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When Katsuki reflects on his first year and the introduction of the Big Three, he never imagined he would one day fill their shoes. Yet here he stands before Class 1-A, with Aizawa by his side and a group of students gazing at him in awe. Some gasp and twitch with excitement, while others blush and sweat at the sight of the Symbol of Victory before them. The rest offer him nods of acknowledgment, their eyes filled with determination and hope for a promising future.
Principal Nezu requested that the third-year students speak to the first-years as part of their curriculum, aiming to inspire the younger generation and demonstrate what it means to go beyond. Each third-year student can choose the mini-lesson or speech they wish to present to the class. Based on how effectively they communicate and demonstrate their lesson, they receive credit. To nurture the next generation, it is essential to pass the baton of legacy so that history does not repeat itself. In this way, there can be a future where heroes have too much time on their hands because they have done their jobs well.
Today, Katsuki raises his head high, his chest slightly puffed out, as he scans the room with a sharp gaze. There is a lot of work to be done with the kids in front of him, but perhaps he can say something to uplift them. Aizawa introduces Katsuki properly, as if he needed an introduction, and Katsuki nods before addressing the class.
"Listen up, brats!" The class huddled at the front of the room, forming a circle around him to watch his demonstrations. He had planned this lesson carefully, knowing he would earn credit and bonus points for it (he wasn’t one to do things halfway). He taught about limit testing—how they should understand their limits and strive to surpass them; that way, they would recognize their own strengths and weaknesses before pushing beyond them.
Katsuki raises his left hand since he is still undergoing physical therapy for his right arm and chooses not to put too much strain on it. He releases a small, sparkling burst. "You have to understand that it isn't always about what is big and flashy. More often than not, overusing your quirk will get you into serious trouble, and now you are a liability to those around you. Learn to use your quirk sparingly and maintain control over your own body."
The sparks flicker and grow larger as he releases small bursts of explosions, then stops to clench his fist. He opens it again, palm facing upward, producing a slightly bigger explosion. It resembles blinking lights—a controlled experiment that took years of training to master. The students lean in, jaws dropped, amazed by the level of control and steadiness they have never witnessed before. He continues the process: clenching his fist, opening it, producing varying amounts of sparks, clenching again, and repeating. Eventually, Katsuki stops and smirks, propping his left hand on his hip while shifting his weight onto the other leg.
"I make everything look easy, kids, but with enough practice and discipline, you can all do it too. Now, to wrap it all up, find your limit. How little energy can you use to just start activating your quirk? How much can you use your quirk up to your current maximum limit? Only then will you discover how to push past and expand what you are capable of."
His voice does not waver at all. He is confident, smiling broadly, and the squint of his eyes from his wide grin reassures the young class. He aced it; nothing went wrong, and he can subtly boast about it to his classmates later.
Then, the situation shifts when the kids return to their seats. One of them sneezes and accidentally pushes a girl, who squeals as she falls toward Katsuki, but she manages to catch herself. In the process, a sweet scent fills the air, reminiscent of strawberry candy and cotton candy. Katsuki had read her file—he had reviewed everyone's—and noticed that her bottom lip trembled and her eyes were often watery. Her file indicated she lacked confidence and control over her quirk. Katsuki observed how his lesson comforted her, as her shoulders relaxed and her eyes sparkled with hope. However, all that progress was immediately undone as soon as he inhaled, and the change was instantaneous.
The constant pain in his chest eases, and the threads holding his heart together unravel, softly pulsing. Katsuki feels as if he no longer needs medication because the aches in his body have lifted, replaced by a delicate sensation that tickles him. He relaxes, sensing that all the trauma and burdens have been lifted from his shoulders. He feels safe and protected; the ever-present danger and his usual hyper-awareness are unnecessary in this space.
He reaches up to touch his chest in awe, feeling the beat of his own heart beneath his fingertips as it plays a beautiful melody. He can't help but look down at his hand and chest, feeling as if his bones could turn to jelly. He feels like he's floating; normally, he would be alarmed, but this is a pleasant, welcome sensation he embraces. This feeling is definitely different from the effects of the pain medications he was on after the war and every other medicine he took. He looks up to gauge everyone's expressions.
The students are tense, frozen in place where they had planned to move to their assigned seats before the sneeze. He analyzes who he can see and notes that everyone is safe, protected, and trusted. His body feels good, like sinking into a warm bath or setting freshly baked brownies on the counter, the steam rising and filling the air with the comforting smell.
This should scare him, being open and welcoming. His right arm is numb, not with prickling pains, but in a way that makes him feel as he did before the war: unstoppable and free. Any panic, irritation, or anger that might stab and swallow his heart dissolves into thin air. Before any negative emotion can take hold, waves of warmth wash over him. Katsuki hums, lowers his hand to his side, and blinks when he hears sobbing.
The girl is crying, wiping her big tears with the back of her hands, and snot comes out of one nostril. She's sniffling, and in between her gasps for air, she rubs her eyes furiously, only for more teardrops to flow. "I'm so sorry, Bakugou-san."
Katsuki shuffles closer and raises his left hand to pat her on the head; her hair is silky, which makes his fingers twitch. "Hey, it's okay, kiddo. We're safe. There's nothing you have to worry about. Everything will be alright." He coos before looking at Aizawa.
