Chapter 25: Old Demons

Nightmares have always been a problem for Izuku. Whether it was classic tight terrors as a small boy or dreams of the vestiges of One-for-All or nightmares about the people he couldn't save, nightmares have been part of Izuku's life as far as he could remember. Being dead didn't stop the nightmares, though they had become few and far between as time went on. Perhaps, it was being dead that made Izuku's mind calm a bit.

He often kept them quiet from his roommate and friend. Asta had his demons to fight, and Izuku didn't want to add to Asta's pile. Izuku knew it was a bad habit of his to do things on his own, as Kacchan had pointed out many, many times. Except sometimes he screamed and Asta immediately came running to his side. There were no enemies here but Asta looked ready to fight on Izuku's behalf, which made Izuku eternally grateful to have him as a friend and never as an enemy.

Izuku fell out of bed screaming, after remembering a harrowing event where Kacchan got impaled protecting Izuku.

"Izuku, are you alright?" Asta asked, helping Izuku off the floor and checking him for any injuries.

Izuku smiled. "I'll be fine."

"Was it about your Kacchan again?" Asta asked, gently.

"It usually is," said Izuku, wearily. Izuku and Asta sat down on Izuku's bed. "I think I just miss him."

"That usually happens when you spend more than twenty years with someone in your life," said Asta, wryly. "I think about Yuno all the time. We've been in each other's lives since we were babies barely born a week before we got dropped off at the orphanage. You and Kacchan went to the same preschool at four and always been around each other."

Izuku nodded, eyes drooping. "Yeah, I know you're right. I just...I don't know...I wish I could miss him less. He's probably too busy with hero work to think about me, but I'm sure he's furious with me. He always said that I get myself killed one of these days."

Asta put his arm around Izuku's shoulders and gave Izuku a half-hug. "He was just worried. Some people can't say what they really feel and hide it behind mean words."

Izuku felt warm in Asta's embrace and his head nodded a couple of times, as he tried to stay up, not ready to return to sleep yet.

"Just sleep, Izuku. It'll be okay," said Asta.

Izuku gave into his sleep and fell asleep.

He woke up several hours later being enveloped by Asta who held him close in his very strong and muscular arms. Izuku's face felt warm. This wasn't the first time that they fell asleep together but it was the first time they fell asleep together in one of their beds. Asta was super warm. His body heat drew Izuku into snuggling a bit closer. He didn't want to move.

Izuku wondered if they could do this more often, as he fell back asleep again.

Asta wasn't the brightest person, but he knew his own heart. When he woke up with Izuku in his arms, his heart felt light. He hadn't felt like that in ages. Reluctantly, he had to get out of bed and make breakfast for them. Izuku made a disgruntled noise when Asta did, but turned back over and continued to sleep.

Goku was right.

Asta had only ever romantically loved three people over his lifetime-Sister Lily, Yuno, and Noelle. Sister Lily didn't happen for obvious reasons. And Asta never took a chance with either Yuno and Noelle, who were now happy together. Asta was dead and it was alright for his heart to move on, especially with a person like Izuku, who was his equal everywhere and someone that he got along with very well.

Though Izuku still loved his childhood friend Kacchan more than anyone else, Asta thought he had a bit of a chance with Izuku. To Asta, it sounded like Kacchan loved Izuku too.

I probably shouldn't say anything. That guy will die one day and Izuku will go to him. Granted, he didn't know what he'd do if Yuno or Noelle showed up here sooner rather than later, but Asta thought that it wasn't the same. Boy, was Asta unlucky in love or what?

"Morning," said Izuku, yawning, as he entered the kitchen. "Ooh! Pancakes. Are we gonna need more flour from one of the towns soon?"

"Probably. A trip might be in order for things I can't grow," said Asta. "Are you feeling better today?"

Izuku looked confused for a minute before smiling. "Yeah, I'll be okay. Thanks."

"Did you forget that you had a nightmare?" Asta asked, teasingly.

"No," said Izuku, flushing red. "I just figured that I probably should not worry so much about Kacchan, since he's so strong and all."

"Too true, if he had to keep up with you," said Asta.

"What's the plan for today?" Izuku asked, changing the subject. "I think I need to take a break from research. Maybe I will go to the town for the supply run."

"I'll come with you and we can-"

"Of course, ya would live out in the middle of nowhere, Asta! God damn, this was a fuckin' trek," yelled a very familiar voice.

Asta jumped out of his seat. "Zora?!" Asta went to the backdoor to find Zora Ideale, his old friend and senior, standing on the back porch. He didn't have his normal leather mask, but a soft-looking fabric that had strings hooked over his ears. Asta launched himself at Zora and gave him a hug.

"Missed yer ridiculous bear hugs, lousy shrimp," said Zora, briefly hugging back.

"What happened?" Asta asked as he saw Izuku stand up and come up behind him.

"Well, some shit," said Zora, wryly and vaguely as ever. He looked behind him and yelled, "Yo! Kirsch, hurry up!"

Asta wouldn't push for details if Zora didn't want to talk about it. It always took a while before Zora wanted to talk about "feelings."

"I'm coming, Zora. God, why does Asta live out in the middle of nowhere?" Kirsch Vermillion, Mimosa's older brother, came trekking out of the woods, carrying a bag. "You just ran off and left me carrying the stuff!"

"Ya got it, ya big baby," said Zora, rolling his eyes and scoffing.

Asta chuckled. "I see you two still bicker like an old married couple."

Kirsch harrumphed. "Not like an old married couple. An actual married couple."

"No way! Awww, Magna and Luck would have owed me 100 yul," Asta said. "I knew you two were flirting!"

"Yeah, well," said Zora, ears getting a bit red. "We just wanted to see yer ugly mug before we go find my dad. Who's yer friend?"

"This is Midoriya Izuku," said Asta. "He's a Pro-Hero. And a good friend of mine."

"Nice to meet you," said Izuku, smiling. "Asta told me all about his friends!"

"Oh, no, all good things I hope," said Kirsch.

"Mainly that your arguing drove him up the wall when he was Wizard King," said Izuku, without missing a beat.

"Rude," said Zora, poking Asta on the forehead. "Glad you're doin' good. We're going to find where my dad went. Acier and Kirsch's Ma said he's traveling around, so…"

"Come in and eat something," said Asta, grabbing both Zora and Kirsch by the arms and dragging them inside the house. "You have to tell me what was happening at home!"

Asta had been right. Zora and Kirsch loved to bicker with each other, but Asta smiled the entire time they had been there. Izuku thought that it was sad to see more people from Asta's world but still good that Asta got to see his friends. The two former Captains had died defeating a devil together. When Zora and Kirsch left to find Zara, Asta said, "I'm really happy that Zora let himself be happy with Kirsch. I didn't think that he'd let himself love anyone."

"He had a hard life," said Izuku. "And they do seem very in love. It was very nice to meet them. So, now that we had our plans ruined? Supply runs tomorrow?"

"Heck yeah."