #idiots in love

0 notes

funmalibmillie · 5 months

Text

Posting Chapter 7 AND Chapter 8 of RIPPLE!

Ripple (48806 words) by MaliBMillie Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

NNAAAANNNNIIII???!!!! Two chapters in one day!!!!??? Yeah, Chapter 8 introduces you to my two original characters (OCs) so I figured, it would make more sense with the flow to include this chapter alongside the 7th one. ENJOY!

Chapter 7 Summary:

Katsuki delivers Deku's Eulogy and Izuku left something behind for Kacchan.

-------------

Snippet of Chapter 7 Dialogue:

As the room erupted with applause, Katsuki finally let go of his famous ill-tempered demeanor, allowing the tears to flow freely down his face without covering or stopping them. He stepped away from the podium, surrounded by the comforting embrace of his parents, Inko and Yagi, and all of 1-A. It was the one time he didn’t fight the embrace they gave him. Izuku would’ve like that. He knew the nerd, his nerd, would have loved that.

-------------

Yeah…I couldn’t help myself. I felt I had to make some images on Canva. What can I say? I have no friends, so I have time to create visuals for my fanfiction stories. *Returns to cry in lonely corner cuddling my Dyna Ducky.

***

2 notes · View notes

funmalibmillie · 5 months

Text

Ready for Chapter 6 of Ripple?

Ripple by MaliBMillie Chapters: 6/15 Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga) SUMMARY of CHAPTER 6: A New Year to Forget

Katsuki's worst nightmare and a villain introduced.

LONG CHAPTER ALERT and… a major character dies. But come on…this is a bakudeku fic, you'll get him back!

Oh!! Can anyone tell me the true artist of the Deku image in my Canva made news report? I want to give amazing artists the credit due them!!!

-------------

Sneak Peek of Chapter 7: Everything

“Oh…” He tries, ok? Katsuki’s trying really, REALLY hard to not be a signature asshole. “as good as I can be. How are you faring though, Auntie? Anything I can help you with?”

Inko (giggles humorlessly): ‘As good as you can be, hunh?’ Don’t I know it? Well, listen I’d hate to bother you...

Katsuki cuts in: You’d never bother me Auntie.

Inko: W-well, would you please come over to Izuku’s when you get the chance? Yagi and I are cleaning out his things from his apartment and I-I stumbled on something I think he would want you to have.

The claim makes Katsuki stand up so fast, his mind dizzied, legs wobbled and spun the room, Damn alcohol, kicking in at the wrong time.

What? He thinks. He left me something? What could Deku have-

#bakudeku #katsudeku #izuku midoriya #bakugou katsuki #my hero academia #bnha bakugo katsuki #mha bkdk #dekubaku #ao3 fanfic #archive of our own #bakusquad #ao3 izuku

19 notes · View notes

funmalibmillie · 5 months

Link

---------------------

Sneak Peek of Dialogue from Current Chapter 5:

Katsuki: BUT IT’S TRUE ISN’T IT?!

Izuku: I’m not doing this. You’re being selfish.

Katsuki: YOU’RE NOT SAYING YES!

Izuku: I’M ALSO NOT SAYING NO!

Katsuki (unconsciously sparking explosions in his palms): ADMIT IT! YOU DON’T FUCKING LOVE HIM LIKE YOU LOVE ME, DO YOU!?

Izuku (Small streaks of blackwhip shoot from his back through the room and a set of electric green lightening whirls over him, making the conference room lights flicker violently): WHY IN THE GODDAMN FUCK DOES IT MATTER, KACCHAN?!

------------------------

Sneak Peek of Chapter 6: A New Year to Forget:

Deku felt the looming walls cave in as a deafening roar filled the air, and he felt a sharp twinge of pain in his chest as everything went dark as the 15-story building collapses on top of them.

As the ground trembled and the dust settled, and countless eyes descend upon the scene, scanning for signs of life amidst the wreckage of the fallen Imperial.

They never expected what they discovered.

#dekubaku #deku #bakugou katsuki #shindo yo #hitoshi shinsou #denki kaminari #momo yaoyorozu #jirou kyouka #bakusquad #izuku midoriya #my hero academia #archive of our own #fanfic #katsudeku #ao3 izuku #bnha

0 notes

funmalibmillie · 5 months

Text

CHAPTER 4 IS UP!!!!! Have a Happy Thanksgiving! If this is season is particularly rough for you, I understand and relate. I'm glad you're here and you matter!!!!

Ripple (17450 words) by MaliBMillie Chapters: 4/15 Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Major Character Death Relationships: Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki & Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Izuku/Shindou You, Kaminari Denki/Shinsou Hitoshi, Ashido Mina/Kirishima Eijirou, Jirou Kyouka/Yaoyorozu Momo, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Aoyama Yuuga/Mineta Minoru Characters: Bakugou Katsuki, Midoriya Izuku, Kaminari Denki, Kirishima Eijirou, Ashido Mina, Jirou Kyouka, Sero Hanta, Original Characters, Shindou You, Shinsou Hitoshi, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Yaoyorozu Momo, Class 1-A (My Hero Academia) Additional Tags: Endgame Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Pro Hero Midoriya Izuku, Pro Hero Bakugou Katsuki, Alternate Universe - Pro Heroes (My Hero Academia), Aged-Up Bakugou Katsuki, Aged-Up Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki is Bad at Feelings, Bakugou Katsuki Swears A Lot, Pining Bakugou Katsuki, Canon-Typical Violence, BAMF Midoriya Izuku, BAMF Bakugou Katsuki, Midoriya Izuku is a Ray of Sunshine, They are gay your honor, Jealous Bakugou Katsuki, Angst and Feels, Fluff and Angst, Post-Graduation, Post-War, Bakugou Katsuki is a Dork, Bakusquad (My Hero Academia), Jirou Kyouka is in the Bakusquad, Bakusquad Being Idiots (My Hero Academia) Summary: It’s a quiet joyous morning. Well…it was supposed to be. “Did you hear? Shindo is gonna propose to Midoriya tonight!” Shouts a drunken-off-bottomless-brunch-mimosa Kaminari. CUE RECORD NEEDLE SCRATCH Katsuki's eyebrows shot toward the ceiling: "WHAT?!" ------------------ When a New Years Party ends in tragedy and he fails to win Izuku from Shindo, Katsuki Bakugo falls into despair. However, an unexpected stranger? with a quirk called “Ripple” comes along and gives him the chance of a lifetime: three days to change the past. Will the explosive blonde succeed or will the Symbol of Victory lose…again? NOTE: Entire Story is mostly completed until Chapter 9. Will post chapters weekly on Mondays at Noon EST. I had WAY too much fun getting these images together for this fanfic. Thankful for Canva, that’s for sure! BTW, images provided are mostly made on my Canva Account, but any picture involving fanart of the MHA characters are NOT mine. When I know the artist, I make sure to credit them. If I have the wrong artist or am missing giving them the appropriate credit, please message me.

#bakudeku #ao3 fanfic #archive of our own #bakugou katsuki #dekubaku #my hero academia #bnha bakugo katsuki #katsudeku #mha bkdk #hitoshi shinsou #denki kaminari #bakusquad #my hero academy fanfiction #my hero fanfic #boku no hero academia #boku no hero acedamia #my hero acedamia

0 notes

funmalibmillie · 5 months

Link

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Iida Tenya/Uraraka Ochako, Midoriya Izuku & Uraraka Ochako, Midoriya Inko/Yagi Toshinori | All Might Characters: Class 1-A (My Hero Academia), Bakugou Katsuki, Midoriya Izuku, Kaminari Denki, Sero Hanta, Todoroki Shouto, Iida Tenya, Uraraka Ochako, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Midoriya Inko, Kirishima Eijirou Additional Tags: Female Midoriya Izuku, Alternate Universe - No Quirks (My Hero Academia), U.A. High School (My Hero Academia), BAMF Midoriya Izuku, BAMF Bakugou Katsuki, Bakugou Katsuki is a Little Shit, Cute Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Izuku is a Ray of Sunshine, Bakugou Katsuki Faces Consequences, Bakugou Katsuki is Bad at Feelings, Bakugou Katsuki Swears A Lot Summary:

Is there a word for a piece you write that’s inspired by another fanfiction that is just an imagined scene for that story? Yeah…That’s what this is. I don’t take credit for the original idea for this, but I do take credit for the scene published here. Check out "Broken But Not Unfixable" and "Let's Try This Again" by feverdreamer97. It’s unfinished, but IT'S SO FREAKING GOOD!!!!

Excerpt of my scene for the MMA Fight between Bakugou Katsuki and Midoriya Izuku (Fem): "The battle trial was over, and Izumi stood victorious. But instead of reveling in her triumph, she approached where Katsuki now lay, vulnerable, in pain and for the first time in his years at UA—defeated. A signature moment of kindness softened Izumi's gaze as she spoke softly to him, "You know, Katsuki, I should thank you. You told me to take a short walk off a tall building, but I never fell. I flew."

4 notes · View notes

funmalibmillie · 6 months

Text

Yeah...I posted the next chapter of "Ripple" on Ao3 just because I wanted to and to show off my rubber ducky MHA collection...NO REGERTS!

