"Izu. You've got to come out. It's been two weeks!" He can hear Kacchan banging on the door outside of his new apartment.
Because he had to move out.
Because the love of his life cheated on him.
Then lied to him and then convinced him that it was his fault that he cheated.
He was doing fantastic and life couldn't be better. Please know how sarcastic he's being. Because he uses sarcasm now.
It's the fifth time Kacchan had come over this week. He had let Izuku stay with him for a few nights but he didn't want to impose on his best friend right after he'd basically cut the man out of his life for his asshole husband who he still loved. So he found an apartment not too far from Katsuki's which was convenient for multiple reasons. It was close to his job when he went in and avoided everyone and just go on patrol till he was forced to go home. He had to keep up his appearances because he worked too hard to claim his title as the symbol of hope to just let it slip away from him. Even when he was working the night shift for his manipulative asshole husband he still worked hard to maintain his status in the hero community.
He owed it to himself, Katsuki and all the other little kids that grew up with a less than ideal life. Katsuki fought with him when he switched his hours to night shift because it meant he wasn't able to do the day raids needed to take down villainous operations when they were least expecting it. They did raids at night but the ones that really truly made differences were the ones they did during the day. The ones to take down the drug lords and sex trades and human trafficking rings. Katsuki was pissed at, not so much Izuku but at Shouta. Him being on the outside of the relationship but having a close bond with both of the men, he saw what was happening and almost went on a rampage. The only thing that kept him from blowing the raven's head right off his body was Izuku's broken and desperate eyes begging him not too.
He should have done it anyway and dealt with an angry Izuku.
He and Katsuki had come so far since their middle school days of the blonde being his bully. Katsuki came out with it the summer before they started high school and admitted to him he was gay and terrified that Izuku would look at him different so he'd bullied him to try to get Izuku to leave him before he could hate him for reasons he couldn't control. The dumb ass came to his senses after his father had gotten sick and he thought he had no one he could really turn too. Till he found himself subconsciously walking to Izuku's house a few blocks down. He took one look at his best friend's concerned freckled face and knew he fucked up.
The blonde cried in his best friend's arms the entire night and spilled his soul to him the morning after. Izuku punched him in the arm hard enough to bruise and explained to him why he was stupid. Izuku could never hate him for being gay because he was too. Izuku explained to him that Katsuki could honest to Kami cut off his arm and he'd still be Izuku's best friend. They laughed and cried some more and then got up to make themselves and Izuku's mom breakfast.
They'd been inseparable from that day on once more until all of this with Shouta happened. Izuku had felt so guilty for abandoning his best friend. He felt ashamed and scared that Katsuki would hate him for leaving their friendship for his marriage. Katsuki tried to explain to him that there was nothing and no reason that could ever make it okay for Izuku's husband to step out of their relationship. Tried to get him to see that his husband was making up excuses but Izuku didn't want to hear any of it at that time. He screamed and yelled and swore up and down that it was his fault that Shouta cheated. That he wasn't giving his husband and their relationship enough attention and focusing too much on becoming the symbol of hope. He cried in Katsuki's arms sobbing that it was all his fault and Katsuki simply told him, "I hate what he's done to you" before he let go of Izuku and walked out of their shared office in their agency they built from the ground up together like they always dreamed of doing.
Izuku didn't bother to put on a shirt as he made his way towards his front door. He turned the latches and undid the deadbolt and let the door creak it's way open to allow his best friend back into his life finally.
"Fucking finally, Nerd. I've been knocking on this door since Sunday. It's Thursday." Katsuki shuffles Izuku backwards and back into his apartment not letting Izuku say anything otherwise. "This place is disgusting. We're cleaning up and then heading out. And don't fucking fight with me. You need out of this place and I will drag you by your damn ear if you try to say a damn word against it. Try me Izuku." Kacchan glare at him from across the room. Blankets, empty ice cream cartons and pizza boxes litter the floor between them. When Izuku just nods and gives him a watery smile Katsuki huffs and gestures him to come hug him. Izuku runs over to him and is about to wrap his arms around his best friend but is stopped by a hand to the face shoving him back. "Nope. You smell gross. I've come up with a new plan. You go take a fucking shower, I'll clean up and then we head out." Izuku is shoved towards the hallway where his bathroom and bedroom are located. "You need to not smell like the inside of an elephant's ass."
