Oh god. I planned for this chapter to have 5 scenes and just 3k words max, but say hello to this 6k monster. in my defense, ch1 was only an intro. from now on, it's full of meaty and juicy parts

I'm very satisfied with how I did this chapter btw heh

Hit me with the reviews and enjoy guys

Chapter 2

Bang bang bang

A lump on the sofa squirmed, moving about until it hit the floor with a thud. Izuku groaned, the ringing in his head intensified by the continuous pounding at the door. He really shouldn't have drunk that much last night.

Though nowadays, really, he couldn't help himself.

He could honestly do without the horrible hangovers, though, that's for sure.

Bang bang bang

"Ugh," Izuku groaned, forcing himself to stand, a bit wobbly on his feet. Still wrapped in a blanket he had grabbed last night before crashing, he waddled towards the door. Swinging it open, he was fully intent on telling that person to please kindly shut up (though, of course, he'd say it more nicely).

"Please, whoever you are, can you just–" He stopped mid-sentence as a flash of red and yellow barreled past him. If the ringing in his head wasn't so bad, he might've acted on instinct to tackle the intruder.

Except it wasn't an intruder.

It was someone way worse for an extremely hungover Izuku to handle (and heartbroken, a voice in his mind added, which, no, he was not).

"Oi, Deku! What the fuck? I've been calling your shitty phone since last night! Can't believe you stood me up again. You must really want to die, huh?!"

Sluggishly, Izuku sighed, resigning himself to his fate. Still wrapped in the blanket, he headed over to the kitchen where Kacchan always went to whenever he dropped by.

With the ringing in his head still there, he wordlessly slid onto the chair, surprised to see a glass of water and medicine on the table.

Confused as to where those came from (because he's pretty sure he ran out of medicine a couple of hangovers ago), he looked at Kacchan, who was aggressively(?) brewing some tea.

The blonde just bared his teeth at him, "Drink the fucking medicine already, nerd. You look like shit that's been run over."

"It's called being hungover, Kacchan. Maybe you should read up on it," Izuku shot back, nevertheless following the command and downing the medicine. He grimaced at the feeling of water going down his swollen throat. God, he really let go last night.

Well, it's a given when he'd spent the night scrolling through the many, many articles on the love of his life's wedding announcement.

It wasn't like Kacchan wanted to publicly announce it. He just didn't expect (though it wasn't a surprise) that his friends— those shitty extras as the blonde referred to them— would spread the news about the invitations online.

In a matter of hours, Japan had gone wild.

For the next couple of weeks, almost all news stations covered it— not even just tabloids any more, which made it all seem so real and painful.

And Izuku, he... Give him hundreds of villains any time of day, and he'd face them head-on, no matter how outnumbered he would be. But this?

This was a whole other world of pain that he thought he was already used to.

So he hid.

He may be a hero, but he's still human.

For 2 weeks (after he got the letter that sent him into a spiraling mess of tears, alcohol, and feelings), Izuku channeled all his energy into work.

Whenever he'd hear the Kacchan's ringtone, he'd go against every urge to scramble for his phone. Instead, he'd ignore it and bury himself in more patrol shifts, in more paperwork, in more everything else.

And he thought he was doing a pretty good job of it, to be honest. Kacchan must've gotten word of his increased work because the incessant messages and calls ceased after a couple days.

Which was fine. It was what Izuku wanted, after all.

Nope, he was most definitely not disappointed. No, he definitely did not spend several nights just staring at Kacchan's contact. And his search history on 'how to get someone to call you' is definitely lying.

Izuku knew this couldn't go on forever. And it definitely wasn't healthy judging by the number of bottles already piling up in his bedroom (which, thankfully, Kacchan didn't see).

Though, he should've known that Kacchan was anything but understanding or patient when ignored.

He was jolted out of his thoughts when the blonde in question slammed a cup of tea in front of him. Smelling the scent of jasmine, he smiled up at Kacchan as he sipped.