Aizawa's eye is red, and some of his hair stands up, like a balloon was rubbed against his hair, but his jaw is tight and his face is drawn in cold sweat. Katsuki has been around his teacher long enough to know that something is not right but can't be bothered in this moment to be terribly concerned. He still feels like he is walking on water, and he's bundled under his favorite fluffy blanket. It feels like the moment before you close your eyes for sleep, and Katsuki's shoulders sag a little more when he pulls away from the students. He sighs fondly and blinks again, almost drowsily. Maybe he could fall asleep standing. Even if he hits the floor, he thinks the floor might be comforting too and feel like freshly cut grass on a breezy summer day.
"Bakugou," Aizawa's voice is strained and tense. Katsuki can tell the tone is only used when students have been testing his patience. Right now, though, Katsuki is only feeling safe and protected. "How are you feeling?"
The question is vague, open-ended, and up to interpretation to a certain extent. It sounds like an important question if it made the teacher pause to find the right wording. Katsuki gathers up the attention he can to focus, despite wanting to just sink into the beanbags back in the common rooms of 3A. No pain in his chest. No irritation. His right hand does not tingle anymore. No discomfort. When he inhales deeply, it doesn't burn his ribs. From what he has gathered, he maintains a sense of liberality and easement. The thought of irritation doesn't pierce his heart like it normally would, and caution seems to be a foreign thing. Katsuki wants to dwell in the feeling of what it's like to witness the sunrise at the peak of a mountaintop from a well-earned hike.
"Like a fucking delight," Katsuki responds truthfully with an amused snort, not that he is known to be a liar. He focuses his gaze on his teacher, who stops using his quirk and curses under his breath. The damage is already done. "I'm more in tune with my emotional connection than my mental one. I think I would fight another war if there was a good reason...besides the end of the entire fucking world. Again."
"Suzuki," Aizawa calls out in urgency after the last few words Katsuki said, and the girl, who stopped crying, straightens up with a hiccup. "Quirk designation and description, please."
The girl sniffs, and her eyes start to water again. Katsuki goes to pat her head again a few times. It allows the girl to swallow deeply and blink back the tears. Katsuki deems it okay to repeat the process despite the invasion of intimacy he would not normally initiate under normal circumstances.
"Gullibility, Sensei. I can release a smell from my skin that acts as a neurochemical. It sends brain signals that make people lose their normal social skills and become extremely agreeable, trusting, and really gullible. If you're nice enough to him, he will be more than willing to do what you ask him to. I-I'm not sure how much he inhaled. It can last from fifteen minutes to five hours."
"Five hours?!" Aizawa restates in disbelief before he closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose, counting in his head to relax. Katsuki watches the practice, remembering that was a technique he was taught in his therapy sessions to regain control of strong emotions. It's interesting seeing someone else use the advice, and it's admirable how quickly Aizawa opens his eyes and removes his hand from his face. He doesn't look as stressed anymore, but there is a sense of urgency that Katsuki can't feel but can see.
Katsuki uses this moment to assess the gravity of the situation. How vulnerable he is if his social inhibitions have been altered to make him more agreeable and openly trusting of others. It's a different type of way of being taken advantage of than he is used to compared to being held physically hostage and abducted. This time, he can't control what he does to protect himself. He probably wouldn't jump out of the window if asked. But, if they were smart and nice, he could leak the entire UA blueprints and layout. Maybe say his parents' address, Izuku's connections with All Might, his friends' and Class 3-B's weaknesses, Best Jeanist's work schedule, and his own deepest secrets.
Ah. This would be dangerous if he were with the wrong people. He's grateful the girl wants to be a hero and not a villain. He can exploit and use his friends and pro heroes as collateral. But on the other hand...
He's in a place that is safe, surrounded by aspiring heroes like himself with his homeroom teacher. He's still warm and fuzzy. He's safe. Everyone is safe. Therefore, everything is fine.
"Everyone take a seat. Since your regular instructor is out on maternity leave, I am going to call Principal Nezu to watch over your class. Do not talk amongst each other or ask anything from your senior," Aizawa instructs, and the younglings scramble to their seats obediently. He looks at Katsuki with a deep frown and furrowed brows. "Bakugou, stay here. I'm going to call for Iida to help guide you back to the dorms until further notice."
Katsuki nods. "Yes, sensei."
Aizawa sighs and steps out of the classroom and behind the door, calling the principal. Now left alone with the kids, they look away from him as if he were something sacred. They are either looking amongst themselves, at their own desk with textbooks, or fidgeting with hands. Katsuki is satisfied with his lesson now that he thinks about why he was here in the first place. He was teaching them about limitations, and what better way to learn than experience? He claps his hands to draw attention from the class, and all the heads whip up in startlement. He gives a droopy smile with a chuckle at his success despite the sting on his palms.
"Listen up, everyone. You can't be fucking afraid to use your quirk! That's the only way to find your limits. When you exercise your quirk, you can discover endless possibilities. You can't always afford to fail in the real world. Make all your mistakes now to save yourself the trouble later. Focus and do your damn best. Do you understand?!" Katsuki said, projecting his voice as he took another glance at everyone. Suzuki stopped crying and nodded at his encouragement. He sent her a toothy grin and lifted his knuckles in the air, giving the class an air fist bump.
