If I could only take it back

Chapter 2: the black box

"U.A. has a dorm system?" Deku asked as the two boys walked back to Heights Alliance. "How come I didn't know that?"

"It's new," Katsuki grumbled, not looking at the kid. "We had a lot of villains attack us in our first year, so this was safer."

"Oh," Deku said. "Cool!"

Katsuki couldn't help but snort. "You would think it's cool." Deku wilted a bit, ducking his head down so his curls shadowed his face. Katsuki pursed his lips, reminding himself that this Deku wasn't the one who would joke with and mercilessly tease him. "I wasn't making fun of you, shitnerd."

"Okay," Deku said, although he didn't sound convinced. They walked the rest of the way in silence, mostly because Katsuki didn't want to say anything else wrong. When they entered the dorm building, it was to find the entirety of their class waiting for them in the common room, obviously excited to hang out more with little Deku.

"Hey you guys!" Ashido said, bouncing out of her seat and over to them. "Midori, since we know you love quirks, we thought it would be cool if we all showed you ours!"

"Midori...?" Deku blushed, but still nodded his head. "That sounds good!"

Mina took his head and led him over to the couches, already beginning to explain her quirk. Katsuki trailed behind them, plopping down next to IcyHot in an empty seat. Todoroki glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, silently asking him if everything was okay. Katsuki wouldn't go as far as to call them friends (no matter how much IcyHot said otherwise), but their joint license training and their internship with Endeavor in their first year had brought them closer. He answered the question with a shrug, then turned back to watch Deku geek out over everyone's quirks all over again. It was kind of cute to see it now that he knew Deku wasn't looking down on him. (He would take that thought to his grave.)

By the time the greenet had exhausted himself, it was almost Katsuki's bedtime. Deku said goodbye to the extras, and Katsuki led them to the staircase, since Deku's room was only on the second floor.

"Everyone's quirks are so cool," Deku gushed, his eyes sparkling with a light that Katsuki hadn't seen in a while. Young Deku always walked around with hunched shoulders, like he was expecting someone to hit him at any second. It made him sick to his stomach for the umpteenth time when he thought about why exactly that was. Deku prattled on until Katsuki stopped in front of his dorm room's door, gesturing to it.

"This is your room," he explained. "There'll be clothes in there for you, although future you is bigger than you are right now. Class starts at eight tomorrow, so meet me downstairs at seven forty-five and we'll walk together."

Deku looked at him like he hung the moon in the sky. "Really? Kacchan will walk me?"

Katsuki's ears burned, and he looked away. "Yeah, dipshit, I'll walk you. Goodnight." He turned to go, but Deku grabbed onto his sleeve before he could take a step.

"U-um, Kacchan?"

Katsuki faced him again. "Yeah?"

Deku seemed to falter for a moment, that dark look coming back into his eyes. "...Nothing, nevermind. Goodnight." Katsuki didn't have a chance to say anything before Deku disappeared into his room. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but he didn't want to overstep, either. Not when Deku was obviously terrified of him.

He didn't sleep well that night.

Izuku was overwhelmed. He had always wanted to go to U.A., and lord knew he had prayed for a quirk for his entire life, but finding out that he actually got here? That he shared a class with Kacchan? Not only that, but Kacchan was nice to him now? He couldn't help but think that this was all a dream he was going to wake up from.