pandora's box [bakudeku/tododeku] [pt.1 of where's my love fic series]

you and me

summary: the boys are officially on summer vacation until august! they cook, play, go to lessons, and watch the sunset. just doing what kids do. oh, and where's izuku's quirk?

notes: this chapter's song: "you and me" by niall horan.

warnings: minor mentions of bullying and violence, panic attacks, nightmares.

"what's wrong?"

"the curry is what's wrong! it's so good but too spicy, kacchan! you know i can't handle spicy food." izuku sniffles, wiping off some sweat from his forehead with the cuff of his yellow sweater. his throat burns from the spiciness, making izuku break into coughs. "how can you eat this?"

katsuki rolls his eyes as he gets up on a chair across from izuku. "you're just being a baby."

"i'm not, you're just being mean!" izuku pouts, making katsuki think how pretty he looks even with his face flushed, watery eyes, and full cheeks.

"am not," katsuki scoffs, before digging into his plate of curry. "besides, mom said that i was in charge of learning how to make curry today! you're the one who wanted to spend that time writing in your notebook!"

"i made curry with aunt mitsuki the other day!" izuku flings his chopsticks at katsuki, before crossing his arms in annoyance. "so i already know how. i even made some of it spicy for you! you didn't even think about me while making it i bet!"

katsuki instinctively dodges the chopsticks, not even batting his eyes at the sudden throw.  he hears his mom cackle in the back as she makes dango in the kitchen. "whatever. if you don't like it then don't eat it, 'zu."

"but i'm hungry!" izuku cries out, not bothering to hold back his tears now. he grabs another pair of chopsticks and forcefully downs the curry, his throat begging him to stop. "our dancing class today was too tiring." otherwise i wouldn't be eating this! it's too spicy!

"i liked it, it wasn't too bad," katsuki shrugs as he calmly eats his spicy curry. "i think sensei is being hard on us because we're on vacation."

"you're amazing, kacchan," izuku sighs, shaking his head as he sets his chopsticks down. "i could barely keep up! but yes, she is being more pushy." he pouts again, his eyes wet with tears.

"i know i am," katsuki smirks as he takes another bite. "you did good, 'zu. i'm sure by next week you'll have it down."

izuku only shrugs as he takes a big sip of his drink, desperate to relieve some of the hotness in his throat. the two boys eat in comfortable silence, listening to mitsuki silently curse in the kitchen as she makes dessert and masaru hum in the living room while reading the newspaper in the background.

after a while, katsuki speaks up, finally deciding to ask about something that has been on his mind. i have to ask now before i forget. "hey, 'zu, why did kojima pull you aside that day at school?"  he sets down his chopsticks, his red eyes focusing on izuku.

izuku feels his blood run cold as soon as he hears the question come out of katsuki's mouth. he lets out a nervous laugh, pulling the yellow sleeves of his hoodie more down. "what? what day are you talking about, kacchan?" he mumbles, staring at his empty plate intensely.

"the day before break, he pulled you aside. what did he want?" katsuki raises his eyebrow, noticing how nervous izuku looks. he can practically see the tension in his best friend's shoulders and doesn't miss how izuku's eyes are glancing at everywhere but him. why is he nervous?

"i...he um...he..." izuku's face starts to heat up as he tries to figure out what to say. i can't let kacchan know. he can't know. he already got in trouble for punching kojima. he stares at his lap as he recalls what yoru had said to him that day.