He had lost his job. His career. His occupation as a hero.
His entire life's work gone, having slipped through his fingers the day he had woken up deaf. And as much as he had walked out after realizing the heads of the agency were telling his mother that he could no longer work as a hero, it didn't really hit him fully just yet.
It wasn't till two days later when Katsuki had been doing his evening jog around the park that he stopped part way, his momentum dying down until he was left standing there in the dusk, catching his breath. He hadn't stopped out of exhaustion. He had stopped because it crossed his mind that there wasn't a point of it anymore. He didn't have a job as a hero anymore. He had been a part of one of the top agencies in Japan, having been recruited by them himself in his final term at U.A, if they weren't going to have him, who else would? No one was the answer.
Losing a limb, no problem. Get a prosthetic – mind you it didn't work for every hero who pushed on to keep working after such an injury, but there were a couple Katsuki could list off of the top of his head, Aizawa and Miriko included.
But lose your hearing and you are dismissed.
In all honesty, Katsuki couldn't be mad at them in particular no matter how much he wanted to be. He could understand where they were coming from. A deaf hero couldn't hear a civilian calling for help. They couldn't hear an explosion or a warning. They couldn't hear an oncoming attack or a villain sneaking up on them. Katsuki couldn't do any of that anymore. He would be a burden in the field, someone who would need constant watching over. He would only get in the way.
Katsuki walked the rest of the way back to his apartment feeling more miserable than angry for a change. He didn't even have enough fire in him to beat the shit out a boxing bag had there been one present, something he had picked up doing as a way to vent back at U.A when Kirishima had been living in the room beside his own.
When Katsuki reached the door to his apartment however there was a little paper bag hanging from his door handle. He narrowed his eyes at it but brought it inside with him before tipping its contents out on the island bench. Inside was a small box. No ribbons, no writing, no note, just a plain black box that could sit in Katsuki's palm. He opened it to reveal what looked like a watch inside, but it was slimmer and made from a black silicone like material. The shape reminded him of a slim Fitbit more than anything, but there was no screen. Only the imprinted shape of a lightning bolt over the chunkier part of the wrist band. Inside the box with it was a USB charging cable and a little white instruction booklet.
Katsuki narrowed his eyes as he brought the tiny booklet closer to read.
Shock Clock it was called.
Katsuki quickly glanced over the instructions, more so to find out what it was more than figuring out how to make it work just yet and his eyes opened wider when he figured it out. It was a wrist band designed to connect to his phone and zap him when his alarm went off in the morning. There were other features too, but for now using it as an alarm was all he could use it for and that was good enough to Katsuki.
One of his biggest annoyances since becoming deaf was his loss of his normal routine. He hated not being able to use an alarm to wake himself in the morning. He hated missing his usual routines and early morning exercises.
But, was there much point to it now that he couldn't be a hero and therefore what was the point in exercising so strictly? He didn't know. But for now at least he could wake himself when he wanted. He could get stuff done on his own terms and not be woken by his mother walking into his apartment. Perhaps it had come from his mother for that purpose.
He checked the box and bag over for a note again but there was nothing so Katsuki sat down on the couch and got to work syncing the shock band to his phone, downloading the necessary app and playing around with the settings, flinching the first time he zapped himself to test it out. He messed around until he found a level he was happy with a switched over to his phone clock to set an alarm in the morning but then froze. He had no where he needed to be tomorrow so why bother?
He shook the thought away. Perhaps it would be nice to get back into his usual routine at least.
Katsuki had been wrong.
The shock band worked brilliantly and was a great idea, but Katsuki had nothing to do with himself anymore and therefore he had nowhere to be. Days passed and he found his motivation to work out weaken, he felt his appetite lessen and when he did wake up to his alarm now, he would just lay and look at the ceiling wondering why he had even bothered to set the alarm in the first place.
Trying to return to his old sleep schedule and routines didn't make him feel better, if anything they did the opposite because now they felt pointless. Why bother keeping fit, why bother counting his calories - although in Katsuki's defense, he had never been one for snacking or eating sweet things so although he didn't pay as close attention to his diet anymore, he still ate better than many – why bother putting himself to bed and waking up at set times?
