Lyrical
Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia.
Warnings: Injury, Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Midoriya x Bakugou
Plot: Bakugou and Midoriya embark on a journey to find paradise.
Ch 10: Ocean Eyes
"You're sure?"
Midoriya nods quickly, rabbit-heart kicking against his sternum, anxiety prickling across sunburnt, sweat-dappled skin, setting his nerves ablaze.
"Y-Yeah." Then, with more confidence, "Yeah, of course I'm sure. Aren't you?" He casts his eyes around them, gesturing wide. "I mean, there's nothing here. Why would anyone want to stay?"
"We don't know if anything's out there, either." Bakugou frowns, clicking his tongue against his teeth. "All we have are rumors, scraps to go off of."
Midoriya clenches his fists, frowning as he returns Bakugou's glare. "It's better than waiting here to die."
Bakugou narrows his eyes, tilting his head slightly before he snorts and turns away, looking out across the beach. The sand is copper-colored with traces of burnt cinnamon and mahogany, the water lapping at the shore an oil spill of bright amber and sienna, too muddled to reflect the tawny sky.
He considers for a moment, then gives a little nod. "Alright then. Let's go."
Midoriya follows Bakugou's steps, sparing a glance over his shoulder to watch the monstrous sandstorm in the distance, the wind whipping across his exposed skin stinging with threats of the coming storm. They didn't have long before it hit, too exposed here on the beach to hope for any forgiving shelter. Their only option was to set out across the sea, the uncharted, seemingly endless expanse stretching on and on beneath the sun.
As they rounded a wide column of sharp, jutting rocks the boat came into view, Midoriya's pulse kicking against his ribcage as the reality of everything set it. Were they really about to do this? Just leave the desert together without telling either of their clans where they were going? What if something happened? What if the fabled monsters of the deep swallowed them both whole?
Then, something else in the back of his mind, something soft and meek and hopeful.
What if they found it? The rumored paradise beyond the sea? Where muddy browns gave way to gentle blues and lush greens, the likes of which neither Midoriya nor Bakugou had ever seen. Not in the span of their short lifetimes.
"Here." Bakugou calls over the swelling roar of the storm, and Midoriya's thoughts shift to more present, urgent things.
Together they push the boat further into the shallow water, until it's floating on its own, then Bakugou runs around gathering anchor lines, tossing them unceremoniously onboard. The wind is picking up now, rattling the mast and secured sails, straps of leather whipping loudly against weathered wood, the rolling shallows soaking Midoriya up to his thighs.
Bakugou's behind him suddenly, offering him a knee. Midoriya grasps his shoulder and reaches for the rope railing overhead, both grunting softly as Midoriya climbs aboard, then turns to reach down and offer Bakugou his hand.
Bakugou hoists himself onboard quickly, already busying himself with the sails, barking instructions and pointing towards several taut lengths of rope, Midoriya rushing to comply. Between the two of them, they ready the boat and begin hightailing away from the shoreline and out into open waters. The waves are choppy as they cross the cove, but manageable. It seems Bakugou has some experience with sailing, though he's never said as much.
Midoriya wonders how much Bakugou keeps to himself, how much he can trust the other. For now, they have a common goal, and while they aren't by any means friends, they both agreed to set their differences aside to discover for themselves what lies beyond their rust-colored world.
Midoriya never imagined that one day the two of them might set out together across the sea. The tang of salt in the air is thick and strange, biting at the back of his tongue. He wrinkles his nose, glancing towards Bakugou at the helm, watching the way his muscles twist and flex as he steers their vessel to avoid the larger, rougher waves.
Hours pass like this, the nose of their boat chasing after the slowly setting sun, until eventually the sweltering heat of the day began to lessen into something more bearable, and Bakugou set the rudder to steer straight while crossing the port bow.
"Should be about time now." Bakugou grumbled, Midoriya stepping a bit closer with a curious little frown.
"Fishing nets?" He asked, Bakugou grunting in reply and gathering several lengths of netting into his arms, carrying it to the railing and tossing it out into the sea.
