𝔸 𝔾𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕒𝕤 𝕆𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕖 💥𝔹𝕒𝕜𝕦𝔻𝕖𝕜𝕦💥

Cracks In His Armor

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Chapter 37

Katsuki woke up to the dim light of the sunrise seeping through the curtains, casting a subdued glow in the room, his alarm clock beeping. As he stirred from his slumber, a sense of unease tugged at his consciousness. He shifted in bed, his senses alert, and his gaze landed on the empty space beside him. Izuku was not there.

Panic

A surge of anxiety coursed through Katsuki's veins as he quickly sat up, scanning the room for any sign of Izuku's presence. His heart hammering against his ribs as if trying to escape its cage, echoing the fear that gripped him. His eyes darted around the room, searching for any trace of Izuku's presence. Memories of a time when he had nearly lost to depression flooded his mind, the weight of that haunting experience adding fuel to the fire of his panic that gripped Katsuki now. Images flashed before his eyes, vivid and unsettling.

Driven by a deep-seated need to find Izuku, Katsuki leaped out of bed, his feet slapping against the cold floor. The chill seeped into his bare soles, but he barely registered the discomfort as he sprinted through the hall of their house. His mind was consumed with worry, his heart pounding in his ears, drowning out all other sounds.

As Katsuki reached the entrance to the living room, his voice already forming Izuku's name on his lips, he halted abruptly. His eyes widened with relief, as he took in the scene before him. There, on the couch, bathed in the dim morning light, lay Izuku, fast asleep.

The panic that had gripped him only moments ago began to subside, and he took a shaky breath. He approached the couch cautiously, his footsteps slow and deliberate, careful not to disturb Izuku's slumber.

As he drew closer, his attention was drawn to the television screen. The news was still playing, the incident from yesterday now compared with footage of Izuku from years ago. The images flickered across the screen, showcasing a younger, hopeful Izuku with stars in his eyes.

The news anchors discussed the stark contrast between the past and the present, their words full with judgment and speculation. They dissected Izuku's actions, questioning whether he had strayed from the path of heroism. The comparisons made Katsuki's blood boil, His fingers curled into fists, nails biting into his palms as the anger inside him ignited like a powder keg. They had no right to pass judgment, to dissect Izuku's life like some goddamn spectacle.

With a determined flick of his wrist, Katsuki reached for the remote and silenced the intrusive voices before he could hear any more bullshit. The room fell into silence, save for the soft sound of Izuku's breathing. Katsuki's gaze shifted back to Izuku, noticing the puffy dark circles under his eyes.

Kneeling down beside the couch, Katsuki reached out and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from Izuku's forehead. His touch was tender, a gesture filled with affection and concern. He couldn't stand seeing Izuku worn down like this.

His eyes drifted to the phone, cradled in Izuku's hand even in sleep. A flicker of curiosity prompted him to reach out and retrieve his phone. A frown tugged at his lips. Why was Izuku holding his phone? What could have caught his attention to the point of gripping it so tightly? A sense of dread gnawed at Katsuki's insides as he made the decision to investigate further.

With a careful touch, he pried the phone from Izuku's grasp and unlocked the screen, revealing the cruel reality that had consumed his attention. Twitter was open, on the section of the news thread that was on the TV. Katsuki's eyes scanned the screen, absorbing the flood of nasty comments that assaulted his vision.