Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Katsuki never doubted he was good. If it was because everyone told him constantly or because he always knew from a very young age, no one knows. But the truth is, he always was. He was good at sports, he was good at school, he was good at playing any and every instrument, he was good at solving problems, and most importantly, he was good at saving people and beating villains. That was the true purpose of his life, being a hero.

He never thought that, at the ripe age of 24, that dream would finally die.

Now that he is no longer a hero, Katsuki doesn’t know what to do with himself. It was all that he ever wanted. To be a hero, to fight villains, to be stronger than All Might himself. And he worked hard for it. He was even the top 2 hero, for God’s sake! He worked day and night training hard, got into the most prestigious hero high school in Japan, worked alongside All Might and Endeavor and still, that wasn’t enough.

So here he is. The beloved Japan hero, retired early, with more time in his hands than he’d care to admit.

When did it all go wrong?

And that’s how our Katsuki got to walk the streets aimlessly, with nowhere to go and no one to meet. He, of course, had friends. He had Kirishima, Denki, Sero and Mina. Occasionally he could also speak with Todoroki without a vein in his neck exploding. And he had his family. But he couldn’t speak with anyone. His friends were always working, saving the country, and honestly, lately, every time they saw him all he could see in their eyes was pity. And that infuriated him even more. So no, he couldn’t deal with them. And his mom was driving him crazy, saying how happy she was that he is now not putting himself in danger everyday and that he should go work with them so the business can be passed on to him. She was driving him crazy. It’s only been two months since he officially retired, calm down!

His father is the only person who he could talk to without feeling suffocated these days, but the thought of only being able to speak with him properly was, in itself, suffocating, so Katsuki went to his good old ways of isolation.

But isolation can be lonely, especially when you are not used to it anymore.

The library was just around the corner, so he decided to see if any book there would interest him. He would not take the book home, but, if he enjoyed it, he’d buy it later. He believes that, since he has money, it’s not worth it to possibly be taking a book home that someone might want to read but can’t buy. So he went, to see if he could pick a hobby and stick to it.

Although it was 4 in the afternoon, the library was not empty. A good number of tables were booked and there were a few people on the shelves looking at the books. After some consideration, Katsuki decided to check the contemporary section in hopes that a title would catch his attention.

What caught his attention, though, was something far different. A few feet in front of him was a man completely immersed in his own head, looking at the different books, hoping to find the one he was looking for and taking it home.

Katsuki would recognize those green curls anywhere.

Almost as if sensing Katsuki’s eyes on him, the green haired man turned around locking eyes with him.

“Katsuki?” Oh, when did he stop calling me Katchan?

“Hey, Deku” Answered the blond, wanting to slap himself instantly. Why did he call him that? The demeanor of the man in front of him shifted instantly. In the beginning he was surprised, laid back, but now, with his back straighter and his arms rigid on his side, he looked way more defensive. That fucking nickname.

He grew up quite beautifully. He now clearly goes to the gym, and his hair is more tamed, not like the wild curls he had in middle school. He also got taller. His voice deeper. And somehow, he has more freckles than ever.

“If I was in front of the shelf you wanted to see, I’m sorry. I’m leaving now, so please.” Izuku Midoriya, not Deku, stepped away, motioning to the place he just was and started to leave without saying anything else.

“Could you please help me?” Katsuki blurted, without even thinking. What the fuck am I doing? But he knew exactly what he was doing. He just didn’t know why he felt the need to speak with Izuku, of all people, for at least one more minute. He craved human interaction. Izuku just happened to be here when he needed it. That’s all.

“Of course. What can I help you with?” He sounded so polite. Almost like he just met him. Like they didn’t know each other for over 20 years. Like they didn’t use to spend every waking moment of every waking day together. Before Katsuki fucked it up.