Everything just felt more and more pointless.
Katsuki also didn't leave the house in those days, having no desire too until he opened his fridge to find he had eaten the last of his food and needed to leave to go grocery shopping. He tipped his head back and sighed to the ceiling with dread at the idea of even the slightest interactions but eventually worked himself up to pulling on shoes and stepping out the door, only he walked straight into someone he hadn't expected to be there.
The collision hadn't been severe but enough for Katsuki to blink with surprise before he recognized the familiar mop of green hair and his surprise gave way to annoyance and a sneer. He barked the nerd's nickname and Deku looked up to him, rubbing at his sore nose. Katsuki glowered down at him and Deku raised his hands in surrender only for the tools in his hands to grab Katsuki's attention, his red eyes fixing onto them. Katsuki stepped forward and out of his doorway, lifting a hand to press against Deku's shoulder to force him back a step before Katsuki spun on his heel to face his own door, his eyes searching for whatever the fuck Deku had been doing when he spotted it.
On the wall beside his door sat a dark grey unit of a doorbell. Katsuki stepped closer to glare at it. It was slim but its dark colour made it stick out like a sore thumb on the wall. It had a large circular button to press and above it, jutting out in its own little dome, looked to be a camera. He had seen them before. People used them for their smart homes.
Katsuki turned back to face Deku who had stuffed the tools in his pockets to free his hands and he began to sign the moment Katsuki's eyes had looked his way again.
It's a smart doorbell, he explained, it can connect to your phone so you know when someone comes.
Katsuki narrowed his eyes. He wasn't dumb and didn't need Deku of all people explaining to him what a doorbell with a camera did. Deku must have seen as much through Katsuki's glare because he signed on, a little more frantically in his desperation to explain.
I know you won't have your phone all the time so it works with this, Deku pointed to Katsuki's wrist, his red eyes following to look to the shock band he wore and suddenly he was hit with understanding.
You got this? Katsuki signed back with a glare, raising his arm to indicate the band.
Deku simply nodded in return, his eyes wide as he contemplated shrinking back. The nerd had grown a back bone over the years and during their time at U.A but Katsuki's open hostility was still enough to make the green haired man nervous and that was only a win to Katsuki.
Annoyance churned inside Katsuki. He opened his mouth to tell the nerd with a voice that he hoped carried his irritation with it that he didn't need his help. It must have worked because Deku stepped back with a frown before raising his hands and waving them from side to side quickly. Katsuki narrowed his eyes for a moment more, leaning in to tower over the nerd and getting pissed off at the thought that Deku was signing something he didn't know yet himself until he realised Deku wasn't signing at all and simply waving his arms in his usual way of saying no.
It translated to: No, no, no, no, no
And didn't cease until Katsuki stood back up straight, leaning away from Deku and raising a blonde eyebrow. Deku seemed to relax a little more and moved to start to sign again.
It can - he paused, frowning to himself as he didn't know the signs needed to continue so he quickly reached into a back pocket to pull out a notepad and pencil he always seemed to have on him no matter how many times Katsuki had taken them. He figured the nerd must have a draw just full of stationary and notepads at his own place, waiting to be used.
Deku scribbled across the notepad frantically, desperate to get his message across before Katsuki lost his patience again, which he was very close to doing. He rolled his eyes and contemplated just walking back inside and locking the door behind him until Deku held the notepad to Katsuki's face and he snatched it from his hands to read with a snarl.
I figured you wouldn't have your phone on you all the time so I picked a doorbell out that can be connected to your shock clock so as long as you set it that way, it will let you know when someone is at the door.
