The sharp cold of the water as it splashed against Izuku's face did little to ease the burning ache left inside him, but it helped to clear the images of Katsuki's reddened face laying beneath him from his traitorous thoughts.

His ear drums will filled with the rushing sound of his heartbeat as his arms grasped either side of Katsuki's bathroom sink. He knew he was stalling, hiding from both Katsuki and his partner, who had thankfully interrupted them during another distracting moment of weakness.

It was all too easy for Izuku to give into his temptations, for Katsuki something that was not lost on him, but then if he was honest with himself he knew there was never a time that Izuku didn't give in to the blonde's whims. Izuku chuckled at the absurdity of the whole situation.

"All these years and I'm still falling into you as easily as before."

Even if he understood his own reasons, the one thing that Izuku still couldn't grasp was why Katsuki had kissed him. This was the first time he had started this new, whatever, between them.

Izuku brushed back the now damp curls that had plastered to his forehead, an attempt to look more presentable and turn to head back out and greet the awkwardness that was surely awaiting him.

"I don't know about this, man. His role in all this seems too sketchy."

Kirishima's voice filtered through the sliver of the open door, making Izuku pause hand grasping at the doorknob as their voices became clearer to him.

It sounded like Katsuki had just finished updating his partner on the new information Izuku had given him, though he doubted either of them truly understood the magnitude of what that really meant.

These two now knew more about the organization than any person at their level had ever been privy to. Although Izuku knew this information could be dangerous to have, having Katsuki dig any deeper would have been worst.

Izuku had to find out what was going on before these two got any closer to the fire. Izuku was confident it wasn't anyone from the inner circles, but that didn't mean they weren't indirectly involved.

The big question left was who was the one calling the shots?

"Do you really think we can trust him?" Kirishima asked.

"Yes, he could help us."

It was the simplistic yet resolute tone to Katsuki's voice that had a warmth spread through his chest at his words. But, Izuku agreed with Kirishima that they shouldn't trust him.

In fact, it was a terrible idea to trust him.

Izuku was bound to a world that was at odds with Katsuki's. The whole point of tonight had been to steer Katsuki away from Izuku's world, to show him the dangers of pursuing this any further.

"I think you're blinded by your past with him. You're not thinking clearly. If this guy really has ties to this underground organization, then wouldn't his help go against his own best interest?" Kirishima asked.

"But he got out. My gut is telling me we can trust him. He could help us bring down who killed her." Katsuki said.

Izuku signed, Katsuki was being too forgiving towards him and his past deeds. Even he could acknowledge that much. The burden of his belief in him only weighed over his shoulders like chains dragging him further in his guilt.

Squaring his shoulders, Izuku stepped out and the two men grew quiet as his steps caught their attention. They were both sitting around the kitchen area, their gazes burning into Izuku as he tried for an uncertain wave. He didn't want to make it obvious that he had been listening in on their conversation.

Katsuki motioned him closer, but Izuku only went as far as the entrance to the kitchen, ready to bail at the first chance. Katsuki went with an official introduction, short and blunt like he was trying to ignore the earlier events. Something Izuku was all too willing to do as well.

"Kiri, this is Izuku Midoriya. Izuku, meet my partner Eijiro Kirishima."

Kirishima offered his hand out, willing to meet him halfway by moving closer to him so Izuku accepted the offer with a quick handshake. Kiri's grip was tense, contradicting the toothy smile he offered. His distrust was obvious to everyone in the room, though he was choosing to be civil. He was making his stance clear and Izuku made sure not to flinch in response when his grip tightened, though he didn't reciprocate, keeping his hands loose.

"Its nice to meet you." Izuku said.

"So you're the childhood friend I had heard about all these years?"

"Yeah, I guess I am. I've seen you in the papers with Katsuki. You've both been doing well making a name for yourselves."

Izuku regretted it the moment it left his mouth as Katsuki picked up on the slip.

"You've been keeping tabs on me?" Katsuki asked.

Izuku tried to back peddle as a nervous chuckle escaped. While Katsuki seemed interested in the nugget of information, Kirishima seemed oddly more tense at the knowledge that Izuku had been following their careers.

"Not keeping tabs, I mean, wouldn't it be weird not to notice when a familiar name pops up on the news?"

Neither seemed satisfied with his avoidance, but then Izuku was sure they could catch an excuse a mile away.

"Anyway, it's getting late, so I should start heading out." Izuku said.