“Do you work here? I wanted to read a good book, but I don’t know which one to pick and I remember you loved to read, so I figured you must know some.” The words shot out of his mouth. Probably the longest phrase he ever said to the other man in over 15 years. But he can’t stop himself. A slight feeling of warmth creeped out on his chest, but he buried it as fast as it appeared.

“I don’t work here, no. But if you want a good book, you can read Circe. You always liked Greek Mythology, so it might interest you.” He said, giving him a polite smile and walking away without any book with him, leaving Katsuki alone again. Who would have thought that the first time Katsuki spoke with a person in more than a week would be with his ex-best friend. After a few seconds to recompose himself, he looked for the book the green haired man recommended to him in the library to get the name of the author and wrote it on his notes app before leaving too.

On the walk home, Katsuki couldn’t stop thinking about Izuku. The man was so different from what he used to be. He is not just that defenseless quirk less little nerd anymore. He also didn’t seem happy to see Katsuki like he was before, even when the blond was mean to him.

He kind of looked like he wanted to stop interacting with him as soon as possible, to be honest.

Never did Katsuki think, in his life, that Deku would be on his mind constantly ever since that day.

As soon as he got home, the former hero got his laptop and ordered the book online.

                                                                                                                    *****

Izuku’s mom always taught him to be kind and generous, to help others in need. As he grew older, he began to doubt his mother’s preaching, but in the end, she was right. There is no need to make someone else’s life harder. And that is the reason why Izuku is kind to everyone, no exception. Or at least he tries his best.

Izuku didn’t think he’d walk into anyone he knew at the library at that time, much less his former best friend and bully Katsuki Bakugo.

Life always did have a twisted sense of humor.

The shock of seeing the former pro-hero Dynamight was something he was not prepared for in the slightest. And he was lucky that he was able to call him Katsuki. It would be even worse if the name Katchan slipped off his mouth.

To be truthful, it was a challenge to stop calling him Katchan, but he tried. After telling him to take a swan dive off the roof, Izuku felt like their relationship hit a point of no return. He kept being hopeful whilst it was only a few hurtful words and kicks in the stomach, but after staying on that roof for hours contemplating what his supposed best friend told him, he knew there was no coming back for them.

And when U.A., his dream school, wouldn’t let him take the entrance exam for being quirkless, Izuku hit the rock bottom. He lost his dream, the possibility to meet his hero who was teaching that year, and his best friend. He had nothing.

So, when meeting with Auntie Mitsuki and Uncle Masaru, he made sure he addressed their son as Katsuki. No more childhood nicknames. No one understood this, especially paired with the fact that Izuku only went to visit them with his mom when Katsuki wasn’t home. They didn’t know anything that had gone down between their children because the school didn’t care about a little quirkless boy when they had a diamond on their hands and Izuku would never say anything in hopes they could reconnect.

But now, Katsuki Bakugo looks different. His characteristic smirk is gone. He has lost a lot of weight since the last time he saw him on TV. The dark circles under his eyes are concerning. But the worst part is his voice. Before, he used to scream and yell at the top of his lungs. Now it was raspier, as if he hadn’t talked in weeks, and so small you had to pay attention to hear him. Sure, they were in a library, but the Katsuki that Izuku knows so well, even after all this time, would not have cared about it.

He got seriously concerned about Katsuki, until the word Deku escaped his lips. Ah, there it is. And the mask got up again, making sure he looked kind and helping, even though inside he just wanted to scream and escape as soon as possible. How the fuck is it fair for you to bully me and still be a hero? Ah, right, you are not one anymore.

As I said, life has a twisted sense of humor.

Chapter Text

A week has passed since Katsuki met Izuku at the library, and so, it has been a week since Katsuki can’t take the green-eyed boy off his head. It has also been a week since he left home or answered any of his texts. Not that there’s lots of them. It looks like people lost interest in him the moment he stepped down of his role as a hero.

The book came three days later, and Katsuki finished it within a day. As always, the nerd was right and knows exactly what he likes. Even after all these years.