Chapter 3: The Plan at the Hero Gala

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing was in Epic Enigma that the nerd didn’t already have that would impress him. Fuck. Maybe I can find something online. Something’s gotta be out there that he doesn’t have…wait…That Fucking Rubber Duckie. Of course! Well, that’s only if the nerd hasn’t gotten it already since then.

Izuku went on and on about the “highly coveted” pro-hero collector’s piece when it was first released in the winter of their second year at UA and again when an online auction came up for it around their graduation. The greenie basically vomited his excitement to whatever poor soul would listen and when he showed an online picture of it to Katsuki, it was the most ridiculous thing the blonde ever saw. It was manufactured to look just like All Might; the pro-hero’s usual flamboyant, bright, blonde animatedly-double-spiked hair had transformed into unexpected smooth plastic waves and two fists were raised in the air ready and itching to unleash any set of his signature “SMASH” attacks. His trademark smile, a curve that settled courage and sent fear scuttling in the hearts of villains whenever he announced “I am here!”, was etched into his beak. The Tubbz All Might, robed in a fondly cartoony costume and blended the classic rubber duck yellow with the iconic red, white, and blue of All Might’s suit. It was—Katsuki could acknowledge—a fairly accurate scaled-down version of the real deal that managed to retain the essence of All Might's mighty persona. Only 3000 were ever made.

Izuku never got the damn thing when it was first released though (nor the second chance of the auction), and he was downcast for 3 fucking weeks afterward. He was also acting really strange around Katsuki at the same time and wasn’t even focused during their regular spars. Fed-up, the ash blonde finally asked Izuku what the fuck was up with him and eventually the latter spilled the beans. Whether those musical fruits tooted truths were a different concern. Apparently, the nerd was going to get the ludicrous duck that winter and saved up a good amount of cash from his side jobs and paid hero work studies to get the expensive ass thing, but he got caught up in a villain attack and by the time he got to the store, they were all gone. Katsuki believed it—some part of it anyway, though he couldn’t figure out why he questioned it. Consider it a second quirk (or love), but he could always tell when something was going on with Izuku even when he wouldn’t communicate it and vice versa. However, the blonde reasoned that without a doubt, something like a villain attack would be the only sensible reason the nerd would miss an opportunity to get more All Might merch, especially a collectible like that.

While on the way to the parking garage, Katsuki did a quick check on his phone to search for whatever information might be available for the absurd plastic aviary. What he saw made him stop in his tracks, bottom jaw practically hitting the floor with his eyebrows punching the ceiling.

“110,838,750 YEN!!!???” he screams aloud. Luckily, the garage was clearing out since the mall was now closed but a few people did look over at him curiously. This duck, as it turns out —which under normal circumstances is just a toy, an old school child’s bath time plaything—is the most expensive All Might collector’s piece in the world right now. (110,838,750 yen = 750,000 US dollars). Granted, it was expensive when it first launched, but damn. Rubber ducks? Who knew?!

Shit. It also looks like people are keeping the genuine items to themselves since only knock-offs are being sold online. Katsuki sighs. This is not good. I gotta be able to find or do something. Maybe the hag— “HELL NO!” He says aloud to himself rushing to his car. Am I really getting that desperate?

-------------

“What. A. Piece. Of. Shit.” Echoes the older basically female version of Katsuki.

Katsuki (settling on one of his parents’ living room chairs as they opened the Warrenco box, sipping on tea his father just made): “That’s exactly what I said when I saw the damn things.”

“Well, we still have ones that we’ve created in the past as options.” Sighs his father coming from behind his wife.

“Yeah, good thing too. Going to the shrine in these may border on disrespecting it, if anything” Mitsuki groans, still looking over the Kimonos. “Worst. Business. Deal. Ever.”

Katsuki hadn’t seen his mother give that type of look since she found out how her son treated Izuku in their teen years. It was part of his therapy to grow from who he used to be and become a better version of himself. That facial expression was one of helpless disappointment, an acceptance without a fight of what cannot be changed. A sight he absolutely hated seeing on her as it didn’t fit the powerhouse that was and is Mitsuki Bakugo: “Tch. I’ll say, but maybe we can figure something out,” the young Bakugo offers.

“Nah, kid.” She forlornly replies, nodding her head. “Just let it be. Luckily, your father and I handled our retirement savings very well and we are set for the rest of our days.”

“Yep. No need to worry, kiddoe.” Softly interjects Masaru. He’s always been more gentle-natured than Mitsuki, but no less fierce. He’s a lot like Izuku in that regard. Quiet and kind on the outside, but smoldering with a vibrancy and passion underneath revealing itself only under certain circumstances. That very vibrancy showed in the sadness exuding from his brown eyes toward the kimonos as well. “It’s just a shame to see what Bakusan has been turned into…” The brunet man sighs. “Oh Well. Can’t change the past, now can we?”

“Sad to say, honey. Sad to say.” She puts the disasters back into the box, then takes a seat on the couch next to her husband. A brief moment of impromptu silence lies between the 3 for the dismal outcome of their familial fashion legacy.

Bringing some life back to the room, Mitsuki grabs her tea: “Well. Katsuki, great job on your rise in the hero ranking recently!”

Masaru (mirroring the same actions of his wife): Yeah, son. You and Izuku are doing fantastic!

“Thanks.” Weakly nods the young blond, still disappointed in his search from earlier that drew bare results.

Masaru: What’s up, son? Something on your mind?

“No.” Katsuki quickly responds.

“Does that long face have anything to do with Izuku’s engagement tonight?” Mitsuki plainly states.

Katsuki (jolts to attention in his seat): WHAT?! How do YOU know about that?

Mitsuki: Yo-Kun asked Inko and Yagi if he could personally come over and invite us to your New Years Hero Gala tonight so we could be there when it happens. Said Zuzu would probably appreciate the people he loves being there to witness it.

Katsuki (scoffs to hide his jealousy): Like I give a damn what SHinDo YoOo does. As long as Izuku is…happy. Right? Right.

Both parents wore a similar cloak of concern. It’s clear that they wanted Katsuki’s happiness, and that this was a touchy subject even though their son never voiced it openly. Years upon years of observing their child made them keenly aware of his subtle nuances of behavior when it came to his interactions with Izuku, and seeing him in this melancholic phase broke their hearts.

Masaru (sighs): Son, please know. We’re not trying to pry. We just know that despite both of your…pasts, you did have feelings for each other.

Mitsuki (lightly chuckles): Even when you were a tiny brat, I remember you walked up to Inko one day dragging a cherub-pink cheeked Izuku with you and asked her if you could marry him right then and there. You even promised to give him one of your favorite rings you got out of a cereal box.

Katsuki shoots a glance towards his parents and offers a blue smile at the memory. Winds of unease howled within him, knots churned his insides, making swallowing the familiar air of his childhood home unusually difficult.

Katsuki (slouching in his seat and turning his gaze toward the ceiling): I do still have feelings for him, but I fucked up. Badly. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, I guess. I know it’s too late now…probably…but I—

"Katsuki” Masaru says, noticing his son’s increasing discomfort. “Your mother and I may not know everything about the complexities of what you and Izuku have, but we do know this—an unexpressed feeling is a feeling wasted. No matter the outcome. You have the chance to tell him and at the very least…get it off your chest, son."

Katsuki swallowed the lump in his throat, grateful for their encouragement and responded with genuine sincerity. "Yeah…thanks."

--------

Arriving later at his high-end flat overlooking the city he served as a pro-hero, Katsuki fulfills his personal promise of laying down for a quick 15 minutes thinking over the two main events of the day that have occupied his mind. Izuku and the Girl from the mall…Kisassa was it? Close enough. She seemed familiar, but not… What did she mean by “it” happening on New Year’s Eve and that she could help? Katsuki was going to steal the nerd back before the proposal went down, so was she referencing something else? She looked too young to be involved in villainy, but to be fair so did damn Toga Himiko. Furthermore, all of his classmates were too fucking young to be involved in a whole goddamn war, so it’s possible. Still, he simply didn’t have enough information to go on because there wasn’t necessarily a threat since she didn’t specify any explicit danger, only that Katsuki shouldn’t be “too sad.” Over what? Deku getting proposed to? How would she even know that? Maybe someone leaked something on social media? Unlikely. It would be EVERYWHERE right now, if so.

The blond sighs and withdrew further into his solitude. Too much emotion for one day for a young hero who built his reputation on almost callousness and a head of pride for inevitable, indisputable wins against villains. Would I really be that sad over this shit? It’s just… marriage…between Shindo Ho and…Izuku. It’s just a…commitment…to be exclusive together…most marriages don’t even last long right? Oh…he hated this. Absolutely fucking hated this. The thought was like acid eating away at his heart. Despair coursed through his veins, poisoning his thoughts. He needed to do something, and he needed to do it quickly.

Izuku…is getting proposed to. Tonight. How did this happen? Katsuki tried his damnedest to come up with some way to win him back but all efforts were in vain. At first, grand schemes filled his mind, but the more he brainstormed, the more ridiculous his ideas seemed. At some point, he conjured up visions of himself renting a Clydesdale horse and riding to theGala with a bouquet of flowers in his arms, with mood music fit for the cheesiest romance novels and hallmark movies playing in the background for some old-time romantic chivalry. This is what I get for being so stupid all this time. I got nothing. Nothing to give the nerd. Damnit. I barely have anything to say, and I fucking suck at words. Maybe I can kiss the living shit out of him, take him home away from the party and fuck him senseless until he forgets Pan-Quake’s name and forgets the stupid proposal. It’s a terrible, shitty idea, so let’s make that Plan B just in case…

Fuck! Think, Katsuki THINK!