As Izuku takes a step back, Katsuki follows with moving towards him as if to block him.

"Wait, we're not done here." Katsuki said.

Izuku smiled at him, his hands up at either side to ward Katsuki from getting any closer.

"I really need to head out and get some sleep before my shift tomorrow."

This was a lie since Izuku didn't work tomorrow, but neither of them needed to know that at this point. Besides, he had a busy night ahead of him after his failed attempt. Katsuki was quiet as he looked at him. Maybe he planned to stop him, but he must have changed his mind when he nodded.

"Fine, but I'll go with you outside."

Izuku nodded, preferring to speak with him outside of the careful gaze of Katsuki's partner.

"It was nice meeting you." Izuku said.

Kirishima nodded, his saturated smile still on his face.

"Like wise." Kirishima said.

Katsuki didn't say a word until they stood lingering on the sidewalk, neither willing to leave, but just as reluctant to speak first.

"You heard us, right?" Katsuki asked.

Izuku grimaced as he glanced over at the other man standing only a few feet away from him, just out of reach. Katsuki continued when Izuku didn't confirm or deny what he meant.

"I want you to help us. With your help, Aizawa may open the case again."

"I was doing this to get you to see reason, not to be recruited to help you get killed." Izuku said.

Izuku sighed, ashamed at how easily Katsuki had distracted him to his primary aim. Anything that man did distracted Izuku, grabbing at his attention like a puppeteer to his puppet.

"I want you to drop this Katsuki. Even if it is a copycat, this is becoming way more dangerous than a simple murder."

"So you want me to do what? Just turn a blind eye to all of this?" Katsuki asked.

His voice had raised and Izuku glanced around at the silent streets, the lights just beginning to pop to life as the evening sky darkened over their heads. Izuku's fingers clenched, digging into his palms as he reacted to Katsuki's disregard for his safety.

"Yes! I want you to turn a blind eye. You don't seem to get how out of depth you are with this. So just go back to your normal life catching normal criminals, forget about me, the organization and this case!"

"The hell I will!"

They had somehow moved towards each other, toe to toe. Chest heaving as neither was unwilling to submit to the other. Izuku had only glanced at his lips for a moment. Barely a second before, Katsuki crashed into him.

It was much more violent than earlier in the day. Katsuki bit into his lower lip, making Izuku relent to his punishing treatment as his fist grabbed at the back of Katsuki's head in retaliation. Izuku pulled back but not without effort as Katsuki only pressed deeper in response.

"Damnit Kacchan."

Katsuki's head tilted back in his grip, but he still looked triumphant, a lingering smirk across his bruised lips.

"There's no way in hell I'm going to let you forget about me. Whether or not you want to deny, you're drawn to me as much as I am to you, so just get over it and fall for me already." Katsuki said.

Izuku's eyes widen as he released the other man, attempting to put physical distance between them as he backed away. Even if he could admit that there was a fire between them that made it hard to keep his hands off the blond. What Katsuki was insinuating was something beyond a night between them.

"Are you serious?"

Katsuki's face deepened into a dark maroon under Izuku's gaze. Maybe he hadn't expected his response. Or maybe the situation of what he said was finally catching up to him, but Katsuki looked uncertain for a split moment before the stubborn glare replaced it.

"Need I remind you that you are an officer of the law, while I've been living on the other side of that law for most of my life?"

"You're still the same person." Katsuki said.

Izuku scoffed, unbelieving of what was coming out of Katsuki's mouth. Kirishima was right, Katsuki was seeing him through the lense of the past, as if he had processed nothing that Izuku had revealed to him tonight.

"You're not seeing me clearly."

"I'm looking right at you! I trust what I see!" Katsuki yelled.

Izuku didn't know what to say to him. His words echoed in the silence, deafening between them. They were at odds with each other.

Izuku let out a breath, wondering how things had gotten so out of control between them.

"This makes little sense to me. How can you accept all of this so easily and just decide you want to be with me?"

Katsuki grit his teeth as he crossed his arms, never taking his eyes off Izuku.

"Or maybe you're making this more complicated than it needs to be." He said.

"Destiny, coincidence, the hows and the what's don't matter in the end. I know what I want and I'm not someone to hesitate once I've decided on something. The question is, what do you want?" Katsuki asked.

Katsuki was so sure of his feelings as he looked straight into Izuku, his resoluteness disconcerting and leaving Izuku almost in awe of his blunt way of confessing.

What did he want?

That Katsuki could make it sound so simple.

