Shattered Home

Therapy

Katsuki sits opposite of Izuku in a recliner in the counselor's office. Since being separated for the past three months they are there for their first couple's session. After reconciling with his pup, Izuku thought it was best if he and Katsuki can be civil towards one another in front of Luna. They hadn't done the right thing in the past and he didn't want to go back to arguing in front of her. They both needed to learn healthy communication skills.

"So, Mr. Bakugo and Mr. Midoriya, let's start off with why you are here and what you hope to gain from these sessions?" The counselor for many heroes, Hound Dog asked, smiling gently at the two heroes he's known for a long time.

"I don't want to fight anymore," Izuku answered quickly. "Especially in front of our pup."

"Very good, and you Katsuki? What are you hoping for?"

"I want my mate to come home and for us to be a family again."

"Kacchan!" Izuku blushed with both embarrassment and anger. "We are not...."

"Mr. Midoriya." Hound Dog interrupted "I asked Bakugo what he is hoping for. These are his feelings and we will respect them. You don't have to agree with what he says, or even want what he does, but this is supposed to be a safe place where we can share our thoughts and feelings."

"Now, let's try a listening exercise. Midoriya, I'm going to ask you a question about your relationship with Bakugo. Bakugo, you are to listen without responding until Midoriya has finished. Then you will repeat what your mate has said without adding your own thoughts and feelings. Midoriya needs to know that you are listening to what he says and won't be demeaning, combative or questioning his feelings. Ok?"

Both nodded. Izuku feels nervous about going first since he's sure Katsuki will become defensive right away. That's how the alpha has been for the past several years.

"This is a big first question" Hound Dog stated, looking between the two "What would you consider your biggest problem? When do you think it started?"

Izuku began shaking his foot like he does whenever he's nervous. He brings his thumb to his lips, biting the nail while thinking about his answer. He's starting to feel overwhelmed, they have so many problems.

"Did our problems start before or after you lost One For All?" Katsuki asked quietly.

Izuku smiled gratefully at Katsuki, the alpha always seemed to be able to throw him a lifeline when his anxiety is spiking. "We had tiffs here and there before, but our real problems began when I woke up in the hospital and learned that I had lost my quirk. I feel like our biggest problem was trying to figure out how to cope with the complete change to our lives. I lost something that was everything to me. I didn't know who I was anymore without OFA. All of the sudden I couldn't be a hero anymore. I know I was a lot those first few months. I was angry, depressed, but what I really needed was for my mate to reassure me, even when I was being delusional thinking my quirk would return any second now, I needed to know that you would always be with me, supporting me. I got that for a while, but after a bit, Kacchan, you started pulling away. I started feeling alone again. Like before I had inherited OFA. I felt like that scared little kid in Middle School. I felt like my life didn't matter anymore."

When Izuku didn't continue, Hound Dog looked over at Katsuki. "Please tell Midoriya what you heard, and remember that you are not to add your own feelings or interpretations."

Katsuki was itching to make a rebuttal about how he had treated his mate after he'd lost his quirk. He had been beside Izuku for months, months of being his emotional support. He had asked Izuku to go to counseling because he didn't feel like he was equipped to help him like a professional could, but Izuku didn't want to leave the house very often, and he was too nervous to talk to a stranger. Katsuki had a full time never ending job that required most of his time, he couldn't be everywhere at once!