Katsuki lowered the paper to look to Deku over the top of it, his eyes hard but not quite a glare. So what, being shocked to be woken up wasn't enough, now Deku expected him to get zapped every time someone rang his doorbell? Fuck if his old school friends ever found that out, they would have a field day with it. Speaking of which, he still hadn't told any of them yet. He said as much aloud with an over the top eye roll and sneer directed at Deku who simply reached forward and snatched his notepad back with a flick of green sparks so he was fast enough to avoid Katsuki pulling it out of his reach, which he would have done out of instinct had Deku not been so fast. The green haired man scribbled something down at the near speed of light before offering the notepad back to Katsuki who snatched it away again.
You can set it to do different things for different alerts like making it shock you to wake you and vibrate for the door.
Katsuki did recall seeing a vibrate function on the app but hadn't felt it would have been strong enough to wake him so he hadn't used it. Katsuki tossed the notepad back to Deku who caught it with ease, looked Deku up and down with narrowed suspicious eyes before lifting his hands to sign slowly.
Why help? He asked.
Deku shoved his notepad and pencil back in a rear pocket before signing back.
Why not.
Katsuki gave a look of distaste at the answer but like Deku was done making some kind of point he turned away to walk past Katsuki to the door, pulled out a screwdriver to finish putting in the last screw and then picked up the box, Katsuki's old doorbell and another tool from the floor by the door before standing and turning back to face Katsuki again. Katsuki simply watched in judgmental silence while Deku organized the things in his hands, shoving the tools into his back pockets with the rest of his junk, slipping the old plain doorbell into the now empty box that held nothing but instructions and shoved it into Katsuki's chest for him to grab before it fell to the ground.
Deku looked to Katsuki with a neutral expression, his green eyes searching for something before he dipped his head in farewell and turned to leave. Katsuki simply watched him go, feeling something well up inside him until he called out to Deku just before he had rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. Deku paused, half turning to look back to Katsuki without neither a smile nor a frown. Katsuki stared back for a moment more before jerking his chin to his door and moving to step inside.
Katsuki had meant to go shopping but he figured that could wait as Deku followed him inside and pulled off his shoes at the door. It was only the second time Deku had ever been in Katsuki's apartment, the last time the nerd had more let himself in than actually being invited in so this time Deku's green eyes surveyed the place. Katsuki figured that last time Deku had been either too nervous or determined to let his eyes roam until he had given Katsuki those books. Those same books that now sat on Katsuki's coffee table with numerous make shift book marks sticking out of them. If Deku noticed them, he didn't react to it.
Katsuki stepped into his kitchen and flicked on the kettle before turning back to face Deku who stood on the other side of the island counter like he had before. Katsuki reached for his pocket and pulled out his phone before unlocking it and sliding it across the counter to Deku who looked from it to Katsuki questioningly. Katsuki lifted his wrist to point at the shock band and then pointed to the phone. Deku seemed to understand and picked up the phone, pulling the dumped doorbell box closer to himself to set it up. It's not that Katsuki couldn't do it himself, he just figured that if the nerd was around and was so determined to get these gadgets for Katsuki that he may as well finish the job properly. Meanwhile Katsuki turned away to make a hot drink for each of them, making a tea for Deku, milk and all. He remembered that was the way Deku liked it from their high school days and had later found out that it was the same way Inko took her tea too.
Done, Katsuki lifted the mugs to turn and place them on the island counter when his wrist vibrated with enough force that it startled him and the contents of Deku's tea in that hand sloshed over the sides and made Katsuki hiss through his teeth. At least the milk had made the drink a little cooler or Katsuki would have sworn. As it was he was less hurt and more annoyed than anything and he placed the mugs down on the now wet counter and shot a glare to Deku who winced and mouthed an apology in return. Katsuki huffed and turned away to retrieve a damp cloth to wipe down the counter with when his wrist vibrated again, this time at a lesser strength. He looked over to Deku again who this time instead tilted his head in question and Katsuki understood that he was wordlessly asking if that strength was alright or not. Katsuki gave Deku a thumbs down and the nerd turned his attention back to the phone.