"Mhm, thanks, Kacchan."

"Hm, whatever," the blonde sat across him, crossing his arms across his chest and leaning back in a comfortable position.

A comfortable silence draped over them, with only the sounds of Izuku drinking the tea and the coffee maker's churning accompanying it.

It might've been the effects of his hungover still clouding his mind in a haze or the flowery scent of jasmine that he couldn't help but relax and relish the wave of calm over him.

Izuku didn't notice he had zoned out when Kacchan slid back onto his seat (when had he even gotten up, he wondered). The latter nursed a mug of steaming coffee between his hands, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the copious amounts of creamer in the blonde's coffee.

"What're you laughing for, Deku? You goin' crazy on me?"

Izuku snorted into his tea, coughing a bit before shooting the other a grin, "I still can't believe you don't take coffee black."

"Ha? You got a problem with my coffee, nerd? I don't suss you out for your lame jasmine, do I?"

"You kinda just did, though."

"You got it coming after you dissed my coffee, shitty Deku," Kacchan glared while sipping his coffee as if to somehow spite the greennette in front of him.

After a few sips of tea, the ringing and the hazy cloud from hungover was vanishing, bringing back the waves of anxiety. God, what should he do now? Should he just continue on like this and avoid the whole radio silence thing? Or should he just give an excuse, maybe a lie? Though, he really did hate lying since it goes against his morals—

"Ugh, shut up. I'm guessing your hangover's gone by the way you're back to your stupid muttering, huh?"

Izuku shut his mouth, a flush of embarrassment running through him. God, he hoped Kacchan didn't hear any of that.

"So, you gonna give me an explanation of why the fuck you've been ignoring me or do I have to settle for a shitty excuse?"

Ah, well, there goes his hope.

He sheepishly smiled at the blonde, attempting to pacify him as hundreds of excuses ran through his head.

"I've been uh... busy?" Izuku cringed as soon as the words left his mouth. God, of all the excuses, he had to use the most cliché one.

Kacchan snorted as if reading Izuku's thoughts. "Yeah, no shit. I heard from Round Face that you've been practically carrying your agency's weight. Which is fine and all– go burn yourself out for all I care, that way I'll get to one-up you in rankings. I mean, it's not like it's not unusual to go radio-silence when work gets rough."

He paused, a sort of heavy air settling upon them, making Izuku hold his breath. Crimson eyes locked with his, his brow knitted, the corners of his mouth turned down, and— was Kacchan hurt?

"I just... I just don't get why you didn't give me a heads-up. You–" Kacchan paused, turning his gaze away. Letting out a breath, he stared down instead at his mug. "You missed our hang-out last night and just... left me dry, 'zuku."

Izuku felt rising bile of guilt in his throat, his eyes still focused on Kacchan, who wouldn't lift his gaze from the coffee mug.

"It's... I'm sorry, Kacchan." He bowed his head, clutching the now cold cup in his hands. He hates what he's done. What his thoughtless, selfish self had done.

He'd hurt Kacchan.

The person in question huffed, taking a long gulp of his coffee. It seemed like ages before the blonde spoke again, his voice now soft and almost hushed like he was afraid of getting an answer.

"Was it– did I– What did I do, 'zuku? And don't you dare say I didn't do shit," Kacchan glared at Izuku, who was already opening his mouth to protest. "Because I know for a fucking fact that I've been the only one on radio silence, you shit. So, out with it. What the hell did I do?"

A well-structured excuse was on the tip of Izuku's tongue, ready to fall from his lips at any moment's notice. But that was before he heard Kacchan— Bakugou Katsuki, pro-hero Dynamight who never showed weakness— sounding like it was his heart that got broken and not Izuku's.

And after so many years of therapy and hard work Kacchan had put into breaking down the layers of self-hatred he carried, Izuku didn't hesitate to throw his pride away to make sure he didn't spiral down that path again.

