The sun had set by the time they were getting off the train, somewhere far south with a seaside view and a small town feel to it. Katsuki merely followed Deku's lead as the greenette stood, grabbed his bag from above their heads and exited the train.

They were two of the five people total who got off at the small station and they stood there while the train departed, the place open and dark except for a single hanging lamp. Everyone else departed while Katsuki stood there with a deep frown as he waited for Deku to finish looking between his phone and the surrounding area as he figured out which way to go from there.

Katsuki turned away with what felt like an audible grumble and instead faced the shoreline across the tracks. The white tops of gently waves were visible in the light given off by the moon and the few house lights further along. His frown dropped away into something more relaxed as he watched, recalling the sounds of waves on the shore. But the sounds in his mind just didn't seem quite right. It had been years since he had last been to a beach, not since mid-high school in fact, so he didn't know if the sounds he could recall in his mind were close to the real thing or not and that bothered him, like a nagging itch at the back of his mind.

A touch to his shoulder made him turn.

Deku was blinking at him before jerking his thumb over his shoulder, his direction decided, before turning with a small smile to lead the way to wherever the hell it was they were going anyway. Katsuki only hoped the walk wasn't long. Despite the summer weather, the night breeze coming in from the sea was cool and he wanted nothing more than to sleep on a comfy bed.

Only the beds didn't look comfortable.

Deku had led them a fifteen minute walk along the path that followed the shoreline, the train track peeling away deeper into suburbia, until they reached a shack.

Shack may have been too harsh of a word, it being more of a small traditional style inn with no more than two or three large rooms run by an elderly couple who occupied one of the rooms themselves. The couple were old and wrinkled with white hair and hunched shoulders but Deku smiled warmly, sincerely, as he spoke to them, seemingly thanking them multiple times or perhaps apologizing for their late arrival. Katsuki didn't know nor cared whatever the nerd was talking about and only paid attention again when Deku moved off to find their room.

Their room was at the rear of the place and closest to the water, with a view that literally would allow them to step right through the back sliding doors, across a small old style deck and straight onto the sand. The room was simple with paper thin walls, sliding wooden framed doors, tatami mats, a kotatsu table to one side and rolled up futons. Even the box light on the ceiling had an old style pull string rather than a wall switch.

Yet all Katsuki could do was stare at the pair of futons folded neatly to one side of the traditional room. He turned to point his glare at Deku who was too busy admiring the place with wide green eyes to pay any attention to Katsuki. With a stomp Deku's head turned his way.

What the fuck are we doing here? Katsuki signed to the greenette, Is this all part of your stupid plan?

Deku shrugged off both bags, having scooped up Katsuki's after he had let it drop off his shoulder when they had been greeted by the old couple.

I told you already, Deku signed back, holiday.

You did not drag me out here for the fucking beach, Katsuki threw his way aggressively.

There is someone here I need to meet, Deku responded calmly, It's all part of the plan 'Kacchan'

Katsuki gritted his teeth.

Did he actually miss hearing it? Hearing his name?

Not only the Kacchan's that seemed to go unspoken from Deku but the Katsuki's and Bakugo's, Kat's and Dynamight's too.

Like a hammer to his heart came the realization that he did miss it, hearing his name, not just from Deku but from anyone. He felt like less of a person or more so like less of an individual because of it. Yet he had never really noticed it till now and that was the part that grinded his gears, that it wasn't till he was stuck with Deku that he started to finally notice to lack of it since the nerd was always spouting Kacchan this and Kacchan that anytime they had spoken throughout their entire lives.

Instead of demanding to know about Deku's stupid plan, Katsuki turned away and marched over to the folded futons, yanking at one until it unfurled in a mess of linen and he threw it across the floor, flattening it out on his hands and knees before laying on it, shoving the sorry excuse of a pillow under his head and tugging at the blanket up to his shoulders. He made sure to keep his back to Deku as he frowned to himself. Only a minute later, Deku must have followed suit because the light was turned off and through the tiny vibrations resonating through the tatami mats, Deku settled onto his own futon and then the house was still and forever silent. Only then did Katsuki let his eyes close.