This revelation left him a bit restless. He wants to meet with Izuku again. Wants to reconnect, to ask him what he’s been doing, how’s everything. It became painfully obvious that blond knew nothing about Izuku when he didn’t even know where he worked. He could always ask his parents, but that would be too much to bear. Too many questions about why now and what happened.

So, ever since Katsuki finished his book, he’s been thinking of going to the library to see if they could meet again and use the excuse of needing another recommendation to talk to the man.

Don’t get him wrong, it’s not like he enjoys Izuku’s company! He barely knows the man! He could have murdered his entire family for all he knows!

But he didn’t look at him with pity in his eyes. He was the first person to just see him, not the accident, not the news. Him. Granted, he also looked at him hollowly after the Deku slip up, with a fake smile that couldn’t reach his eyes, like an overworked employer speaking with a client. But at least it wasn’t pity.

Katsuki is sitting on his black sofa when his bell rings. He owns his own home. A present from his parents when he graduated from the U.A. They thought it would be good for him to live alone because he had not lived with them for 3 years and both the mother and son have quite a hot temper, so it was best to keep them a bit separated. Funnily enough, that’s how their relationship got better, in the end. The house is not huge, but now more than ever, it feels too big for just one person. Too empty.

The house consists of one suite with a small walk-in closet where he keeps his hero suit, now completely torn to shreds, and an extra in case it got destroyed, which it did. Not that he’d need it now anyway. It also has a guest room, though he barely let anyone sleep in there, a bathroom, a spacious living room and, the most important part, a good kitchen. Katsuki always loved to cook delicious and nutritive meals. Well, not anymore, but that statement was true for the last 15 years. Now he has barely entered the kitchen, or anywhere, really, that is not his bedroom or the living room, to go straight to the sofa. 

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

But just because the house sometimes feels empty, it doesn’t mean that he wants company right now. Including from his best friend. But, of course, Eijiro Kirishima doesn’t give up until Katsuki opens the door with a scowl on his face.

“Hey man, what took you so long to open?” Eijiro says as he’s walking inside the door, patting his best friend on the back and going straight to the kitchen with his takeout bags. He eats a lot, but clearly also brought food for Katsuki.

“I wasn’t going to open, but you’re a persistent fucker.” The blond man says following him. He takes only a plate from the cabinet, along with a cup and cutlery for one, and gives it to Kirishima. He’s not hungry despite not having eaten the entire day. The red head looks at him sadly but doesn’t force him. He bought Mapo Tofu, one of Katsuki’s favorites, despite not loving it himself. Katsuki knows he’ll leave the leftovers for when he is hungry. They are probably going to end up in the trash, though he’ll never tell that to his best friend.

They sit in silence on the sofa, and he throws Eijiro the tv remote for him to pick a movie. This is why he likes Ei the most. He knows when to be quiet and when to joke around.

They haven’t joked around for months now.

By the end of the movie, Katsuki can feel his eyes fighting to stay open. Eijiro notices, obviously, and takes his plate to the kitchen, washing it and drying it, alongside his cutlery and cup, leaving the leftovers on the fridge. When he finishes, he joins the blond, sitting closer than he was. Very close. Way too close.

Fuck, there’s that look again

“When are we going to talk about it, man?” He speaks so softly it almost seems like he’s speaking to a scared child. What Katsuki learned a long time ago is that his best friend might not have been the smartest at school, but he was always the smart one when it came to dealing with people, especially him. And he knows damn well that if you want to make Bakugo talk about his feelings or whatever, the best time is when he is sleepy. He’s more sincere. Less snappy.

“There’s nothing to talk about. Please leave.”

“C’mon man, you have to do something or at least speak with someone! Please, I barely recognize you. You are my best friend! I care about you!”

