*Izuku*
When Izuku woke, his body felt drugged and heavy. His emotional turmoil wore on his bones, making his catnap feel worthless. The TV hummed in the background, the Xbox was off. Izuku's brain finally caught up to an absent Katsuki, the light beams had disappeared from the room as the sun moved through the sky and he was alone.
He blinked the sleepiness away and then rubbed them when they refused to lubricate themselves.
"Does everything you do have to look-" Katsuki's voice met him over the back of the couch and he found him balancing a plate in one hand and a can of something in the other.
Izuku pressed his eyelids shut and reopened them. Katsuki's surprised expression was replaced by a blank one.
"You're still here." Izuku's voice felt rumbly. He instinctively looked around for water and saw a glass on the coffee table, set carefully on a coaster. It was sweating gently onto the surface, not room temperature yet. He sipped at it gratefully.
"I had planned on being here til Kiri got back." Katsuki shrugged and slid the plate onto the coffee table. Izuku's stomach audibly grumbled and they both paused. Katsuki pushed the plate toward Izuku. "Yea, you have this. It's just green curry. I'll go heat more up for myself."
"Kacchan-" Izuku began to protest; he sat up too fast and his head swam. Katsuki had cocked his head a little and watched him.
"Eat." He said simply before returning to the kitchen and diving into the fridge. Izuku saw that the can of whatever he held was actually cider. It tugged at his memory and he realised it was the six-pack of whatever he had brought with him.
"Does it have any more of-" Izuku pointed at Katsuki's cider. Katsuki paused, a plate in his hand, and he followed Izuku's finger.
"Have it." Katsuki turned and emptied food into the plate, his back to Izuku.
"But-" Izuku spun on the couch to face Katsuki, draping his arm across the back of it.
"Izuku." Katsuki stilled but didn't turn to face him. "Please."
Katsuki didn't resume busying himself and Izuku stared at him; he was still, unmoving, a ball of tensed energy. The way his muscles remained taut in his neck, his triceps cut the back of his arm, the muscles around his shoulder blades peaking through the loose arm holes of his oversized tank top. The too long hair of the back of his head, now wildly spikey again.
"Kacchan." Izuku heard the word slip before his brain caught up. Katsuki turned his head minutely, Izuku could just see his jaw tighten and relax. "Please."
Izuku didn't know what he was asking or begging for. He desperately wanted to be held. Katsuki pushed the food into the microwave and turned around, folding his arms across his chest and Izuku imagined that he crossed his ankles by the shift of his hip.
Katsuki's eyes focused on Izuku, unblinking, unwavering, unabashed. His eyebrows were pinched a little as he looked at Izuku who hadn't spun back around on the couch, instead he looked at Katsuki in return. He let his chin rest on his forearm and they simply stared.
"Your food is gonna get cold, nerd." Katsuki's voice was low and rough. Izuku shifted to readjust himself and hoped it wasn't obvious. It was just because he just woke up. No other reason. Katsuki's eyes flickered at the movement.
Izuku blushed.
"I-I need to use the bathroom." Izuku turned forward, tucked himself away and almost crab walked to the bathroom. He could feel Katsuki's eyebrows lifting and he felt ridiculous. He spent absurdly long brushing his teeth and fiddling with his hair before wondering what the time was. When was Eijirou coming back home?
He left his phone outside. He'd have to get it. He had to face Katsuki.
This was a lot. He had just broken up with Shouto. He was sleeping on a couch.
Katsuki and him were sharing a living room without cooking, editing, taking photos, or drinking.
They were hanging out.
He took a breath, counted to five, then peeked through the door and heard the TV blaring. His tucking method wasn't necessary anymore so he walked with as much confidence as he could back to the couch and sank into his seat that had gone cool from its prolonged vacancy. Katsuki had returned to his seat on the right side of the couch.
Katsuki shifted back just a little to let him by, but Izuku's knees still brushed against him and it sent a jolt of electricity through him. He sat and then folded his knees to his chest, grasped the plate of food and began to eat.
Katsuki picked up his plate and ate too.
The toothpaste mingled unpleasantly in Izuku's mouth until it blended with the food and completely disappeared. Izuku drank his water, and eventually both their plates were empty.
"Kacchan." Izuku turned now to look at Katsuki, hesitated a second before twisting on the spot and faced him directly, with all of him. Katsuki looked mildly surprised.