"You've never been out this far, have you?" Bakugou asks, and Midoriya grasps the rope railing as he leans out a bit, watching the netting sink down into the deep.
"Never been out at all."
Bakugou snorts, arms crossed as he eyes Midoriya with a teasing grin. "You really are just a kid, aren't you? Don't know nothin' about the world."
"I know enough." Midoriya snaps, not backing down from the challenge. "Just because you've been to sea, that doesn't mean you're better than me."
"Alright then, hot shot. You catch us dinner."
Midoriya's eyes widened, and Bakugou uncrossed an arm to gesture towards the nets.
"What? You know all about what to look for, right? The tension in the lines, the sag of the netting, how long you gotta wait before pulling it back up?"
Midoriya glared at Bakugou, who looked absolutely smug with satisfaction. "That's not fair. You know I've never done that-"
"But you're not a kid, right? You can figure it out." Bakugou clicked his tongue against his teeth and turned away, walking off towards the starboard bow while waving dismissively. "Definitely don't need my input, I'm sure you can handle things yourself."
Midoriya grit his teeth, glaring at Bakugou's shoulders before turning to face the railing, leaning over to peer down at the netting below. "Fine, I will! I'll show you just what I can do-"
He caught movement below the surface, reaching out with both hands to grasp the netting, waiting until that shadow moved closer before jerking the fishing net taut. The shadow appeared snared for a moment, then wriggled free and disappeared again, Midoriya's cheeks hot with embarrassment as he slowly let the netting go, pouting as he glanced back to glare at Bakugou.
The blonde wasn't watching him, reclining against the bow and looking up at the shadows of the mainsail, one of his legs propped up casually as he idled.
Determined to prove Bakugou wrong, Midoriya turned back towards the sea, his eyes searching below dark chestnut waters for any signs of another darting shadow, his eyes widening a bit as he noticed something approaching. This shadow was much larger than before, a black fin barely jutting above the surface.
Midoriya waited until the shadow was in the center of the netting before jerking it taut, and the result was instantaneous, wild splashing causing the boat to rock as Midoriya kept a firm hold and hoisted with all his might, Bakugou rushing to his side with wide eyes, a choked sound escaping him.
"Not that! That's a shark, you idiot!"
"A what?"
The entangled shark continued to jerk against the netting, ripping the ropes free from Midoriya's grasp, Midoriya recoiling from the railing with a sharp yelp. His hands were shaking as he peered down at the bloody lacerations cut through his palms and fingers, Bakugou shouting muffled words Midoriya's ringing ears couldn't hear.
"-doriya! Midoriya!"
He jerked his head up, eyes wide, hot blood dripping down his forearms as he went to Bakugou's side.
"It's too tangled up! We've gotta cut the netting loose or it'll flood the boat!"
"O-Okay! What do I do?"
"Grab the knife from my belt! Start cutting!"
Midoriya did as he was bid, snatching the large blade from Bakugou's belt and leaning over the railing to start cutting wherever Bakugou said, creating a large hole big enough for the shark to escape through. Eventually the beast turned and twisted through the gap, splashing them both wildly as it escaped, Bakugou and Midoriya both heaving and shaking as they collapsed side by side against the railing, Bakugou cursing angrily under his breath.
"What a fucking mess-"
His voice cut off as he realized Midoriya was bleeding, taking the knife from Midoriya's trembling hands and examining the cuts with a frown, his brow pinched with concern. Midoriya flinched as Bakugou grabbed his wrist, tugging him along towards the stern, then down the short set of stairs into the underbelly.
"Bakugou, I-" Midoriya swallowed thickly, sniffing and fighting back tears, "I'm sorry-"
"Hold still."
Midoriya yelped as Bakugou poured alcohol over his torn palms, flexing his fingers before spreading them further, making sure to soak every cut. He corked the jug and set it aside, then went about wrapping Midoriya's hands in a thick layer of clean cloth, taking his time to ensure every finger was bandaged properly before allowing Midoriya to pull away.