"Yes!" The class chants and the classroom door, some raising their own hand up to reciprocate the fist bump despite the distance. Then the doors slam wide open from the commotion. The one who opened the door was Iida, who was panting heavily, like he had run all the way there, while Principal Nezu smiled gently up at him with a wave. Aizawa looks like he has an incoming migraine, or maybe he already has one, judging by the absence of the smell of coffee he normally has.
"I made it here as soon as possible after briefing the class. Are you feeling alright, Bakugou?!" Iida exclaimed, waving his hand around with stiff fingers.
Katsuki looks at him and thinks. It makes sense Aizawa-sensei brought Iida with his quirk. In case he needed to get away to a safer environment quicker, Iida could just protect him if there was harm. They aren't particularly close, but Katsuki has gained respect for the class president over time. It only makes sense the class president would help take responsibility for incidents like this, too. Iida is responsible and disciplined in nature.
"Thanks, Class Prez. I feel great, better now that you're here. You're one of the most reliable people I know. I'm thankful to be in your care,. Katsuki admits, and Iida is stunned, frozen with his jaw dropped. Katsuki snickers in fondness at the reaction.
"Let's go." Aizawa stated, nodding at Nezu, who entered the classroom with a cheery smile.
"A-ah, yes. "Let's get you somewhere less crowded, Bakugou," Iida stutters, wiping his glasses to make sure he's seeing things correctly despite hearing something abnormal instead. Katsuki obeys, pliant and soft, standing beside Iida.
They make it to the Heights Alliance with little to no trouble. Besides, Katsuki stops to listen to the spring leaves blow in the wind or watch squirrels chase each other up trees. It was fascinating; he should appreciate the beauty of nature a little more closely. Iida gently tugs his arm while whipping his head around to make sure nobody is close. There's trust built somewhere, and Katsuki allows himself to be moved forward.
"I thought you were the biggest prick with a stick shoved up your ass our first year..." Katsuki says as he allows himself to be held, and Iida chokes on his saliva. "But you turned out alright. I thought for a long time people could either be on my side or Izuku's, as much as I hated it. It wasn't until before the war that I realized we were all in this together for each other. You helped a lot when we went to go rescue Izuku. Shit, even when you came to save me. So, thanks. It couldn't have happened without you."
And he continues to ramble, and it gets Iida emotional and flustered.
When they enter the building and take their shoes off, Katsuki sees everyone huddled around in the common room. Kaminari peaks his head out from the crowd and points at them. "Hey, they're back!"
Everyone looks at them as they step closer. They all shift to circle the blonde as Iida shouts to give the boy some space. He sees everyone looking at him like he's something delicate and porcelain. Normally he would be offended, but he can't help but feel extremely cared for in the moment. He hums and gives a small smile. He's gone through a war with every single one of them, and there's nobody else he'd rather have his back than this group around him.
"Oh my gosh, Bakubro is so soft! His cheeks are pink and his eyes are droopy!" Mina squeals.
"He's so tame and happy; it's kind of scary. Like he's high as a k—" Mineta shivers, but Sero cuts him off and hits him in the back of the head.
Aizawa sighs, rubbing his eye, and Katsuki turns to him. "Sensei, I made coffee this morning. It's cold now, but you should drink some to help your migraine. You normally have coffee before any of us wake up, but you didn't today because of my lesson preparations. When you smell like coffee, it's comforting. Right now, you don't, and it's so fucking weird."
It goes silent before Yaomomo stammers, raising her hand up, "I-I'll go here and up some coffee for Aizawa-sensei!"
"I'll go with you, kero." Tsu adds, following her to the kitchen. Aizawa sighs, mentally preparing himself.
"Alright, everyone. Bakugou has been affected by a quirk that makes him gullible. He's technically medically compromised and would have been in a dangerous situation under different circumstances. His social filter is looser, and he's calm. It can last up to a few hours. In the meantime, create a safe environment for him and protect your classmate, Aizawa announces loudly once Yaomomo and Tsu hand him a mug of coffee with cats on it. The atmosphere shifts from excitement and awe to genuine concern.
"Bakugou has gone through enough traumatic experiences. Shoulder his burdens with him today. I trust none of you will expose him or purposely cause danger. No recordings or videos. Bakugou is a well-known figure all around the world. He's known for a lot of different things, good and bad. Don't let this quirk accident be another list of events his name will fall under if it gets exposed. I will not hesitate to put students under suspension for exploitation. Do you understand?"
Jiro elbows Kaminari at the comment about recording, causing the boy to stick his tongue out at her before nodding in agreement.
"What kind of gullible do you mean, Aizawa-sensei? Will he be more agreeable now?" Midoriya asks, mumbling at the quirk possibilities.
Aizawa thinks for a brief moment before setting his examples: "The quirk bypasses the brain's trust and compliance. After the past thirty minutes, I'm sure he would blow up the UA wall security systems if asked kindly. He admitted he would be willing to fight another war if asked. "
Everyone's face crinkled at the last comment, flashbacks from their first year flooding back into the front of their minds when the gate was disintegrated and students panicked in the food hall. From how much the war impacted them and Katsuki the most after his experiences.