Of course, Plan A and/or B to Z all rode completely on if Izuku still had feelings for him.

No way. You can’t just fall out of love with someone so easily…can you? Somewhere inside of him, Deku is still in love with me, right? Waiting for me? Shit. I wouldn’t have waited on me. I should’ve just told him the damn truth all those years ago.

Katsuki laid there for a few moments longer, his mind meandering the serpentine paths of the past. They completed each other. Their relationship—even in a platonic sense—was a pandemonium of prowess and kick-assery, Deku and Dynamight, Izuku and Katsuki, the best damn heroes the world had ever seen in their UA days: The Wonder Duo.

And it’s about to be the best, damn hottest hero couple if I have any say in it—determines the blonde, huffing himself out of bed to shower and prepare for the evening. 7:58PM. The party starts at 10. I’ll have to think of this more as I get ready.

However, the more Katsuki thought about it, he couldn’t come up with anything that would convince the nerd to fall into his arms. Over the years, Katsuki let his insecurities, his drive and relentless pursuit of topping the hero charts call him away, time and again, from even building a basic friendship with Izuku. If he was a brutal, bullying, abusive asshole to the greenette as a teen, then he pulled a parkour over the 180 concept of a healthy friendship and became a neglectful, apathetic, and distant…acquaintance? In the back of his mind, he was sure that he had dug his grave already in this and it was too late, but he topped that thought with a tombstone quickly. This was mission impossible, and Katsuki fucking Bakugo was anything but a man who shied away from a challenge.

He had to win Izuku back. But how? It pained him to admit it, but he could see why someone would fall for Shindo. It was exactly what he thought on the rooftop when lied to Izuku and told him he didn’t love him. Shindo may come off as a kiss-ass, but generally he is a kind hero, has a magnetic personality and that showed through from the bastard on the day of provisional licensing exam. Yeah, he can get a little frustrated sometimes as all heroes do, but he’s passionate about protecting people, as evident of him almost dying from shielding from Muscular (trying to anyway) the shitty stragglers who refused sanctuary during the war before Izuku saved him. He's a leader by default and overall the people of Japan really like him as a hero. In comparison, Katsuki wasn't charming like Shindo or Izuku; he didn't have the composure of a man who brought heartwarming emotions of comfort and compassion on the hero field, just the rush of a win and the thrill of the fight. While he couldn’t personify the fuzziness of ease, he could bring the empowering ecstasy of victory. He and Izuku balanced out each other perfectly there.

Katsuki wiped the condensed fog of his shower off his bathroom mirror and stared into crimson, inhaling and exhaling in defeat. In the end, the only idea that stuck was the simplest, and perhaps the hardest: talking to Izuku. He would pour his heart out and let his feelings be known. It was a risky move, but he had nothing more to lose.

Hoping to strike the attention of a certain green haired man, he donned his best Bakusan suit -designed with such grandeur, it practically screamed luxury and flair as loud as the hero himself. The ensemble featured an intoxicating blend of provocative red and ominous black. The red, a resplendent vermillion, represented the passion and sheer undying determination which Katsuki held within his core. It was as vibrant as the crimson sunrise encapsulated in his irises, laced with the intense ferocity of a raging wildfire. This luxurious cerise was artistically intertwined with the all-defining, all-absorbing black like nightwar-tinted camouflage, whispering tales of the countless battles he had endured. Striking the perfect balance, the black threading pattern pulsed down like blood rushing through his veins, assertively emphasizing the well-toned muscles that lay beneath.

It sculpted his physique perfectly; complimenting the latent strength it veiled beneath. The exquisite thread piece catered to the sharp geometrics of his shoulders, tracing down his V-tapered torso. As much as it echoed a regal elegance, it ensured no hindrance to his athletic prowess either - a crucial attribute for the hero's regular responsibilities. The ensemble was completed with the crimson mantle flowing from his shoulders. A majestic cascade that rippled in the night breeze; it whispered tales of fiery courage and unwavering bravery. At its border, ebony flames licked up, the black merging with the red, representing the everlasting battle between chaos and order, feared by many but championed by one—The Dynamight: Katsuki Bakugo.

He embodied elegance, resilience, mystery, a loud proclamation of intended justice, and the intimidating whisper of lurking danger all welded into one. Katsuki wore the damn suit as one dons their purpose, promising the city a hero, as much by ambition as by action…and tonight, Katsuki was going to be a man of all action.

I’m coming for you, nerd. I won’t let anyone else have you but me.

------

On the evening of December 31st 2199, nestled within the metropolis of Musutafu, glistened an edifice of grandiose architecture, the Imperial Hotel. This sanctuary of opulence and sophistication bore within its heart a marvel of a strictly elegant design—the Grand Ballroom.

On this particular night, it was set to entertain the pro-heroes of Japan—the new and the veteran. The entrance to the ballroom hinted at the mesmerizing spectacle within. High lacquered mahogany doors adorned with intricate gold embellishments displaying scenes from ancient folklore swung open into an immense hall. As guests stepped over the threshold, they were swiftly immersed in another realm—one carved out of countless tales of bravery and valor. The centerpiece was a colossal crystal chandelier, suspended right at the heart of the ballroom. It showered the room in a cascade of glittering luminescence, reflecting off the polished marble floor and spiraling up the cascading ivory drapery that adorned the walls, creating an infinite galaxy of lights. The brass of the grandfather clock in the corner shielded with concrete dragons on either side glowed under this radiant illumination, ticking in soft thuds resonating like heartbeats of the evening.

The air was thick with the scent of Imperial Lilies, their blossoms artistically arranged in ornate silver vases resting atop shimmering black granite pedestals at the corners. Their floral melodies filled the air, an olfactory orchestra, harmonizing with background notes of cedarwood and amber silk from the polished dancefloor and upholstered velvet seats, respectively. A grand stage was set at one end of the ballroom, graced by a majestic grand piano, its polished ebony and ivory keys yearning for the artistic fingers of the pianist. Twin ornamental Torii gates framed the stage, cascading soft red light over the piano, lending a mystical aura of the ancient Shinto shrines.

Above them, the grandeur of the ballroom, bathed in delicate light's warmth, echoed the guests’ courage back to them. The room was more than just architecture—it represented a sanctuary of valor, a stage set for the brave and bold, an Imperial tribute to the heroes that held Japan's spirit high. Heroes of yesterday met eyes with the heroes of tomorrow, an acknowledgment of their shared purpose—bravery, sacrifice, and nobility.

Waltzing in exactly at 11PM—fashionably late, of course, because it’s classy and not because he spent 15 minutes in his car trying to psych himself up—Katsuki took a deep breath. He was ready, even if he wasn’t. Let’s. Fucking. Go. He adjusted the collar of his suit and weaved his way through the crowd along the wall looking for a familiar grove of viridian. This was not just any night. It was THE night. One that screamed: ‘Watch out world because Katsuki Bakugou will bare his soul!' Each step he took screamed an imposed confidence.

“Bakubro! Whoa, you look great!” Calls out Kirishima who catches him mid-prowl for the green man.

“I know, Shitty Hair.” Katsuki answers with a heightened level of self-assurance he didn’t possess earlier. He felt unstoppable and even gave the red hero a shock: “you don’t look too bad yourself.”

Kirishima: Whoa! The Katsuki Bakugou giving out compliments? Is this part of a New Year’s Resolution plan or what?

Katsuki: Oh nothing. Just feeling really good about tonight.

Kirishima (ticks a single eyebrow up): Oh, oh yeah? Even with the whole…proposal-

Katsuki (cuts him off with a smirky grin): —Especially, with the proposal.

Kirishima stared at him like he grew a second head. This is a complete shift in personality from this morning: “So, uh…what’s got you in such a good mood, Kat?”

Katsuki: I’m gonna tell him.

Kirishima: Tell who what, bro?

Katsuki (rolls his eyes as if the answer is obvious): I’m gonna confess to Deku.

Kirishima: …………………

Katsuki: What?

Kirishima: Oh…s-sorry about that. I zoned out for a minute. My bad. Uh, C-Can you repeat that?

Katsuki (Sighs in frustration): I said… I’m. Going. To. Confess. To. Deku.

Kirishima (furrows his brow momentarily at the blonde before his eyes widened like he finally understood the meaning behind an ancient prophecy): Oh…OH! Wow! I get it now! Good for you, bro! Just getting it off your chest before the wed-“

Katsuki: No, I’m taking Deku from Shindo tonight.

Kirishima: …………………

Katsuki: Oi…

Kirishima: …………………

Katsuki: Shitty Hair!

“Ya know, the last time I saw Kiri look like this, we were called to a domestic dispute and was met by some butt-naked, intoxicated guy, high off his ass on hallucinogens covered in his own shit and jerking off on the front his lawn shouting at us claiming to be Jesus.”

Denki’s comment suddenly jolts the red and ash blond men out of their conversation toward the remaining bakusquad approaching them.

“Lookin’ hot, Blasty! Now, what’s this I hear about a certain Green Bean?” Mina includes, amused by the still look of shock stapled onto her partner’s face.