Midoriya cradled his hands against his chest, unable to meet Bakugou's eyes, embarrassed and ashamed. Bakugou was quiet for a long moment, then he let out a heavy sigh, stepping closer and slapping his hand against Midoriya's shoulder, patting in a consoling manner.
"Don't blame yourself, kid. That was my fault just as much as yours. Shoulda taught you what I know, instead of messin' with you like that." He drew back his hand, frowning down at Midoriya's bandages. "Now you're hurt, 'cause of me, and it'll take days to mend our netting…"
Midoriya dared to glance up and meet Bakugou's eyes, and when he did so he was surprised to see his expression was apologetic and soft.
"Guess we should start over."
He offered out his hand, waiting for Midoriya to accept it.
"We're in this together now. We've gotta work as a team if we're gonna survive." He frowned a little, his brow pinching. "Forget our clans, forget all the dumb shit that went along with it. We're not enemies anymore, we're…we're companions, right?" He searched Midoriya's eyes, and Midoriya could see the sincerity there. "We gotta be, if we're gonna make it to paradise."
Midoriya didn't respond for a moment, his voice too choked up with emotion to reply. He exhaled a shaky breath instead, then reached out and clasped Bakugou's hand, gingerly given his injuries, but sincerely nonetheless. "Yeah, we're companions. Together, we can make it."
"Together." Bakugou nodded, offering Midoriya an impish smile. Midoriya smiled back in turn, then glanced around the underbelly with wide, curious eyes, examining all the supplies packed on board. "You seriously managed to stockpile all of this without your clan finding out? How long did it take?"
"A few months, off and on." Bakugou smirked and propped a hand on his hip, looking around their cache as well. "There's talk that in some areas the fish are too big to catch, or the sea's too salty for anything to live, so we've got dried rations for that." He reached out and rapped his knuckles against a sealed barrel. "Got coconuts and cactus too, but the rain-catch oughta give us plenty, so long as we don't hit a dry wall."
"You really thought of everything." Midoriya murmured quietly, and Bakugou turned to look at him with a teasing grin.
"What, you thought I wasn't serious about this? Who knows how long it'll take to cross the sea! There's no way I'm starving before reachin' the other side!"
Midoriya nodded slowly, flexing his hands slowly as he tentatively asked, "You're sure there's enough? For both of us?"
Bakugou chuckled at that, taking a step closer and bumping his shoulder against Midoriya's lightly. "Don't worry, kid. There's plenty for the both of us."
Midoriya held Bakugou's crimson eyes for a long moment, then nodded, a little smile turning up his lips. "Guess I'll just have to trust you then."
Bakugou hummed his agreement, a hint of teeth in his smile as he snorted. "Guess so."
It took nearly three days to mend the fishing net, and two more days before they snared their first catch. Midoriya had never seen anything like ocean fish before, and never tasted anything nearly as sweet.
Bakugou carefully tended the small fire between them, turning the skewers over the crackling blaze for a moment longer before offering Midoriya one, their fingers brushing as Midoriya took it in hand. "Careful, don't burn your tongue."
Midoriya watched the steam curling against the cool air, sniffing and wrinkling his nose a bit before carefully taking a bite, Bakugou watching him with a knowing grin as Midoriya's entire face lit up in surprise.
"Mmif guhd!"
"I know, right?"
Bakugou claimed a skewer for himself, blowing against the thick slice of fish before promptly biting into the juicy flesh, groaning appreciatively around his mouthful, Midoriya eagerly taking another bite.
The indigo sky far above them was illuminated with hundreds of thousands of stars, pinpricks of light reflected across the surface of the sea surrounding them, the large canvas strung above them ratting softly in the breeze.
Bakugou watched Midorya eat quietly, his eyes on the fresh bandages wrapped around his fingers and palms. He paused for a moment, gesturing towards them lightly. "How're they feeling? Healing okay?"
Midoriya blinked slowly, then followed Bakugou's gaze, humming while nodding his reply. He swallowed thickly, then licked across his lips before smiling. "Yeah, I think so. Should be scabbed over in a few more days." Bakugou nodded and returned to his skewer, Midoriya watching him for a long, quiet moment before asking hesitantly, "Bakugou?"