“I’m not going to tell you again. Leave now or I won’t open that fucking door to you ever again. And you know better than to try me” It was true, Eijiro knew better than to try him. And he also knew that you must lose a few battles to win the war. But the fact that his best friend said that in a monotone voice, not raising it, not showing his passion left him more scared than ever. Especially because he knows that if he did not leave, in the state that Katsuki was, he would keep his word even more fiercely than if he had just yelled at him.

It broke his heart to leave that house and leave his best friend when it’s obvious that he needs someone. But he knows it’s best not to force Katsuki. Give him time until he feels comfortable enough to tell anyone what happened.

He just hopes he can get his best friend back quickly.

Chapter Text

Life found Katsuki thinking about the same green-eyed man for one more day, before he decided to go to the library again. Not that he was hoping on seeing him again! Not at all! He last saw him on a Wednesday afternoon at 4pm. Now, he was going to go to the library on Thursday at 4:30 pm. Which is very different! Besides, to be at the library at that time, the man must have been on vacation since most people leave their job at 5 or 6, and the vacation probably ended at the end of the week.

The book Izuku recommended was great. He really liked it. The feminist point of view on the retelling of the myth, mixed with a poetic writing and the exploration of her power and isolation made the book a beautiful journey one could not forget. It was the first time he enjoyed something in months, and it came from the nerd. Maybe reading was the hobby he so desperately needed to get out of the slump his life became.

Or maybe it was just the human interaction that came with it.

Still, his mind was a jungled mess. He is positive Izuku still harbors some not-so-great feelings about him. Fair, I mean, I made his life hell. So, for Izuku’s sake, he really hoped they wouldn’t bump into each other again. The way all his muscles tensed the first time Katsuki spoke with him told the blond everything he needed to know. The anger and resentment are still there, not easily forgotten.

Katsuki changed a lot in high school, thanks to Eijiro and his other friends. But especially Eijiro. The red head helped him get in touch with his feelings, and try to express them in something other than anger, which is all he had known at the time. His mother is the exact same way as he was. Plus, everyone worshiped the ground he walked on, even when he was a rude piece of shit to them, so he had no reason to change or believe he was wrong sometimes. I mean, just look at Deku! No matter how hard he kicked and punched him or how harsh his words were, the little freckled guy was always around him. He only stopped when they changed schools.

He has come a long way in ten years. His mom never could, which makes him feel even more proud of himself. Still, he’s not perfect. Stressful situations, as an example, trigger his first reflex, which is to be aggressive, yelling at everyone and everything. But now, he knows he can feel other things and can recognize those feelings most of the time. He can express himself in other ways. Speak more carefully. Be more mindful of those around him. Actually have a good time.

That’s it. I’m going now and he won’t be there, and I’ll be able to choose my own next book. I can do this.

Picking a jacket out of the closet, he gets out of the house and decides to walk there. It’s a 15-minute walk from his house to the library, which gives him time to think about what he might like to read now. Perhaps a classic? Or maybe a fantasy book? Does that author have another book?

There were a few people on the street, but thankfully no one recognized him since he’s got his hood over his head. And that’s good, because he does not know if he could deal with other people right now.

The problem with isolation, besides loneliness, is the difficulty of being around people again. Too much noise, too many faces, too many things overstimulating him. And when someone is vulnerable, everything feels like it’s multiplied by ten. It’s hard enough for him to leave the house as it is. He wouldn’t be able to leave again soon if people started surrounding him and asked questions he doesn’t want to answer.

It took him 2 and a half months to leave the house for the first time. He can’t even imagine how long it’d take if something were to happen.

He saw the library building sooner than he expected. Unlike what he thought would happen, the journey was quite peaceful, allowing him to relax.

He got up the marble stairs and entered the library, nodding to the half-man-half-raven librarian working there. It reminded him of Tokoyami. Without thinking, as if he was on autopilot, he got to the contemporary section again. Looking around to situate himself, the same green curls from the week before greeted him.