“Oh…” Kirishima voices, finally awake from his confused trance. He glances at Katsuki and back at their friends, coughs into his fist as if it will cover up his next sentence “Bats-KATS! K-Kats here is uh…going to try to…win back Midobro…by confessing to him… tonight.”

Katsuki: I’m not gonna try to win him back, Shitty Hair—

Sero (wipes his hand across his forehead in dramatic fashion): OH, WHEW!!! You had me in the first half, I’m not gonna li—

Katsuki: I AM gonna win him back. As soon as I find him and get him away from Pan-Quake for a minute.

Bakusquad (all wearing Kirishima’s look from earlier toward Katsuki): …………………

Katsuki: OI!

#bakudeku #ao3 fanfic #dekubaku #katsudeku #bakugou katsuki #bnha bakugo katsuki #my hero academia #mha bkdk #my hero acedamia #bakusquad #archive of our own

8 notes · View notes

funmalibmillie · 6 months

Text

Hey guys! As promised, here is chapter 2 of Ripple on Ao3! The Sentinel Ring is a made up movie plot that is NOT canon. I just needed to boost the significance of a certain item along in my story. I suck at making images like this so shout out to @pluggedINTube for the awesome All Might art!

Chapter 2: An Odd Offer

July 15. Izuku’s birthday. He couldn’t hav—. He did. He completely fucking forgot. Shit.

Also…over 4 months of no texts from Deku? He wasn’t on a mission that Katsuki was aware of during that time and at least 3 more movies about heroes came out in between that he’s certain Deku would have invited him out to see even if he turned him down. Was Deku mad? Could he even get mad at Katsuki? Greenie doesn’t have a mean bone in his body unless it’s for villains…

Double Shit. Even Katsuki had to admit this was a major fuck up on his part. Had he really gotten this bad? Even at UA (hell, even Aldera!), Katsuki didn’t forget the nerd’s birthday. Granted, he’d just text HBN (Happy Birthday Nerd) or sign a card with his parents and send over a gift card to Epic Enigma—his favorite hero merch store, but never has he just forgotten. And the nerd even texted him on his own birthday too. Damn.

Maybe I can get him something to make up for it. Not to apologize, because Katsuki Bakugo doesn’t apologize, except that one time in their first year at UA when all of class 1-A went to go get Izuku from being a vigilante, but ever since then, the apology factory in the blonde has been decommissioned. Maybe he can go pick him up something at Epic Enigma, and have it sent over to his place. Oh wait. Does he even know where Deku lives now?

The blonde pinches the bridge of his nose. There really is no good recovery from this, but the nerd is easy going. He’ll forgive me. Right? I just got caught up in work; if anyone gets that it’s Deku-tHE NuMber FIVE hErOoo! I’ll just tell him I’ll make it up to him next year. Promise him a few hero movies and make him his favorite dinner. That should at least soften the nerd up, right? Right?! Right.

It’s 12:50PM. No response from the nerd, but he read the message…Damn. Maybe the nerd actually is mad. Or he’s busy. It is the day before New Years. He might be out with IcyHot or Round Cheeks or…Shaking his head of the thought Shindo and Deku together, Katsuki continues his mission of hightailing it toward the mall before it closes early for the evening celebration.

-------

“What. A. Piece. Of. Shit.” Katsuki mutters, looking at the fashion disaster in the Warrenco branded box. In his hands was supposedly specially ordered, a “unique, handcrafted” kimonos, pre-ordered months ago by his mother for the New Year Shrine visit. He continued to stare into the cerise box as if by sheer will power alone would change its contents, but to no avail.

The beautifully textured fabric he knew his parents had standardized was replaced with a sleek, poorly dyed material. The seams weren't carefully aligned, and the embroidery, which was supposed to be of a mythical phoenix, looked more like a squashed common pigeon. He noticed the red bleeding into the white, the loose threads, and the uneven stitch work. In essence, it was a gut-punch manifestation of the commercialization over craftsmanship, quantity over quality. The kimono was merely a mockery of skill and beauty, an insult to the legacy his family had built.

Katsuki could still remember the aroma of Bakusan—his parents' quaint fashion house, not too far from the outskirts of Musutafu, the warm hum of sewing machines, the soft sound of scissors plowing through heavy silk, and most importantly, their utmost dedication to quality on any and every piece of fabric. They had created a world of their own, crafting every piece with an abundance of love and precision, ensuring that each stitch was purposeful.

Bakusan was at the height of the fashion empire when Katsuki graduated, but his parents made a shrewd business deal with some hotshot, up-and-coming online fashion company: Warrenco. Figuring that the world was already diving headfirst into online orders anyway, Mitsuki and Masaru Bakugo sold the company and retired since Katsuki wasn’t interested in balancing out the hero world and a fashion empire. It went well…until it fucking tanked. Warrenco got involved in some shady underground deals, and unbeknownst to them, in its start-up was even funded by Detnerat that was eventually taken over by the League of Villains. Given the natural technological world, Warrenco flourished for a bit even after the war was over, but once that connection was made? Down the drain it and its supporters, suppliers and consumers went, and Bakusan went right along with it.

Katsuki wouldn’t say that designing fashion is one of his forte’s though he used to model for his parents, but he and Izuku did go through a brief period of inspiration of hero costume design. God…the nerd had a field day with that, which was ironic to the blonde given the nerd’s personal lack of style. You would think some part of Katsuki would have rubbed off on him a bit. But Deku could think of the promising implications of fashion on hero work: comfort, sterility, quirk correlation, personality appeal and even how to better fortify certain pieces of fabric to power-up attacks and up defenses. ALL THAT…and yet the nerd wore stupid t-shirts with the word “T-shirt” on the goddamn front of them in the dorms. Really?! His parents were convinced before Deku got his quirk, they’d take him on as an apprentice if Bakusan ever went down the route of hero fashion and costume design. Holding the “designer” kimonos in his hands…yeah. They really should have went that route. Had he known, Katsuki would have made more effort to figure something out if it meant saving Bakusan from the shit in his hands.

Though he wouldn’t confess it to the hag and his old man, Bakusan meant more to him than a business; it was a tapestry woven with threads of memories, love, and familial legacy. Now, the Bakusan standard of ornate trims, exquisite fabrics, and artisan tailors was consumed by corporate sterility underneath the faint whiff of synthetic fibers.

An invisible dagger pierced his heart. A sighed “fuck” escaped his lips; it was impossible not to compare it to the work his parents would have done, the kimonos they would have created. He could practically visualize it: the smooth, handmade silk, the exquisite embroidery telling a story, the perfectly aligned seams...

“Yeah. This is an utter piece of shit.” He says aloud.

Wrestling away the thought of high-fiving the poor store owner in the face with an AP Shot who was only the receiver not the maker of the shitty things, he forced himself out to the mercy of the mall again, tucking the crimson coffin of crappy kimonos in the bag. Probably better an idea for Pro Hero Dynamight to NOT make a scene today.

Seeking some distraction, he made his way to Epic Enigma. The store is Katsuki’s favorite too since he and the greenette had always frequented there growing up, but the nerd took his obsession to a new level. The blonde suspects it picked up when Izuku didn’t get a quirk, so he hyper-focused on heroes, hoping for the day his came in. It didn’t help that Katsuki turned into a complete overbearing asshole to the kid which probably upped his obsession even more losing friends because of his quirkless status. His quirk finally did come in—seemingly as a royal fuck you from the universe to Katsuki—in the form of their mutual ultimate hero: fucking All Might.

Damn the nerd’s luck, but Katsuki can admit now as a more mature-levelheaded adult that there was no one else in the world more worthy of One for All. Izuku is a self-sacrificial pain in the ass—but even quirkless, the greenie’s a hero. A determined, hardworking, honest, kind, strong, hero with a body carved from the sturdiest oak that Katsuki’d like to climb like a goddamn tree—ahem. Anyway…the point is Izuku has Katsuki’s respect as a hero, as a person, as a man—always did actually, it just came out of the blonde as an insecurity to the nth degree when they were kids. Katsuki’s not the same asshole he was back when they were younger...he now was just an asshole that’s been distant to and forgot the birthday of his childhood best friend, turned punching bag, turned one-sided enemy, turned rival, turned whatever-the-hell-they-are-right-now-but-Katsuki-prefer-it’d-involve-them-both-fucking-at-some-point-acquaintance.

The blonde facepalms at the reminder. He wants more with Izuku, something deeper. He truly does; he just can’t voice it. He wishes sometimes that he just went for it that night. Just said what he truly felt for Izuku, but he didn’t. He just didn’t think there’d come a time where the nerd never followed after him again or at least be interested in someone else so much to consider marriage…in their early 20s. Seriously, what was up with that? You can’t possibly balance a relationship and climb the hero charts. One of those things has to give given how dangerous the field is and that’s why Katsuki’s still convinced damn Shindo is just trying to ride Deku’s coattails (and his dick-much to his dismay) to the top.

“I’ll fucking kill Pan-Quake, if he hurts…” The blonde pauses mid-whispered rant. Am I really any better? I lied to him, avoided him, didn’t make any effort to have a basic friendship with the nerd at all, hell, even the rest of the stupid bakusquad know more about the nerd that I do. Sigh. Hopefully, there’s something good at Epic Enigma that can at least be some sort of peace offering to the nerd.