The blonde grunted softly, chewing another mouthful, his crimson eyes on the flickering fire.
"Do you miss your family?"
Bakugou snorted softly, turning his eyes to Midoriya, "Whasta misth?" He grumbled, swallowing and gesturing with his skewer as he spoke. "Listen, just because I ran with those geeks, that doesn't make us family."
Midoriya frowned a little, waiting to see if Bakugou would continue.
"A clan's a clan, nothin' more to it." He shrugged a little, waving the skewer dismissively. "They offered protection, so I fought for their cause. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, a trade-off."
He grabbed his knife, cutting another slab of meat from the fish beside them, deftly skewering it before holding it above the fire.
"You really think your clan was any different?"
Midoriya pouted a bit, casting his eyes aside. "I dunno. We lived together for years. We fought together, bled together-"
"Just because we lived together with a bunch of strangers, that doesn't mean we meant anything to anyone. Doesn't mean we were attached."
"Maybe you weren't." Midoriya said in a softer tone, his frown hinting at something sad. "I'll admit I was attached. Some of my clan felt like family, even if we were strangers before."
Bakugou was quiet at that, and Midoriya didn't have anything else to say. He drew his knees in and rested his arm around them, taking another small bite from his skewer, his gaze drifting up towards the stars.
"We're not like them."
Midoriya met Bakugou's eyes, startled to find fierce crimson boring into him, brightened by carnelian flames.
"You and me, we aren't like them." He lifted his free hand, gesturing between them. "This…thing between us, whatever it is. Doesn't matter what name you wanna call it. It's different than anything I've ever felt with anyone else." He scrunched his brow, thinking. "I wonder if this is what it means, when you trust someone. When you wanna call them a friend."
Midoriya's heart skipped a beat, and he smiled and laughed, the tension melting from his shoulders as he reclined back on his hand. "Yeah? Does it feel like we're friends?"
"Does it?" Bakugou asked, still holding Midoriya's eyes. "For you?"
"Yeah," Midoriya smiled, nodding with a low hum. "Someday we're gonna be best friends, I can tell!"
Bakugou frowned a little, and Midoriya could've sworn he saw a hint of pink along the high rise of Bakugou's cheeks. He finished his skewer, leaning closer to the fire, and accepted another fat slice of fish from Bakugou's hand. They ate together in pleasant quiet, comforted by full bellies and each other's warmth. The small fire was stamped out, and then they returned their attention to the sea, Bakugou navigating their way by the stars.
Four months passed in the blink of an eye, then six months, then eight.
Bakugou taught Midoriya everything he knew; how to swim, how to fish, how to sail, and together they learned more of the sea every day. How to battle mighty tempests, how to ride out giant waves in brutal storms. How to navigate through fog, survive dry-walls and doldrums, and fend off sea monsters far larger than their humble vessel.
Their ship was tried and true, never faltering, forever carrying them through whatever mess they found themselves in. Only once had they encountered a sea creature aggressive enough to attack their hull, and together they'd patched the breach and bailed out the underbelly. Since then weeks had passed of relative calm, and while there were no signs of land on the faraway horizon, the ocean itself was beginning to change.
The waters were strangely colder, the rust hue somewhat muted in comparison to the bright amber it had been months before. Now it seemed the sea was growing bluer, the waters undeniably crisper and clearer. It made fishing easier, less shadows and more actual fish now that they could see down beneath the surface.
One night while they were gliding over a calm sea of glass, Midoriya gasped aloud and ran for the bow, throwing himself against the rope railing and peering down into the depths with unbridled awe. Bakugou watched with curious concern, leaving the helm to peer over the port bow, his breath hitching as a smile lit up his face.
"They're manta rays." Bakugou called softly, his voice barely audible over Midoriya's delighted giggling.
"There's so many! They're huge!"
Bakugou had never seen one before, but he'd heard tales all throughout his childhood, passed down from his great-grandfather from decades exploring the russet sea.
"Oh wow, look! What's that?"
