stay for a minute

[ 8.4.22 ]

Izuku took a deep, soothing breath, appreciating a scent that would never age. He nestled further into Katsuki's shoulder, squeezed his arms around his waist just a little bit harder. He wouldn't open his eyes, not for a second. The illusion of permanence would vanish as soon as he did. Telling by the stifled breaths from Katsuki, the blond didn't want to let go of the moment either.

A warm, humid wind blew through both of them, reminding them both of the grim reality. Of how they got here.

Of what had to come next.

Saying things were 'difficult' was doing their situation a massive disservice.

The Oceanic Cataclysm of 20XX, that's what the press had called it. A large-scale quirk attack that resulted in hundreds of innocents being swallowed whole by massive waves of water, although not drowned. Rather, the victims were "atomically misplaced", wandering the crime scene in its stagnant state of destruction for all but one day of the year, the 7th day of the 7th month; on that day, they would take physical forms and be transported to the present version of the location for all of 24 hours, unable to leave the area of the crime.

That tragic event was 4 years ago. Izuku visited the park where the incident occurred every day since.

When the clock struck 12:00 to mark the beginning of the rainy season, Izuku was there when Katsuki appeared. They chatted about the new happenings, and Izuku caught Katsuki up on the world's news. Izuku gave him food to try out and small crafts he had made. They shared countless kisses and tight embraces, never unlocking hands. Neither of them brought it up when they saw the clock strike 22:00.

[ 23:58:00 ]

Izuku felt fresh tears rolling down his already-stained cheeks and soaking into the fabric of Katsuki's black T-shirt. He sniffled wetly, and got a small grunt and a feather light kiss to the ear. He felt the other man pulling away. A gravelly voice pierced through the ambient but unpopulated street. "Deku, 'ey. Look at me."

This part was always the hardest.

The smaller man shook his head, more tears edging his closed lids and wetting his lashes.

"C'mon… you know how this works. Look at me."

Izuku finally obeyed, and it was only a little reassuring how the other man gazed back at him with equal amounts of hurt in his eyes, his appearance already less opaque. Izuku's throat choked out an unintelligible syllable, and a sob wracked through his entire body, shaking him. Izuku held him tighter than ever and firmly held his gaze through the tears, as if that would keep him together.

As if he wouldn't be clutching air in 63 seconds.

62.

61.

[ 23:59:00 ]

Katsuki's words pierced ice through his veins. "Izuku. You know how much I love you, yeah?"

"Kacchan please, I-I can't do this—"

"I love you, more than anybody on this planet."

Izuku shook violently and clutched the back of his shirt harshly. "N-no, I can't, please. Not now."

He continued anyway. "You know I can't do this. I can't keep watching you suffer for me."

His words became mixed together, a sob interrupting every few syllables. "Ka-acchan please.. you can't leave. I don't want you to leave. I'd rather suffer. I want you."

"Izuku. I know we said this could work, but... You have to move on from me, for your own good. This'll just keep hurting us."

"And what about you, huh? Y-You're just gonna sit there for all time, ju-just fucking–just doing nothing, while I get to move on?!" he practically screamed. He scrunched his eyes shut and continued to yell, his walls tearing down. "Please, Kacchan, think!! You can't die, so what then?! Think about yourself, dammit! I love you, damnit!!"

Katsuki snapped back, "I don't want to hurt you! I'm not arguing about this any longer, I can't do this, and neither can you!"

Izuku curled into himself, and crouched on the ground, trembling. "I...I don't know why you have it in your mind that we'll never work," he choked out. "But don't have so much doubt for me, you idiot. I love you. I want to be with you forever. Don't… don't you feel the same?"

He waited for a reply.

Nothing.

Izuku's heart sank to his toes. He dared to open his eyes, and looked out from his arms.

There was nothing. Just him, curled over alone in the park.

Izuku didn't come back to the park after that.