As he inches closer to the hero merch store, he passes by his favorite artisan jeweler, Celeste, and stops briefly to admire their wares. Katsuki may not be into the clothing side of fashion so much, but he is highly interested in the accessories: rings in particular. He viewed them as mini representations of the circles of life (Lion King pun unintended) from the people who make them. He wasn’t a fan of the commercialized, gaudy, bright popular gemstone rings, no. The one’s he searched for were local and artisan designed, so the pieces were unique and have cultural or situational relevance. He fell into it given one of the many, MANY All Might movies he used to watch with Izuku as a kid.

In an old favorite of theirs— The Sentinel Ring—All Might lived in a dystopian version of Japan where most of nature was being subdued by global warming and in his city, steel had replaced trees and lights were subbed for stars. The water was heavily filtered multiple times to ensure safe drinking and its inhabitants had grown accustomed to the stale air and processed foods. This environment was the stomping grounds of the villain: Inferno Titan. The country’s abundant blues and greens were replaced with overwhelming hues of crimson and sunshine yellow, a haunting testament to the Titan's tyranny. He wasn't the typical super villain, obsessed with power, wealth, or world domination. He was a spirit born of our negligence, our ignorance, a punishment for our perennial thirst to conquer without purpose.

The Inferno Titan was a creature of flames and smoke. He derived his strength from the Earth’s rising temperature, the consequence of our years of unrestrained industrialization, deforestation, and environmental contempt. His fiery core pulsed with each degree of uptick on the global thermostat. He became more robust, faster, and devastatingly powerful. His laugh echoed in the dry wind, a taunting reminder of the world's injuries. The warmer the Earth got, the more he could manipulate fire. He could summon ribbons of flame, scalding winds, and erupt fireballs, sparking wildfires that ravaged natural habitats. Entire landscapes crumbled under his blazing rage, turning lush forests into lifeless ash and vibrant cities into somber ghost towns.

In the beginning, All Might struggled against the Inferno Titan time-and-time-again with both sides always ending in brutal stalemates. Desperate to find a solution, All Might and his team bore into countless hours of search into a solution until they discovered a tribe of a mystical indigenous people, known as the Xyro, in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, staunchly protective of their secluded way of life. The Xyro held a secret, a mystical relic, "The Sentinel Ring," passed down through generations. Legend whispered it held the power to call forth the strength of a pantheon of ancient earthen gods.

Tales of the Sentinel Ring found their way to All Might, whispering promises of victory buried deep in the South American jungle. With hope in his heart and determination blazing in his steely blue eyes, All Might departed from Japan and plunged into Xyro territory, seeking the ring's mighty power.

Arriving at the foot of a colossal, ancient tree that hummed with the energy of the Earth, All Might was met by the tribe's sage, Orian. She studied All Might, her jade eyes profound and piercing. Only after witnessing All Might's humble spirit and heartfelt dedication to protect his world did she guide him to the shimmering golden ring. It was then All Might heard the whispers of the ancients for the first time.

When he placed the Sentinel Ring on his finger, an indescribable force surged through him. It was as if the spirits of the ancient gods had fused with his own, elevating him to a new tier of power. With this profound strength coursing through his veins, All Might thanked Orian and the Xyro tribe, promising to use the ring's power valiantly.

Back in Japan, the Inferno Titan wreaked havoc, hoping to draw All Might into a final clash. All Might—of course—rose to the challenge, wearing the ring. The villain snarled, confident that the hero had met his match. However, the moment All Might activated the ring, the clash changed drastically. With the power of the Sentinel Ring and the spirit of gods behind him, All Might charged. The resulting clash shook the city and was witnessed by all of the world. The battle was fierce but short; the villain could not stand the power channeled through the ring.

Finally, the Inferno Titan was defeated, and peace returned to the country. All Might looked at the golden artifact on his hand, humbled by the tribe's gift. Back in the rainforest, the Xyro tribe celebrated, elated that their precious heirloom had once again helped to protect the world. The Sentinel Ring was not just a testament to their heritage but a beacon of hope for all.

The day saved, All Might thanked the ring and the Xyro for their aid. However, the battle had taught him something crucial: that no matter where you were born, in city streets or deep in a jungle, everyone has the power to make a difference.

After that movie, the hag practically had to rip rings off of Katuski’s little fingers whenever they had a photoshoot because he wanted to wear as many as possible. All of them didn’t even fit his stubby digits, but he was so the enthralled by the lifeless objects that he couldn’t resist. It was like each circle was of silversmith art and wove a tale waiting to be unraveled, and little Katsuki could change the world with them on, just like All Might.

Many of his rings now came from this shop as it had shipments from all over the world and various assortments of products that held significant meaning for the country they came from: necklaces to ward of demons, bracelets that could induce love (Note for Katsuki later), and even earrings for shielding against certain quirk attacks. Most were preposterous, but Katsuki collected them for their look, design, and from where and from what they were made of. If he’s honest, he’s kept up the façade so well, he’s pretty sure not even the nerd knows about his obsession which may rival the latter’s hero merch collection, and THAT is saying something. So far Katsuki has a pretty impressive set with rings traversing almost each continent and every country he’s been to for vacation and hero duties. Some sing of the warmth of African sunsets, echoing African tribal carvings. Others whisper the stories of swaying cherry blossoms in Japan with delicate engravings. A few still carry the robust cheer of Irish pub songs and Celtic knots. For Katsuki, these rings were not mere objects but luggage of culture, history, spirituality, and emotions from various parts of the world: little fragments of countries encapsulated within the boundaries of a band.

Total cost of his collection? Considering when he started his project and the types of rings he gathers, he’s hitting close to 125,929,370.00 yen (a little over 860,000 US Dollars). There is only one ring that’s eluded him though. It was created in the fall of their 2nd year at UA and was on display at this very store in that winter. That ring—where only a few hundred were made—is now an international collector’s item marking up to 292,970,000.00 yen (a little over 2 million dollars).

It wasn’t known at the time, but it was the rarest of rare. A series of small meteors occurring once every 200 years or so had fallen out of orbit in October that year and landed in scattered places across Japan and ONLY in Japan. The impact of the falls ranged from destroyed vehicles to sizable indents in the sidewalks and the stones were a glorious amalgam of brilliant orange fading into black with red and yellow in swivels that lit gloriously against the sun. So many came to earth that the country’s meteoriticists made quick effort to determine the safety of being around or in contact with the stones. After they were cleared for being non-lethal and non-hazardous, many of those who were skeptical simple left the stones as they were while others took a more creative approach, hence the rings and other pieces made from the fallen cosmic pieces.

Katsuki at the time was wrestling with a lot mentally. Still a hot-headed and brash teen, he was reeling from mental recovery of their first year: surviving kidnapping, the forced retirement of All Might, injuries and death in the war, survivors’ guilt for Edgeshot’s sacrifice, his unexpected growing feelings for Izuku. It was a lot and yes, he had his so-called bakusquad, but even they couldn’t fully grasp the entirety of it. Not like Izuku could anyway. Ultimately, he grew through it, but felt alone for most of it; trying to make sense of what it truly means to be a hero and process the trauma they all experienced.

So, when he saw this incredible set of rings that winter at Celeste as a teen, it made him feel understood as an out of place being, too intense for any one city. Both of them, masking an interior as hollow as the void between the stars. Both of them, bearing the colors of an emotional storm: crimson eyes, ash blonde hair, vibrant orange and black laced into his hero costume to the ring’s intricately carved black walled outer band containing a swivel of speckled orange, yellow and red as if capturing a still shot of the cosmic explosive stone before its inevitable crash to the green earth below; he mourned his inability to afford it the time.

Upon closer inspection, the ring didn’t just share his colors, it shared his very temperament. Its warm, seemingly living hum echoed the volatile nature of his spirit, instilling in him an unexpected sense of kinship. Katsuki pondered the intergalactic journey the meteor must have had before gracing his path. The fear, courage, chaos, and finally the fiery arrival – it was the space version of his tumultuous life. Perhaps he reasoned, they were similar: elements of fierce natures, misunderstood beings, admirably bright but scaringly intense. He found comfort in the ring's potential silent companionship, a paradoxical solace in their shared vivacity and lonesomeness. There was only one other being on the planet who ever made Katsuki feel like that…that same level of connection and belonging when he felt the world didn’t understand him. And that being was getting proposed to tonight.

No. I gotta stop him. Katsuki thinks, bracing his free hand through his blonde spikes in frustration and awe at the realization. I want him. I want Izuku. I love Izuku. He can’t be with someone else, he’s mine. I gotta fix this.

He makes an abrupt turn to head toward Epic Enigma, only to crash into someone, knocking the person on their ass at the impact. Upon seeing her, he’s the first to respond:

“Oi, kid!”

The blonde gains his footing slowly, rubbing the back of his head in the process and coming into eye contact with…a rather strange girl.