Bakugou turned to follow Midoriya's excited pointing, stepping closer to his side. There were clusters of swirling lights beneath the glassy surface like wisps of cloud, swirling together into a golden-pink sandstorm alongside the fever of rays. "Ahh, looks like there's a krill pool up ahead. If we're lucky, we might get to see a whale."
Midoriya looked up at Bakugou with wide eyes, his voice trembling. "A whale? An actual whale? Really?!"
Bakugou grinned and slung his arm across Midoriya's shoulders, hugging him against his side. "Excited, huh? You have any idea how big a whale is? It's way bigger than our ship! Bigger than anything you've ever dreamed!"
"I wanna see!" Midoriya gasped excitedly, his face wide with a bright smile. "Do you really think we'll see one-?"
The ocean churned beneath them, the fever scattering into the depths, and suddenly a ring of bubbles began rising around the glowing swarm of krill, Midoriya and Bakugou watching with bated breath as a monstrous creature surged towards the surface with a deafening cry.
Midoriya yelped and covered his ears, Bakugou wrapping his arms around him protectively and latching onto the railing, their ship rocking roughly as the whale breached the surface, then slowly fell back into the ocean, creating a giant foamy swell. Waves swamped the deck, splashing against the hull and tossing them side to side, Midoriya clinging to Bakugou with a terrified shriek while Bakugou laughed and laughed, his voice hearty and warm. They were both utterly drenched.
Midoriya was shivering and panting shakily, trembling in Bakugou's arms, and the blonde soothed him gently, hugging him close, chuckling as Midoriya let out an embarrassed quiver of laughter, still in disbelief.
"It was…it was gigantic! So amazing, I-!" He looked up into Bakugou's eyes, laughing and shivering uncontrollably as warm tears spilled down his cheeks. "I was so scared!"
"I've got you." Bakugou reassured gently, Midoriya blinking back slow tears as Bakugou cupped his cheek. "Don't you know that by now?"
Midoriya hummed and sniffed, smiling shyly and leaning into Bakugou's palm, closing his eyes as another shiver wracked through him. "I know, Kaachan."
The petname seared through him like a hot brand, and Bakugou tilted Midoriya's face up, pressing their mouths together in a soft kiss. Midoriya let out a small squeak of half-protest, then relaxed and pressed into the kiss, Bakugou tilting his face slightly to deepen their pressure. When he pulled away Midoriya was panting quietly, his face flushed and his eyes hazy, tears still dripping down his freckled cheeks.
"Is this okay?" Bakugou asked gruffly, gravel rumbling beneath his tone, and Midoriya sniffed and nodded eagerly, tightening his grasp on Bakugou's shirt to tug him down for another kiss.
They made their way down the small set of steps into the underbelly, barely parting long enough to strip off their sopping layers before returning to one another. Bakugou wrapped Midoriya in a strong embrace, kissing him for a few lingering moments before taking his waist and lifting him up onto their sleeping platform, which was raised and blessedly dry despite their unexpected encounter.
Midoriya grinned and giggled as he scooted backwards across the messy sheets, Bakugou crawling up beside him and grinning impishly as he slotted a leg between Midoriya's thighs, resting lightly against him while searching his eyes. Midoriya watched him in turn, reaching up to brush scarred fingertips along the curve of Bakugou's jaw.
"You're sure?" Bakugou asked, watching Midoriya's expressions closely, leaning in as Midoriya coaxed him down for another kiss.
"Yeah," Midoriya whispered, an echo of the words they'd spoken that fateful day, when they'd taken to the sea. "Of course I'm sure, aren't you?"
"Never been more unsure of anything." Bakugou admitted softly, turning to kiss Midoriya's fingertips, hesitant as he continued on, "I've never…done this before. Don't know what the hell I'm doing, but I…" He met Midoriya's eyes, leaning closer to claim his lips. "I wanna be with you." He kissed Midoriya slowly, gently, a rough, calloused palm drifting up Midoriya's side. "I wanna make you feel good."