"Izuku."
Izuku probably would never get used to that. He heard the word Izuku, but Deku rang like an unsung echo. He liked hearing Izuku. His heart thumped in his ears and his vision almost swam.
"I like you."
Katsuki blinked. "What?"
"Being around you makes me happy. I'm excited to know I get to spend time with you. I'm nervous about how I act around you. I like who I am with you."
Izuku swallowed. He was vaguely aware of Katsuki squeezing his hand then he gave it a shake.
"Izuku, hey." Katsuki was closer. "Izuku? Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Izuku blinked.
"You said my name and then went silent. You mutterin' in your head again?" Katsuki's hand remained on Izuku. He had moved to the middle of the couch to get Izuku's attention.
"Oh. I didn't say any of that out loud?" Izuku touched his mouth, felt his throat burn from lack of hydration and he reached for the glass of water to help it.
"What did you wanna say?" Katsuki's face was so warped with concern, Izuku was so flustered, nothing felt like it was happening. Izuku felt like he was still asleep.
"Oh, I just wondered if you knew anyone who could rent me an apartment." Izuku was surprised that he thought that fast. He couldn't tell Katsuki he liked him. He could never be so forward. Katsuki had someone. He had just broken up with Shouto.
Katsuki didn't seem to hate him anymore, but like him? Let alone like like him? Izuku almost laughed and he covered his mouth instead. He must look crazy. Katsuki's knees pressed gently against Izuku's legs.
Katsuki's hand was still resting gently on his forearm.
He was close. The TV's sounds weren't louder than his heartbeat in his ears. His eyes only saw red irises were thin circles as his pupils blew open, darkening them.
Katsuki cleared his throat. "Yea. Yea, I can help with that."
Izuku's body was pressing back into Katsuki's knees, his forearm tensed under Katsuki's hand. He felt Katsuki's thumb skim his skin.
"Um." Izuku's eyes flickered to Katsuki's thumb and back up again, his throat dry. "I- will we still go out on Saturdays?"
Katsuki's hand was no longer there and the pressure of his legs on Izuku's knees disappeared. Katsuki passed a hand through his hair, his eyes closed.
"Sorry, I don't- I just mean now that you have that- the guy. I saw him. He called me Izu." Izuku couldn't string the words together. "Will you be coming out with us still, now that you have him?"
"I ain't got nobody, nerd." Katsuki sunk back to the furthest part of the couch and looked at Izuku. The warm thickness from the air was suddenly gone and Izuku could breathe.
"But-" Izuku couldn't figure out how to word this without coming across as jealous and territorial. "He came and I had to leave. He's more important than-" Izuku was about to say " Than I am" which would have been ridiculous.
Katsuki narrowed his eyes. "Do you know who he is?"
Izuku shook his head. "I've only seen him once before, when he left with you."
"Do you remember a photographer, Eraser Head? We were 14 or somethin', and this guy's stuff was just gettin' a lot of attention. Our teachers didn't wanna let us see them? It was like, dark outlines of people and tricks of light, there was hidden nudity but it was just-"
"Scars, and stretch marks, muscle and skin. I remember." Izuku saw the photos in his mind as though it were yesterday. It was art. Izuku connected the dots and he found Katsuki staring at him, waiting patiently. "Oh. He's Eraser Head."
"Yea, I've fooled around with him before. He's just somebody familiar, but he's not more important, Izuku."
"You get to-" Izuku wanted to say fuck . "- work with Eraser Head?"
Katsuki shifted, leaning closer again. Izuku was still almost to the center of the couch and he wanted to close the space.
"You and I. We should do a shoot like that. With the skin and the scars. You have-" Katsuki reached toward Izuku's hands and pulled them in his own, straightening them and exposing fully all the stripes up and down his arms, jagged and bright.
Izuku's brain fogged over at the contact, all that existed in the world right this second was Katsuki's hands on his wrists and the pressure of him against his thigh.
"You want Eraser Head to shoot my scars?" Izuku looked from Katsuki's hands to his red eyes, pupils wide and dark.
"No, dumbass." Katsuki's thumb thrummed against a scar on his forearm now.
"I don't have a studio." Izuku's voice was small, husky.
"We don't need one." Katsuki was looking at Izuku's scars, the stroke of his thumb was softer now.
The door unbolted and they sprung apart. The couch groaned at the motion and Eijirou peaked his head in.