Katsuki woke to a zap from his wrist band as his alarm went off at eight. He pressed the button on the side of his wrist band to stop the buzzing and blinked at the ceiling with bleary eyes, recalling where he was and what he was doing here. Not that he could really answer the second part himself. Thinking of which, Katsuki turned, ready to kick the nerd who had laid his futon parallel and only a foot from Katsuki's own, but the nerd wasn't there which only made him frown harder as he sat up. Deku hadn't made the bed at all before apparently having rushed out the door, discarded clothes left in a heap beside his dishelved futon. On the plus side, he hadn't woken Katsuki who would have kicked his ass for doing so, but at the same time, now he didn't get to tag along to see why the hell the green haired man had dragged him to a southern seaside town in the first place.

Katsuki got up with a grumble vibrating through his throat as he folded up his futon to push to the side of the room neatly, kicked Deku's just to make it more of a mess for the nerd to clean up and then went to step out to shower in the one shared bathroom of the place – something Katsuki was not thrilled about but the elderly couple who lived there also had their own bathroom – only to almost step on a tray resting on the floor by their door. Katsuki cocked an eyebrow at it and dragged it back into the room, sliding the door closed behind him. It was a homemade breakfast and now that Katsuki could smell the still warm contents his stomach rumbled with appreciation. He took the tray, its contents covered with a large metal dome to keep it protected and warm inside, and laid it on the kotatsu, shuffling to kneel down before it to eat. Inside was steamed vegetables, rice and freshly caught fish which Katsuki managed to eat the entirety off since there was no one he had to share it with seeing as the nerd had left before it was served. It was only lukewarm thanks to Katsuki not having heard any sign of it being left there but it was delicious either way and Katsuki showered in a better mood than he had woken in.

When he returned to the room after a long hot shower, he could tell someone had been in there to fold up Deku's futon and take away the finished meal but from the scent alone he knew it wasn't Deku himself that had returned and was most likely the elderly woman who ran the place from the rose perfume lingering in the air.

In a strange town, deaf and unable to communicate properly and with Deku gone there wasn't much for Katsuki to do. He didn't want to go out and roam the seaside town because he didn't want to deal with the hassle of people trying to talk to him when he couldn't do so in return. He didn't want to walk across the sand to feel the water across his feet because there were people out there, sitting on the sand or playing in the surf and he would hate to be recognized by anyone much for the same reason as not wanting to explore the town. He didn't have a book or a laptop to occupy himself with and after thirty minutes or browsing multiple apps on his phone, he was bored of that too.

When Deku did return two hours later, Katsuki was lying on his back with hands behind his head on the narrow decking that separated the building from the sand, a short wall of shrubs splitting the property from the public beach. Katsuki's eyes were closed but through the flooring he could feel when Deku had drawn close and only then did he open a red eye to peek up at the nerd who stood in the open doorway, watching the ongoings of the beach beyond. Katsuki called him a nerd to catch the greenette's attention and a pair of green eyes turned down to look at him.

Katsuki asked where the hell he had been, opening his remaining closed eye at the ready to read Deku's response.

I told you I had someone I needed to meet, Deku explained simply. Katsuki frowned up at the other man and gave him a 'mhm-hmm' hum. Deku didn't feel the need to explain further apparently.

Have you just been here all morning? Deku asked with a slight head tilt.

Where else would I be, Katsuki threw back with a huff.

There's a whole town you can explore or the beach, Deku offered as he stepped over Katsuki's legs to sit on the edge of the deck, his legs hanging over the edge.

Seen one beach, seen them all, Katsuki signed back with an eye roll and gave a groan of complaint as he sat up, swinging his own legs over the edge to sit the same as Deku. Between the deck and the wall of shrubs the small yard was paved but had since lost the battle to incoming sand to create a thin layer several centimetres thick that Katsuki could press his toes into. Deku had already wriggled his feet down to the pavers in the sun warm sand.

You can't stay inside forever, Deku signed back beside Katsuki with a friendly smirk. It took Katsuki a moment of squinting to read what Deku was saying because he hadn't turned fully to face him head on when he had signed it.

If I was going to stay inside forever I wouldn't be here with your dumb ass, would I, Katsuki returned the favour of not turning to face Deku as he signed his response and the nerd watched on with his full attention. Katsuki had expected a response, watching Deku's scarred hands but instead he saw them tremble ever so slightly. Confused he glanced up to see Deku's shoulders shaking as the green haired man with eyes closing as he laughed. Then as quickly as it had started, Deku stilled again, his face softening to a smile.

Even without your words you're the exact same, he signed with a smile. Katsuki sneered back and called him a stupid nerd just to make a point but Deku's smile only widened a fraction more at that.