“Deku?” For fuck’s sake, not again! What’s wrong with me?? The words had an immediate effect on the smaller man. A feeling of déjà vu took hold of him when he saw the green-eyed man tense quickly.

“Katsuki.” The man said, looking at him dangerously. The fake sweetness from the other day was nowhere to be seen today. Only disgust was shown in his eyes, although he was clearly trying to hide the feelings Katsuki evoked in him.

“Could you please help me chose a book again?” He blurted. Izuku had given him a masterpiece last time, so the thought of maybe being able to read another one filled his chest with something akin to hope. The ferocity on his face stopped him on his tracks and made him wish he had just stayed silent this time, only nodding to acknowledge the green-eyed man. He has never seen him look at someone like that. Maybe he’s had a bad day?

“No, I can’t. Now, if you excuse me I have somewhere I need to be” He tried to walk past Katsuki, but something got to him. How dare he walk away from me? He is the only one I can face right now, and he tries to ignore me?

Please don’t.

Yeah, maybe our dear Katsuki has a lot to work on still.

The pure feeling of desperation and dread was what triggered him this time. He couldn’t be alone, not right now, not after seeing Izuku again, not after he didn’t pity him one more time. Izuku couldn’t leave him too now.

His heart started beating wildly on his chest as his hand grabbed Izuku’s arm. He was grabbing him like he was his lifeline, but that’s not the idea it gave the green haired man. No, to Izuku, it felt like being a little kid in middle school again.

“It has been over 10 fucking years. Can’t you get over it just for a second?” The fury in Izuku’s eyes was something like he had never seen before. Meanwhile, without realizing it himself, Katsuki’s eyes were pleading despite his harsh words and even harsher tone. Desperate. The problem was, Izuku didn’t realize either. He was just focused on the hand grabbing his arm so strongly that bruises were already starting to form. One for each finger.

To him, it was as if Katsuki never changed.

“And why would I help someone who told me to jump off a roof?” Those words made the blond get out of his trance and he let go of Izuku’s arm so fast it almost looked like it burnt him. What have I done? Regret was plastered in his face instantly, but Izuku could only see his 14-year-old bully.

The green-eyed man looked at him with disgust one more time and started to leave before he stopped abruptly and looked behind him. This time, his eyes were showing a deep sorrow and began to look glassy, almost as if he was trying his best not to cry.

Because he was.

Katsuki didn’t need to think he is the same crybaby from before.

“You know what the worst part was? After you told me that and left, I stayed on that fucking roof for hours contemplating if I really should jump. And I almost did. It so happened that your father called me to ask if I was with you because you weren’t answering your phone. After that, I didn’t have the courage. So, I guess, in a way, you did actually save my life that day. How fucking ironic is that?”

Katsuki stood there in stunned silence for what felt like hours after Izuku left.

Chapter Text

Another two weeks have passed since Katsuki’s last time in the library. He didn’t feel good going back there. It felt like that place was already Izuku’s and he didn’t want to impose himself where he is not welcome.

Truth be told, Katsuki never apologized to his ex-best friend. He thought about it but ultimately didn’t since he never saw him again until 3 weeks ago. Plus, how would he do it? Sorry I bullied you? It never felt good enough. His pride was also a big factor. He wouldn’t go look for a man just to tell him a few words he might not even accept.

And Katsuki is now absolutely sure he wouldn’t accept the apology. Not before, not now.

Ever since Eijiro came to his home, all his friends stopped texting him. Well, everyone except the red head. And he was thankful for that. The dread of seeing his inbox full was too much to bear, even if it was basically all from his friends. As always, his best friend understood what he needed, which was space, and communicated it with the others.

Some people are too good for this world. His buff golden retriever of a friend is one of them.

Katsuki did try the food Eijiro bought the next day, but his appetite is still nowhere to be found, so most of the food went bad and he had to throw it away. It was a shame, because it was delicious. But, as much as he tried, the food wouldn’t go down.

