A/N:

This chapter is a bit shorter than usual as I wanted to switch to Izuku's POV for the next chapter and I like a clean break between the shift of perspectives.

As always, thank you for all your patience 3

Katsuki's eyes were wide and he breathed through an open mouth, head to the side from the force of it. He had just been struck across the face and it stung fiercely, but what hurt more was who had done it. Katsuki had been injured before, his scars were a record of that, but being struck in such a manner was all he needed to know the anger that was being directed towards him right in that moment and he slowly lifted his gaze to look to Inko Midoriya. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and even now still shone with unshed tears, but she kept them at bay, her heated glare enough to make them sizzle away into the air. The woman was seething.

She opened her mouth, words coming out loud and harsh but Katsuki didn't know what she was saying. The poor nurse behind her was watching from behind their clipboard with wide eyes. Inko seemed to recall Katsuki's deafness through her rage and lifted her hands to sign. They were rough with jagged movements but Katsuki understood.

You knew, she threw his way. It didn't feel like a question and she made no sign to follow up on it. Nothing more than a firm statement.

Katsuki could only offer a small nod to her. His cheek burning from the force of her hit still.

Inko's face turned red, more red than it already had been, as she clenched her jaw, baring her teeth and raised a hand to strike at Katsuki's face again. Katsuki sucked in a breath, mind racing to decide whether to let her hit him again because he could empathize with her anger in that moment and to let her get it out of her system, or to catch he wrist and try to talk to her – something he didn't think he could manage all that calmly himself since he was still waiting to check in on Izuku on the other side of the door.

The door slide open and shocked green eyes took in the scene in a second. Deku, leaning in the door frame with one hand clutching an IV stand, called to his mother and the anger from Inko's face lessened greatly before she spun on her heel to face her son. She stepped back his way, hands raised as if to try to usher him back inside and to bed, but Izuku's brows drew close and he opened his mouth to speak back to her with some harshness Katsuki guessed when Inko hesitated at his words for a moment. The pair of greenette's seemed to stand still, mouths moving as they began to argue back and forth. Izuku's eyes were growing wet despite the angry expression he held and Inko's hands started to wave about, not with sign language but with angered expression. Judging from how wide their mouths were opening, their voices were rising as they argued and the nurse beside them stepped in to quell the arguing, but it did little to help.

Katsuki simple turned on his heel and left, leaving whatever the pair of them had to sort out to themselves.

Katsuki had been resting his elbows on his knees, eyes on the floor for nearly an hour when slippered feet came into his view. Lifting his gaze he met Deku, eyes red from tears and still holding onto his IV stand. Katsuki silently brought his knees together, shuffling over a fraction on the bench seat in one of the more quiet waiting rooms for Deku to take a seat tentatively beside him.

How's your face? Deku asked, hands free now that he was sitting, but his motions still gentle and controlled since he remained attached to the little pole beside him.

Katsuki gave a shrug in reply. The stinging had faded a while ago but he hadn't stopped to look in a mirror to how red he imagined the side of his face was.

I'm sorry she hit you, he signed on, eyes dropping, she was so mad, but I didn't think she'd take it out on you like that. I'm sorry.

Katsuki let out a huff of air before mumbling out a small "It's fine"

It's not fine, pushed back the greenette. From the corner of Katsuki's eye he could see Deku's face scrunching up with annoyance.

It's fine, Katsuki threw back, sitting up straighter, She's mad, I get it. I was pretty pissed when you first told me too.

Deku's face relaxed some at that but he continued to frown.

I still didn't want her to know, Deku seemed to sigh whilst he signed out his words.

You would have had to tell her at some point, Katsuki pointed out. It wasn't like Deku could have just waited till he was on death's door to tell her. At least that's what Katsuki hoped.

I know, Deku sat back some more, pressing his back to the bench seat and Katsuki had to turn his head to continue to see him well enough to read his signs, I just hadn't planned on it being so soon. She was really mad.

Katsuki huffed some air through his nose with amusement and let the hint of a smirk touch his lips at that and Deku's frown melted into the tiniest hint of an equally amused smile.

How'd she get here so damn fast anyway? Katsuki asked, brows drawing together and smirk growing, I get she was your emergency contact and all, but still – fuck she got here before I did.

Katsuki was actually Deku's first emergency contact, and Deku his, but he must have been out of range when they had tried to call during his trip down the mountain by car, so they would have moved onto his second, his mother.