She looks up at him and gasps, her eyes widening in wonder and disbelief as if she recognized him. Sitting below him, with a tearful expression that Katsuki couldn’t quite understand—unless she’s a creepy fan—was a girl who had to be no younger than 14. She had a yellow backpack with on a familiar hero-school attire of a long-sleeve, button-up white shirt, a gray jacket with blue-green stripes, and a red tie with a dark blue-green pleated skirt, and a small, golden button on her tie. She had white perfectly coiffed hair with black streaks, two small horns on either side of her forehead, eyes shimmering like cosmic galaxies with glittering hints of a familiar rosy red, and a voice of innocence that he somehow knew would echo wisdom beyond her age. Despite her oddity, Katsuki felt like he knew her somehow.

Her face, so familiar yet foreign, evoked a mix of emotions inside him. Suddenly, the girl squeals like a running piglet and scrambles over to hug him tightly. Katsuki is utterly confused, but has the sense of mind to make sure he can still feel the weight of his wallet and his phone in case she’s a pickpocket. He gently, but firmly places his hands on her shoulders and takes a step back—being careful with his hand movements. He doesn’t want reporters or anyone who’s watching and recognizes him to the wrong idea as she’s a minor and he knows the media can spin a web of lies better than a spider.

Then he noticed it. Sitting on top of her garish yellow backpack (hmm—reminds him of someone) was a ring. Katsuki was pretty sure with how many years, he’d been searching for one of them, that it was one of the Celeste rings he’d been pining over moments before. And…it was just…dangling on her fucking backpack next to an omamori charm for protection. That’s fucking…stupid. What dumbass gives a teenager a multimillion dollar ring as fucking key chain and then hopes for protection?! Shitty Dickhead is practically asking for the girl to be robbed! Part of him wants believe that there’s a high chance that the ring is just a coincidental look-alike, so against his better judgement, he leaves the matter alone, hoping it doesn’t turn the girl into a walking target of some kind. Guess it’s a good thing, there’s an omamori next to it—damn kid’s gonna need it. Very few people would notice unless they were close to her or even understand its weighty value without researching as much as he does. If Katsuki were less of a man, he’d try to buy off of her for cheap, and Katsuki was not a lessor man. He did think about it though. He shakes himself of the thought and comes back to the present.

The young pro hero looked down at the disheveled girl now smiling at him—tears still pouring down cheeks as she wipes them away aggressively. Confusion etched his face as he tried to comprehend what was happening. "What the hell are you doing, kid? Do I know you?" he asked, concern lacing his voice. “And shit…you look like hell, you alright kid?”

The girl quickly composed herself: "Oh, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed. "You just reminded me of someone special.” Katsuki’s brow furrowed while lifting one, curiosity shining in his crimson eyes. Before he opened his mouth, she continued.

The girl: Katso-Uh…I-I mean, Dynamight. Could you tell me…what’s today’s date?

Katso? He thought that maybe it’s some new fan-made nickname. “Are you fucking kidding me? It’s December 31, 2199. That fall must have jacked up your head, you sure you’re ok?”

At the statement, the girl starts to stare off into space, a palm to her lips with her eyebrows scrunched. She stands there for almost a full minute, unmoving until snapping his fingers in front of her face to break her out from blank-space gaze. Katsuki was starting to wonder if she needed medical attention.

Katsuki: Oi kid!...Fuck…let go get your parents and to a hosp—

The girl: NO! no…I-I mean really…I’m ok Dynamight. I-I’m just starstruck! Y-Yeah. Starstruck.

It’s a nice cover-up, he’ll admit, but normally fans stared at him, not past him. And they didn’t mutter things like 2225, machine, and regrets…yeah, this girl is a weird one for sure, and he’s seen some wild shit. Is she covering for someone? Is someone nearby who’s abusing her and she’s trying to send him a message for help? She didn’t look too great before he ran into her…

Katsuki: “Hey, kid…where are your paren—”

He notices she’s staring off to space again, but this time, instead of forward, she is looking up above his head and he catches signs of worry begin to edge into youthful face. The fuck is she looking at?? He says to himself. His crimson eyes follow hers to upper space above his where she’s staring—and shifts them back at her. Then…looks back up to the air and back at her…to the air and then back…he checks the time.

Oh man. He does not have time for this. He pondered a life lesson he observed from his beloved self-less nerd about caring for people, who always took the time out to talk for a bit to everyone and anyone—even villains. You never know what you learn just by listening, and Katsuki be damned if that didn’t work during the war when it came to Lady Nagant or fucking Gentle Criminal. The damn greenie could make a friend anywhere and everywhere while knocking their goddamn lights out. Damn, Deku was hot. The blonde takes a glance at his watch: 4:15PM; the mall closes at 5PM. He needed to get moving, so despite the lesson, he tried to rush her a bit.

Taking a hand and raking it through his hair, he speaks in exasperation: “Hey, ki-“

Not breaking eye contact with the airspace above him, she interrupts: Dynamight, I promise I will not be so bothersome as to take up too much of your valuable time. My name is Kisara. I’m here to talk to you specifically. I’ll cut to the chase. Y-you want something don’t you, Kat-Dynamight? Or…someone, rather?

What. The. Fuck? Katsuki thought. What kind of intro is that? I barely fucking caught it and what is with her question and what she muttered earlier AND WHAT IN THE EVER LOVING FUCK IS ABOVE MY HEAD??? The blonde hero almost short circuits trying to figure out the girl in front of him. So, in his most educated and adult fashion with years of hero training and experience under his belt he eloquently asks: “Say what now?”

Kisara only smiles and keeps her gaze above him: It’s almost time, Dynamight. Tonight. When…it…happens, don’t be too sad. I can help you.

Katsuki tenses at her words: “What? What’s happening tonight? What are you talking about kid, where’re your parents?”

“Yeah…sure” Katsuki was not convinced, but he had plans now and time was ticking, especially now that he had a new mission. “Well. Cool. You ok, kid?”

Unfazed and unbothered, the eccentric girl looks at him with newfound determination: “Come meet me at the stream on January 10 near midnight and I can help you. That’s as much time I can give you before it’s too late to make a decision, Dynamight. I’m sorry I can’t give you more time than that.”

Katsuki could swear people could visibly see the smoke coming out of his own ears from how hard he was thinking on trying to understand this girl: “Da fuck?! What the hell are you talking about?! And what about what stream?!”

Kisara: Where it all started between you two, you and Pro Hero Deku.

Katsuki takes a step forward: “What?! How do you know about the strea—?”

How does she know about that memory? What is happening on New Year’s and WHO THE FUCK IS SHE??

Kisara (In a strange move, she touches him arm and removes it just as quickly) : I’m sorry, I gotta go! Remember the stream!

He lunges while she runs into the mall crowd. The fuck? Is this tag? Did she do something to me? Katsuki follows faithfully behind still trying not too cause much of a scene in case there is nearby danger. People running in a frenzy in a crowded place like this mall makes for more injuries than one can imagine. However, as soon as Kisara enters into an empty store under renovation, she’s gone. With nothing there but ripped bare floor tiles, wires showing from the lighting in the ceiling and an expansive emptiness of no merchandise, no people and splattered coats of paint on the wall, the girl seems to have vanished into thin air.

To say that Katsuki is confused is an understatement. He rubs the back of his head again and wonders if he imagined it all.

SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT: Attention Patrons. Mall will be closing in 30 Minutes.

Fuck. I gotta get to the merch store. He reminds himself, trying capture some grip of sanity back from the last few minutes with the girl. Taking one glance back into the empty store, he heads to his final destination, making a mental note of laying down for a minute when he gets the chance in case he actually did have a concussion.

#bakudeku #archive of our own #dekubaku #deku #dynamight #bakugou katsuki #bnha bakugo katsuki #katsudeku #ao3 fanfic

0 notes

funmalibmillie · 6 months

Text

Can you tell that I had way too much making the first half of this pic if I made up some supportive images on Canva for it? I'll be posting the images I did that accompany my new bkdk fanfic piece "Ripple" on Archive of our own. Check out Chapter 1 of Ripple: Chapter 1: Denki Bares the News

---------------

It’s the morning before the celebration of the New Year 2200 and this was a rare opportunity for Best Jeanist to give Katsuki some time off from hero work. Alright, Alright…gave is putting it lightly. Forced. Forced is more like it. Katsuki told Billie Jeans that he was fine. He’s just had a lot on his mind recently which made him just a tiny-smidgen-you-can’t-even-see-it-through-a-microscope upset! A lot being a green haired, green eyed freckled asswipe that has haunted his every wet dream almost every night since the end of the war in their first year. His hand has amazing stamina at this point. He just…can’t tell Deku his feelings for obvious reasons. Katsuki has been breaking his ass to reach his childhood goal of the Number 1 Hero spot. There is no time for shitty extras and sappy romances; they’ll just get in his way and he’ll never be number 1 with such distractions. Especially when one of the people in his damn way right now is Deku ranking 5th in the recent fucking hero charts with Katsuki at the 6th! THE 6TH! Stupid Nerd! Stupid Starry Freckles! Stupid Blinding Smile! Stupid Forest-laden Eyes! Stupid Chiseled Greek God Body! Stupid Voice that got deeper as they got older and now sounds like vocal chocolate that Katsuki wanted to lick into oblivion! S-Stupid EVERYTHING! Everything is out of order! First is Katsuki (ALWAYS) and then Deku (IF HE’S LUCKY!). So Katsuki Bakugo does NOT have time to take a vacation or date or do any other distracting thing when he could be doing more to up his ranks! Seriously, Universe?? Go fuck yourself.