What did Izuku want?

He tried to picture the very idea of being with Katsuki, but yet nothing came to mind. Not that he didn't want the other man, but the image of Izuku entering the light that was Katsuki seemed so farfetched.

He was just too bright compared to Izuku's darkness. The words came in a soft response to their earlier aggression, resigned.

"I want you to stay away."

Katsuki's arms dropped at either side of him, fist clenched as his eyes widened, large and red against his pale face.

Izuku didn't let him get a word in as he continued.

"Don't come back to the coffee shop, to my place. Just stay away from me, from this case and from the organization before you and those around you regret it."

Izuku turned without a second glance behind him, ignoring as Katsuki yelled out to him in anger.

"Izuku!"

Walking down the unfamiliar streets, Izuku didn't stop as he continued down the road until he could no longer hear Katsuki in the distance. Until he reached his neighborhood and made it back to his small dingy apartment and crashed into his old, uncomfortable mattress.

He would need to stay away from Katsuki, but he also didn't trust the blond to listen to a word he said and stay out of danger, which meant he needed to put up safety nets just in case.

Katsuki's voice lingered in his ears as the pit in his chest grew wider.

What do you want?

With a resigned sigh, Izuku pulled his phone out and dialed a familiar number.

"Didn't expect you to give in so quickly."

Kaina's teasing voice filtered through the speakers, but Izuku ignored her quip.

"We need to talk. I'll send you the time and meeting place for tomorrow."

"So it's business then. Alright, send me the details and we'll talk." She said.

The next morning, Izuku returned to his normal routine before heading out. He took a bus ticket out of the city and into the nicer suburban areas of the metroplex. It was a quiet and quaint area, with kids playing outside as neighbors greeted each other in passing.

Everything was peaceful here, which was exactly the way Izuku had wanted it to be.

When they reached his stop, Izuku had to walk the rest of the few blocks to a specific house that sat nestled into the center of a small cul-de-sac.

He passed the pristine picket fence that housed the clean front yard and made his way to the pretty blue door and rapped his knuckles against the wood.

It didn't take long for a woman to answer and upon seeing him; she smiled and hugged him without hesitation as Izuku wrapped his arms around her smaller form.

"Bunny!"

"It's good to see you too, Ochako."

She ushered him in where a tall man was waiting not too far behind. His shoulders looked stiff, but his smile was warm as he greeted Izuku from the entry hallway.

"Mr. Midoriya is good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too, Iida, but please call me Izuku."

"Sorry, that's a hard habit to break."

They led Izuku into the kitchen, where Eri, who had yet to notice him, stood on a small stool hard at work.

Izuku hushed the two before they could get the small girl's attention, so he could watch her for longer, undisturbed. She had grown a bit since the last time he has soon her. A small tongue peeked out to one side as her brows puckered in concentration as she tried to hold the bowl was mixing some kind of batter with a small whisk.

At some point she must have heard their movements because she looked up, a white powder smeared across her nose and down one cheek as a smile stretches across her face. A squeal much too high pitched pierced through the house as she abandoned her task and rushed over to Izuku, who caught her mid flight.

"Daddy!"

He lifted her with ease as they reunited. Even though she had grown to Izuku, she was still no heavier than a piece of fluff.

"What are you making in here?" Izuku asked.

"I was helping to make your dinner."

"Well, thank you for cooking. You'll make a great chef one day." Izuku said.

Eri's cheeks puffed up as she pouted up at him. Izuku grinned, ignoring her ire as he pocked at one of the marshmallow cheeks.

"You haven't even tried it yet. Besides, I don't want to be a chef."

"Oh? And what are you going to be when you grow up?"

Eri's face pinked as Izuku set her down on the table. Iida seemed to take over with the forgotten bowl as he finished preparing their dessert while he helped Ochako set the table. Eri covered her face while everyone gave her knowing looks, leaving Izuku lost in what was going on.

"When I grow up, I'm going to be Kota's bride."

"Bride!?"

Had he skipped a step? Izuku scrambled to grab the plate he had been holding as he looked at his daughter, who seemed smitten by some strange boy that Izuku had never even heard of until now.

"You're too young to be thinking of marriage. I haven't even heard of this Kota before."

"He's Eri's classmate." Ochako said.

"He said he'd wait until we're grown ups and gave me a ring Daddy!" Erie said.

"A ring?"

As everyone sat down to eat, Izuku looked to his friend for clarification, but she was no help as she shrugged, amused by the whole thing.