"The invitation..." He said softly, averting his eyes from crimson ones, looking down instead at his scar-filled hands.

He heard the blonde's breath catch, a tense silence blanketing over them. A silence that led his mind to override because, oh my god, what did he just say? He had basically just admitted he ignored his friend— best friend for weeks on end because he was getting married. Which is wrong because he's supposed to be happy, and it's a happy thing—

"Fuck," Kacchan slapped his hand on the table, the smell of burning wood emanating from the spot. Izuku looked up and was confused by the myriad of anger, frustration, and— was that uncertainty?— on the blonde's face.

"God fucking dammit!" Kacchan swore, getting up and pacing across the kitchen.

Well, that was a reaction he didn't expect. He expected irritation (obviously) that'd be followed up by a cocky 'Well, suck it up nerd', before sweeping the issue under the rug and moving on.

Izuku didn't expect— well, whatever it was Kacchan was doing now. All he knew was that the blonde was going to somehow explode something with how his palms crackled, and the smell of smoke filling the kitchen.

So, as a dutiful tenant who didn't want to bother his landlord and neighbors with a false smoke alarm, Izuku reached out and stopped the blonde in his tracks.

"Um... Kacchan? I mean, I guess you're angry 'cause I made you overreact with the radio silence and um, about the invitation, but can you please not set my kitchen on fire?"

He put on the most placating smile and tone that worked most of the time (actually, 1 out of 3 times, but he'll take the chance), hoping to minimize damage.

Kacchan snarled and pulled away from greennette, his crimson eyes almost burning a hole through Izuku's face.

Obviously, the smile and tone didn't work this time (this is why Izuku hated gambling).

"Angry? Overreact? Of course, I'm angry, shitty nerd! You–" Kacchan shoved a finger in his face, "You told me you were fine with it! That you were fucking happy for me, remember? And now I find out the first thing you do when I tell you I'm getting married is ignore me until I fucking storm into your house? Angry is a big fucking understatement, Izuku."

He couldn't help but flinch at the venom that dripped when Kacchan hissed his name, all sorts of emotions flooding through his body.

Shame, embarrassment, guilt.

But, surprisingly, anger reigned over all of them.

"I was–am fine with it, Katsuki!" Izuku hissed back, covering up the slip-up with a glare. His green eyes blazed with fire as he stood his ground. "It's your life! I have no control or say whatsoever, and as your friend, of course I'm fine with whatever you do with it."

"Then, what's the fucking problem?!"

"Because I thought I was your friend, Kacchan!" Izuku exploded, all the emotions he couldn't show, all the words and thoughts he couldn't say pouring out of him in droves of anger and frustration.

"Wha– what the hell do you–"

"I'm angry and hurt because," his voice hitched, feeling overwhelmed by the raw emotion dripping from it.

"Why did I only get the news that my best friend, my partner, was getting married through a flimsy piece of paper in the mail? Did I matter that little to you that you couldn't tell me in person?"

Izuku was now the one pacing, his hands burrowed in his hair. "God, you're getting married, Kacchan! It's a big moment in your life and I– I thought we were close enough for you to share it with me. You didn't tell me you were getting married. A piece of paper did."

He covered his face in his hands as all the frustration and anger were giving way to the pain and hurt that's been squeezing at his heart since he'd realized he'd been in love with his childhood friend and partner.

He knew he wasn't entirely truthful, but he wasn't lying either. For before he had fallen in love with Kacchan, he had cherished their friendship above all else.

His skin buzzed with so much emotion. Emotions that he had repressed and pushed into a little box, making him feel like he's on the verge of exploding or collapsing.

Warm, firm arms wrapped around his shaking body, enveloping him in an embrace. A hand carded through his hair, and another drew circles on his back. As if a switch was turned off, his body collapsed into the embrace, his hands falling from his face to clutch at Kacchan's back like his life depended on it.

They stayed like that for a while, the kitchen filled with soft sobs escaping from Izuku and Kacchan's scent of cinnamon and smoke filling his mind.