It vibrated again, this time weaker still, while Katsuki finished wiping the counter and he glanced up to find Deku already looking to him expectantly. This time Katsuki gave a single nod in return and Deku's neutral face lifted into a small smile as he confirmed the new setting on the phone app and Katsuki threw the cloth into the sink. When he turned back Deku was up by the door, opening it to lean out and must have pressed the doorbell because his green eyes turned back to face Katsuki. A second later Katsuki's wrist vibrated again and he gave Deku a nod to let him know that it worked and Deku came back inside, reached for his tea now that his job was done and taking a long sip with a satisfied grin.
Katsuki drank his own drink on the opposite side to Deku and let his gaze drift until after some time it came back to Deku who had been waiting patiently for it, hands raised and ready to sign.
I heard about work, Deku signed, I'm sorry.
The nerd lowered his hands slowly, his brows creased with sympathy. Katsuki didn't want to see it so he screwed his face into a frown and looked the other way but to his credit he didn't snap at the nerd,
Deku left shortly after that, signing to Katsuki on the way out to call him if he needed anything. Katsuki had flipped him off as he shut the door and that had been the end of that.
The days didn't get easier as they turned into weeks and Katsuki started to feel like he was fading from lost and purposeless to just plain numb.
His mother had dragged him out on the second day of August to meet with a doctor with a healing quirk she had managed to get in contact with and had pulled many strings to meet them but even the healer had no luck. She had run into the same issue they had when it came to hearing aids, that they couldn't magnify anything if the starting point was zero. Mitsuki promised that she would keep looking but Katsuki didn't even have it in him to be disappointed at that point. And he didn't see Deku again for two weeks until Katsuki's band vibrated and he pulled his phone from his pocket to check the app to see it was the green haired nerd fidgeting nervously at his door.
Katsuki inhaled deeply, closing his eyes to the ceiling and prayed for patience. He knew that type of nervous fidgeting from Deku, it was the determined sort and it didn't sit well with Katsuki who opened the door despite himself to glare at the nerd.
Deku's green eyes snapped to Katsuki, his green brows creased with fierce determination. He reached for Katsuki's wrist, grabbing it and not hesitating to pull the blonde out the door but Katsuki pulled back. Deku went to roll his eyes and sigh but stopped himself part way, instead lifting his hands to sigh.
I need you to come with me. He reached for Katsuki again who stepped out of reach.
Katsuki demanded why.
We have a meeting to get too.
Katsuki curled his lip.
Can you just trust me, Deku signed, his eyes taking on a pleading side, please.
Katsuki agreed, under the condition that Deku wasn't going to try to hold his hand the whole fucking way to which Deku simply nodded and lead the way at a brisk pace, all the while Katsuki wondered where the hell Deku was leading him.
The agency was his answer. Or more so Katsuki's old work place seeing as he was jobless now. It was a sour thought that put a scowl on his face the moment they stepped foot inside. Deku walked through the front doors, security letting him through although taking a few second looks at Katsuki marching in behind him. Deku walked past the receptionist who stood behind the counter, her eyes wide though Katsuki didn't stop to think about it while he followed Deku into the elevator.
Inside Katsuki asked why the hell Deku had brought him here but without looking back Deku just waved a hand at him like all answers would come with time which only made Katsuki click his tongue with annoyance and cross his arms. He wasn't pleased to be here of all places and he wanted to 1. Get the hell out and be lazy back at his apartment and 2. Throttle Deku for dragging him back here in the first place.
The elevator stopped and Deku stepped out, his shoulders set with determination that Katsuki had seen time and time again during their many battles with villains during their work studies. It was a don't-fuck-with-Deku walk as Katsuki followed a step behind, his gut starting to tighten when he recognized the floor they were on.
Deku walked right into the conference room, the three heads of the agency sitting in the same seats they had been when Katsuki had last been here. Their heads snapped up, giving Deku all of their attention as he stepped into the room and then their eyes turned to Katsuki as he stepped in behind him, pausing at the door. It was clear by the shifting expressions of them all that none of them were aware that Katsuki was attending this meeting. That made four of them.
One of them rose to their feet to seemingly question Katsuki's presence but Deku ignored them, turning back to face Katsuki and waved for him to come in before he turned back to say something to the woman and she sat again. The door closed behind Katsuki, Deku sat opposite the heads where Katsuki's mother had not long ago and Katsuki moved to sit on Deku's left.