Billie Jeans seems to disagree and thinks Katsuki’s “unwillingness” to not stay after work; his increased—albeit-already-abnormally-high-for-your-average-22-year-old—irritability toward anyone simply breathing; and his not-so-subtle-but-totally-not-a-big-deal “ExTReMe UsE oF FooORCe” as obnoxiously mentioned by the media on small-time villains will get in the way of his hero work.

Standing high on his designer Levi-branded soapbox, Denim Head went on the same rant he’s told Bakugo over a thousand times about how similar he was to the younger man as a hot-headed, childish, and arrogant new hero years ago. He paid a high price for his cockiness one day, when due to his lack of attention, a villain he apprehended broke loose, causing the death of a civilian and a still-missing child. That incident forever changed the way the fashion hero performed his duties, and he’s never stopped looking for the missing kid. He targeted the hot-headed ash blond because he didn’t want Katsuki to make a similar mistake and—blah blah blah.

Shit happens, ok?! I mean, Katsuki’s not heartless anymore, but he still knows that things don’t always come out perfect in a hero/villain situation. Jeansie didn’t go into much detail, but it wasn’t his fault, it was the villain’s. Right? Right. As for Katsuki, this was totally unrelated. So what if the younger blond hero used a howitzer impact on a petty purse thief last month? Makes the shitty villain more convinced to not do it or other crap like that again. Faster reform for the snatcher and a bigger message to the remaining extras in Japan who might want to try the same stupid crap on his watch. It’s win-win situation, right? But NNoOoOooOo. Apparently, that and yelling at reporters and making 1 or 2…or 4 dispatch workers cry within the last 5 days is means for Billie Jeans to give his explosive ash blonde sidekick of 3 years an ultimatum—take at least two weeks of earned leave or take two months of suspension from hero work. Guess which one Katsuki picked?

Sigh…so there he was. Begrudgingly at the favorite brunch restaurant of his Bakusquad (Raccoon Eyes, Soy Sauce Face, Shitty Hair, Ears, and Sparkplug), on the verge of getting kicked out since Damn Denki can’t hold his alcohol from the bottomless mimosas the table ordered. Katsuki doesn’t drink alcohol frequently and if he does, he has his reasons, but he doesn’t get shit-faced like the rest of his (don’t-tell-them-this) friends. It’s just wet carbs to him and he’s on a tight eating regime and sleep schedule. Mina is currently laughing her ass off and trying in vain to prevent the Chargedolt from getting on top of the table and singing a recent pop song VERY off-key. Soy Sauce Face and Shitty Hair are loudly yucking away about the MMA fighter line-up coming this weekend and Ears is just sitting coolly and seemingly unaffected…oh she has noise reduction buds on (good idea). And out of the corner of his eye, a poor young waitress stands off to the side, shaking her head, which Katsuki is sure he hears her say before she storms away, throwing off her apron: “They don’t pay me enough for this shit.” Tch. Same, Girl. Same.

“Guys! Guys!” loudly slurs the blonde electric hero. Luckily, it was was too early in the morning to be that crowded, but Mina’s always anticipated the rowdiness of the crew and booked a semi secluded area of the restaurant.

“Keep it down, Denks!” Demands Mina.

“Got it!” Continues Denki at the same volume. “Did you hear? Shindo is gonna propose to Midoriya tonight at the New Year’s Hero Gala!”

(Cue Record Needle Scratch) SCCCRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCCHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

“HHHHHAAAAAANNNNNHHHHH???!!!!!!!” Katsuki interjects, hiding a twinge of sadness and jealousy under his signature angry scowl. He knew of Deku and Pan-Quake dating but didn’t think they were that serious.

Mina: “Oh, yeah, you didn’t know Blasty?”

Katsuki (tries to not express his annoyance): “Tch. My guess is Pan-Quake is just trying to use Dumbass Deku for his hero ranking to boost himself up.”

“Uh…” Speaks Kirishima, “Kats, I don’t know about that. I think Shindo’s been serious from the get-go about Mido since the provisional licensing exam.”

Sero mentions brightly: Literally swooped him off his feet that day!

“Haven’t they only been dating for about 8 months?” Asks Jiro, she seems to be suddenly engaged with conversation now that the voices have returned to reasonable decibels.

Sero: Yeah, but I think they’ve been off and on for the past couple of years. They’ve known each other for while, and they work at the same agency now, right? Mirko’s?

Denki (Sighs slowly while staring into the distance, sitting his chin in the palm of his hand): Oh, yes. My lavender lover is at Mirko’s, too!

Jiro (smirking): So is Momo.

Kirishima (bringing the conversation back to the greenie): I think Yo-kun’s been chasing after Midobro since he got back from his overseas mission after we all graduated.

Mina: Naw, even before then too, Babe. Remember when all the hero schools partnered more after the war? Whenever we combined with Ketsubutsu, Yo-kun had nothing but heart eyes for Midoriya then too.

Denki (coming back to earth): Well…If my gossip is right, and it always is, Shindo is going all in. Even the Sahara Desert doesn’t compare to his thirst for the green bean.

Sero: Didn’t Izuku save him from Muscular when he went on his vigilante shit?

Denki: Holy fuck, you’re right!

Mina: No wonder he’s head over-heels!

Jiro: I mean, yeah, have you guys even seen the new magazine highlighting the top 5 heroes recently??

Oh…Um…Yeah…Katsuki definitely saw the new magazine and NO he didn’t get it because of the shitty nerd even though that was his first time buying the magazine since All Might retired. He got it for…for…analytical purposes…yeah…ANALYTICAL PURPOSES for when he outranks Deku in the next hero billboard charts in a few months. Nice to get an idea of what they’ll ask him when he hits top 5. And NO, Katsuki absolutely didn’t go home and read and reread the entire article on Deku for over 45 minutes completely ignoring the rest of the magazine. And under NOcircumstances-NONE-NADA-ZERO-did he jerk off once or twice or four to Stupid Deku’s photo spread! Katsuki was still having a hard time focusing, not just on the magazine which he may or may not take out later for more analytical purposes, but marriage? The nerd? To some extra like the human vibrator of all people? Didn’t Deku have standards? And plus, aren’t they all too young? Yeah, they’ve seen some shit with the war and everything, but for Katsuki, that only fueled him to get to his dreams faster of being the number 1 hero, not…ya-know…fall in love or anything like that. Or admit his love to Number 5 for that matter. He’s had a few flings and one-night stands to get the edge off, but he’s not longed for anything beyond that, well…it doesn’t help perhaps that he mostly imagined his partners with freckled and scarred skin, green hair and green eyes, but still.

Kirishima: Woof. Who hasn’t seen it? Our little Greenie’s come a long way, hasn’t he? Super ma—

Denki: —I’d like to make him come a long way, if you catch my—

Jiro: Puh-lease Denks, it’s 10 in the morning!!!

Denki: Okay! Okay. Either way, it’s definitely happening tonight. My sources—

Kirishima: What sourc—

Denki: Doesn’t matter. My sources say that Shindo No-Mo-Ho has had the ring since the summertime, and was actually planning on taking our Mido to Yuuga’s Restaurant and Vineyard to propose then, but ya know…hero work and all that.

Sero: Did you say Yuuga’s? As in Aoyama Yuuga?

Mina: Yes, the one who refused to tell us how or why he managed to bitch Mineta.

Jiro: In all fairness, Grape Juice was a sick bitch to begin with.

Denki: He goes by WineNDine now. Remember? Either way, Whatever magic or quirk our blond drag glitter queen pulled, had Mineta singing a new tune when we came back as second years.

Katsuki found himself tuning them out on their next wave of gossip, his thoughts going toward a man of green. As a matter of fact, when was the last time he talked with Deku? Like really talked? Was it Auntie’s and All Might wedding a year and a half ago? Shit. He really dropped the ball in keeping up with him. Izuku texts him every now and again, but Katsuki rarely responds back and if he does, it’s normally short responses. Nothing to keep the conversation going. Now that he thinks about it, he hasn’t heard from the nerd in a while.

Mina (reaching over the table to wave a hand in Bakugo’s face): Blasty…Yoohoo?! Are you still on earth with us?

Katsuki (shaking out of his daze): SHUT THE HELL UP!

Denki: Ah, there he is. So…how are you feeling about this Kats?

Katsuki: Fuck do you mean. Dunce Face?

Kirishima: Come on Bakubro, we all know you’ve been pining for Mido for a long LONG time now. Holding in your true feelings’ not very ma—

Katsuki: —I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Throwing up their hands together in perfect practiced choreography, Jirou, Kirishima, Sero, Mina and Denki all grunt in unison: UGH, HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Katsuki: WHAT?!

Kirishima: Seriously?! Bakubro, how long are you going to do this for?!

Sero: Well…you know what guys? Now that I think about it, it’s too late isn’t it?

Mina: To tell the truth? It’s never too late for that, even it’s just to get it off your chest. –nods at Sero then returns her attention to the irate blond—Blasty, you’ve almost died! Both of you! All of us! Multiple times! None of those moments ever showed you that maybe—just maybe—that life is too short to handle your relationship—

Denki: Or lack thereof

Mina (continues over Denki): —the way you do?

Jiro: We all know he confessed to you the night of the graduation party.

Katsuki: Wha-how do you know that, Ears?!

