The Proximation of Hello and Goodbye

17

Izuku stumbles into the kitchen, his work pants hanging low on his hips as he sets his heart on fixing himself a nice breakfast for his first day back to work. Repairs at the cafe seemed to take a lot less time than everyone thought they would. Just a little over a week after those people attempted to capture his best friend, the shop is up and running again. Not to mention, Masashi is leaving town for another business trip as of today. Some small piece of him resents the idea, but the other is grateful that he'll be gone again. During the ten days, he's been home, Izuku can't help but feel as though he's been walking on eggshells the entire time, even if he was gone for a great majority of the time. He's almost happy to see him go. Even now, as Masashi shuffles into the kitchen, Izuku finds himself tensing at his mere presence. His lips draw into a thin line, his eyes watching his boyfriend's every move as he makes his way to the refrigerator.

Masashi pulls out a bottle of water and closes the fridge, turning to face Izuku and leaning against the appliance. His hands wrap around the bottle, holding it at his waist as he tilts his head. Izuku can feel his eyes trailing along his body and it makes him shudder. Masashi takes the cap off of the bottle and takes a sip before clearing his throat. "I'll be leaving town for a while again today," he starts. "I need you to do something for me while I'm gone this time."

He doesn't like the sound of that. He swallows the lump in his throat, "And what's that?" he asks.

"I need you to start packing the house up," he states simply. "I'm going to find us a new place to live, and I will likely be making some final decisions while I'm out. That said, I need the house to be packed up by the time I'm home. Think you can handle that for me?"

Izuku can't help but feel as if he's swallowed a glass full of sand. Moving? Why? Why didn't he at least ask me about it at first? I don't want to move, I'm finally happy here. His eyes lock onto the drain in the sink below him, not wanting to protest against Masashi, in hopes of avoiding another argument. Even so, he can't bring himself to agree to what he's being asked to do. "I'll see what I can do," he starts softly. "How long will you be gone this time?"

Masashi crosses his arms over his chest, tilting his head. "Two months. That should be plenty of time, wouldn't you say?" Izuku's body freezes into place where he stands. Two months? Two months to pack up the house and say goodbye to his friends? Two months to try and convince Masashi to let them stay where they are? Is that possible either way I look at it? He feels Masashi's hand resting on his shoulder and it bothers him to realize how much it makes his skin crawl, and not in a good way. "I think two months is rather generous, Izu. If you don't think you can do it yourself, I'm sure I can call somebody to help you?"

He shakes his head, "No, that won't be necessary. I'll do what I can. I'll... I'll get it done."

Masashi smiles and walks across the room so that he's standing in front of Izuku. He lifts his hand, reaching out for Izuku's face. The smaller man flinches away and Masashi frowns at the unfavorable response. His eyes catch on the small yellowish blue markings on his boyfriend's jaw. They've almost faded completely away by now. "You're still upset, aren't you?" Masashi asks.

Izuku shies away, looking down at the ground beneath him. "Not really, just don't want my face touched right now is all," he murmurs. He shuffles on his feet looking back up, "I just washed it."

"Right," Masashi answers. "It won't happen again. You know, what happened that night. I'm sorry, again, for how that happened. You won't hate me forever, will you?" He smiles softly at Izuku.

He hates the way that he can't help but soften his demeanor despite still being angry and hurt. "I don't hate you," he says softly. It's barely more than a whisper, it seems as if he himself doesn't believe what he's saying. He's not sure that he means it, at least for now. He's sure by the time that Masashi makes it home, he'll be fine. Right? He lifts himself onto the tips of his toes and presses a light kiss to Masashi's cheek, even that feels like too much too soon. He smiles at him softly as he rests back onto his feet, "I love you, Masa. I'll be fine. Just give me a little more time, okay?"