So you going to tell me who the hell you came all this way to see and why you had to drag me along for it? Katsuki asked with a frown. Already Deku was a little faster at reading his signs from beside him.

When I worked down south I got to know some of the hero support gear creators in the area. We are here to see one who, he paused, his smile dropping as he thought of the word he wanted to sign, specializes in small gear.

Katsuki narrowed his eyes, the corner of his lip quirking up in the beginnings of a sneer.

We? He pressed.

Yes, 'Kacchan' we, his childhood nickname went unspoken but the way Deku lightly rolled his eyes paired with a smile pulling at his lips made it come to Katsuki's mind and he furrowed his brows at it. He felt the want to turn away but instead he pushed on. He wasn't about to drop the whole conversation because the lack of his name, or in this case nickname, made him feel…..he didn't really know what he felt, but it sat in his gut like a heavy stone.

So, what the fuck do we need from him? Katsuki signed with an eye roll and crossed his arms when he was done asking.

I've requested some custom gear be made so we can work as a hero duo even without being able to hear anything, Deku signed with a smile.

Who ever said I wanted to work with you? Katsuki threw back with a sneer. Deku didn't reply for a moment, his smile dropping away ever so slightly before he forced it back in place and turned his gaze to watch the sea in front of them. His hands moved again.

You don't have to, he signed, I'm sure it's just good to be out of your place for a bit.

What the hell made you think I even wanted to leave, Katsuki scowled.

You came didn't you?, his smile softened into something more natural, more at ease, It would get depressing being inside all the time.

Katsuki hissed back a little too defensively that he wasn't fucking depressed because he hated that it had been on his mind at all. Deku let his eyes close for a moment calmly, before turning to look to Katsuki directly. Green eyes meeting red.

I didn't say you were but when was the last time you saw any of your friends? He asked, his smile melted into something warmer, caring, understanding, Have you even told them what's going on?

Katsuki bristled.

Katsuki spat out that he didn't have to tell anyone his damn business. Deku merely blinked at him as though waiting for Katsuki to say more and relaxed when he didn't and that only made Katsuki's anger blossom.

He stood to tower over Deku and opened his mouth to bark out that it hadn't been his choice for Deku to know about his condition either and that he never would have told the greenette had their mothers not gossiped behind his back. He capped it off with a line about not needing shitty extras – his friends – pestering or babying him and that he could take care of himself.

He stilled for a moment, expecting Deku to sign something in response or do anything. Instead the greenette only blinked Katsuki's way, his smile having faded. Katsuki couldn't stand the concern he saw in those deep green eyes so he stepped off of the narrow deck, onto the sand covered pavers and crossed over the border of shrubs to reach the beach, turning to storm away with hands stuffed in his pockets.

As far as Katsuki could tell, Deku didn't follow.

Deku hadn't chased after him which was a relief and after at least fifteen minutes of stomping along the stretch of sand, the inn was out of sight. Katsuki paused to glance back just to confirm the lack of a green haired speck coming his way, but there was nothing. Their destination wasn't a big tourist spot even in the summer unlike many other beaches further south where there were cities by the water and large hotels with grand views. That's where Deku had worked after they had graduated.

When Katsuki had been offered a job at a top agency not far from his home town with a bustling city that would keep him plenty busy, he had taken it. Then Deku, not even a week later, had been offered a position at another well-known agency in the south that was based in a coastline city that almost doubled in population during the summer vacation months with tourists the world over.

Katsuki could still recall it, the look on Deku's face from across the common space of their dorm when he had heard that Katsuki had accepted the job. His idiot friends had heard him mumble about it and had jumped into cheerful hysterics over it. Meanwhile Deku had frozen in place, looked Katsuki's way and then left like he had somewhere better to be. That memory had never sat well with him and he shook himself to be free of it.

As it was, the beach was mostly clear of extras. School was still going so there was a distinct lack of children and teens roaming and other than one sunbaking woman, Katsuki had only passed a couple taking a stroll with their feet in the shallows.