Kirishima glared at Katsuki—a rare sighting on his normally happy-go-lucky friend: Bro, because he asked us for advice on how to approach you about it.

Oh no. The nerd got the squad involved? Shit.

Sero (voice downcast): Yeah, Kats, he wanted to see if we might know how you’d respond.

Denki: We all told him yes, that you…

Katsuki: —that I what?

Mina: that you liked—maybe even loved—him beyond the platonic sense.

Jiro: Yeah, Bakugo, the signs were all there. By our 3rd year—hell even before then—you shifted when it came to Midoriya. You may have spewed the regular insult, but it didn’t have as much bite as it did as in our first year.

Kirishima: When you two sparred or went out on your internships or just hung out with everyone during game night, you were a Wonder Duo. Like you two worked so perfectly in sync as if you were made for each other—on and off the field. It was incredible to see that, it was super ma—

Sero: —Plus, it was the way you looked at him sometimes Kats. Don’t think we never noticed. By the time we graduated, you would get more and more “angry”—sero puts up air quotation marks—by the tiniest stuff Midoriya would do. You paid attention to him more; you’re damn eyes were pretty glued to him.

Denki: You even smiled more! God, the first time that happened, I thought you were demon possessed! I was half tempted to asked you for your TIC (Toga Identity Code)!

Mina: So, imagine our surprise on graduation night, when you came back down from the roof top alone huffing and puffing with poor Midoriya nowhere in sight? We only learned later that he locked himself in his room for two days only to suddenly pop out afterward and tell everyone he’d taken a job overseas for a year.

Of course Katsuki remembers that night. Too fucking well actually. While he has many regrets he refuses to voice—other than his apology for how he treated Izuku when he was younger—the one he made that night…made the top spot.

----

CUE FLASHBACK START: MAY 11, 2196

On graduation night, bathed in the twilight's bittersweet purples and pinks, Izuku mustered his courage. Sweat coated his palms, and his heartbeat reverberated in his ears like a dolorous chant. The time had come.

Katsuki always paid close attention to details. It was in those details he found his next move. Always a man of action. Every knoll and cranny of the UA whispered tales of his own journey of a hero in training. For three years, they had been together — him, his friends, and his insecurities, and most interestingly…Izuku. The feelings that blossomed for the greenie over time were just as vibrant as the man itself. Tonight as he followed Izuku to the UA rooftop, the echoes of his past were overpowered by the pulsating rhythm of his heart.

The door to the rooftop creaked under their history, blending with the laughter of nervous anticipation.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Izuku asked, gesturing to the vast cityscape bathed in the moon's tender glow. The neon lights flickered on and off like fireflies.

Katsuki nodded hesitatingly, attempting to purge the sinking feeling from his heart and replace it with the grandeur of the scene. Everything to Katsuki was Izuku. The latter had been a constant. The anchor in his raging storm, keeping Katsuki together and grounding him though he didn’t admit it. But there was a strange energy in the air tonight, a sense that something irrevocable was on the brink.

"I've, uh, I've wanted to tell you something for a while now, Kacchan," Izuku began, drawing Katsuki's attention away from captivating view of the city they’ve saved countless times as a Wonder Duo to the more mesmerizing view of the man beside him. This wasn't the same scrawny, quirkless boy who Katsuki betrayed and used as a punching bag. This Deku was different. This was Izuku.

At first glance, he would pass as the person the blond used to know. Same green eyes that sparkled with peridots and emeralds, but these held an added depth to them, hardened like a diamond under pressure. His hair was still viridian evergreen but ran wild like tiger stripes, earning him an air of rugged charm. His well-worn ridiculous ‘T-Shirt’ t-shirt hugged his bulkier frame, revealing the physical testament to a sudden life of heroics as the ninth and final wielder of One for All. Katsuki examined Izuku, his heart squirmed in its cage, caught off guard by an overwhelming rush of emotions. God…could the nerd have looked more glorious?

His voice trembled slightly, “Kacchan, I…uhm…”

Katsuki’s never been a man of words. Neither was he a patient one and his nervousness definitely didn’t help lighten the mood, but he barked with no bite: “Spit it out, nerd. Haven’t we gotten past you being nervous and shit around me?”

Izuku: Well, it’s…this…is not that easy.

Katsuki: Come out with it, dumbass, I ain’t getting any younger!

Izuku: I love you! Or rather I like you a lot. But like…like like. Is that too much? I just—”

Izuku rambled on but the world spun around Katsuki, and he didn’t hear a damn thing. A strange feeling, a cocktail of excitement, relief, and dread, settled in his gut. The confession mirrored the blonde’s feelings and stirred a gale in his heart yet; he utterly feared the repercussions. He wanted Izuku. Gods, he wanted him. Strip him bare, bend Deku over and ram into his ass right then and there with all the stars and holy hosts watching above them, but Katsuki couldn’t. The blond didn’t want to address those types of feelings. Not right now. After dying at the war and learning of the sacrifices made to keep him alive, he became even more determined to pursue his dream of the Number 1 Hero spot. He didn’t want to make time for…this…but in the future, yes. Oh gods yes, Izuku please. And if he was honest, he felt Deku deserved better. Preferably someone who didn’t come up with the name “Deku.” Someone who didn’t hurt him. Someone equally loyal and bright and blinding. Izuku’s freckled Adonis body only knew Katsuki’s hands as an abuser, a bully, a rival, and the blond didn’t know if his hands could be anything else for Izuku beyond that. Coming back from his thoughts and catching the nerd in a mutter, his heart ached at his decision.

Izuku: “I-I have been in love with you for—uhm—for…geez…ever? I just didn’t want for both of us to graduate today and not tell you how I fe—

Katsuki couldn't meet his gaze, feeling himself a traitor: I don’t love you.

Silence followed his declaration — pure and unwavering, casting a hallowed spell over them.

Izuku, the bright ray of sunshine that he his…Izuku’s smile didn't falter, but in his eyes were trees of the deepest rainforest rocked and bent relentlessly back and forth from a hurricane of hurt. Katsuki wanted to take the words back then and there. The blond cared for him, loved him with a passion as explosive as his quirk, but his own insecurities and fears of commitment clouded his senses. He was too afraid to accept that he could be enough for Izuku, that he could, in fact, love him, worship him the way Deku deserved.

Izuku: I….oh. Oh. I…

Katsuki eyes brimmed with an uncanny mixture of regret and guilt. He tried to hide his hitching breath, and he felt the world beneath them give away.

Katsuki: Sor-, I-, Deku, Y-you need get over me. Get over this. I-I’m s…I just. I’m not in love with you like that.

Izuku (stutter completely gone): I understand. Thanks for being straightforward, Kacchan.

Katsuki: Tch. W-whatever nerd. We won’t speak of this again. This will stay between us, y-yeah? Just—let’s just get back downstairs.

Izuku: I’ll head down in a minute. –wipes at a tear falling down his cheek— Enjoy the party.

Leaving Izuku on the rooftop, Katsuki returns to the commotion below. Despite the masses moving with Jiro’s music, he can feel eyes on him as he made his way to kitchen.

Kirishima looks nervously at Sero, Mina, and Denki before speaking: “Bakubro, y-you um-“

“What Shitty Hair?” huffs the blond, irritated by the existence of people in general at the moment, saddling roughly at the kitchen island bar.

“Nothing Blasty, here’s a drink!” Interrupts Mina, giving Kiri a woeful smile and a slight shake of the head. “Congrats on uh…getting an offer at Best Jeanist’s Agency.”

“Tch. Of fucking course. What would Billie Jeans do without me?” He spits, his eyes never making contact with theirs’s.

Denki shakes his head and offers a wince that passes as a tired smile. He sighs. “Yeah. Yeah Kat. Congrats.”

The night weighed on Katsuki like no other. When the nerd returned from the US, he became an even greater force to be reckoned with: more confident in his sense of self, more fluid in his quirk, more socially adept, more devastatingly beautiful, and Katsuki just didn’t know what to feel. His feelings never changed for Deku; they only deepened. As they deepened, Katsuki grew more distant.

FLASH BACK END.

Katsuki can barely form a coherent thought. He needed some time to himself. The nerd wasn’t seriously tying the knot right now was he? They’re in their 20’s for Kami sake, should they be really thinking about heavy crap like marriage when they have the rest of their lives to go for that sappy shit? And why fucking Pan-Quake? Katsuki abruptly rises from his seat, grabs his wallet and puts cash on the table for his portion of the meal. He’ll get to the bottom of this.

Katsuki: Just leave it alone, guys. As long as the nerd is…happy.

Kirishima: Kat. We were just—

Katsuki makes a predatorial glare at the squad before pacing out: Leave. It. Alone.

Denki (woefully too inebriated to care about the death glare): Wait, where are you headed out to, Kats?

Katsuki (already walking away shouts over his shoulder): Picking up some shit for the old hag! Now, fuck off!

As the blond makes his way out toward his car, he whips out his phone to do something he realizes he hasn’t done in a while: initiate contact with Izuku. Upon closer inspection of the text message dates when he presses send, he comes to a startling discovery:

“Holy shit. How did I forget the nerd’s birthday?”

#bakudeku #bkdk #bnha bkdk #dekubaku #kacchan #decchan #mha bkdk #archive of our own

15 notes · View notes