I know right, Deku sat forward again, smile growing whilst brows creased with confusion, she got here so fast, I don't even know how, his eyes closed slightly as his mouth opened with laughter, must be a mum thing, he smiled once he had calmed from laughing. Katsuki smiled in return, feeling the anxiety he had been feeling the entire day melt away at the sight of seeing Deku being so normal. He also had no doubt that if the roles had been reversed, his own mother would raise hell getting to him at lightning speed. Something that made him suppress a shudder. He could all too well imagine her wrath if he had been keeping such a huge secret from her – well he was, but it wasn't his own health that was the secret.

So she took the news shit, Katsuki more commented than asked, smile and brows dropping as he recalled Inko's rage.

Yeah, he seemed to sag a little at that, smile weakening, I knew she would but I hadn't expected her to take it out on you.

Katsuki made a mock surprised "oh" noise before Deku could apologize for his mother again.

So she didn't hit you too then, he cocked an eyebrow the greenette's way and a small smile returned to Deku's face, picking up Katsuki's attempt at humor over the situation. The blonde was about to ask where Inko was exactly – surprised that she would leave her son's side after being told he was dying – but he didn't need to think too long on that when his phone buzzed and he pulled it from his pocket with a frown. A text from his own parent. Several in fact as they continued to stream in one after the other. He could already sense his mother's frustration that she no longer had the ability to yell at Katsuki over a phone, so instead had to do it via text. This only meant that Inko had wandered away from Deku to called Katsuki's mother over the sudden news. Katsuki's frown deepened with annoyance as his phone continued to buzz in his hand and Deku glanced at the source of the blonde's distaste. Rather than answering the multitude of texts, Katsuki instead turned his phone off and slipped it back into his pocket. Deku watched on but made no remark on it.

They both sat side by side in silence – zero hand movement – for several moments more before a sound down the hallway caught Deku's attention and he lifted his gaze at an approaching nurse. Katsuki followed his line of sight, watching the nurse's mouth move as she summoned Deku away.

I'll see you in a bit?, it was an odd thing to ask, but the almost uncertain look upon Deku's face screamed that he wanted to know, to have some reassurance.

Katsuki leaned back against the bench with a huff.

It'll take more than your mum to make me run away, he signed back with a hint of a smirk. Deku smiled at that warmly before giving a small nod and turning to follow the nurse away. The moment Deku was out of sight around a corner, Katsuki let his smirk fall away and he tipped back his head in a long sigh.

He wondered how this was going to change things.

It was evening by the time Deku's usual doctor arrived at the hospital up north. Upon arriving the poor man had been bombarded with a million questions by Deku's mum and thankfully the doctor, with a forced pleasant smile, led her out of Deku's room to discuss things once he had first gained Deku's permission to reveal his medical history to her. That just left Katsuki and Deku alone in his private hospital room. A refreshing change from the stagnant air that was Inko, Deku and Katsuki being in the same room together. He didn't even know what combination was making the room feel so stuffy, if it was the tension between Inko and Deku or Inko and himself.

Katsuki was standing off to the side of the nerd's bed, Deku sitting up in it above the covers whilst they waited for the doctor to return after catching his mother up on all the details. The blonde was standing side on from Deku, but out of the corner of his eye, he could see how Deku's pleasant smile had dropped away the moment his mother had left the room. A pathetic attempt to keep her as much at ease as possible. It seemed futile, but then again, considering Inko's initial reaction to finding out about Deku's health issue, perhaps it was actually helping more than he had originally thought.

The pair remained still and silent until the doctor returned without Inko almost fifteen minutes later. He was accompanied by a nurse from the hospital who quickly explained that they could perform sign language for Katsuki's sake and the doctor ensured had agreed and signed a confidentiality contract seeing as they still couldn't Deku's failing health leaking just yet.

Deku must have opened his mouth to ask where his mum was as he sat up a little straighter in the bed.

I'm afraid the news was hard on her, the nurse signed for the doctor, she is just taking a moment outside.

Deku nodded sadly, almost guiltily at that and that irked Katsuki, but he swallowed it down as the doctor went on.

After speaking with the doctor that was caring for you here, the results of several of the tests they ran and looking at the history of the event – the doctor inclined his head to Katsuki, who's watch had recorded it for the doctor to see – it suggests that your heart condition has worsened.

No surprises there. They had already been warned of such and Deku himself had been expecting it sooner or later.

What we are looking at here looks to be a case of restrictive cardiomyopathy, where the muscles of the heart become rigid and stiff and the heart can't function properly. That paired with a rush of adrenaline seemed to be the trigger for the incident earlier today. Unfortunately, this new assessment of your changing condition does lead us to other concerns and after a few more tests we should…..