"I'll show you later. He told me he used all his birthday money to buy it."

Izuku had to sit for the rest of dinner listening to Eri gush over the boy who was essentially stealing his daughter right in front of him. He did his best to hide his displeasure at the very idea of some random boy proposing to his young daughter. Thankfully, she had toned down some after they had reached dessert, much to Izuku's relief, and they spent the rest of the evening with Eri, who caught him up on everything he had missed since his last visit.

Izuku went along without protest as she dragged him around. This was why he did what he did, to see Eri thriving in a normal environment.

When it grew time for Eri to lie down in bed, Izuku was the one to tuck her in while his friends stood waiting by the door.

"Are you staying this time?" Eri asked.

Izuku kept busy with tucking the covers on either side of her, his heart heavy at what she was asking of him.

"Not yet. I'll have to be away longer this time, but I'll come back to you as son as I can." Izuku said.

Eri didn't cry. Not even a frown marred her face as she looked up at him with tired eyes. Not that she ever cried. These were the moments that separated her from most children her age. Where a child would argue and throw a tantrum, Eri always accepted things for what they were. It was a stark reminder of why Izuku had pulled her from that life.

"Will you still call me?"

Izuku nodded and kissed her forehead goodnight. He lingered long after she had fallen asleep, soaking up the last few seconds he had with her.

"Bunny? We should probably talk downstairs."

Izuku turned to Ochako and left the room, but not before taking one last glance at his girl before walking back down with his friends. It was becoming harder and harder to walk away from her, but he knew it was for the best.

When they had all reach the dining table, a dark silhouette greeted them by the back door, scaring Iida half to death. Izuku already knew it to be Kaina, who had been waiting outside for the last few hours. As the four sat down, Izuku recapped what had been going on with Katsuki and the possible emergence of another organization. Ochako's shoulders dropped as he went on, while accepting the glass of wine that her husband handed her. Izuku refrained from mentioning the more intimate parts with Katsuki, unwilling to admit his moment of weakness to his friends.

"So Katsuki is the boy you told me about, right? The one you left behind?" Ochako asked.

"Yeah."

There was no point in denying this to Ochako, who had been with him through some of his more vulnerable years. Izuku cleared his throat once he was done and glanced at the only other person who may know more about what was happening.

"So, Kaina, what do you know? Someone hired you to follow Katsuki. Is it this copycat or someone from the inner circle moving on their own?" Izuku asked.

The woman in question shrugged. There was nothing giving away that she was lying, either.

"I've heard some movements, but I've stayed away from everything since AFO went dormant. As for my current client, I don't have any information I can give you. I can't say for sure if they're involved or not." She said.

"I need you to look into this. If someone really is stepping out of line, then this could get messy quick. I need Katsuki to say out of the line of fire in the meantime."

Kaina stood from the table, her gaze soft, though Izuku wasn't sure what she was thinking as she looked toward him.

"You must really care about this guy, huh?"

In the safety of Ochako's away from the prying ears of Katsuki, Izuku could admit to his friends, if only to emphasize the importance of what he needed from her.

"Yes, I do."

He didn't a explain further, but he knew she didn't need him to as she turned with a nod.

"I'll head to the guild and see if they know more."

Izuku heads out as well once Kaina disappeared into the blackness of the backyard.

At the door, Izuku accepts one last hug from Ochako while bidding farewell to Iida, who patted his shoulder.

"I promise to keep a closer eye on Eri for now, so you don't need to worry, okay?" Ochako said.

"Thank you, I'm sure you all will be fine, but it may be best to stay alert just in case." Izuku said.

As he walked back to the bus stop, Izuku took out a cigarette, the smoke trailing behind him as he passed the sleeping houses around him.

Before he could over think it, Izuku dialed a number into his phone and pressed it against his ear as the soft ringing came through. He waited as the call continued ringing before it dropped with no voicemail. A heavy silence.

Izuku scoffed as he glanced down at his phone.

"Figures. Now that I finally reach out, you would go silent."

Not that he was worried, but it wasn't a good or bad sign with everything that was happening.

It wasn't until Izuku reached his front door when his phone finally pinged with a notification, but it wasn't who he was expecting, as Katsuki's name appeared across the screen.

Izuku hesitated for only a moment before opening the text message, making sure that he was okay.

The message was simple and to the point, but Izuku cursed at what it meant for him as well as for Katsuki.

Another murder.