"That sounds awful, Sensei! Shouldn't we keep Bakugou sheltered until the quirk wears off?!" Hagakure exclaimed with concern; her clothes were stretched in a way that showed she was waving her arms in the air.
Aizawa nods in agreement. "This is a controlled environment. The only reason Bakugou is safe is because he has all of you. People who genuinely want the best for him and care for his well-being. Don't make me regret my decision to trust you with Bakugou's life; this is a hero emergency."
People look at each other and nod with a look of determination. Katsuki, huddled around all his friends, feels cozy and at peace. He's with amazing people who helped grow him and allow him to be a better person every day. Plus, he gets the opportunity to spend time with them and help his friends too. He smirks at the thought to himself.
Bakugou clicks his tongue to catch everyone's attention and does so with a cheerful grin and rosy cheeks. "Hey, listen fucking closely because I won't say it again! I am fucking grateful for each and every one of you in this room. I don't know where I would be without you. Thank you for being brothers and sisters in my life. I learned that family is more than just damn blood. It's a bond we forged together through bloodshed, sweat, and tears. I want you all to know that I believe each of you is going to make an amazing hero of the future. Use this fucking opportunity wisely. We save to win, and we win to save. This accident isn't the first, and it sure as fuck isn't the last." The girls cry, some cheer, and others take in the honesty.
Kirishima and Kaminari go to give Katsuki a hug with tear-filled eyes. Kirishima wipes his cheek dramatically. "What a manly confession. We love you too, bro."
Bakugou chuckles as the boys pull away, and there's more chatter now that the air has lightened up. Katsuki is so lucky to be around these idiots.
There's a creaking of metal hinges that draws everyone's attention back to the front door. Everyone is tense and freezes up, some in fighting stances, but Katsuki isn't concerned at all. Everyone is okay, and he is safe. He turns around to see who is there, and when he makes eye contact with the heterochrome, he smiles so wide it burns his cheeks. He steps forward out of the circle and a bit closer to Shouto.
Shouto stands by the closed door, arriving back from his visit to the hospital, leaning down to take his shoes off at the genkan. He looks up confused when he sees everyone huddled around Katsuki in a semicircle with a look of alert and then relief when they realize who walked in. Then his gaze meets Katsuki's face with big dimples and dreamy eyes, like Shouto hung the stars for Katsuki. Bakugou's unscarred arm rises towards the boy, fingers loose, and he blinks slowly.
"Shouto..." he whispers, but to everyone, it's loud and the only thing heard amongst them all.
"Bakugou?" Shouto echoes in confusion as he straightens up the strap of his crossbody bag, still trying to assess the situation when he walks closer. He's guarded and cautious, hunching his shoulders forward as if he were trying to make himself smaller. The confusion from clearly missing important information is so obvious.
But seeing Katsuki clench and unclench his left hand into a fist and the corner of his lips turn up in softness, Todoroki ducks his head so he can pull the strap to his bag over his body and off it. Then he speed walks over, magnetically pulled towards the blonde.
"Oh my God. I called it!" Mina squealed, using the back of her hand to hit Uraraka, who stands there blushing behind her hands.
Their relationship wasn't public, but it was implied. From the times when Shouto would sit beside Katsuki during school travels, keeping him warm with his left side. Katsuki would make extra food in the mornings for Shouto as an excuse to meal prep prior to harder training days. Shouto would help Katsuki with physical therapy using his quirk when the boy had issues with his heart's irregular beating on occasions. The list goes on. But now, this is the first confirmation of their romance in front of all of them.
"Shou." Katsuki calls out again, gently, when Todoroki stops in front of him with raised hands, unsure where to put them.
"Katsuki," Todoroki echoes again, deciding to raise his warm hand to Bakugou's cheek, brushing over the scar with a practiced touch. Katsuki nuzzles into the press and sighs softly with his eyes closed before pulling away slightly to adjust Shouto's tie with pink-dusted cheeks. "What happened?"
Shouto looks up and addresses Aizawa, who re-explains the events that occurred earlier in the day while Katsuki fiddles with Shouto's tie. Shouto wraps his arms around Katsuki's waist and the other around his shoulders. Spatial awareness is out the door, and it's like it's only the two of them there. Shouto's face scrunches up as he processes the information and different possible outcomes of what could have gone horribly wrong.
"I love your family." Katsuki blurts out, making everyone stand rigid. His eyes are focused on the tie before looking up through his long lashes.
"Huh?" Shouto hushes, drawn out of his thinking, and gives his full attention to the boy in his arms, leaning down a little, and Bakugou turns his head up so their noses brush. They stare into each other's eyes and see the reflection of themselves in blown-out pupils.
"I love how your sister tries to take care of you all, even though your family isn't perfect. How your mom wanted the best for you and your siblings. How your dad repented and recognized his shortcomings. Even your brothers."
