Chapter 7 – you're not alone

You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side
You know I'll take your hand
Avril Lavigne - Keep Holding On

Katsuki draws at least ten pictures of All Might a day. When he had initially started, he didn't know when he would finish, but he has a goal now: Christmas. He wants to give Deku his sketchbooks on Christmas, wants to see him leaf through them in awe and admiration. Deku will probably cry, but that's okay because Katsuki knows that they're not going to be sad or frustrated tears, like he's prone to doing now. No, Deku will cry because he will be so moved by his newfound collection of All Might.

But in order to make that goal, Katsuki had to sit down with his dad and figure out how many pictures he needed to draw per day. It was a little headache inducing, and Katsuki now firmly has a rather violent hatred of numbers, but he draws and draws and draws until his sketchbooks fill up. His parents buy him the next one before he finishes the last without complaint; they pat his head, whisper that he's a good friend, and leave him to it.

It ends up being more relaxing than he thought it would be, and it's easy to get lost in trying to draw the Number One hero. Snow falls outside, white, fluffy flakes that stick to the ground. It's perfect weather to build a snowman, maybe even have a snowball fight, but Katsuki finds himself somewhat annoyed with the weather - he enjoys playing outside, would prefer to run around in the park than stay inside playing video games. The competitive part of him would love to have a snowball fight, completely dominate any extras that would dare challenge him. It could be fun.

But Deku can't play in the snow.

Katsuki can't help but feel a little bitter and disappointed. There's a lot that Deku can't do now, and it's not even his fault, but that doesn't make it any better. Katsuki wants things to go back to the way they used to. Not to when he was mean to Deku, but rather when Deku could still run, jump, play.

Last winter they had an epic snowball fight. Midoriya was still there, had helped his mother create as many snowballs as they could. Auntie Inko and his father made sure they were evenly distributed, and then the war began. Even at three, Katsuki had rather formidable aim, and he was able to land four hits on Deku before getting pelted back.

They played long into the evening, the sun sinking down into the horizon. After the snowball fight, Auntie Inko made them hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream. The rich drink would settle in the pit of his stomach, warm him to his bones until the redness in his cheeks faded and he got the feeling back in his toes.

The best part, though, wasn't beating Deku at the snowball fight; it was the sleepover they had afterward. It was staying up late, way past their bedtime, whispering under the covers on Katsuki's bed. It was too dark to see each other, but they were huddled close enough that Katsuki could feel Deku's body radiating warmth.

And now it can't happen.

Katsuki scowls, accidentally makes a line too dark and has to erase it. He hates feeling this way because it almost seems like he's blaming Deku for having cancer, and that's ridiculous. They'll just…they'll have to figure out a different way to enjoy the season.

He finishes the drawing, colors it in. It's his best picture so far — All Might stands victorious over a villain, one fist on his hip, and the other hand pointing at the viewer. There are extras in the background, cheering with scribbled phrases all over the paper. They're generic phrases, and yet Katsuki knows that when Deku looks at them, he'll know what Katsuki is really trying to say.

"You did it!"

"You're the greatest!"

"You're so incredible!"

And All Might? All Might is smiling that fearless smile that Deku loves, and he says, "You're next."

Yes, it's his best picture so far. Deku's overactive tear ducts are really gonna get a workout when he sees Katsuki's gift.

"Katsuki? Are you almost done?"

Katsuki's head snaps up. His parents are standing at the doorway, but it was his mother that spoke. They have jackets on, and Katsuki immediately frowns because it's Saturday, it's two days before Christmas, and they're supposed to stay home all day and get ready.

"Are we going somewhere?" he demands, not able to keep the whine out of his voice.

His father stares at him apologetically. "We have to go down to the office for a couple of hours," he says. "It's a really important problem that we have to solve, otherwise we would let Akira handle it."

Akira is their assistant manager. She's okay, if a bit annoying, but Katsuki knows she has to be capable or his parents wouldn't give her the time of day. He doesn't know what's sooooo important about clothes that his parents have to work, but he's not happy.

"Can't I just stay with Deku?"

His mother shakes her head, a small frown marring her face. "Izuku has an overnight visit at the hospital, remember?"