The man in the centre spoke, starting whatever meeting this was supposed to be and finally Deku spoke. Katsuki would have moved to look away if he hadn't noticed movement coming from Deku's hands. The bastard was signing as he spoke so Katsuki knew what he was saying and something about doing that made Katsuki's eyes widen a fraction as he watched on.
Katsuki had had very little motivation to do anything since losing his job but he had kept up his sign language reading, albeit with less enthusiasm as before, not that he had had much to begin with. So he missed some of what Deku was signing, the green nerd obviously studying much harder than Katsuki.
Katsuki could only watch on with bated breath as Deku argued his case.
He's a future top hero surely you can give him the time he needs to adjust and –
The woman on the side spoke up, her words falling on Katsuki's deaf ears and Deku paused to listen. Unfortunately for Katsuki, Deku was too intent on listening to sign for him, not that he had expected him too. Once she was done with her piece Deku went back to speaking and signing.
You know him, when has he ever given up –
Another interrupted him, Deku's brows coming together with irritation at whatever they had to say.
There's things we can do, tech that we could –
One of them spoke again.
If you could just give it a chance –
Interruption.
Let us work together and –
They interrupted him yet again and whatever they had to say this time pushed Deku too far. He stood, slamming his hands down on the table. One of the heads flinched and he scowled at them with a level of anger that Katsuki had rarely seen.
Whatever Deku had to say next Katsuki didn't catch because Deku was too angered to bother with signing. They pushed back, arguing with him over Katsuki who's red eyes jumped between them all as he frantically tried to decipher what was happening around him. Regardless, the tension in the room was building and for once Katsuki wasn't to blame – not directly anyway.
The arguing went on, Deku throwing an arm aside to indicate to Katsuki beside him. The three heads of the agency took turns to argue in return, each getting more and more heated with each exchange. Finally Deku had had enough and he shook his head at them all with bared teeth before throwing a few final words and turning to leave. They rose to their feet after him, gesturing and calling to him, their anger having melted away to something akin to shock or disbelief but Deku didn't look back as he pushed through the door of the conference room. The three turned on each other, hands flailing as they began to argue among themselves. Katsuki rose, being ignored by the bickering trio, before he left after Deku who was stomping down the hallway ahead. If he had been fiercely determined before, he was pissed beyond belief now.
Katsuki picked up his pace to catch up to Deku, coming up beside him, pushing to know what the hell just happened in there. Deku just shook his head, too irritated to stop and explain. He pushed the call button for the elevator, Deku turning on the spot and pacing in a circle with a hand pushing through his hair as he did and Katsuki could only watch on while Deku stressed beside him. Katsuki reached out, trying to get Deku's attention by grabbing his shoulder but at the contact Deku swatted his hand away before his face flashed with regret and he closed his eyes and waved an apology to Katsuki.
The elevator arrived and they stepped inside, Deku calming as each level passed, going from pacing and tugging at his hair to bracing his hands on his hips and taking deep breaths. They stepped out onto the ground floor foyer and headed for the exit. The receptionist was on the phone and rose as they approached, raising a hand and calling to them but Deku ignored her as they turned for the front doors. The security guards stepped in their way, hands raised peacefully, speaking calmly to Deku like they were trying to talk someone off a ledge.
Deku raised his hands to them, shaking his head before lowering them again. Whatever he said to them was enough for the pair to look to each other before stepping aside and letting Deku pass. Katsuki followed him out as Deku led the way back down the street the way they had come. Katsuki sped up to walk beside Deku again, who was now walking much calmer than before.
What was that? Katsuki lifted his hands towards Deku to sign in his line of sight. Deku slowed to a stop, his eyes searching Katsuki with a frown before he glanced away and then back again in thought.
Hungry? He signed back in response and Katsuki shot him a questioning glare.
This was the point where he expected Deku to shoot him a quick grin but didn't as he simply turned away to lead down the street again. Katsuki rolled his eyes to the heavens with what may or may not have been an audible groan and followed again.