The silence is loud, and Bakugou uses the moment to elaborate, moving his face away from Shouto and looking away to the side and down to the floor. His hand is curled up against Shouto's chest, the other limp at his side. "As fucked up as it was, and it was one of the worst moments of my life, I think about when your brother kidnapped me sometimes. Maybe it had to happen for you two to reconnect. Maybe my kidnapping served a greater purpose than evil, but to rebuild your relationship with your family by addressing the damage that was done for the first time in years. I think, if it took for me to be kidnapped for your family to be united...then it was fucking worth it. Look at you all now. It turned out for the best it could. Your mom and dad are going to therapy together; Natsuo is married; Fuyumi keeps in contact, and Touya is alive."
He continues after taking a breath and pausing, turning his head up to look at Shouto with fluttering lashes and pink cheeks. "I love you. I'm thankful for your family, who helped make you who you are today."
Shouto's heart clenched, and he held Katsuki closer, squeezing him, which normally annoys Bakugou, but there were no complaints from the blonde, and he simply melted into the touch despite the many pairs of eyes on them. Shouto nuzzles his face into Bakugou's nape and inhales deeply, his chest swollen with affection.
"I love you too, Katsuki."
The air is still as their friends are in awe, speechless around them as they realize what their dynamic is like behind closed doors. The softness is out in the open, and it's nearly uncomfortable because of the current situation at hand. But seeing Shouto embracing a pliant Katsuki is romantic, and they can't look away.
Until Iida clears his throat, adjusting his glasses, "Let's do our best to create an environment where Bakugou can be comfortable and not strain himself!"
The spell is broken, and the students straighten up and nod, delegating tasks to each other. The girls are going to bake, the boys are moving the common room couches, and Shouto is speaking gently to Katsuki.
"Katsuki, you should sit." Shouto hushes, with a worried look as he touches Katsuki's forehead with the back of his hand. Katsuki only hums in response and lets himself get led by Shouto to the living space where Sato and Ojiro have moved the couches to create a bigger space to sit and lie on the carpet. Katsuki pauses with a frown, and Shouto looks at him to gauge his reaction.
"Tent..." Katsuki mutters lowly with furrowed brows and pink cheeks, one hand clutching the bottom of Shouto's lapels.
"Huh?"
"I want a tent, Shou. Pillows and blankets too, only the fluffy kind." Katsuki properly responds, glaring at the carpet, a little upset at the empty space, "You've never done camping before...and don't give me that bullshit of that fucking shit show forest training."
Shouto blinks slowly, unsure of what to say. He wants to address that Katsuki is still thinking about Shouto even under the influence of a quirk, but there is also the mention of Katsuki talking about his secret enjoyment of soft things. Instead, he sighs softly, one hand holding Katsuki's hip with a firm, grounding hand. "I'd like that."
Yaomomo gasps from afar as the girls come out of the kitchen to see what else the boys need help with. She claps her hands with a bright smile and wide eyes. "A camp would be perfect! I'll make a tent with a lot of structure, and it'll be spacious enough for pillows and blankets."
"I can help build the tent frame!" Kirishima volunteers with a grin as he shows off a bicep, with Kouda behind him, ready to help.
"We can help put on relaxing music in the background." Jirou smiles as she turns on the TV to put on a soundtrack of a crackling fire as white noise.
Together they all form a tent house, fitting at least five people. The inside is filled with soft and fluffy things to lie on. There's a little mesh window and a zipper door. Katsuki hums satisfied as he drags Shouto inside, and they lie together. Ochako zips the door up as the students chatter about their new discoveries.
"Today's the day we found out Kacchan loves furry blankets." Kaminari snickers.
"Well, what about Todoroki? Did you see how gentle he was with our explosive boy?!" Mina squeals, jumping in place.
"What about both of them being absolutely in love? Them meeting when we were huddled was straight out of a manga panel." Sero adds with a thoughtful sigh.
Inside the tent, Katsuki maneuvers to where Shouto is sitting on top of a pile of blankets and pillows in the middle of the tent. Shouto is curious and lets himself be moved to Katsuki's will before the blonde is satisfied and settles on resting his head on Shouto's lap. Shouto goes to brush Katsuki's hair, making Katsuki's eyes flutter in rapid blinks from contentment.
"This is nice, Katsuki. Is this what camping is like?" Shouto asks in an attempt at conversation as he looks around. There's even a candle lantern in the corner and two sleeping bags ditched in favor of the cloud-like bedding.
Katsuki hums, using his nose to tickle Shouto's palm as he inhales, "The closest shit we'll get."
There's only a moment of pause; Shouto is content with the silence between them, but Katsuki doesn't seem to be done.
"Shou..."
"Yes, Katsuki?"
"Have you ever thought about forever? What it means?" Katsuki asks.
"Forever?" Shouto mimics, intrigued, when Katsuki looks up at him with big crimson eyes burning like molten lava. He looks dreamily up at Shouto, as if Shouto were an angel.
"I never thought about forever or even bothered to look for a future beyond being the number one hero. But, Shouto, when I look at you, I see forever in your eyes." Katsuki grins, and Shouto chokes on air, his breath stuck in his lungs. "I want to be with you forever, if you will have me."