It took a few minutes, but Izuku's sobs eventually stopped, his labored breathing (which he didn't even notice) easing into a steady rhythm. Even though he knew he was already fine and could easily slip out of their position, Izuku couldn't help but want to keep the feeling of the blonde's warm hands around him.

(He swiftly shoved aside the rational voices in his mind who were nudging at him to get away)

Now relaxed, he was starting to feel awkward with the silence that hung after his— shoutfest? Explosion? Venting? Opening his mouth, he was about to say something— maybe a joke (whatever, he's grasping at straws at this point), but he froze when Kacchan buried his face in the crook of Izuku's neck.

Already feeling a flush forming from his neck up, his body tensed with the inner debate of push or hug. What exactly should he do here as a friend? Just hug him tighter or maybe shift to a friendlier hug, perhaps a side hug? If he moves, he has to push Kacchan away, which might just send mixed signals. Plus, what should he do with his arms, and wow Kacchan's hair smells so good—

"Stop muttering nerd and listen to what I have to say." Kacchan growled in his ear, shutting him up. No, Izuku most certainly did not get shivers down his whole body from feeling the blonde's breath on his ear. Nope, not at all.

He just suffers from occasional shivers from time to time, and it just so happens that he experiences it whenever a certain red-eyed blonde was breathing in very close proximity to him.

Yup, that's what he's going with.

Kacchan's fingers splayed out on Izuku's waist, squeezing for a second (a second where he did not breathe) before going back to drawing circles. "'m sorry, alright? I didn't know you'd take it that way. Though I should've fucking did 'cause you overthink every single thing."

Ignoring Izuku's what no, I don't, he continued, "And you're right, I did overreact. But can you blame me, shitty nerd? I send you an invitation for my wedding and you ignore me for weeks. What else am I gonna get from that other than you don't support it?"

Kacchan's voice broke, with his hands at Izuku's waist tightening. "I can't fucking go through with this if you ain't onboard, 'zuku."

He lifted his head, crimson eyes now locked with green ones. Izuku's felt his breath stop, forgetting they were even in the kitchen. It was like they were in a private little bubble with only him and Kacchan.

"You say the word, and I'll... call this off."

And Izuku hates hates how Kacchan's giving him the reins again. He hates how much control the blonde is relinquishing to him. He hates how there's no sign of mocking in the crimson eyes he'd grown to love getting lost in— just openness and vulnerability.

But what Izuku hates more is how he knew what he'll do the moment he heard those words— words that'll probably haunt his dreams for a very long time.

So he grabs hold of the reigns, squeezing and slightly pulling on them. He committed the feeling of them to memory before he lets go. Because he'd instead break his arms all over again, battle the League of Villains and All For One again before he pulls Katsuki away from his future.

Izuku reaches up, softly cupping Kacchan's face, and smiles. "Idiot. Do you think I'll ever not support you? I'm Kacchan's number one fan, remember?"

When he sees the relief that floods into crimson eyes and an ear-splitting smile— not a haughty grin— on the blonde's face, he stubbornly pushes down the ugly feeling of disappointment.

The part of him that burned with the hope of a scenario where Kacchan leaned into his touch and whispered his love back to him was extinguished, leaving Izuku strangely cold.

Pulling away, he starts on brewing another cup of tea and coffee, grinning at Kacchan, "So, who proposed?"

Izuku keeps smiling throughout Kacchan's story, laughing at a joke, retorting a remark here and there. Even as he sees the blonde out (who Mirko had called to chew out for running late), he keeps the smile on his face.

It's only later, after cleaning up the cups in the kitchen and gathering the liquor bottles into a trash bag does he finally bring out his phone to call.

It ringed a couple of times before Izuku heard a 'click' on the other end.

"Izuku-kun?"