Katsuki scowls even harder. It irritates him; he hates the hospital, still can never fully get the image of Deku lying too small in a too big bed, still, sick, almost lifeless. And he knows there are important tests that have to be run, so they can make sure that Deku's cancer isn't getting worse, but that doesn't mean he's happy about it.

"I'm not done," he grumbles petulantly, crosses his arms and glares at the corner of his desk. He still has to decide whether the sky is going to be a daytime sky or a nighttime sky — incredibly important choices that cannot be made hastily.

His father walks up to him, ruffles his hair. "You can bring it with you," he says soothingly, rubs his neck in a way that he knows has a ninety-six percent chance of calming Katsuki down.

Katsuki can feel the tension in his shoulders leaving, and he heaves a sigh as he stands up. "Fine," he says, starts packing his art supplies.

His mother already has his jacket in hand, helps him put it on, and she smacks a loud kiss against his cheek. "You're a good boy, Kacchan," she says teasingly.

Katsuki rears back, wipes her lipstick from his face with a disgusted sneer. "Don't call me that," he says, eyes narrowed. "Nobody's allowed to call me that!"

"You mean nobody except Izuku?" his father asks, all smiles and innocence that Katsuki knows is fake.

His ears burn a bright red, almost as red as his eyes, and he huffs and stomps out of his room, ignoring their laughter.

The drive to the office is longer than usual; the snow on the ground has his father driving slowly, mainly because if his mother drove, they would probably slide into a lamppost. Her temper runs as hot as his, and after a couple of instances where her road rage nearly overpowered common sense, his father is now the elected driver.

His parents herd him into the building where they run their fashion business. He promptly throws himself onto the closest plump couch he can find, starts neatly laying out his art supplies with more care than normal. Katsuki looks up as the normally bubbly Akira launches into a nearly hysterical diatribe about the shipping company that 'dropped the ball' and other uninteresting garbage, her hair changing into a deep, blood red with jagged black streaks that has him blinking in surprise.

His mother takes charge soon enough, and then employees are all scrambling to meet her demands as his father gets on the phone to speak with said shipping company, his voice an interesting mix of polite condescension that contained a thread of anger he hasn't heard before.

Huh. So the old man can be kinda scary, too. That actually explains why his father never ran screaming for the hills when his mother started to aggressively pursue him.

Katsuki loses interest in the intricacies of his parents' business and returns to his drawing.

He's thinking of making it a daytime sky; he'd prefer night, thinks the dark colors will make All Might look like a more imposing figure, stronger, but Deku would probably like the way the brighter colors of daylight will make All Might look more approachable, heroic and compassionate.

He doesn't like teal, though, and he can only compromise so much. Cerulean catches his eye, and he thinks it's perfect. He colors in the sky, his tongue sticking out as he eyes his drawing critically and tries to artistically add rays of sunlight. For hope, and happiness, and all that sappy garbage Deku just eats up.

Of course, it's when he's very carefully placing these rays that the ground gives a mighty shake and then starts trembling. He looks up in alarm, and the employees let out cries of shock. His mother is by his side in an instant, her hand clamped over his as she positions her body in front of his, not knowing what the threat is but knowing that it would have to go through her regardless.

Katsuki peaks out the window, and his eyes widen as he sees a villain. It's an interesting looking villain, body composed entirely of rock, and his arms are thrust outward, ripping chunks of bricks from the surrounding buildings. People are running around screaming, some slipping on the icy, snow-covered sidewalk, trying to avoid the falling bricks.

The villain is cackling, voice gravelly and rough. "FEAR THE BOULDER!" he intones.

Katsuki eyes the villain flatly. "Of all the names…" he mutters, wildly unimpressed.

This continues for nearly ten minutes, and then a louder voice booms out, "FEAR NOT! HOPE HAS ARRIVED, BECAUSE I AM HERE!"

Katsuki gasps, eyes bugging out. He instinctively moves to get closer to the window, is only stopped by his mother's protective hand clasped on his. "All Might," he whispers reverently. "Hag! Hag, it's All Might! He's here!"

