Face Me Like An Idiot

Epilogue

It had been a month since the war had come to an abrupt armistice. The remaining members of the Paranormal Liberation Front had been brought into confinement by the government, who claimed that they will receive a penalty worse than death. Katsuki had hoped that they were living up to that promise.

     He placed a bouquet of flowers beside the patient's bed. The gesture held solemnity, but Katsuki's eyes were narrowed sternly. It may be because the one on the bed was a villain, or it could be that Katsuki was trying to figure out how to feel during that situation. Before he could get his thoughts jumbled up, a hand gripped his shoulder firmly.

     Turning his head to the side, Katsuki's eyes brightened upon seeing his best friend, Kirishima Eijirou, with a strained smile. "Why do you look so tense, Bakugou?" He inquired, glancing at the hospital bed. "He's evil, despite his past."

     Katsuki sighed, "I know."

     He then winced, "I just can't help but feel bad after Mr Aizawa told us about his past. I mean, having no one to help you, even though you're openly asking for it... That's..."

     "I know what you mean, man," Kirishima grinned, "And you're manly for considering his part of the story!"

     The two continued to chat as they left the hospital room. After the war, the villain had been brought into custody. UA's principal felt sympathy for him since the government was partly to blame for his turning out. Thus, they brought him to a hospital ward instead of leaving him to die. The metallic door shut behind Katsuki, separating him and his friend from the world's second most dangerous villain—Tomura Shigaraki.

     Standing outside of Tartarus Prison, Izuku Midoriya sighed in impatience. He donned a black shirt with a white skull as its design, and a pair of plaid pants. Bandages went from the left side of his forehead, over his right eye, and under the right side of his chin. During his battle against Shigaraki, a large portion of his face had been disintegrated. Unfortunately, it had also taken one of his eyes.

     Suddenly, just as he was about to let out another sigh, an arm wrapped around his waist. In a swift movement, Izuku took out a penknife from inside his hoodie pocket and brought it up to his 'offender's' neck. Once he realised who it was, however, Izuku instantly withdrew his weapon and started to apologise.

     "K-Kacchan! I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you!" He breathed out a sigh of relief, "You're lucky you backed away last minute, or the knife would be about halfway through your neck right now..."

     Instead of freaking out, Katsuki just wrapped his arms around Izuku's upper body. He kissed his forehead, muttering softly. "It's alright, Izu, you don't have to be so on-edge anymore. Both All For One and Shigaraki are out of the picture." His voice may have sounded gruff, but his hands rubbed Izuku's back gingerly, "You can relax."

     Izuku slumped in his boyfriend's arms, taking in his caramel scent and the comfort of his shoulder. "Th... Thanks," he breathed. He didn't even notice that he had been so tense.

     Izuku looked over Katsuki's shoulder and saw Kirishima staring at them. But he was quick to redirect his gaze when he realised Izuku had caught him red-handed. Izuku had suspicions that Kirishima had figured him out, and had told 1-A about his theories. He didn't care, of course; his identity didn't matter anymore. He no longer had anything to protect. Katsuki could protect himself, as perceived by the way he fought Toga during the war.

     "Shitty Hair's watching, isn't he?" Katsuki muttered, garnering Izuku's attention. He subtly nodded, to which the blond responded by pulling away from one another's embrace. "I'll show him that there's nothing to be worried about."