Like a puppet's string being cut, Ochako's voice made him sink to the floor, suddenly feeling the strain in his face. He brought his knees to his chest and cradled the phone close like it was the one about to break and not him. His vision blurred as tears filled his eyes, a sob already spilling from his lips.

"Ochako, I– I let him go."

Izuku's first time meeting her was purely accidental. Not that he could call the meeting actually 'meeting' her.

He had just finished an interview with the police on a villain he subdued and arrested when a news report playing at a nearby store caught his eye.

He didn't care about the clip showing flashy battle scenes nor the news reporter themself. All he saw was the caption in bold, flashing and blinding Izuku.

Pro-Hero Dynamight injured after villain subjugation. As of now, police and hospitals have no updates.

With rushed apologies spilling from his lips, Izuku ran, the green lightning of One For All enveloping his body. From rooftop to rooftop, he jumped, everything else seeming like a blur and hearing nothing else but the rapid thump of his heart.

In their line of work, it wasn't unusual to come out with injuries. Heck, Izuku's body might as well be a model for scars with how new ones seemed to pop up after every battle and mission.

It was quite concerning, actually, what with the frequency that he got injured. Whenever his friends would bring it up, he'd just shrug as if getting injured was more typical for him than to not be.

But Kacchan was different.

Even during their UA days, he was one of the rare ones (or maybe Izuku was the weird one) who'd managed to reach graduation without a severe injury.

Except for the one that you caused, the dark voice in his mind whispered. And no, Izuku had no time to allow himself to go down that dark hole where images of scars that littered Kacchan's torso waited for him.

Because right now, Kacchan was injured, and that never happened to Pro-Hero Dynamight. The blonde was the type to take care of his body— even keeping to his strict sleeping schedules and diets. More so, when it came to his job as a hero.

Who's gonna beat those crappy villains if I'm battered blue like you, shitty Deku?

When Kacchan had sworn the greennette that he'd reach the top without getting a single injury, Izuku had believed him. And in the years they've worked in the industry, he had kept that promise.

Until now.

So when he dropped on the roof of Kacchan's apartment, he rushed down because he knew that the blonde's pride wouldn't allow him to get treated at hospitals (and how badly Izuku wanted to punch him for that).

Seeing the door open, Izuku's heart stuttered, and his thoughts ran rampant as he ran inside. Oh god, oh god, what will he do once he gets inside? He knew nothing about first aid because it was always Kacchan who handled his injuries, and what would he do without him—

"Ow! That hurts, motherfucker!"

Of all the scenarios Izuku had thought up when he ran in, none of them even came close to what he bore witness to.

They were both sitting on the floor, with Kacchan leaning against the back of the sofa. He was favoring his right side, body flinching as the person– a woman with cropped brown hair in casual wear– plucked out a large green-colored stinger and dropping it in a nearby pail.

"It wouldn't hurt if you just went to the hospital, Katsuki," She huffed, plucking another stinger out and swiftly dabbing antiseptic on the exposed wounds. "Now stop being a little bitch and stay still, darling."

She smiled humorlessly, plucking another one out. Kacchan yelped, throwing a glare at the brunette who shot a glare back. She continued plucking and dabbing until his whole left side was wrapped in gauze and bandages.

"Fucking finally."

"Aw, you're welcome, sweetie," She returned a little too sweetly, patting the gauze with more force than necessary. Kacchan winced, levelling another glare at her, a comeback ready at his lips.

But he seemed to see something in her expression, making Kacchan quiet down and reach over to squeeze her trembling hand.

Izuku hadn't noticed earlier, but her body had been tense the whole time while tending to Kacchan, as if it took every effort to not tremble and succumb to worry and fear.

He knew the feeling because he's been living with those feelings since meeting Kacchan. When the latter was kidnapped, cornered by All For One... when Shigaraki had torn holes through him.

Izuku cried and trembled, yes, but he forced himself to go on. Because he was afraid that if he didn't, he'd collapse in on himself.