But now he didn't know what to do with himself. Out of pure stubbornness and the fact that it held little interest for him, Katsuki didn't want to step off the beach to explore the town like Deku had suggested. But he also didn't want to go back and face the freckled man. The truth was, Katsuki hadn't told any of his friends what had been going on with him. They worked at different agencies, in different cities, so they wouldn't learn of his leave of absence and now lack of a job unless they called the place or a case brought them to his old agency. Both unlikely. Outside of that he had been actively ignoring them in their group chat and giving weak replies whenever one dared to message him privately. So far the only one who had asked if he was alright was Kirishima and Katsuki had quickly dismissed that with a 'been busy' response. He knew it wasn't great of him but he really didn't want to deal with them if they found out he had lost his hearing. He didn't want to see their concerned or pitying faces. He didn't want to read everything they would write down and thrust into his face like Deku used too and on that note, thank fuck he and Deku knew sign language now which was so much easier even if they were both still not perfect at it. They got the gist of what the other was roughly signing and could fill in the blanks themselves to create a smooth and complete sentence.

Overall, Katsuki didn't want to deal with anyone knowing about him. Call it selfish but he didn't feel like he could deal with it mentally since it had all started. In fact he only felt more and more mentally exhausted from it the more time passed. Even more so since losing his job…

Shit.

He kicked at the sand with a snarl hating that yet again, Deku seemed to read him so easily despite doing his best to be a closed book since forever, yet the green nerd had always been able to see right through him.

Katsuki didn't return to the inn till sunset. He was lucky to not be the sort to burn with what little shade there was available on the beach without stepping into the streets, but during the late afternoon clouds had cruised in to cover the sun and bring a cooler breeze, not that it had been a hot day to begin with thankfully.

When Katsuki stepped up to the narrow deck and in through the still open sliding door that looked to the water, he spotted Deku leaning over the table, propped up on his elbows with his phone to his ear. The greenette had been too engrossed in his call to notice Katsuki come in and from the expression on his face, it was a serious conversation happening. Katsuki stepped closer, Deku's eyes flicked to him before he spoke into the phone again, ending the call shortly after and placed it face down on the table. He turned his face Katsuki's way and gave the blonde a smile that seemed a little too forced.

Your mum?, Katsuki signed as he sat down heavily on the other side of the table and propped an elbow on the surface, resting his chin in his hand. Deku shook his head. That brought some relief to Katsuki. If Deku had been in such a serious mode when talking to his mother then something bad must have been going down. Seeing as it wasn't, Katsuki could assume that it was just something work related. Perhaps the agency trying to get Deku to come back.

What did you get up to?, Deku signed.

Rather than signing back Katsuki just lifted his free hand, letting it hang so his fingers pointed to the table and wiggled his index and middle finger like legs walking.

The beach or did you go into town too? Katsuki couldn't see why any of it was important and worth the effort of signing to ask outside of the greenette just making conversation, which Katsuki was not in the mood for so he just jerked his thumb over his shoulder to the beach and left it at that. Deku's smile grew into something more natural and he left it at that, picking up his phone again to read something - Katsuki had felt it buzz through the table – on the screen and Katsuki turned his mind to thinking about his next meal seeing as he had missed lunch.

Deku had infuriatingly insisted that they go into the town for dinner and although Katsuki had grumbled and crossed his arms, leaving the greenette to literally shove at his back. He had eventually agreed and let his body be moved rather than digging his heels in for risk of the nerd going all One For All on him. The town was a simple one, peaceful and with a majority aged population. The heroes they spotted on patrol were kind and so low on the hero charts that Katsuki didn't even know who they were, yet they greeted everyone they met on the street and went about their business with a relaxed air.

They ended up eating at a ramen shop that sat on a corner, so small that it consisted of the kitchen, the bench and seats with just enough of an awning to cover them if it rained. It was small and private and by the time Katsuki had seated himself, Deku had already ordered for the two of them with a smile to the owner on the other side of the bench. Katsuki threw Deku a narrowed sideways glance but a few minutes later he wasn't disappointed to discover that Deku had ordered him the spiciest bowl on the menu and the burning sensation was something Katsuki had missed. It felt like an eternity since he had last eaten out or bothered to spice up his own home cooking to match the level of his current meal.

Deku didn't bother conversing during the meal which Katsuki was grateful for, plus their hands were busy, and afterwards they walked back to the inn in silence. Only Katsuki's silence was just his new way of living while Deku's was by choice. Despite the relative peace as they walked, it still niggled at the back of Katsuki's mind the unfairness of it all. He shoved his hands in his pockets with a long exhale as they made their way down through the seaside streets. The sun had set and the breeze ran a little cooler in a pleasant way, enough to curb any feelings of anger getting a foot hold in his gut. Had the breeze been warm enough to not keep his sweat at bay he may have exploded, metaphorically. Though it had been a long while since he had used his quirk, not since losing his hearing, the longest since his quirk had manifested. He frowned at that.