With that Katsuki walks back to the living room and kitchen where he hears garbage bags being opened. Izuku huffs in determination to not waste his life away in this apartment anymore and grabs a pair of bright orange boxer briefs and heads to the bathroom to take his shower.
Izuku doesn't really own anything black or dark grey anymore, it hurt to look at the colors that the love of his life wears on a daily basis. He still had black jeans, dishes, his favorite coffee mug, underwear and undershirts and such. It would be ridiculous if he didn't have anything black or dark grey in his possession, but he just can't stand to look at the colors anymore. They don't bring the comfort they once did, the sense of belonging and home.
He also changed his shampoo and conditioner scent, his soap, deodorant and threw out his favorite cologne. He didn't want a single thing that reminded him of his husband. He wanted to find and be Izuku Midoriya once more. He's been Izuku Aizawa for so long, been 'Kitten' even longer and he doesn't know who he is without Shouta anymore so he's decided to start fresh and new. It hurt so much. Almost everything around him had his heart clenching in pain and dread. He misses sleeping next to Shouta, missing sleeping all together. It took more than a lot to get used to sleeping alone and he was contemplating getting a dog to share his space with. He'd have to move out of this apartment and find a pet friendly one but it would be worth it to have someone to share his home with again and find some sense of normalcy.
He quickly finished his shower and towel dried himself off, slipped on his underwear and stepped out the bathroom to head back to his bedroom to get clothes. He made his way in and found a set of clothes laid out on his bed.
"You don't know how to dress yourself if it's not your hero costume." Katsuki was leaning against his door frame with his arms crossed and signature scowl on his face. "Get dressed, I'm done cleaning. We're heading out in fifteen." Katsuki closes the door and Izuku is left to himself once again.
He looks to the outfit and thanks Kami that Katsuki didn't go crazy with the outfit and it actually looked really comfortable. It was his dark purple acid washed skinny jeans, and a pastel purple t-shirt that had 't-shirt' written across it. He's surprised to see it, he knows how much his blonde friend hates those shirts. He quickly gets dressed and was proven right, that it was indeed comfortable. He was grateful. He grabbed the hoodie hanging off his closet door handle and walked out the room to his now spotless and citrus smelling living room.
"How did you-" He turns to Katsuki with a raised eyebrow but was cut off with a glare.
"Don't question my magic. You'll insult me and my abilities." There was movement coming from the kitchen but Katsuki was standing still in front of him in the living room.
"You mean my magic, right?" Shouto comes walking around the corner out of his kitchen with a small smirk in the corner of his lips.
"When did you-" Izuku starts to question when his other best friend appeared inside his apartment but is once again cut off.
"I'm the one that called you and started cleaning before you got here so no, my magic, you bastard." Shouto rolls his eyes and gives them a rare wide smile.
"Sure babe. My bad." Shouto makes his way into the living room and brings Izuku into a warm hug. "Katsuki told me you finally let him in and called me over. You were still in the shower when I got here so I helped clean up. How're you holding up?" Shouto pulls back from the hug and looks at him with a deep concern.
"I'm doing great. Can't you tell?" Izuku gives the couple a shaky smile and takes in a deep breath trying to keep the tears right where they are behind his eyes. He's pulled into the hug again with a second set of arms wrapping around both him and Shouto.
"You don't smell like an elephant's ass anymore but what in the fucking hell is this smell combination you've got going on?" Katsuki wrinkles his nose and Shouto's nose scrunches in distaste when he finally catches a sniff of Izuku.
"I love you Zu, but uh ew." Shouto slowly releases him and takes a step back along with Katsuki.