"Kaachan…" Midoriya whispered, shifting his legs around Bakugou's waist to pull him in, gasping and moaning softly as Bakugou rutted against him, the gentle swaying of their ship setting his nerves ablaze, his entire body tingly and warm. "Want you too, please…"
"Izuku…"
They taught one another, just as they had during the months they'd spent together at sea. Learning one another's bodies, discovering what made them both feel good, mapping out uncharted territory, until they both equally unraveled apart. The bonds woven between them, the unlikely friendship they shared, became something brand new, stronger and deeper than either could have ever expected, binding them together as one.
A year at sea came and went, and after fourteen months that endless expanse of rust-brown faded away completely into cool, clear blues tinged with stormy shades of grey. Shortly after, they spotted land in the distance for the first time since leaving the desert.
Eagerly they sailed towards the crescent-shaped archipelago in awestruck fascination, intent on exploring and scavenging whatever they could find amongst the small isles to replenish their cache. For the first time in their lives they came across fertile land with thriving trees and vegetation; bananas and pineapples and mangos, elephant ear and bromeliads.
There were small crustaceans and sea turtles inhabiting the sandy shallows between the islands, multitudes of colorful fish swimming amongst the teeming reefs, large gulls cawing noisily overhead as they made their way to shore.
Midoriya tumbled into the shallows and ran for the beach, chasing after the gulls and leaving scattered footprints in his wake, Bakugou chuckling fondly as he dropped anchor and went about securing their vessel to several nearby rocks. He found Midoriya near a cluster of small tide pools further along the beach, crouched down and staring at the strange, vibrant creatures within, looking up at Bakugou with wide eyes as he approached. "Kaachan? What are these, do you know?"
"Let's see…" Bakugou crouched down beside Midoriya, pointing as he spoke. "That spiky one is an urchin. Don't touch it, they sting. These round ones are anemones, and the big flat one is called a sea star."
"Wow…" Midoriya murmured breathlessly, Bakugou smiling and reaching out to rest a hand against his upper back, rubbing between his freckled shoulder blades gently.
"Wanna wander a bit? See what we can find?"
"Yeah!" Midoriya got to his feet, taking Bakugou's hand and peering up at him with a bright smile. "Lead the way, Kaachan!"
They spent several weeks there, exploring the various isles. The largest island stood proudly at the center of the archipelago, and after a few days of investigating the dense jungle they stumbled upon the entrance to a large cave. The intricate cave system seemed endless, tunneling down further and further into the dark, granting reprieve from the scorching sun and biting chill of night.
They avoid delving into the deeper caverns, but eventually wander just far enough to find a small inner cave where an underground spring bubbled and pooled across the smooth, flat rocks, gifting freshwater from unseen depths.
One morning, sitting in the shallow waves lapping against the beach, Midoriya turns to Bakugou and asks, "Do you think this is it? Did we find it at last?"
"There's more." Bakugou murmurs, leaning in to kiss dark sea-salt curls. "Far past the horizon, where the waters are even bluer than the midday sky, there's a land as vast and wide as the ocean itself, and everywhere you look there's green."
Midoriya gazes up at Bakugou with an affectionate smile, resting against his strong shoulder and exhaling a quiet sigh.
"Is it selfish to want to stay here?"
Bakugou looks down at Midoriya with a little frown, listening quietly as he speaks.
"There's a part of me that is content with this. This place, these islands. Just the two of us." He looks up to meet Bakugou's eyes, searching for something. "Couldn't this be our paradise?"
Bakugou considers for a long, quiet moment, then presses a kiss to Midoriya's temple and murmurs against his curls. "You want to stay here?"
"Yes." Midoriya whispers, his words filled with longing. "Perhaps not forever, but at least for a while? I don't want to leave this place behind, not yet."
"We can stay." Bakugou murmurs, and Midoriya pulls back enough to meet his eyes. "We've been at sea for ages now. We can take our time filling our cache and enjoying our stay before setting out again."
Midoriya reaches up to cup Bakugou's cheek, his expression tender beyond words. "I love you, Katsuki."
Bakugou's face flushes instantly, his crimson eyes wide and searching. "You love me?"
"I do," Midoriya whispers, pressing up into a kiss, "More than anything."