The elderly couple had already retired for the night when they came in through the front and let themselves back into their shared room. Katsuki made for the folded futons to set his up in the centre of the room again. He had half expected Deku to do the same, seeing as there was very little else to do, or to set himself down at the table. But the greenette did neither, instead crossed the tatami mats to open the sliding door to face the beach.

The sky was a deep blue, almost black with the half moon and stars turning the waves to silver beneath them. To Katsuki, who's head had turned to follow Deku with annoyance, the scene made him pause. He stood straighter and walked over to step through the doorway, not taking notice of how he stood shoulder to shoulder with Deku and watched the calm waves push and pull against the sand. He missed the sound that his imagination and memory didn't recreate just right, but for the first time there was something else. Silence. Peaceful silence. No Deku muttering, if he had been. No sound of the wind or breathing or extras who may be around. For once, the silence didn't feel like it took from him as it always had.

He must have been staring at the scene for a while because he felt like he didn't blink again until he felt Deku lean in to bump his shoulder with his own before pulling away again. Katsuki's head snapped to the side to look at him.

Beautiful, was all Deku lifted his hands to sign with a calm and peaceful smile.

Katsuki wondered if the calm feeling the waves gave him felt the same to Deku or not. Instead of asking, he gave a rough grunt with a hint of agreement and turned away to return to the previous task at hand which was going to sleep. The futon laid out, Katsuki took the time that Deku was turned away to change his pants into something more comfortable for sleep. He moved back to the futon, moving to lower himself before changing his mind to tear off his shirt. In the summer weather, breeze or not, he rather not give his body an extra reason to sweat, when he paused, feeling eyes on him. Katsuki glanced over his shoulder to see Deku had turned to come back in, freezing when he saw Katsuki, shirtless. His green eyes turned away just as quickly and he lowered his head as he stepped in, closing the door behind him and moved to lay out his own futon without looking Katsuki's way again. The blonde narrowed his eyes at that, wondering what emotion he had seen in that moment. Deku may be able to read Katsuki better than he liked, but Katsuki knew that Deku more often than not wore his feelings on his sleeve with how emotive his eyes alone could be.

That had been one thing that had always gotten on Katsuki's nerves when they had been young. Everything Deku had been feeling had been shining in his eyes and that had always bothered the blonde because sometimes he could see things there that he didn't want to see. When as a young boy Katsuki had been putting another extra in their place and Deku had been the one, his friend at the time, to intervene and it had stung. He had thought Deku would always be behind him, following him with blind faith but when Katsuki had grown arrogant and stupid. It had been Deku's eyes alone that had made him notice. And he hadn't liked it one bit. He had wanted those eyes to not look at him. He didn't want to see that disappointment, fear or pain anymore.

That had been the beginning of their childhood friendship coming apart. Deku not liking what Katsuki was becoming. Katsuki feeling the sting of the look in Deku's eyes and wanting to push him away rather than face the monster he was becoming.

Then in high school that had all changed. They finally confronted each other, Deku spouting that he had always looked up to Katsuki despite his flaws that were slowly drowning him. Katsuki had finally been told the origins of Deku's sudden quirk and his connection to All Might and they had grown closer. It had felt like an actual friendship. They would spar and study together. Katsuki would borrow the nerds notes on himself to improve his use of his quirk and they would even eat together. It had been slow and Katsuki was forever as abrupt as he had been but there was no longer any malice behind his words. But then again, after their third year everything they had built had crumbled away again. So when was the last time Deku had seen Katsuki shirtless? Long enough for the nerd to stare like that, yet that look in his eyes had been something sad, something regretful.

Katsuki lifted a hand to touch at his chest where one of his scars lay. When he looked over to Deku he had hoped to catch the nerds eye again, to try to glimpse what was in those eyes for certain but the green haired man had already laid out his futon and settled into it, his back to Katsuki. So he let it lie, rose to pull at the light cord, turning it off, and laid down himself to sleep.

With the sight of the silver waves gone from view, the silence surrounding Katsuki turned into a burden again, knowing that even now if his ears hadn't been broken he would be falling asleep to the sound of waves and breathing rather than the all-encompassing nothingness once his eyes had closed.