If I Had One Wish

Chapter Forty Five

Chapter forty five - A Feeling of Normalcy 

"Hold my hand because I might disappear."

Melina Marchetta

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The days passed slowly, exams starting to haunt the duo. They had spent so long with each other, dealing with their feelings, that they had started to neglect their increasing workload and fast paced curriculum. They separated from each other to try and rework their routines, only ever speaking when they got paired in class or went to meet All Might whose visits have been getting significantly shorter and farther between. It's not like they could openly be together in class, it wasn't a secret but it wasn't openly advertised either. They were closer, everyone saw that, but to a limit. There was a thin line that didn't get crossed when around their classmates.

The hours melded and sped, unmemorable moments that made up their days and upcoming weeks. Izuku seemed to lock himself in his room after school, only ever coming out to eat and exercise. Katsuki barely saw him and when he did he was always stuck with his head in a book, or his phone.

Not that Bakugou minded since he had gotten pretty busy as well, it's not like he could neglect his friends and his homework forever. He had begun to slowly immerse himself into the seemingly normal things teenagers did, no longer arguing as harshly when Kirishima dragged him to a Bakusquad hang out.

"What's the squad without their leader? It's in the name!" Eijiro would boast, his arm around Katsuki's hunched, anti-social shield, shoulders. He was trying to open up more, truly he was, but there were things he'd rather keep reserved and times he'd rather be alone. He was trying to have fun and he did. He felt much more open than he used to.

But that was probably because Izuku was there to listen to him vent when he needed it and knowing that made him feel lighter. Knowing he could have a shit day and then flop onto his bed and rant to Izuku made him feel so... He didn't quite know a word for it. Cared for? It seemed too light of a statement to give that ache in his chest that eased yet also grew when Midoriya kissed away his worries. When he ran his fingers through his hair, easing his muscles with soothing words and reassuring mumbles that drowned out the self-deprecating thoughts.

Though they hadn't kissed in a long time. Or, well, long to Katsuki who was the one of the two who made first moves. Izuku still seemed quite shy and hesitant. Though he had his moments where he would reach for Katsuki's hand and raise it to his lips, letting a kiss brush over his knuckles for a split fleeting second before moving away.

He remembered after their talk, the next day, when he had woken up in his arms. It was before Midoriya was up, having moved in the night onto his back. His arm remained underneath Katsuki's head, keeping him from straying too far in his sleep. Bakugou had awoken from the breeze that had crept through his body when he unintentionally pushed the covers off of himself. That mornings light had streamed into the room like a beam through the crack the curtains failed to cover, specks of dust seemingly floating through the glimmer of heat that had begun to light up the room slowly as the sun rose higher into the sky. Katsuki wondered what time it was briefly before he felt Izuku stir, his eyes languidly looking at his boyfriend who began to stretch. He smiled slightly, his eyes tracing the furrow in his brows as his muscles regained some of their movement. He relaxed and murmured. "Stop staring, Kacchan."

This earned a pillow to the face.

Their desks were right in front of each other. Izuku sat behind him all day and yet it felt like they didn't see each other as much anymore after that day.

It didn't really affect him, sure he missed him but it didn't drastically alter his mood the way Eijiro joked it would. However, after studying for a good two hours after class he realized something; he couldn't be alone before. He remembered hating it, hating being alone and loathing himself. But now... Now he felt fine and that triggered a sense of renowned energy within himself.