Shouto looks down at Katsuki and raises his knees to move Katsuki's head higher and closer as his hands move to Katsuki's cheek. His heart clenches at the confession, and he has to compose himself so he can kiss Katsuki's face. From the forehead, to the tip of his nose, each cheek, and even his chin. The angle is awkward and sideways, but they can't be bothered to mind. Not when Shouto's heart feels like bursting from affection and Katsuki melting in Shouto's delicate touch.
"I want to be with you forever too. Forever and ever." Shouto admits with tightly closed eyes, as he tries to steady his racing mind and ringing ears. Shouto wills himself to believe this is reality. He's found a genuine love, something he never saw growing up, and it's with the strongest man he knows.
"I like it when you kiss my face everywhere. It makes me feel loved when you do it, like every kiss will be a new dream come true. Like I'm your dream come true." Katsuki grins, dazed from the pampering. Shouto does it again, affirmed by his lover, leaving each kiss as a mark.
"God, Katsuki. You are my dream come true. You're my favorite reality." Shouto replies, pulling away with a pant as he looks at Katsuki, who smirks.
"Sappy bastard. If anyone finds out what I say to you, you're dead."
Shouto huffs amusedly, relaxing his legs and returning to detangling Katsuki's hair with his long fingers. "You started it. And there's no point in murder if we're forever. Even if you'll be the death of me."
Katsuki shifted while rolling his eyes and a smile tugging at his lips. He pushes Shouto back against a pile of pillows, sitting on his lap. The air between them was warm—partially from the blankets and partially from the steady, comforting heat Shouto naturally radiated. For a while longer, they just sat in the dimness, the orange glow of the lights from the common room catching the sharp angles of Katsuki’s face, softening them.
"You make me feel like fireworks, Shouto," Katsuki whispered suddenly. The bravado was gone, replaced by a raw, gravelly honesty that only ever came out behind closed doors. "Even though I'm explosive and reactive, angry and so broken... you still find me to be beautiful."
He looked down at his own hands, the palms scarred and calloused from years of pushing his quirk to its limit. "You don't know that you make me beautiful."
Shouto’s heart swelled, a physical ache of affection that made it hard to breathe for a second. He had to close his eyes, fighting the "cuteness overload" and the sheer, genuine sincerity of a boy who usually communicated in shouts. Without a word, Shouto reached out, his cool fingers cupping Katsuki’s face with a reverence usually reserved for something fragile.
He leaned in until their foreheads touched, grounding them both in the space between heartbeats.
"You are beautiful, Katsuki," Shouto murmured, his voice a steady anchor. "Not because of the light you make, but because of who you are when the light fades."
Katsuki didn't pull away. Instead, he let out a long, shaky breath he’d been holding for years. A soft, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, the kind of look that never made it onto a news camera or a school photo. His eyes twinkled, not with the glare of an explosion, but with a quiet, certain love.
"I know, Shouto," he replied, his voice regaining a hint of that familiar, stubborn spark.
There's sniffling and hushed whispering outside the tent that brings Shouto to alert, nearly forgetting their audience around them.
"They're so freaking adorable," Kaminari whisper-shouts before someone shoves him based on the "oof" that follows and the sound of scattered footsteps.
Pulling away his head, Shouto tugs Katsuki's head to rest on his chest and listen to his heart beat.
"Love, as much as I adore your confessions, I'm going to have to stop you before you decide later to murder me and everyone else."
Katsuki grumbles, and Shouto chuckles with a heart full of adoration for the man in his arms.
"But Shou..."
"No buts, Katsuki. I'm protecting you from yourself." Shouto hums, nuzzling his face against Katsuki's nape with his eyes closed as he inhales Katsuki's burnt caramel scent. He can hear Katsuki's pout, and he smiles to himself. Pulling away to see Katsuki's bottom lip jutted out and furrowed brows glaring at him while also pleading, Shouto softened.
"One last thing, then, you sap." Katsuki mutters, before blinking once and giving Shouto a forehead kiss almost like an apology for calling him another nickname, "Please..."
Shouto gives in and nods. Katsuki beams before relaxing in Shouto's arms, wrapped loosely around his hips. Katsuki's own hands clench around the fabric of Shouto's dress shirt on his chest, straining the buttons.
"I know this might be early, and I'll regret saying this later. But I've been looking at apartments for when we graduate. Near Tokyo, where we want to set up our own agencies one day." Katsuki declares before going silent and waiting with patient eyes as he watches Shouto's reaction.
The air in the small fabric sanctuary shifted, growing charged with a different kind of electricity. Shouto’s heart, which Katsuki had been using as a rhythmic lullaby moments before, suddenly spiked in tempo.
"What? Really?" Shouto’s voice was uncharacteristically high, his dual-colored eyes wide and blinking. He looked completely floored by a mix of shock and a blossoming, frantic hope. "You... you’ve been looking already?"
Katsuki didn't look away. He shifted his weight, propping himself up a little straighter in his lap so he could look directly into Shouto’s flustered face. The mischievous grin that spread across his lips wasn't his usual "battle smirk"; it was softer, private, and filled with a terrifying amount of certainty.
"I want you to live with me, Shou," Katsuki said, his voice dropping an octave, steady and grounded.