The poor nurse was signing their life away for Katsuki's sake and as the doctor's newest diagnose rolled over him, he had to push himself hard to continue to concentrate and take it all in.

Long story short, the meds Deku had been taking – Amiodarone – just hadn't been enough to combat his still weakening heart. Those meds had been to help lessen and control arrhythmias but did little to prevent his heart from deteriorating further. Izuku's heart had worsened, leading to the muscles stiffening and his heart not doing its damn job properly. That was one thing, but that complicated things further as the doctor went on the explain that Deku's heart having those moments where the muscles seemed to almost seize up – whether he felt it or not, it was nothing more than an irregular blip to Katsuki's watch – had the potential of creating a much bigger and lethal complication. Blood clots and that carried the potential of a stroke if ever one formed and made its way up north. To combat that new risk and to do what they can to help the Deku's heart muscles function properly, the doctor was going on about changing up Deku's meds. Which of course carried their own risk. The greenette had enough issues in the beginning with his current meds the doctor had given him and to change it up for something stronger….well Katsuki couldn't help but to swallow at that.

We'll change your medication to Verapamil – the nurse had to spell it out letter by letter - Rather than targeting only heart arrythmias, this medicine will also help with high blood pressure. I'd like to start you on that as soon as possible as well as looking into some dietary changes such as cutting sodium from your diet as much as possible. I'd highly suggest that you be monitored during the first few weeks after switching for any possible side effects. After a week or two we can meet for a checkup again and revaluate from there. If it's not working out we can look at changing medicines or introducing other medications such as blood thinners and beta blockers to block any adrenaline spikes you may encounter to reduce the risk of another cardiac event.

The doctor stopped for a moment, took a much needed breath, stood a little straighter and put a small professional smile on his face.

How does that sound? He asked Deku finally. Katsuki watched him from the corner of his eye, his body feeling heavy and frozen in place from the visionary attack that was the sheer amount of information being signed his way. Even Deku didn't sign at him that god damn much. The nerd would have the habit now of his ramblings becoming hand movements but after a while those would die away as he got more engrossed in his own personal musings.

Deku gave a nod and a small weak smile of his own. No doubt it was a lot for him to take in to.

Alright, a more natural smile touched the doctor's lips, still professional, but somewhat glad that he didn't have to explain any further so late into the evening and after traveling all the way on such short notice.

You'll be staying here for the night to be monitored, but I'll organize to have the new medication ready for you tomorrow before you are discharged. After that I want you to take it easy. Any exercise is to be light and monitored and no quirk use. I'll have a nutritionist create a dietary plan for you to avoid extra sodium.

The doctor waited for another nod of understanding from Deku before he and the nurse left for the night and again it was just the two of them. With the extras out of the room, Katsuki felt like his body could move again but all his weight sank into his legs and he suddenly wanted to be sitting rather than standing so he took a few steps back – with what felt like great effort – snagged a chair and pulled it his way, sitting heavily at Deku's bedside.

He let out a long, tired sigh before opening his mouth to speak to the nerd. And all he had to say was a "good luck with that"

Deku's green head turned to look at him with confusion.

The salt thing, Katsuki signed to explain as he leaned back in his seat, now able to see Deku more, salts in everything so good luck avoiding it. Deku's brows scrunched up at that and his lips twisted into a pout of some sort.

It can't be that hard, he threw back. Katsuki gave a snort and rolled his eyes.

There was a pause between them. Neither signing nor looking directly at the other until Katsuki was suddenly struck with a thought. It hit him so hard and fast that something fluttered in his chest akin to excitement, though it wasn't nearly as pleasant.

A quick "Oi" was all Katsuki needed for Deku to look back his way, blinking in waiting.

Move in with me.

It wasn't a question, not really. The doctor had said Deku should be monitored while on the new meds till they figured things out, needed supervision while doing any exercise AND Katsuki was a good cook. The kind to make everything from scratch when needed – preferred in his case – so he could just make it without all the damn salt. And once the nutritionist had finished designing a dietary plan for the man, who better to make Deku stick to it and craft all the recipes perfectly than Katsuki? Sure, Deku's mum was in on it now, but if having to choose between staying with his mum or Katsuki, the blonde was pretty confident in who Deku would choose. Afterall, Deku was clearly still trying to put on a smile and pretend things weren't as serious as they are for her sake.

Deku blinked at Katsuki for a moment like a stunned fish before his brows came together in disbelief.

I'm serious, Katsuki added on before Deku could question him, I've been dealing with this shit longer than your mum has, you already didn't want to burden her with this crap, I can monitor you properly – he lifted his wrist watch to make that point – I know your exercise routines and I can make you your damn salt reduced meals.