"Dude. If you were gonna make lovey dovey eyes, can't ya do that at your place?" Eijirou ducked out of the way of a throw pillow.
Throw pillow as a name kind of made sense now.
Izuku doubled over and fought a scream. Katsuki's fingers wrapped around Izuku's wrist and tugged. "Kiri, shithead and I are gonna find an apartment."
"Yea, you are." Izuku looked up just in time to catch the tail end of a wink. His face was flaming red with a blush. Katsuki's neck was bright red, but his face remained neutral. He was yanked off the couch and pulled past Eijirou who ducked into the kitchen to get out of the way.
"Don't stay out late, kids!" Eijirou yelled as Katsuki slammed the door.
"Ka-" Izuku pulled at his wrist but couldn't free it.
"You just broke up with him." Katsuki grumbled as he strode forward with Izuku's wrist in his fingers.
"Kacchan!" Izuku planted his feet firmly and stopped Katsuki.
"Shit, did I hurt ya?" Katsuki looked at Izuku's wrist.
"Where are we going? What's going on?" Izuku gestured at the corridor.
"I told Kiri. We're gonna get you an apartment." Katsuki's hand flew to the back of his neck and he glanced at the corridor.
"You're acting weird." Izuku started walking at a normal pace down the corridor. Katsuki caught up to him and stayed silent, his jaw tight.
"You're actin' weird, nerd." Katsuki shoved his shoulder gently and even though his eyebrows met in the middle in his signature frown, Izuku saw the curl of the corner of his mouth.
"Where are we going?" Izuku asked as he dropped into the too low seat of the passenger's side.
"My place."
There was silence for a moment, Katsuki's hand on his key, unmoving. "I don't mean like that. I just mean, the landlord guy owes me a favour."
"Right." Izuku tried to remember the last time he had sex, because he was stupidly horny and Katsuki's command had flicked a switch.
The drive to Katsuki's apartment building took a short 15 minutes as the roads were clear after the evening traffic had died down. Izuku realised he hadn't even paid attention to the time and his day was a blur, broken into two with his nap, he had no concept of hours and minutes.
He glanced at the dashboard and saw it was 6 pm and the sun had only now begun to dim.
They walked in comfortable silence until they stopped at a door on the ground floor. Katsuki pounded. Then he peered through the tiny glass window and swallowed.
"Shit nerd, no one's here." Katsuki passed his palm through his hair. Izuku found it absolutely charming. "I'm sorry, I should drop you back to Kiri's. I'll try them tomorrow and tell you what they say."
"Or…" Izuku needed to phrase this so it wasn't as forward as he was feeling. "Can we call them now? We can go up to yours. Figure out the plan from there if you're going to help me?"
Katsuki's face melted and his eyebrows unpinched. "Yea? You okay with that?"
"I'm good, Kacchan."
"You're not tired?"
"You made me nap earlier. Remember?"
Katsuki grunted and pressed the button to go up. It dinged. Izuku could hear his own breath, his heartbeat, feel his pulse on his wrists. All his senses were heightened as he climbed into the small square space with Katsuki and he stood stock still as Katsuki leaned leisurely against the wall.
"You're being weird again." Katsuki watched him without turning his head before he glanced up at the number as the elevator counted floors.
"I don't know how to be around you." Izuku admitted.
"I'm not gonna hit ya." Katsuki shrugged.
"I know."
"Then what is it?"
"We never finished that cider at Eijirou's."
"Fuck." Katsuki pulled out his phone and his fingers moved rapidly as he texted.
"He won't mind. You can blame me for the mess." Izuku offered.
"He's gonna blame me." Katsuki grumbled. "I told him I wouldn't mess the place up."
"Nothing's broken, Kacchan." Izuku almost reached for his arm to offer a squeeze. The elevator doors opened and Katsuki's focus and thumbs were still on the screen. He strode out without looking up.
Katsuki unlocked the door quickly and then Izuku walked into the wall that was his back.
"Fuck, I'm just brilliant today, huh?" Katsuki muttered under his breath. He strode to the kitchen sink and promptly started doing the dishes, dishes Izuku recognised from last night. Pre-fight with Shouto.
Katsuki didn't even wash the dishes, he was that occupied with Eraser Head.