Deku seemed to be wandering aimlessly until Katsuki had had enough and grabbed a hold of the nerd's elbow to pull him back into a ramen place. There they ordered and waited for the food to come, Deku's nose stuck in his phone the moment they sat. The food came and they ate, Katsuki growing more and more irritable by the minute while Deku kept his eyes on his phone the entire meal.
Katsuki had done what Deku had asked of him and trusted him enough to be dragged back into the agency for whatever shit show he had just sat in the front row seat of. He had done it only because he knew that look on Deku's face when he had opened his door. He knew Deku wouldn't let things go unless he went along with it. He begrudgingly also felt like he owed Deku something at least for the items he had gotten to help Katsuki out – not that he would ever admit his gratitude and planned to pay the nerd back – but Katsuki was quickly reaching the end of his patience.
Deku was slow to finish his ramen, too busy focused on his phone to keep up with Katsuki who had finished his already and was glaring across the table at the green haired nerd till he eventually put down his phone with a long exhale, finished the last of his meal and finally lifted his gaze to Katsuki before he jerked his head with the first hint a smile Katsuki had seen from him all day and they rose to pay and leave.
Deku annoyingly went with Katsuki all the way back to Katsuki's front door but he didn't leave. Instead he placed his foot in the way of the door before Katsuki could close it behind himself when the moment had grown awkward with Deku staring down at his feet instead of saying, or more so signing, anything. Katsuki shot Deku a glare, not that the greenette was looking to him, and opened the door again a fraction before pulling it closed again with force. Deku winced but kept his foot in place, finally lifting his gaze to meet Katsuki's sneer. Something in Deku's green eyes looked sad, hurt, apologetic even, before he blinked it away and it was replaced with a smile and a glint of determination.
Pack a bag, Deku lifted his hands to sign, I'll be back in an hour. He turned to leave when Katsuki reached forward to grab his arm tightly, forcing Deku to look back at him. Katsuki demanded to know why. Despite Katsuki's grip, Deku brought his other hand over to sign.
Trust me, he smiled gently and Katsuki kept his grip with narrowed eyes.
He and Deku weren't friends so why should he trust him? But then again, something had gone down at the agency earlier and he wanted to know what because whatever it was it involved him and it hadn't ended well judging from Deku's mood. That and Deku had never done anything to deceive him in the past. In fact Deku was terrible at lying to the point of almost blowing a surprise party he had planned for Katsuki himself during their third year. Despite it all though, Deku had been doing a lot for Katsuki lately, whether he wanted the help or not apparently. If anything, he trusted Deku to not carry any ill intent and hold Katsuki's best interests in mind at least. And it wasn't like he would be missing work or had anything else to be doing. As irritating as it was, he didn't have anything to lose and he still wanted to know what the fuck had gone down earlier.
Finally Katsuki released his hold and Deku's smile widened before he left.
The problem was, Katsuki had no idea what he was supposed to be packing for. Katsuki assumed Deku meant to go somewhere, but where? How long was he supposed to pack for? What conditions?
Katsuki only found himself feeling frustrated without having the answers. He texted Deku, demanding to know what the hell he was packing for but he received no reply which only made him grit his teeth more for having not asked earlier.
Just over an hour later the band on Katsuki's wrist vibrated and he didn't bother stopping to check his phone before heading to open the door. There was only one person it could be. He opened the door and Deku let himself inside with a friendly smile, ignoring Katsuki's growl of annoyance that he at least hoped was intimidating. Deku shrugged off a large backpack he had brought with him and stepped past Katsuki to head for the bedroom. Katsuki barked after him and clenched his fists with annoyance when Deku didn't even look back his way. He marched after the nerd into his room to find him shuffling through his duffle bag, pulling pieces of clothes out and placing them on the bed beside it.
Deku unbelievably took it upon himself to turn and rummage through Katsuki's draws, pulling pieces of clothing out to replace what he had removed. Katsuki stepped forward, his irritation getting the better of him and he grabbed Deku by the shoulder and yanked him back, turning him to face him. He asked what the fuck Deku thought he was doing, his words coming loud enough for Deku to wince a little. Katsuki released his grip and Deku took a step back.