So seeing the woman's worries had him empathize with her. But the hand that held hers left him rearing with a feeling he hated because it was wrong for such burning jealousy to burn within him.

And like all the other times he'd feel it, he smothered it— stomped on it until all he felt was cold.

Looking at Kacchan's soft and worried expression as he held her hand, Izuku felt cold.

Looking at this scene made him feel empty and cold, and he didn't want to— couldn't bear to look anymore.

He quietly retreated, closing the door behind him with a soft click. His mind was blank and his body on autopilot as he walked back home, numb to the soreness in his legs and the tiredness of his body.

Once in bed, he couldn't sleep. Because when he closed his eyes, the scene of the two continued to flash in his mind.

It was like a broken movie replaying in his head— Kacchan's soft expression, his hand holding hers, 'Katsuki' falling from her lips.

When sleep finally claimed him, albeit reluctantly, he couldn't help but imagine it was his hand that Kacchan held instead.

The second time Izuku met her was at one of Class 1-A's yearly get-togethers. This year was Izuku's turn to host, surrendering his apartment to get trashed entirely for the night.

Speakers lining the walls blasted Jirou's songs throughout the apartment, with the lights strung across the living room flashing along with the beat. If it weren't for the fact that Izuku lived in the penthouse suite, pro-Hero Symbol of Hope or not, he was pretty sure his neighbors would've filed a noise complaint already.

Still, he loved their get-togethers. Even though their group chats were constantly active with memes, video calls, and just random ramblings, it was still better to see his friends in person.

At first, their get-togethers were a bit jilted and spontaneous, with only some being able to attend. Most of the time, others couldn't make it since they were swamped with the workload that rookie Pros were always dumped with.

After missing one get-together, Izuku had felt so guilty (even though the others had reassured him that it was fine) that he never missed another one after that.

Armed with a couple of drinks in hand, he went around the room, catching up on his friends' stories and work.

Koji had finished his 1-year contract with the WWF, Jiro was working on her next album, and Hagakure had just finished a month-long stealth mission.

Izuku had been in the middle of debating with Iida on the legalities of regulating flying quirks when the door banged open.

Typically, no one would even flinch, already expecting no one other than an explosive blonde to be on the other side. Even Izuku would normally barely bat an eye since he'd already installed shock absorbers by the doorframe a long time ago.

What they didn't expect was Kacchan entering, a scowl on his face, and his hand clearly occupied by another, petite one.

The music faded into the background as everyone stared slack-jawed at the sight of Bakugou Katsuki holding hands with someone. Most of them were hammered at that point, some rubbing their eyes and pinching their arms to see if someone had mixed something in the food.

"What are you looking at you fuckers?! You got a problem with my girlfriend or something, ha? I'll explode your extra faces!"

A pause. Then pandemonium exploded as most of the class crowded over Kacchan and the woman, voices and questions overlapping one another.

Izuku was frozen in shock, his eyes stuck onto their intertwined hands. A hand on his shoulder shook him out of his stupor.

"Izu."

He turned and met blue and brown eyes. Even with the blank expression on Shoto's face, Izuku didn't miss the concern laced in his voice.

Already knowing the reason for it, he squeezed the hand on his shoulder and put on a smile to reassure the latter.

"I'm... It's fine, Shoto."

Shoto, obviously sensing the lie, opened his mouth to say something. But blood was rushing through his ears, and all he wanted was to get away get away go go safe.

"Honestly, Shoto! It's fine! Anyway, um, you should get over there too! I'll just... I'm going to restock on snacks." He forced a smile, already slipping away to the kitchen before Shoto could stop him.

Upon reaching the divider, Izuku let out a shaky breath, leaning against the kitchen table. He focused on breathing because somehow he forgot how, which was silly because how could he forget how to breathe and— in and out, in and out, breathe Izuku.

His swirling vision eventually cleared as he focused on a dirty spot on the table, his hands clutching at the table's edges. He was so focused on remembering the motions of breathing that his instincts went into override when a hand landed on his back.