Without thinking about what he was doing, he came up behind Katsuki and wrapped his arms around his waist, pressing his cheek to Katsuki's back, the place between his shoulder blades. Katsuki stiffered.
"Izuku-"
"Just give me this." Izuku said as he turned his head to press his forehead against him. To smell him and feel his constant pressure against him, comforting him. He was taking what he needed and wouldn't wait for Katsuki to approach him.
"Izuku, you- we can't-" Katsuki's wet hands were grasping the edge of his counter as he tensed in Izuku's arms. His knuckles had gone white, Izuku paid them no mind and tightened his arms. He was warm, and solid. He smelled of that familiar woody, smokey scent. His muscles rippled where he tensed, but he was like a pillow to Izuku's arms.
When Katsuki didn't relax against him, Izuku's arms went limp. Katsuki didn't like him. Of course not. Izuku was making a fool of himself, as usual. He let his hands drop and stepped back.
Katsuki turned and looked down, his eyes unreadable. Izuku opened his mouth to apologise.
In one fluid movement, he grasped Izuku's hips and spun him around, pressing his back to the counter. Izuku yelped at the suddenness of it and then found Katsuki's pupils blown wide as he looked down at Izuku now.
Katsuki's hands remained firmly on his hips, there were still inches between them.
They were both breathing hard, Izuku looked up at Katsuki, the top of his head only to Katsuki's chin. Izuku was doing this, he was getting this. Katsuki wanted him. He shifted forward and pulled Katsuki to him, lifted his arms and linked his fingers behind Katsuki's neck, locking him in.
The air was thick and sticky with their shared breathing. He tiptoed and wrapped his arms around Katsuki's shoulders now, tightening them, pulling him closer still. Every inch of space between them was too much, he wanted to press into him, against him, all of him.
"Izuku…" Katsuki's eyes didn't leave his mouth. Izuku wet his lips, and Katsuki leaned in. Izuku threaded his fingers through Katsuki's hair and found it surprisingly soft and plush in his palms. He tightened his grip and pulled his hair a little. Katsuki's eyes widened in surprise. Izuku pulled him forward.
Their mouths met aggressively, unaccustomed to each other, their teeth knocked until they pulled away and then tried again to devour each other. Izuku could feel Katsuki's hand on his hip going higher to his waist, his fingers digging into his flesh, pushing the fabric of his t-shirt upward to expose more of him. The heat of his palm was enough to jolt down to his groin. His other hand grasped at his ass and pulled him against Katsuki's own hardening shaft in his pants. Their legs interlocked, Katsuki's thigh pressed between Izuku's legs and into his sensitive skin.
Izuku moaned against Katsuki's mouth and Katsuki swiped his tongue against Izuku's before nipping at his lips. He tasted like cinnamon and peaches, sweet and spicy. Katsuki pushed him against the counter and Izuku writhed against him, feeling for the strain in his pants against his hip and raising his own thigh into firm contact. Katsuki groaned and doubled his efforts in tasting Izuku.
They had to pull away to gasp for breath, if only for a second. Izuku curled his fingers against his spiky hair, enjoying the feel of it in his palms. He wanted to touch him everywhere. All the parts of him he only ever saw and wondered what it felt like.
"Katsu-" Izuku found Katsuki's mouth and tried to find his tongue with his own, and they curled against each other as Izuku ground himself onto Katsuki's hips, moaning from his throat at the relief of being touched. The taste of cinnamon and peaches, the feeling of Katsuki wanting him as much as he needed him pressed against his body. The full body ache of finally doing this.
And all at once, Katsuki pulled away.
"Fuck- fuck - Izuku I'm sorry." Katsuki's eyes were wide with fear.
"What are you sorry for? What did I do?" Izuku's chest was heaving as he fought for air.
"You just broke up with him. It was long term right?" Katsuki dragged a hand across his face, worry bringing his eyebrows together. His eyes were still wide, panic building in them.
"Yea- but-" Izuku pushed off the counter and stepped toward Katsuki who stepped back to maintain distance.
"I don't wanna be your rebound." Katsuki said simply. Sadness mingled with his panic now. "And I just fucked this up." Katsuki gestured between them.
"You didn't fuck anything up. And you're not a rebound." Izuku took a step forward, wanting to close the space between them. Katsuki wouldn't let him.
"I can't do this to you, Izuku." Katsuki hooked his hand behind his neck and rubbed, eyes averted. "We gotta talk."