Packing, he signed and Katsuki snarled at him.
For what? Katsuki threw back in Deku's face, his fierce red glare never leaving the nerd.
A break, Deku signed back far more calmly. Katsuki gave him a hard look.
The fuck, Katsuki threw at him again, having made the effort to research swear words in sign language.
Holiday, Deku clarified like Katsuki needed it, which he didn't. Katsuki just threw his hands up in a wild gesture. Deku started firing words back.
Sun. Beach. Sand. Swim. Fun. Relax. Deku went on until Katsuki slapped his hands back down, twice, to make him stop signing god damn words at him. They both just stared at each other for a moment and Katsuki could see behind Deku's eyes that he was itching to resume packing.
No, was all Bakugo signed back.
It's already booked, retorted Deku and turned back to packing.
Katsuki rolled his eyes behind his back with a hiss. He stepped forward, shouldering Deku out of the way with a snarl and took over the packing process. Deku left him to it as he angrily shoved clothing into the bag. Deku left the room at some point, Katsuki didn't know when but when he was finally done piling his toiletries inside he stepped out of his room to find Deku deep in his fridge. He let loose another scowl, making an angry noise loud enough for Deku to turn back to face him. Deku had a bundle of ingredients in his hands and dumped them on the island counter where he had begun to make sandwiches. Katsuki quickly took over that task too by shouldering Deku out of the way, a little less aggressively than before.
Once they were packed with food to go and with their bags slung over their shoulders, Deku led the way out. They caught a cab to the nearest station. They had to change trains twice before they were in for the long haul and sat down beside one another along a long bench seat as the train headed out. By then the sun was setting and the sky was tinged orange. They sat together, a foot of space between them as the train gently rocked them back and forth as it went.
Deku's phone must have buzzed because he reached for it in his pocket. Katsuki's eyes were drawn by the movement and he saw Izuku's phone screen light up with 'Mum' before Deku clicked the lock button and the screen went dark. He set the phone down in his lap, half turned his body away from Katsuki and frowned out of the window at the passing scenery. Katsuki wanted to ask what the hell was going on but before he could, his own phone buzzed and he looked to it.
Hag: Have you seen Izuku at all today?
Katsuki narrowed his eyes at the question before he texted a response. Deku's attention was still pointed outside.
Katsuki: I'm with him now.
His mother's response was immediate.
Hag: You're with him! What are you doing? He's not answering his phone. Is he okay? Inko is worried sick.
Katsuki: He's fine. We're on a train.
Hag: Where are you going?
Katsuki: I don't know.
Hag: What do you mean you don't know!?
Katsuki grit his teeth with annoyance.
Katsuki: IDK south somewhere! Deku just told me to pack and dragged me out of my place. He won't tell me where.
Hag: And you went with him?
Katsuki: Obviously.
He was here wasn't he.
Hag: Don't give me attitude Katsuki! I'm just surprised you went along with him. I know you two haven't been that close lately.
Understatement of the year.
Katsuki: What's this about?
Hag: Sweetie.
He hated it when she called him that. She only ever called him that when it was bad news.
Hag: Izuku quit his job.
Katsuki froze for a moment, his red eyes looking over to Deku once again but the green haired nerd was still half turned to stare out the window.
Hag: Can you just get him to call Inko when he can. She's really worried.
He didn't send a reply because there was nothing to say back. Katsuki's chest threatened to tighten when his mind went back to that meeting Deku had dragged him to earlier in the day. Now how everyone reacted to whatever Deku had been saying without signing made sense. He wasn't dumb. He knew that Deku had been advocating for Katsuki to be given a chance to be a hero again and they had argued against him at every turn. But then Deku had gotten mad. He had spouted words that Katsuki hadn't understood before storming out. Suddenly their reactions made sense, trying to call him back, trying to stop him from leaving, the security at the door trying to talk him down like someone about to make a bad decision.