He reaches into the pockets of his mother's jeans, fishes for her phone. She lets out a grunt of surprise but lets him, and he pulls it out with a triumphant little shriek. Katsuki fumbles with the phone, but manages to successfully open the camera and start recording. Deku is going to freak when he hears about this!

All Might makes quick work of the villain, stops The Boulder from completely obliterating the surrounding infrastructure. Katsuki gets it all on video, cheers his favorite hero on and whoops and hollers. The police get there, and The Boulder is taken away from the scene in a flash of lights.

All Might stays behind to talk to a reporter; even from inside the building, Katsuki can still hear his booming voice.

His scarlet eyes stray to his abandoned sketchbook, and they light up as the idea forms in his head. Katsuki grabs the sketchbook, holds it close to his chest, and he tugs on his mother's arm, "Hag! Hag! Can I get his autograph?"

She frowns a little. "I don't know, Katsuki, it's pretty cold outside."

Katsuki turns wide, pleading eyes at his mother. "Hag, I need it!"

His mother sighs, but her lips turn upward a little, and he knows he's got her. She turns to get their coats, but stops suddenly. Katsuki, who had been following her, bumps into her back with a small oof.

"Here I am, coming through the door!" All Might says as he walks into the building. The employees break out into hushes whispers, some looking at the hero in awe. They get back to work, though, puttering about here and there.

Katsuki damn near shits himself.

His father brushes some snow off himself, walks over to the coffee pot in the corner of the office. He pours some in a mug and offers it to the Number One hero, who thanks him exuberantly.

So, yeah, Katsuki hasn't been giving his father nearly enough credit.

His mother moves to the side, places a warm hand on Katsuki's back and nudges him forward.

Katsuki swallows thickly, his mouth suddenly dry and his tongue too big. When he doesn't say anything, his mother introduces him.

All Might crouches, but even still he towers over Katsuki. "Hello, young man," All Might says loudly.

Katsuki is star-struck, blinks dazedly, and then he's thrusting his sketchbook in front of All Might's face. "Can you sign this?" he blurts out.

All Might laughs heartily. He flips open the book, accepts the marker Katsuki's father passes him, and then he freezes. He starts flipping through the book, stares with no small amount of fascination at all of the colorful pictures of himself. "Bakugou-shounen, this is…this is incredible," he says, awestruck.

"It's for my best friend," Katsuki explains. "Do you know the story of a thousand paper cranes?"

All Might blinks. "I do."

"Deku has cancer," Katsuki says quietly. He stares at All Might, is encouraged by the hero's eyes softening in empathy, compassion, and understanding. "And I didn't want to fold a thousand paper cranes, cuz that's just stupid. But you…you're the Number One hero. I thought if I drew a thousand pictures of you…I know it won't cure him, but if anything could make him feel better, it's you."

All Might looks at him with slightly wet eyes. "I'm honored," he says thickly, "and humbled. You've really moved me, Bakugou-shounen."

Katsuki's face flushes. He doesn't know what to say; his idol is right here in front of him, praising him. He reaches over, flips to the front cover. "His name is Izuku, but I call him Deku," he says quietly. "Deku, like dekiru," he adds, because it's an important distinction to make.

All Might smiles, and starts to write. Katsuki is expecting a generic signature, but it looks like All Might is actually writing a message to Deku, and that makes him smile. "Do you want to be a hero, Bakugou-shounen?"

Katsuki nods immediately. "It's everything me and Deku ever wanted," he says seriously. "My quirk is explosion! Deku doesn't have a quirk, but if—when he gets better, he'll be the first quirkless hero!"

"That's…you're a good friend." All Might pauses, his expression considering, and then he ruffles Katsuki's hair, which Katsuki promptly decides he's never washing again. "This is a wonderful thing to give your friend, but you know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think your friend would like it more if you drew the both of you as heroes."

Katsuki blinks, startled. He hadn't thought of that before, and now that he's entertaining the idea, yeah, Deku would like that. "I will," he promises.

The hero ruffles his hair again, and Katsuki flushes. Yeah, never washing his hair again. He will fight his mother on this.

"Now, why don't we take a picture together?"

