If I Had One Wish

Chapter Forty Four

Chapter Forty Four - Hero Complex 

And all I loved,

I loved alone.

Edgar Allan Poe

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Katsuki cast a glare in his boyfriend's general direction, raising a brow in defiance. The silence stretched for a few seconds after the male had finished his little story, the taller of the two looking back evenly. "Well it looks like the old lady told you enough, do you want another fucking lecture?"

Izuku frowned, opening his mouth to defend himself but before he could get a word out edgewise Bakugou cut him off with a hand over his lips. They stayed like that, sitting cross-legged in front of each other, with Katsuki's hand over his mouth and chin to keep him from speaking. Their eyes remained locked, as if fighting for dominance over who could continue on this topic.

Katsuki won.

"Izuku." He began, articulating his words gently but firm. "You need to get it over your thick skull that I am eighteen years old. I am not a fucking victim and I do not need you holding my hand everywhere I go trying to protect me. Do I make myself clear?"

Izuku grumbled beneath his hand, eyes willful. He didn't see how this was wrong, or he did and just ignored it. Bakugou scowled at his look, daring him to try and pull his hand away.

"I get that you're protective, or whatever, over me but she's right. I am a hero, dumbass, I'm not your damsel in fucking distress. You should have told me this before you went and decided to do everything by yourself." He inhaled deeply, sighing. His fingers tapped against the side of Izuku's defined jaw, he felt the ticking underneath of gritting teeth. "Izuku."

His tone was warning, telling Midoriya to rein it in. Calm himself down before acting irrationally. He hesitantly moved his hand away but remained sitting in front of him, eyes softening. "You always tell me not to do shit alone, you told me no more secrets. What are you doing, hah?"

Midoriya pursed his lips, looking away for a second to collect himself. He cleared his throat before speaking. "Katsuki-"

"Don't patronize me, be fucking honest right fucking now." He prompted and Izuku seemed to almost pout. It would have been cute if Katsuki wasn't mid-lecture.

"I just don't want you to deal with this."

"But it's my problem, you get that? I get a say in this because it involves me, this all happened because it involved me and it still involves me." He pointed at Izuku, his hand flattening against his chest. "You are not in charge of me, you are not my guard. I can fucking handle myself, yeah? If you and this girl you know want to go all apeshit in the case then tell me, I'll go with you. I want to go with you even if I don't get why you're so suspicious about it. I don't want you doing things for me. Got it?"

Izuku nodded slightly, opening his mouth to get interrupted again.

"Get it, got it, good." He tilted his head up, they were situated close together. His hand was able to feel the erratic thumping of Midoriya's heartbeat against the fabric of his shirt. His fingers twisted in the fabric, yanking Izuku forward until their foreheads knocked together. His eyes seemed to blaze, crackling like fire as he whispered. "And if I fucking catch you going behind my back again, trying to protect me, I'll kill you."

Izuku cleared his throat nervously, not even bold enough to blink in protest. Deep down he knew Katsuki was right, he wasn't someone to be hovered over. But it was hard to get off of his high horse and admit that Katsuki could protect himself, take care of himself. His hero complex clouded his judgment and Bakugou hated it. He hated how Izuku went and decided things all by himself, acting recklessly in the word of being a hero when in truth he should consult others before deciding everything on his own. He'd get hurt trying to hold the world on his shoulders, claiming he could handle it without asking others what they thought.

His eyes closed and he whispered. "Yes, Kacchan."

"Promise? And if you break this fucking promise I will slaughter you, Izuku. You promised me no more secrets and you went and did this." He let one of his hands move away from the males shirt, less of a vice grip holding him in place now as he cupped the males jaw. "You have me, you know that right? It's not just you who wants to be protective, not the only one who cares. I know I don't fucking show it but I worry about you as much as you worry about me."

Izuku swallowed, trying his hardest not to look away as he remained in place and just listened. Katsuki was being open, soft, and caring. He appreciated these moments, even though he was ashamed.

"You let me lean on you, you're there for me and even though I hate to admit it...it helps. So Izuku, hey look at me." He ordered when Midoriya's gaze shifted, tilting his jaw back so he faced him once more. He could see the emotion scattering across Midoriya's expression, causing his brows to furrow. "Let me be there for you too, yeah?"

And Izuku started to tear up, causing the blonde to chuckle. He wiped away the tears as they accumulated and murmured. "We're dating, right? And we both suck at communication, right?"

Izuku nodded, leaning his face into the males hands as he continued. "So then shouldn't we try and fix that? Remember what I said? No relationship works on lack of communication, Izuku. And that goes for me too, I know I can let my emotions cloud my judgment and push you out."

"You're gonna make me cry." Izuku admitted, voice tight and eyes closed to try and halt the overflowing emotion that Katsuki's words always seemed to strike up.

"You're already crying, cry baby." He whispered, laughing softly at the whine Izuku let out from the back of his throat. Katsuki peppered kisses over his eyes, smirking when Midoriya flushed and opened his eyes to gaze at him. "Promise?"

"I promise, no more secrets." Izuku sighed.

"And no more trying to-?"

"Protect you without telling you first?" Izuku asked and Katsuki nodded, patting the males cheek.

"Good boy." He yawned, moving away from his boyfriend to collapse on the bed in exhaustion. "I'm going to bed."

Izuku stared at the space Katsuki previously occupied, blinking before mumbling. "What did you-"

"Sleep, Izuku." Bakugou grumbled, bringing the covers over his form, reaching out blindly for his boyfriend who grabbed his hand when he noticed he was searching for him. He intertwined their fingers, using his hold on his hand to bring his arm over his body. "We can talk tomorrow."

Midoriya stammered but nonetheless let himself be tugged downwards onto the mattress, reaching over to close the bedside lamp to encase them in darkness before he rested behind Katsuki. Bakugou let their intertwined hands remain on his stomach comfortingly, humming when Izuku finally relaxed and nuzzled into the back of his neck. His free hand softly ran through his hair, massaging his scalp.

"If you pet my hair I'll chop your arm off." Katsuki mumbled, sleep already wrapping itself around his voice. Though, despite his threat, he didn't move. He remained spooned in Izuku's arms, peacefully drifting off to sleep.