It made sense. Deku was like a walking advertisement for any agency he chose to work with, he was a top up and coming hero after all just like Katsuki had been. On top of that though he had a warm presence, always smiled, always seemed to know what to do in a situation. He got the job done with minimal damage and he was the soon-to-be media angel of Japan just about. When Deku walked by, heads turned. So of course the agency hadn't wanted to lose him.
Worst of all. It was Katsuki's fault. Directly, indirectly, he didn't care because no matter what Katsuki thought it felt like his fault. Deku had been there because of him. He had lost his temper and lost his job because of him. He had no doubt that if Deku walked back into the agency he could give a single smile and have his job handed back to him, but Katsuki knew Deku. He knew Deku would never go back on his word like that. When the nerd decided something – like quitting their job or planning a spontaneous vacation in the middle of the day – he stuck to it.
Katsuki chose to take action rather than let himself wallow further. He edged closer, leaned over to nudge Deku's shoulder with his own roughly and Deku turned his body back to sit properly, his attention coming back around to Katsuki, blinking with questioning green eyes. Katsuki simply held his phone up for Deku to read, his green brows creasing as he did until he was done and Katsuki pulled the phone away. He stared at Deku hard and he greenette lifted his gaze to him with a wince. Katsuki asked what the fuck and Deku raised a finger to his lips. Katsuki bit the inside of his cheek with annoyance that he had been too loud yet again. If people were staring, he didn't give them any attention or bother to apologize.
It's fine, Deku signed and Katsuki knew that if there were a sign for 'Kacchan' Deku would have added it. That lead to Katsuki wondering about signing names before he brought his thoughts back in order to focus on Deku before him.
I can always sign up with another agency if I have to later, he finished signing and diverted his gaze like he was embarrassed or ashamed or something.
Katsuki raised his phone and pointed at it again.
I'll call when we get there, Deku assured him, moving to turn away, to end the discussion. Katsuki shouldered him again more roughly and Deku's head came back around his way with a frown and creased brows from being knocked around too hard for his liking. Well stiff shit.
You quit because of me, Katsuki threw his way with an exasperated look.
I didn't leave because of you, Deku replied.
Well then what the fuck happened? Katsuki signed with angry movements.
It doesn't matter, the nerd had the audacity to sign in return, I have a plan.
What fucking plan? Katsuki glared.
I had a plan already for us, I just wanted to see if the agency was on board and they weren't, so I'll work out the creases and we can try again.
Us? We? Katsuki bristled and Deku noticed.
You can't do this alone, Katsuki could almost hear the unsaid 'Kacchan' in his head and, fuck, did he miss hearing that name?
At least not to begin with, Deku added.
I never asked for your help, Katsuki threw back with a hiss, was he hissing? He couldn't tell but he could definitely feel air being pushed out from behind clenched teeth.
You didn't have to ask. 'Kacchan'
Katsuki wanted to push on, to strangle the other man, anything but instead he threw his back against the seat and crossed his arms with a scowl and Deku let him end it there.
Of all the things the notorious self-sacrificing nerd could do, throwing his hero career under the bus was not something that sat well with Katsuki. Perhaps he should have expected as much from the other man. Him jumping in front of danger to protect someone was nothing new. Hell, he had dived in the way to save Katsuki's ass plenty during their numerous run ins with villains during their high school years. And Katsuki had returned the 'favour' – if he could call it that – only, Katsuki didn't always get his ass beat when he did. Sometimes but not often.
They weren't friends. They didn't even work together despite having been in the same agency, yet the nerd had done it yet again. His hero career would recover, sure, but quitting an agency when tempers were running high could leave a black mark on his resume for the future. Even Katsuki knew to keep a better head on him when dealing with the head honchos of the agency.
A/N: I got the idea of the Shock Clock from my brother who used to have one - no idea where it is now - but he is terrible at waking up to his alarm, despite it being loud, sudden and literally blaring alarm sounds that will wake me from across the house. So for a period of time, he used a device just like that to help wake himself up in the mornings.