It’s not like he doesn’t want to eat. He finds himself ordering food quite a few times, but he can never eat a lot. The constant lump on his throat won’t let the food go down. Plus, he’s never actually hungry anymore nor does he have the energy to cook. So, that’s that.

He also never ordered a new book. The ephemeral joy reading brought him was just that. Ephemeral. Every time he so much as thought about looking for another book, an immense feeling of guilt would flood his chest until he couldn’t breathe.

Right now, Katsuki is getting ready to go to his parents’ house. He hasn’t seen them since they came to visit him more than a month ago. His father called him yesterday to invite him to eat some spicy noodles for dinner with them. The older Bakugo’s voice was so hopeful and slightly sad that the younger Bakugo couldn’t say no. Masaru always was his weak spot.

The former pro hero does not want to worry his parents more than he already has, so he grabs a baggy sweater and some baggy jeans to conceal his obvious weight loss. His face, though, gives it all away. The lack of food, the lack of sleep. The lack of happiness.

Due to the years and years of intense training, long before U.A., Katsuki muscles are holding well. They are just as stubborn as he is, even if he hasn’t trained for almost 3 months. But without food, they can be as stubborn as they want but will lose.

He thought about maybe buying his parents some wine or dessert, but it was hard enough to leave his house just to go to theirs. A trip to the supermarket would be torture. Plus, he’s sure his parents already have both of those things.

The idea of walking to the Bakugo mansion went through his head. One of the requirements to buy his house was that it would have to be close to theirs so that, in case of an emergency, they could get to one another quickly. The fact that, so far, nothing has happened does not mean it never will. And Katsuki understood that, raising no objections to it.

The 7-minute walk through the neighborhood he was born in, full of people that saw him grow, who had high hopes for him, shared his dreams with him, and now have a lot of questions, almost left him paralyzed at his own door, so he got his car. What’s a little bit more pollution, right?

Now, the house might have been a gift from his parents, but his car was only bought with his paychecks and is the apple of his eye. A black 2024 Porsche 911 Turbo-S with an all-black interior and leather seats he kept in pristine condition. No one but him is allowed to drive that beauty. It’s a miracle he even lets people in with their shoes on. And absolutely no food is allowed inside.

Car out of the garage and off they went.

Because it was such a small journey, he got to his parents’ house in a blink of an eye. The gates were open, so he parked inside the beautiful entrance. His mom came to get him at the door.

“You’re late.”

“Hello to you too.” They didn’t speak again until they were inside. Both knew that one more word from either would most likely end in a screaming match, as always. But Mitsuki’s reason was not just that. It was also the shock of seeing her son getting worse day after day and the pain of knowing she can do nothing to help. Clearly, the space they were giving him to process whatever happened was not enough. Besides, she was positive that Katsuki didn’t have the strength or venom right now to fight with her.

 His father came out of the kitchen to greet him wearing an apron, and after some small talk, they sat at the table, fancy plates in front of them, as if the son having dinner at his childhood home was something to celebrate.

The Bakugo family ate in silence. For a while, the only noise was coming from the tv. It was uncomfortable. Katsuki knew his parents had something serious to speak with him, otherwise they wouldn’t be so quiet. Especially his dad. Knowing this, he decided to distract them from whatever was on their minds, blurting the first thing that went through his mind out.

“I saw Izuku the other day at the library” the sparkle in his mother’s eyes and the faint smile on his father’s lips as soon as he mentions that man was all he could have asked for. Consider both distracted.

“Oh, you did? I haven’t seen that sweet boy in almost a month now! He hasn’t been coming with Inko. How is he doing?” Mitsuki’s excitement was palpable. She did always like the freckled boy, constantly comparing his sweetness to his own son.

“I’m happier about the fact that our kid got out of his house! I’m so proud of you son!”

“Yeah, I went to the library twice actually. He seemed okay, but I don’t know, we spoke very briefly. What’s he doing now a days?”