Izuku acted on instinct, turning and grabbing it in less than a second, ready to slam it hard on the table—

Until he realized whose hand he was about to break.

Of all the things he could've done when meeting the love of his life's girlfriend, almost breaking her arm was definitely not on the list.

(Of course, a dark voice in his mind would protest, but he quickly shut that up)

Izuku let go as if the hand burned him, backing away and stuttering apologies, with embarrassment and shame flushing through him.

"It's fine, it's fine! It was partially my fault, anyways. I should've known better than approach a hero from behind." She smiled, though winced, rubbing at her wrists.

Judging by the grip he'd had earlier, Izuku knows it'll bruise in the morning and winces.

"Still, I'm so sorry! I should've paid more attention to my surroundings! I can't believe I almost hurt a civilian. Please! Let me cover your medical expenses!" He bowed deeply repeatedly, his mind going into overdrive at imaginary headlines.

Symbol of Hope, a hand-breaker? Pro-Hero Deku breaks Dynamight's girlfriend's arm!

The woman laughed, breaking him away from his train wreck of thoughts. Izuku looked up at her in confusion, obviously not expecting that reaction.

"Ah, I'm sorry! It's just," She chuckled again, mirth dancing in her eyes. "Katsuki wasn't kidding when he said you do go on."

She smiled, holding out her hand. "That really wasn't how I expected to meet you, but let's start over? I'm Takashima Fujiko, but you can call me Fujiko if you'd like. Nice to meet you, Deku-san. Katsuki's told me so much about you."

Ah. Katsuki. Kacchan. It took almost everything he had not to flinch or let his eyes twitch whenever she said his name.

There was a petty voice in his head that almost convinced him to not shake her hand, to swat it away and snarl at her until she went running with her tail between her legs.

Almost.

But Izuku could see the nervousness emanating from her, how her whole body was tense and jittery at the same time. She was nervous and worried. Which Izuku couldn't fault her since she was in a strange place and surrounded by people she didn't know.

So he grabbed onto that feeling of empathy and shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you too, Takashima-san. Knowing Kacchan, I'm guessing you've not heard much good things about me then."

"Well, it's more on the lines of 'being worried to the point that he'll scream at you to take care of yourself', I guess?" Fujiko teased.

Izuku laughed at that, his mood lightening up as the brunette carried on the conversation through the night.

As they talked, he learned more about this person— this woman who had stolen Kacchan's heart. And he was starting to see why.

Takashima Fujiko was an instructor at a small-time dojo for children, helping them control their quirks in a safe environment and channel their anger and frustrations into martial arts. Even though people thought her quirk— being able to see the internal nerve wirings of people— was better suited to the medical field, Izuku couldn't help but be in awe of her conviction and determination to help kids.

He couldn't help but see how similar she was with Kacchan. The fire in her eyes and the strength she omitted as she talked about her work at the dojo. The proud look on her face when she boasted about some of her students' accomplishments.

As they talked, Izuku hated how a small part of him was itching to find something to hate about Fujiko. And he hated that part more when he could find nothing.

He could not see fault with a clearly strong-spirited and passionate woman full of conviction in her life. Izuku couldn't deny how she managed to pull him in as they talked. Nor could he deny how he saw and heard the love in her voice when she mentioned Kacchan.

Because that was precisely how he looked whenever he talked about his best friend; his partner.

He was out buying groceries when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Turning around, expecting a fan asking for an autograph, Izuku was surprised when he was engulfed in a hug.

"Deku-san! You're here!"

Spluttering, he waved his arms around, not entirely sure what to do. As his mind went into override at the possible options, Fujiko pulled away, grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm glad I bumped into you! I've been dying to meet up with you, but you always seem to be stuck at work when I call or visit!" She pouted.

Izuku laughed nervously, rubbing at his arms. It wasn't like he had been actively avoiding her. It was just— just bad timing, yes.

