EXHAUSTED (BakuDeku)

6: Massage

Izuku isn't stupid. 

He might make some pretty dumb decisions, like working at a job that brought him nothing but physical pain and mental exhaustion, but he's smart. Smart enough to be a successful attorney, if only people in Hosu were in need of one. He knows how to pick up on body language, and can tell when a person's lying. He has the ability to figure out a scene just by examining the details. 

That's why, just by the blue-haired girl's nervous expression, along with how the cabinet's door wasn't closed properly and the rug behind the desk was misplaced, he could tell his partner had avoided him. Right then and there; he had hid from Izuku, in the cabinet behind the front desk of the salon. 

All he knew, was he had to try again. This time, he had to call them out for it. That's why, early Thursday morning, he decided to go to the familiar massaging salon, determined to share some time with the blonde. Time was running out, and he needed to talk with Bakugou before Sunday. That's why he decided to skip out on work for the past few days, carefully planning his approach.

"Hello!" A bubbly voice cheered.

Izuku forced a smile as he once again approached the woman behind the desk. Last time had had seen her - Tuesday - he had told her he'd be back the next day. However, he didn't come back until now; Thursday. 

"Hi!" Izuku cheered back, resting his right arm on the desk. He quickly glanced around, seeing no sign of anything misplaced. Either Bakugou wasn't aware that he was here and in another room, or he was very well hidden. Though, since there were no cars in the parking lot except for his, and no coats hanging on the racks, he knew they didn't have a client at the moment. Which means, Bakugou was most likely in this room, chatting with his coworker only moments ago. "Is Katsuki here, today?" 

The woman shook her head, faking a smile of pity. "He's not, he was here yesterday though, you missed him." She spoke. Izuku frowned; he could tell she was lying. She refused to make eye contact and was quite fidgety, almost as if she was hiding something. 

"Awh, that's too bad." He pouted, pushing himself away from the counter. He rubbed his right hand over the cast on his left arm, glancing around the rest of the room for any signs of the blonde. Emerald eyes landed on a similar cabinet, which had a lock around the handles. It'd be impossible for the blonde to be hidden there. Behind the curtains, next to the front windows, maybe? No, they were too short and Midoriya would be able to see feet if there was someone hiding there. 

After examining his entourage, Izuku could tell his boyfriend was through the door, to the left of the desk, in the massaging area. The room the blonde spent the most time with, with his clients. 

"Could you please let me see him? I know he's here. I knew he was here last time, too. I know he's been parking in the back parking too. So please, let me see him. You seem like a really nice person and I wouldn't want you to get involved in anything bad. Y'know, a person who's overworked, heartbroken and frustrated... I could throw one hell of a tantrum right here." Izuku muttered, watching as nervous blue eyes struggled to focus into his. 

"He's not here." She muttered once again, looking down as she struggled to smile. Izuku sighed, throwing his head back as he stepped closer to the closed door, glancing over to her as she watched. As expected, she wouldn't try to stop him if he tried to go on his own - not after a threat like that one. Who wants to see a grown man throw a tantrum?

Freckled fingers wrapped around the door handle, pulling open to peek inside. Emerald eyes immediately landed on Katsuki's back; the blonde seemed busy preparing his massaging table for his next client. Just as his lips parted to call out for the blonde, he was stopped by Bakugou's voice resonating first. 

"What do you want? It's clear and you know it; I don't want to see you until Sunday." The blonde muttered, turning to face Izuku. Green eyes widened at the sight of dark circles beneath crimson eyes... He had never seen Bakugou so tired, and he didn't like the sight of it at all. Katsuki didn't look healthy, as he usually did. He didn't look as happy. "Unless, you've already made your decision, that is." The tall man finished. Izuku frowned, shaking his head as he stepped in and closed the door. 

"I want to talk. I need to understand this more." He whispered, stepping closer to the table. He watched as blonde brows furrowed and anger rose in crimson eyes. 

"What the fuck is there to understand, Izuku? I made it perfectly fucking clear! Make your damned decision, will ya? Quit your job, or quit this relationship." The ash blonde snapped. Midoriya winced, looking down. 

"No..." He muttered. "No, please, just hear me out. I need you to sit and understand my side of all this, please." He asked, meeting red eyes once again. Bakugou's face twisted with emotions and the curly-haired man wasn't sure what he was thinking. 

"I'm busy with work, Izuku. I was about to call up a client and tell her I had an opening right now. We can talk about this Sunday." He shrugged, turning to organize some bottles on his shelf. Izuku could read different kind of oil names on them, knowing the blonde used them for his clients. He frowned, looking up to messy ash locks. 

"Please, give me a massage." He blurted out, watching the taller man stop all movements and turn around. Bakugou's face sported nothing but disbelief and shock, seemingly offended. 

"We've been dating for nearly five fucking years, and I've offered you millions of massages which you've all refused. Now, you want one?" He asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Izuku nodded, seeing Bakugou hesitate before he sighed. "Take off your shirt. This should last about thirty minutes. You've got that much time to tell me about whatever the fuck you want to tell me. I'm giving you 50% off, too." The blonde muttered, helping Izuku remove his T-Shirt and signing him to lay on his stomach. 

Izuku quickly obeyed, taking a comfortable spot on the table in front of him. He'd never done this before, and wasn't sure what to expect. But that wasn't what he was focused on, at the moment. He really needed to have a chat with his lover. 

"I'm not ready to quit my job, just yet." He began, resting his head on a pillow as he heard Katsuki shift behind him to grab the items he'd need. 

"Great start." The blonde sarcastically spat, pumping some oils onto Izuku's back. 

"But I know damn well I don't want to quit on us too. I love you so fucking much, Kacchan. I need you in my life more than anything." The freckled male felt a lump in his throat form, trying his best to push it away as he continued his speech. "I do plan on leaving construction. And I'll try to find something else that pays good, but less physically demanding. I just don't want to quit my job without having something else to turn to." He spoke, feeling Katsuki's hands rub across his back. He closed his eyes, loving the feeling he had missed so much. 

"I get it." Katsuki muttered, seemingly wanting to hear more, unsatisfied. Izuku thought for a moment, before replying. 

"I think it's best that I give myself a month to do so. I'll give Aizawa my two-weeks-notice, and during those two weeks, I'll find a new job. After I leave construction, I'll start somewhere new, and I'll give myself two weeks to figure out if it's good for me and if I want to stay." He continued to ramble, the massage beginning. He felt Bakugou's hands press against sore muscles, somewhat feeling good, somehow. "I want to be better. I want a job that won't make you worry anymore. I want to become an attorney, or something in the department of law." He continued. 

"See, that sounds more like the Izuku I fell in love with." Katsuki muttered with a smile creeping up. He watched as freckled features illuminated with a smile as he rubbed the palm of his hand against a painful muscle he knew had been bothering Midoriya for a while now. Silence filled the room as he continued to work, until he reached a muscle Izuku didn't even know he had, in his upper back, causing the greenette to let out a muffled moan of pleasure. 

"You're great at your job. Fuck, I should've taken these free massages sooner." He smiled wide, eyes closed as his body was sent in full pleasure. He heard Bakugou chuckle lowly before responding. 

"I told you, you fuckin' workaholic."