“He’s a teacher at the middle school you went together! Oh, watching his face light up anytime a kid comes to him is such a pleasure. You can tell he absolutely adores what he does! Inko and I were so concerned about him back then, but clearly, we had no reason too! He grew into such a beautiful man from inside and out!” His mom gushed about Izuku so quickly and in such a maternal tone that Katsuki started wondering if she ever spoke about him like that too. Probably not. She most likely just tells everyone who will listen how disappointed she is in her son. And she must do it with the same venom in her voice that she has when speaking with him.

She doesn’t speak with venom to Izuku.

“You know Katsuki, when you were at the hospital all those months ago, Izuku would come here every day with his mother asking how you were and bringing us food. Sometimes Inko couldn’t come, but he never missed a visit. Never. All from the goodness of their hearts and because of their concern about you.” His father chimed in. The blond Bakugo had no idea his Auntie and his former best friend did those things. No one ever told him. Made him wonder what else they knew but never said.

Although he didn’t question his Auntie’s motives, he did question Izuku’s. He was probably forced to come. No, Izuku’s too good of a man to do that. He most likely did it out of the goodness of his heart for his parents, that the green haired man treats like his own.

Way too quickly for his taste, the topic of conversation of the family changed.

“Son, we need to talk.” His mother’s eyes shone with the unshed tears she was fighting.  Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no. He looked at his father but all he saw in his eyes was immense sadness. And pity. So much pity.

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Katsuki said, getting up to try to escape the situation the Gods put him in. But the Gods were not on his side today and he realized that the moment his dad’s hand gripped his arm with a strength he never knew the older man had.

“You better sit back down and listen to what we have to say.” The seriousness in his dad’s voice paired with the tears on his mother’s left him frozen in time. It was so strange. It’s like they swapped places with one another for this conversation.

“Honey, we are worried about you” Honey? When was the last time she called me that? I can’t remember.

“There’s nothing to be worried about. I’m fine.”

“Is that why you only took two bites of your food this whole time? Because you’re fine? Yes, I counted them, Katsuki, so don’t try to deny it. Or are you fine because you are skinnier every time we see you? Maybe the dark circles under your eyes are the real reason you are fine. Stop bullshiting us!” Yelling. His father was yelling. He had never yelled at his son before. Meanwhile, his mother was sniffing, clearly crying by now. She had never cried in front of him before either. Not even when he was in the hospital.

He could not face any of them right now, so he stared at the ground, trying to control his breathing.

“You are hurting my arm. Can you please let go?” The words came out so quietly he wasn’t sure Masaru heard, but the older man let his arm go instantly. Katsuki, however, did not sit again.

“I did not tell my kid to fight in that hospital bed to see him die slowly out of it.” Shame was all he felt at that moment.

“Please come work with us. You need to get out, to get fresh air! Do something! I can barely recognize you” The last sentence came as whisper from Mitsuki’s lips. Breathing in and out slowly in an effort to calm his heart down, Katsuki tried to recompose himself.

After a few more seconds of silence, the younger one was ready to face his parents again, speaking slowly and carefully, but still not able to meet their eyes:

“Thank you, both, so much for the dinner. It was truly delicious. I will see myself out now. Goodnight.” Neither of his parents tried to stop him, although he could see the tears start to form in his father’s eyes as the older Bakugo went to comfort his wife, who was trying the best she could not to sob.

It broke his heart to see his parents like that.

So this is what it’s like to be truly desperate.

All he wanted to do was run to his car and disappear from that God awful place, but he behaved himself and walked slowly to his car, not really understanding what he was leaving behind.

…

Mitsuki and Masaru watched their son leave, not knowing if that was the last time they ever saw him. With aching hearts, they decided to text Kirishima and let him know what happened. Neither of them really thought the red head could do something in this situation, but they would try everything they could to save their child from himself.