Bakugou dips down to meet him, tangling his fingers in Midoriya's curls and kissing him silly, Midoriya giggling and tugging Bakugou against him so they're resting together in the shallow waves.
"I love you too."
They stay another three months, and then the storm hits.
They anchor the boat far up the beach, almost to the tree line. It'll be a pain to get back into the water again when the time comes, but for now it's safer on land than in the shallows, being bashed between rocks and reef.
They take shelter in the cave, huddled together wide-eyed as they listen to the typhoon rage, lightning flashing and thunder growling, a savage beast in the charcoal sky.
The typhoon lasts nearly a week before the skies begin to clear, and carefully they emerge from their shelter to explore their surroundings, assessing the damage left behind in the storm's wake.
The boat is buried beneath several tall palms, but the damage is minimal, easily repaired. Their cache is a tousled mess, but the underbelly seal held tight, preventing sand and sea from reaching their supplies.
They harvest what they can from the decimated trees, and find themselves overladen with coconuts and bananas. They set their nets out, and after a successful catch they have a victory feast, building a great bonfire and dancing in the shadows cast by those brilliant dancing flames.
Drunk on a shared jug of alcohol, they make a game of running along the beach, skidding to a halt before racing back again, shouting and laughing, chasing each other, claiming kisses with racing hearts.
It's Bakugou who collapses first, groaning and flopping back against the sand, his limbs fanned out around him. "You win, freckles." He says teasingly, his eyes shining as he smiles up at Midoriya. "Where do you get all that energy? It's endless!"
"You're just slow, old man!" Midoriya giggles, falling to his knees and leaning over Bakugou to steal a kiss, scrambling back to his feet a moment later and spinning circles beneath the stars. "I feel invincible! Like we could go anywhere, we could do anything!"
Bakugou snorts and pushes up onto his elbows, watching Midoriya dance with an impish grin. "You're gonna make yourself sick doing that-"
"Oh hush, you!" Midoriya giggles, spinning a bit longer before slowing his steps, staring up at the constellations high above. "I feel so alive." He whispers, his face scrunching up as he laughs and laughs, reaching his scarred hands towards distant galaxies. "We're here and we're together and we're alive! I-"
Bakugou's eyes are wide as he sits up, watching Midoriya with a breathless little smile, his chest twisting tightly.
"I'm so happy!"
"Izuku." Bakugou whispers, and Midoriya blinks down at him, sniffing as he wipes at his tears. "I fucking love you." He pushes himself up, crossing the distance to take Midoriya's hands in his own, and searches his viridian eyes.
In that moment, he sees the endless green he's been searching for, stretching on and on within Midoriya's eyes, as vast as the depthless sea.
"I want to be with you, for the rest of our lives." He squeezes Midoriya's fingers, and drops down onto one knee. "Will you be mine? Mine to cherish, mine to love. Together, forever and always?"
Midoriya stares down at him with rosy cheeks, his eyes sparkling in the firelight. He cups Bakugou's face, petting gently across his jaw and the seam of his lips.
"I already am, Kaachan." He whispers, warm tears spilling down his freckled cheeks. "I'm yours."
Bakugou sweeps him off his feet, Midoriya kicking and laughing as he's spun around, until Bakugou stills and presses into a kiss, Midoriya gasping softly against his mouth and tugging him closer.
They settle down beside the fire, clothes stripped away and tossed aside, lips and teeth and tongues traversing sun-kissed skin speckled with traces of sand and sea-salt.
They stay at the archipelago for nearly a year, living every day to the fullest in their own little paradise.
When they both decide they're ready to continue their journey, they set off towards the distant horizon with full sails, searching for that place where the blue of the sky perfectly reflects the sea, and where green stretches on forever.
No fair…
You really know how to make me cry
When you gimme those ocean eyes
I'm scared…
I've never fallen from quite this high
Fallin' into your ocean eyes
Those ocean eyes…
Lyrics: Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish
I was going to make this sad, but decided against it.
Sometimes they deserve to get their happy ending.
Thanks for reading! More to come!