His ears turn a bright red from embarrassment. "Shouta was the one that always got the shampoo, conditioner and body wash. It was always the same thing and I had an anxiety attack when I tried to shower with it all last week. So I grabbed random things off the shelf and said 'fuck it'." He shrugs his shoulders.
The two across from him cock their heads to the side and scrunch their eyebrows in confused concern.
"Fuck it"? The two asked him in unison.
Izuku shrugs and turns towards his front door to put his favorite red shoes on. He misses the look the couple share behind him and the silent conversation they have. It's interrupted when Izuku's phone lets out a quiet jingle that slowly gets louder till Izuku declines the call. He looked upset to the duo behind him and knew who was trying to get a hold of Izuku's attention.
"Give me the phone." Shouto startles the other two with his blunt and forceful voice. He's set his face to stone and holds out his hand, waiting patiently for Izuku to comply to the demand. The phone starts to ring again and Shouto narrows his eyes at the green haired man standing in front of him. "Now, Izuku." With that he's handed the phone and walks out of the house with a promise to be back momentarily.
"How many times have you answered his call?" Katsuki is soft with his words and puts a hand on his shoulder.
"To many times. He won't give me a real reason why he did it. Or why he lied to me. He won't explain anything just keeps asking for a second chance. I can't Kat. I can't look at him the same and I feel like all of this is my fault." He's taken into Katsuki's arms once again just as his voice breaks and the tears finally start to fall and stream down his face.
"I'm sure Sho is going to have him stop. He needs to first give you time to process the fuckery he did and then he needs to accept whatever decision you make for your relationship." He's given a squeeze around his shoulders and he sobs loudly into the blonde's chest.
He cries for a few more moments and by the time he calms his breathing Shouto is back in the house and has slipped his phone into his back pocket and joined the hug. "Everything hurts. All over. I can't stop crying. I can't sleep." He lets out a frustrated growl and roughly drags his hands through his hair, pulling as he went. "I already know what I'm doing but it's so hard. I can't look at him the same. I don't want him to touch me. I just-" He takes a deep breath and deflates. "I just want a divorce. I don't think I could trust him again like I used too. He cheated on me and then succeeded in making me think it was my fault and let me destroy myself for a whole six months. He was ready to let me throw away everything. My career. My passion. My best friend. Everything." He clenches his hands by his sides and he clenches his teeth in ways that his dentist would despise. "He can tell me he loves me all he wants, but you don't do what he did to the person you love."
Shouto is behind him and rubs his hands up and down his arms, trying to sooth the brokenhearted man in front of him. The dual haired and blonde have seen the once ray of sunshine in front of them cry more times than they could ever count but these cries were different. These were from deep in his soul and heart wrenching, the sorrow he let out had them both seeing red. Such an amazing human should never feel the way he does. He doesn't deserve what happened to him.
"We'll help you, Izuku." Shouto brings attention to himself with the promise he makes.
"With whatever you need. We'll be here for you." Katsuki adds on for good measure. He lost his best friend for half a year. Over his cold dead body was he allowing anything else to happen to his friend. "We love you, Zu."
Izuku gives Shouto's hand that stopped on his shoulder a squeeze in thanks and gives Katsuki a wobbly and watery smile. "Thank you. I appreciate it you guys. I appreciate the both of you."
It's quiet for a moment before Katsuki reaches the absolute end of the amount of mushy he could handle. "Alright! Enough crying! Let's go. We've got shit to do. Starting with getting you something normal to fucking shower with, fuck!" He storms off towards the front door and only pauses to put his shoes on before he's got the door open and demanding for the other two to hurry up.
Shouto rolls his eyes and ushers Izuku towards the door. "Let's go before he leaves us and we have to walk to wherever the hell he plans on going." There's a chuckle in his voice and Izuku has no choice but to giggle because they both know that Shouto speaks from experience for the both of them. They grab Izuku's set of keys and quickly lock up before running to Katsuki who already had his car running and looked like he was about to drive off without them.