He reached out, his thumb tracing the line of Shouto’s jaw, anchoring him. "I’m not gonna spend my pro career coming home to an empty kitchen or some shitty apartment alone. If I’m going to be number one, I want the only person who can actually keep up with me right there when the mask comes off. I hope you know that you're my one."
Shouto’s breath hitched. He looked around their temporary fort—the pillows, the mismatched blankets, the flickering lights—and then back at Katsuki. The idea of this, this peace, becoming a permanent reality instead of a late-night secret made his head spin.
"In Tokyo?" Shouto whispered, his hand coming up to cover Katsuki’s on his face. "Together?"
"Yeah, half-and-half. Together. You and me," Katsuki grunted, though there was no heat in the nickname. "I found a place with a decent kitchen. You're going to need it, because I'm not letting you live on instant cold soba forever."
Shouto let out a shaky, breathless laugh, leaning forward until their noses brushed. "I think I’d like that. Very much."
Katsuki’s grin widened, triumphant. "Good. Because I already figured out where your desk is going to go.
Shouto felt a surge of warmth, unable to contain it anymore. It was a pressure in his chest, a deep, aching gratitude for the boy who usually communicated in explosions but was currently offering him a home.
The sight of Katsuki, who was smirking, determined, and looking at him as if he were the only fixed point in a chaotic world, was too much. Shouto didn't have the words to match Katsuki's planning, and he didn't want to wait until they were in Tokyo to show him what he felt.
Moving with an impulsive lack of hesitation, Shouto leaned in.
He pressed a sweet, firm, and tender kiss to Katsuki’s lips. It was slow and deliberate, a silent promise sealed in the quiet of their blanket-fort-filled sanctuary. It tasted like the spicy tea they’d shared earlier and felt like the absolute safety of being known.
Katsuki froze for a fraction of a second, his mischievous grin faltering in the face of such raw affection. But then, his eyes fluttered shut, and he melted into the touch. His hand moved from Shouto’s jaw to the back of his neck, his fingers tangling in the soft bi-colored hair to pull him just a fraction closer.
When Shouto finally pulled back, just an inch, he kept his eyes closed, his forehead resting against Katsuki's once more. The air between them was thick with the weight of their shared future.
"Okay, together in Tokyo. But I'm really going to have to stop you right here, or else the class is going to hear something other than words out of you. Then, we'll all be in trouble," Shouto warns, turning them so they lie on their sides and rest against the blankets and pillows in each other's embrace.
Katsuki chuckles at the threat and ruffles the back of Shouto's hair. "Fine. Then you talk to me."
So does Shouto, talking about his visit at the hospital and other things he finds interesting. The class slowly migrate back around the fort, not to disturb their careful peace but to protect their haven. As the hours pass, Katsuki slowly comes to clearer clarity, and the pain slowly seeps back into Katsuki's arm and aching heart.
"Shou...? What am I...? Why are we in here?" Katsuki pulls away, blinking as if it'll give him answers, with a voice low and careful. It's heavier now, and there's a hint of concern. Shouto only reels him in with a grounding touch, big-spooning Katsuki.
"The quirk is wearing off. We're safe. "I've got you, Katsuki. "Shouto assures as he rubs circles on Katsuki's back.
The mental haze continues to dissipate, and Katsuki's memory becomes sharpened. His normal talking mannerism, his critical thinking processes, and everything in-between come back to him. Flashes of the teary-eyed freshman; Midoriya's hushed, verbal-quirk note observations; and even everything he said to Shouto in the comfort of the tent.
"Oh god."
Katsuki's body tenses in horror, and he pulls away from Shouto's warm chest with wide eyes, covering his mouth with his hand.
"Fuck."
Shouto is gentle, sitting up with Katsuki and pulling Katsuki's hand away from his face.
"Katsuki."
Katsuki's head whips to Shouto's face with red flushed cheeks and gritted teeth. "Shouto. I remember everything. What the fuck. I told you—in front of everyone. Holy shit. Damn it!"
Shouto is calm and squeezes Katsuki's hand multiple times, three, before speaking, "It's alright. It's okay."
"No, it's not!" Katsuki barks back before hiding his face against Shouto's chest. "You weren't supposed to know about Tokyo! O-Or even the fucking layout plans and apartments. I had it perfectly planned for our graduation."
"But now, I can help us save for it. We can do it together. You're stuck with me. Forever." Shouto hums; there's a tenderness in his tone as he reels Katsuki back into his arms and falls back onto the full, silky pillows. They lay together until Katsuki's heart settled back into a steady drum in sync with Shouto's own beat.
"Damn...quirk. Making me soft." Katsuki mumbles against Shouto's chest.
"You've always been soft, love. It's just now that our friends know too. Shouto responds, kissing the crown of Katsuki's head before they rise.
Slowly, Shouto unzips the tent door, and they emerge from their temporary sanctuary. Katsuki's face is the same color as his eyes as he growls and walks around to see everyone looking at them with tender eyes.
"Hi, Kacchan," Midoriya says with a soothing tone. He offers a small smile, careful to not disturb the carefully crafted light air around them.
"Shut up," Katsuki pouts, looking away despite holding Shouto's hand.
