The Ship of Dreams

Chapter 4: "Just A Boy"

(A/N: I recommend listening to "Everybody Loves Somebody" by Dean Martin
tw// mentions of public execution + public hanging)

Day 3

That afternoon was a dream. An ongoing dream, actually. One that neither wanted to end. The men were boys, playing, laughing, carefree...Izuku hadn't felt that free, well, ever. Katsuki seemed to be the type of man who was a hardass when something was weighing him down. Any other time, he was a carefree and joyful spirit, that lived at the will of himself, and himself only.

They spent all afternoon on the deck until the sun began sinking into the horizon. Talking, doing, reminiscing...Izuku had never felt as alive and full in all of his life. Finally, just- finally, there was someone like him. Someone who understood him. And sure, Katsuki was crass, rude, and vulgar, but it was...Refreshing.

It was like Izuku had been doing a puzzle his entire life, and it was never completed. Always more pieces, just when he thought he put them into place. Sometimes someone would come into his bedroom while he was doing the puzzle, and took that supposed final piece out of his hands. Whether that person is figurative, like his wealth, or literal like his mother or Uraraka. Hell, even Enji.

They talked about many things that day. Since the morning, when they had both been exposed to the revelation of, well, each other; they talked about everything about that.

"So...You're friend...He..?"

Katsuki shook his head no in response. A silent confirmation that his friend had been killed. It was a story not even known by Kaminari, the only other person Katsuki kept in his life who knew of his queerness.

Katsuki had not known this friend for long, but they had grown close quickly when they realized that they were the same. Katsuki was only 15 at the time, and a few short days after he had met the man, he was publicly hanged for sodomy and homosexuality. Katsuki hadn't even known the guy was sexually active, and the truth was that he probably wasn't.

"I guess that's one of the real reasons I'm here. On the ship, I mean. My parents weren't...Supportive either. They had known and had their methods to...heal me. Luckily they didn't say anything to the soldiers. The servicemen were finding everyone out so quickly in my hometown. I had to leave before it was...Too late..."

"Katsuki..." Izuku's hand caressed the blondes in a comforting way, almost to say, "I'm here for you. I understand. I relate. It's okay. I am here."

Izuku wanted to embrace the man in a hug right there. But it would've drawn too much attention to them. Katsuki got as much and instead brought Izuku's hand over the rail where it would be hidden. Their fingers took time to find one another and interlace, but once they did, it was better than Izuku could've ever imagined. Their hands buzzed and felt warm in each other's small embrace, drawn to one another; like they were meant to be together.

It was like the puzzle had finally been solved, and Katsuki's hand was the missing piece.

Izuku sighed as he bent forward and rested his head on the rail lining the deck."Today was amazing, Katsuki." He said with stars in his eyes, their hands still interlaced.

"I feel the same." The blond had a simple expression. Pleased. Freed. Relaxed. Some would even call it affection. Katsuki snapped back into reality quicker than he wanted to, but he was eager and nervous to ask the question he had on his tongue. "What now, Izuku?"

His eyes sharply looked up from the water to meet crimson. He didn't look displeased. More worried and anxious, than anything. "Now..?" He thought. Oh my god- Izuku's face went pale. "Dinner! Katsuki, dinner!"