Totally coincidental that whenever he'd see her name on the receiver, his battery would die, or he'd be called in for an emergency meeting. Or that his patrol routes just happened to be completely rearranged, making the likelihood of them meeting close to zero.

Yup, just bad timing.

"Yeah, you know how work as a hero is, Takashima-san," Izuku chuckled nervously, offering a sheepish smile at the brunette. After all, you are marrying one, a voice in his mind remarked.

Fujiko sighed exasperatedly, obviously knowing the crazy hours heroes took on. But she immediately piped up, grabbing onto his hands with her face bright.

"Well, now you're here! I can finally give you, uh, wait a second," She rummaged through her bag, fishing out an envelope. "Ah, here it is! Here you go!"

Fujiko handed him the envelope, basically buzzing with energy from head to toe. Izuku simply blinked and accepted it, not exactly sure what was going on.

Seeing the confused expression on his face, she smiled, a hint of a blush spread across her cheeks.

"It's the invitation to the engagement party! Well, actually it's more of a rehearsal dinner, but Katsuki will never go if I call it that." She chuckled, absently fidgeting with her necklace.

Still shocked by another invitation in his hands, his eyes unwillingly followed Fujiko's hands, landing on the diamond ring that hung on her chest.

Oh. Oh.

He felt his heart squeeze and his throat constrict, with every breath getting harder to get in and out. Was it just him, or was everything darkening? He didn't know. All Izuku knew was that he wanted to go very, very far away from here. He was tempted to run, to throw an excuse into the air and flee.

But the suddenly heavy weight of the envelope in his hands reminded him of the role he had—the position he chose to have. Above being a person, he was a friend and a hero.

And heroes do not flee.

So he breathed in and breathed out. Slowly, his darkening vision cleared up. Though his panic lasted less than a second, he was glad Fujiko hadn't noticed.

Clenching the invitation (and it wasn't his fault if it was a type of paper that gets easily crumpled), he smiled at her.

"Congratulations, by the way," Izuku said, trying to push some cheer into his voice.

"Oh! Thank you Deku-san," Fujiko responded. "It was– I mean, the proposal was so Katsuki that I couldn't help but say yes."

She laughed, positively glowing with happiness.

And Izuku felt sick because he was a hero. He was supposed to bring hope to people, to reassure them with a smile, to help them up with his hand.

He wasn't supposed to be this vile creature that seethed in jealousy to hide its pain; that ignored the calls of friends and prayed for their misery.

Izuku hated the person he was becoming and a small part of him, a tiny one (but grew each morning he woke with a bottle in his hands), wished to blame it all on Kacchan.

Every time that part spoke up, though, it was immediately squashed. Because it wasn't Kacchan's fault that Izuku had chosen to love him despite knowing it wouldn't be returned.

Loving someone and not being loved back wasn't anyone's fault but the one who chose to love.

"Ah! I should get going now! I have to prepare the dojo for tomorrow," Fujiko said, a sheepish look on her face. "It was nice seeing you Deku-san! I'll see you at the party?"

Suppose there was an entity out there who's taking a tally of all the times he'd hurt himself for others. In that case, Izuku hopes they're taking notes because he'd very much like a better reincarnation after this life.

With a bright smile of his own, he resigned himself to another level of pain. But it's OK because this is what heroes do.

"Of course, Fujiko-san. I'll be there."

Yes, Todoroki calls Izuku 'Izu' because they're besties

For me, Izuku acting like an angsty dude is not OOC. It might be OOC if it's with another love interest, like Todoroki. But this is Katsuki. In canon, it literally took them 100+ chapters to express their true feelings. and even then they didn't talk much and just beat the crap out of each other lol.

So him acting like this– ignoring himself for Katsuki's happiness– encapsulates his character almost perfectly (for me anyway). His fighting spirit will show in the next few chapters tho dw

Next update's in 2 weeks, depending on my mood, and if uni lets up on requirements