Katsuki thinks he died and his soul is ascending to heaven this moment. A picture with All Might? He grins widely and nods his head as fast as he can. His father moves to take the picture, and at first Katsuki thinks All Might will stay crouched next to him. Instead, the hero lifts him up as he stands and sits Katsuki on his shoulders. Katsuki feels like he's on top of the world, and he beams as his father snaps a few photos.

The moment is over as quickly as it had come, but he'll never forget it. Deku is going to be so jealous.


On Christmas morning, Katsuki wakes up obscenely early. He stays in bed for a few moments, blinks the sleep out of his eyes. With a yawn, he stands up, shuffles down the stairs to the kitchen. His parents are still sleeping, and he doesn't wake them. Instead, he drags a chair all over the kitchen, and he does his best to make them a simple breakfast. He doesn't have a whole lot to work with, still isn't allowed to use the stove by himself and doesn't want to burn down the kitchen trying, so he pops slices of bread into the toaster and slathers the toast in jam and butter, pours his parents' favorite cereals into their bowls. He looks in the refrigerator thoughtfully, grabs the leftover Thai food from dinner last night and microwaves it. He also throws in a couple of apples for good measure, surveys the food and nods at a job well done.

He's got this cooking thing down.

It's a huge challenge to balance everything on a tray, but Katsuki pretends he's on a vitally important mission, and dropping the tray will mean the total destruction of all of mankind. It takes longer than he'd like, but he manages to make it all the way upstairs and to his parents' bedroom with only a little milk sloshing over the bowl. Their room is thankfully open, something he hadn't thought about prior to his world-saving mission, and he strides in with a loud, "OI! HAG! OLD MAN! GET UP!"

Their looks of surprise are vaguely insulting, but it's a holiday, so he's willing to let it slide. "Thank you, Katsuki," his father says warmly.

His mother is more physical with her affections. She grabs him and pulls him into her lap, smothering him in kisses that he futilely tries to block with his hands. It doesn't help that sometimes she reaches a ticklish spot that leaves him snorting and giggling.

"Stop," he complains, but his voice is breathy and squeaky. "Enough!"

When she finally stops, his cheeks are flushed and his sides ache a little. "Aw, my little brat, you do care!"

Katsuki scowls, crosses his hands in front of his chest. "See if I ever do it again," he grumbles. He wipes his cheeks where she got her old lady slobber on him. He looks outside, grins at the still falling snow. "It's Christmas!" he says. "Hurry up and eat so we can go to Deku's house!"

"It'll be some time before that happens," his father warns.

"Wha—? Why?" Katsuki pouts.

"It's the butt crack of dawn, Katsuki." His mother's tone is deadpan as she stares at him flatly.

Katsuki huffs, stomps off to his room to get more sleep. If he's not even going to get to go over to Deku's house now, there's no point in being awake. He doesn't remember falling asleep; rather, it feels like one minute he's staring out the window at the dusky sky, and then he blinks and the sun is shining brightly in his face.

There are arms wrapped around him, and that's weird as fuck because who could possibly be—?

Katsuki turns over. Deku is in his bed, giggling softly. The light hits his face in such a way that Katsuki is temporarily awestruck. There's a comfortable silence, and for a moment Katsuki can almost see this becoming almost like a routine. He can picture them lying in bed when they're as ancient as their parents, can see Deku giggling and smiling and happy. Cancer-free.

"You look like a kitty, Kacchan," Deku whispers.

Katsuki scowls. "Lion," he amends, because damn it, he's ferocious.

Deku just giggles, leans forward to bump their noses together. It's a brief touch, feather-light, but Katsuki feels like he was maybe hit by a bolt of lightning. "Merry Christmas, Kacchan."

"Merry Christmas, Deku," he whispers back, and for a few moments they just lay in bed, cuddling, basking in the soft warmth of the sunlight. Katsuki brushes their noses again, but he stays there, feels his eyes get heavy again. He wants to give Deku his super special gift, but it's like he's floating. He's awake enough to feel Deku hold his hands underneath the covers, to feel Deku reposition himself so that the green-haired boy's face is buried in Katsuki's neck. Katsuki isn't sure if he should fight the lure of sleep, but Deku's scent is so calming that he knows he wouldn't win even if he tried.

Later, he thinks, as his eyes slowly drift shut. I'll give it to him later.