"How are you feeling?" Jirou inquires, her voice low yet gentle.
Katsuki can only offer a scowl in the moment before speaking: "Like I want to blast everyone's ears and then my own."
"No blasting this time around; we already heard how you feel about it." Kaminari grins with his fists on his hips.
"Yeah, we never knew you felt that way," Hagakure adds.
"Congrats on your relationship," Shinsou hums.
By this point, Katsuki is shaking with every additional comment from his classmates. He wanted to come back and boast about how he aced his lesson with the freshmen. But here he is, surrounded by everyone who cares about him, being pampered and praised. It's not the win he wanted, but it's a win regardless. He feels the warmth and weight of Shouto's hand in his own and his burning gaze behind his head. So, Katsuki does what he knows. Squeezing Shouto's hand three times, he can feel Shouto's grip loosen and become more comfortable.
Aizawa stood at the edge of the common room, his capture scarf hanging loose, looking every bit the exhausted educator who had seen too many close calls. He watched the massive, lopsided blanket fort in the center of the room, a ridiculous eyesore that violated several safety codes, yet he hadn’t the heart to tell them to tear it down.
Inside that mess of fleece and pillows were two of his most complicated students. One was a boy who handled the world with fire and fury to hide the cracks, and the other was a boy who had spent years learning how to be human again.
He cleared his throat, the sound sharp enough to cut through the low murmur of the dorms.
"Recovery Girl wants to see you tomorrow," Aizawa told Katsuki. "Just a standard protocol check-up."
A silence followed, heavy with the weight of the day's mission; the adrenaline; the chemical scent of the quirk that had tried to strip Katsuki’s defenses bare; and the narrow margin by which they’d all come home.
"Yes, Sensei," came the muffled, uncharacteristically quiet response.
Aizawa lingered. Usually, he would turn on his heel and retreat to his yellow sleeping bag, but the air in the room felt different tonight. It felt fragile, like glass that had been shattered and was being painstakingly glued back together.
"And Todoroki?" The man’s eyes softened just a little, the harsh lines of his fatigue smoothing out as he looked at the sanctuary the class had built for one of their own. "You did well helping Bakugou. Everyone did. This could have turned out much differently. Good job, kids."
Aizawa turned and walked away, his footsteps fading into the hallway. Inside the fort, Katsuki sat frozen for a moment, the "Yes, Sensei" still echoing in his throat. He felt the weight of the praise, the kind that didn't focus on his power but on his survival and his leadership.
"Alright, please give him some more space. I don't think we've gotten the chance to eat, and I'd very much like Katsuki's homemade meals. Shouto states, and the class nods in agreement and disperses.
The silence that followed the class’s departure was thick, but it wasn't the heavy, suffocating kind. It was the sort of quiet that happens after a storm passes. Fresh, a little damp, and strangely still.
Shouto didn't let go of Katsuki’s hand. He stood there, watching the tension slowly drain out of Katsuki’s shoulders, the rhythmic squeeze-squeeze-squeeze of their secret code still echoing in the pulse of his palm. Katsuki was still staring at the spot where Kaminari had been standing, his jaw set, but the murderous glint in his eyes had faded into something more like tired exasperation.
"You're shaking," Shouto murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
Katsuki finally snapped his head around, his face still a vivid, sunburnt crimson. "I'm not shaking, Half-and-Half. I'm vibrating with the urge to murder every single one of those idiots for being so damn loud."
He said the words, but he didn't pull away. In fact, he stepped a half-inch closer into Shouto’s space. Up close, away from the prying eyes of the rest of 3-A, the fierce hero Katsuki looked less like a threat and more like a boy who had been seen far more clearly than he was prepared for.
Shouto reached up, his thumb grazing the heated skin of Katsuki’s cheek, mirroring the way he’d touched him inside the tent. "They aren't laughing at you, Katsuki. They're happy."
"I don't need them to be happy for me," Katsuki huffed, though his head tilted instinctively into the touch. He closed his eyes for a second, the bravado slipping just enough for Shouto to see the exhaustion underneath. "I had a whole speech ready about the training session. About how I crushed those first-years. And then they start looking at me like I’m some... some soft damn Hallmark card."
"You told me I made you beautiful," Shouto reminded him softly, a small, teasing tug at the corner of his lips. "It’s hard to be intimidating when you’re that honest."
Katsuki opened one eye, glaring with zero real heat. "I’m going to blast that 'beautiful' right off your face if you keep talking." He paused, his grip tightening on Shouto’s hand for a moment before he let out a long, defeated sigh. "Whatever. You said you wanted food? I'm not making anything fancy. You're getting leftovers, and you're going to like it."
Shouto's smile widened, the real one, the one that reached his eyes. "I like anything you make. Especially when we're eating it together."
Katsuki groaned, turning toward the kitchen, but he didn't let go of Shouto’s hand. He led the way, pulling Shouto along behind him like he was tethering himself to the only thing that made sense in a room full of overwhelming "tender eyes."
"Tokyo," Katsuki muttered under his breath so low Shouto almost missed it. "We're getting a place with a lock on the front door that actually works. Not one of those dummies are allowed without an invite."
"I'll hold you to that," Shouto replied.