I thought you hated the idea of living together, Deku pushed back a little skeptically. And sure, he wasn't wrong. Katsuki had hated the idea back when the greenette had brought it up when they had first agreed to be hero partners, but things had changed since then. Katsuki couldn't quite put his finger in it – he refused to believe he had softened just because of a damn kiss and rather he had just grown as a person….by himself – but things had changed.

When Katsuki just threw a cocked blonde eyebrow and frown back at the nerd's remark, he finally submitted.

Okay, Deku finally smiled a little, genuinely, if you're sure about it? But your place is only a single bedroom too. He pointed out, but Katsuki was onto it quick.

We'll get a bigger place together, he hardly even hesitated before throwing it out there, even he couldn't believe what he was agreeing to so quickly. A small part of him was screaming that he was not thinking right about any of this. The larger part of his brain tried to smother that voice with the facts, such as: He was Deku's hero partner and therefore, they were responsible for looking out for each other's back. In the field or otherwise.

I'll take the sofa till then, he added on whilst ignoring his brain spiralling. Deku's smiled widened, too tired to argue about sleeping arrangement. The Soft, warm, genuine expression reached his eyes and bled into Katsuki. The greenette gave him a small nod.

Good. It's settled then, he signed before rising, I'm gonna go find your old lady and tell her before she comes back in a panic, he added on before Deku could ask where he was going.

You have to stay here anyway, Katsuki turned back to sign with a shrug as he backed away, I'll find some place for us to stay and see you in the morning. He didn't wait for a signed reply before turning back around and leaving the room.

It was practically midnight by the time Katsuki had found Inko, caught her up on what was going on, stood there uncomfortably while she cried about it all over again before finally thanking and apologizing to Katsuki. Leaving the hospital they found a pair of motel rooms across from one another to stay in and by the time they had taken the keys and found their respective doors, Inko was dragging her feet she was so exhausted from her emotional rollercoaster of a day. Katsuki grunted a goodnight her way as she shuffled into her room, but she was already asleep in her feet and didn't hear him.

Whilst Inko slept – that was the hope – Katsuki laid awake on the bed, arms behind his head as he started up at the blank cream ceiling. Sleep was hard to come by when he had to face the fact that Izuku's heart was worsening and now that the drama of it all was over, a sickening sense of guilt was starting to settle in, sitting on his chest like a giant cat, slowly crushing him.

He couldn't help but feel that it was his fault.

If he hadn't been there that morning – or previous morning now he supposed now – then Deku never would have needed to save him. If he hadn't been deaf, if he hadn't been in that position in the search party, if he had just been doing anything else, Deku wouldn't have had to jump in to protect him. He never would have had to use his quirk. That sudden spike of adrenaline of not only understanding the situation and the harm that could have come to Katsuki but also waking up his quirk after so long, whether intentionally or not, had been what had pushed his heart to its limit and caused him to collapse. The worst part was that Katsuki knew it wasn't actually his fault, that it was just a horrible case of wrong-place-wrong-time, but that did nothing to lessen the guilt of his partner ending up almost dying because of it.

For the first time in what felt like a long time, Katsuki hated himself. Hated his disability and what it had done to him. Of how it had handicapped him in such a way that others had to act to watch over him, a feeling that had never sat well with him. Strong, independent Katsuki Bakugo, reduced to needing saving from a branch of all damn things.

Katsuki tossed and turned, trying to get more comfortable in the hope that tiredness would take over and pull him free from his own mind, so instead he decided to give up on that and do something more productive. He reached for his phone, turning it back on, its battery sitting at thirty percent without his charger – that of course reminded him that he would have to go back up the mountain to their previous accommodation to retrieve their things or at least have them sent for, which only made his frown deepen – and sat up in the bed. He began looking up places for sale and rent in their home city, preferably not too far from their current apartments, close to the hospital and with two bedrooms, even two bathrooms if possible without breaking their banks.

He found a few and saved them for later to reach out and organize inspections once they were home and turned his attention instead to replying to his mother's texts – not that she would see them for several hours still – and planning retrieving their things from up the mountain in the meantime while he waited for the sun to rise.

A/N:

OOOOOOOOOO Inko is pissed. And who wouldn't be honestly. Poor Katsuki taking the brunt of it but we all know how well he handles emotions so perhaps that was preferable for him.

How did Inko get there before Katsuki you ask?
MAGIC.
Pure parental sorcery.
Did she manifest a new quirk? Hijack a helicopter? Speed her way there? Who knows.