That day on Katsuki and Shouto went over to Izuku's new apartment and made sure he wasn't falling any further into the depressive hole he'd dug himself into. They helped him file for divorce and let him cry himself out in either of their arms after they all three went down to the courthouse to turn in the paperwork. It would be another week before Shouta received the paperwork but Izuku was determined to go through with it.
He was taking a stand for himself and not backing down to the sweet words that his soon to be ex husband begged him to come back with. The sweet man he once saw in Shouta Aizawa was skewed and he didn't think he'd ever be able to let him back into his heart the way he had him for 15 years. Maybe after Izuku healed and felt more like himself he would sit down with the man and try to get actual answers from him but for now he didn't want any half asses excuses. He didn't want the begging. The apologies that didn't seem as heartfelt as they seemed. Izuku still loved Shouta but he couldn't trust him, couldn't believe in his words any longer.
For now Izuku had what he wanted and needed. He had himself. He had his childhood best friend that would literally kill for him. He had his herteochomatic best friend that has proven time and time again he'd stick with Izuku through whatever life threw at them. He had his agency he built and ran with his now two best friends after bringing Shouto in as a shareholder over the company. He had the children, young and full grown adult looking up to him as he slowly changed how the world worked. He had found that he had all that he needed staring at him in the face for the longest time.
And he found that he didn't need Shouta to make his dreams come true. All he needed was himself and the support of his friends.
*BONUS*
"Give me the phone." Shouto stared at the device in Izuku's hand trying to restrain himself from taking it from the man. His best friend was hurt more and more and not being allowed to mourn and heal every time that phone rang. He was pissed. The phone lit up and started ringing once more with Shouta's name displayed across the screen. That wasn't even a full minute from the last call that rang through the near empty apartment. 'Keep the flames in check Sho. You're inside a very flammable apartment right now.' "Now, Izuku."
He's finally handed the ringing phone and he doesn't hesitate to step past the broken green man and step outside. Izuku doesn't need to hear what he's got to say.
He slides his thumb across the screen to answer the call and puts the phone up to his ear. Before the expletives can flow out of his mouth he's interrupted. "Kitten I know. You don't want to hear it but please. Please come home. Let's work on this. I miss you. The kids miss you. We just want you back home. We can work on this. This doesn't have to be our end." He can hear that the man is tired. That makes Shouto happy.
"You've got some fucking nerve, Shouta. Your balls must drag on the fucking ground for you to be calling Izuku back to back for only he knows how fucking long." He can hear the man on the other end try to make a rebuttal or comment or something but Shouto's not having any of it. "No! How fucking dare you!? After what you did? Where the fuck do you get off dragging Izuku's heart and soul through a damn minefield and then have the audacity to call him and try to make him feel bad leaving you? This is your last call to Izuku. This is your last call to him till he calls you. And I swear to whatever deity there may be if I find out you've tried to come and see him I will skin you alive till e very single nerve you have is on display and then let Katsuki do whatever the fuck he wants. Using him as an excuse to manipulate Izuku. The only reason you're still walking around right now Shouta and aren't in a wheel chair, hospitalized or otherwise is because that would hurt Izuku even more than you already have. Try me Shouta. I really fucking dare you too." His teeth are clenched and he's nearly panting with trying to keep himself from bursting into furious flames. Shouta used to be a good friend of his, truly. But Izuku is his best friend that drug him out of a dark place and saved his life in more ways and times than he could possibly keep track of. Izuku came before all and above all.
"I understand." Were the last words he heard before he heard the line go silent. Shouto takes a few deep breaths and flexes his hand that isn't holding Izuku's phone and calms himself down before he steps back into the apartment he'd just left.
He walks in to a loudly sobbing Izuku wrapped up in his boyfriend's arms. He looks Katsuki in the eyes and see them on fire. Katsuki had been taking all of what's been happening harder than Shouto but that was to be expected. Shouto just took a few steps forward, slipped the phone in Izuku's back pocket and joined the hug.
They were going to do everything they could to get the ray of sunshine back, come hell or high water.
That was a promise.