𝔸 𝔾𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕒𝕤 𝕆𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕍.𝟚 💥𝔹𝕜𝔻𝕜💥

Chapter 36

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Hero of the Past

"Where we going?" Izuku asked curiously as Katsuki slammed the car door shut behind him. Katsuki couldn't help but let out a dramatic sigh, loud and exaggerated, his breath barely visible in the chilly air as he slammed the car door shut with a force that made the vehicle shudder slightly. "I told you, dumbass, you'll know when we get there," he scolded, but there was no bite to his tone.

Leaning against the side of the car, Katsuki's eyes glinted with a playful spark, though his posture was anything but relaxed. His gaze darted around, scanning the surroundings with an intensity that had become second nature. Every person, every subtle movement was scrutinized, his instincts sharpened by years of facing threats from the League of Villains. It was a habit now, a relentless vigilance that always on edge, always ready to react. It was his default setting at this point.

Once satisfied that everything was in order, Katsuki pushed off the car and adjusted his jacket collar before his fingers traced the outline of a small, folded map in his pocket. He meticulously went over the route to their destination. Today was supposed to be special, every detail had to be perfect. He wasn't going to let anything ruin this day for Izuku.

The bag slung over his shoulder was packed with the essentials: water, snacks, a compact first aid kit, and a cozy blanket. Katsuki knew better than anyone the importance of being prepared, especially when it came to Izuku. Even though the nerd's filled out a bit more since he's woken up, he was still the same annoying nerd he used to be, and he's bound to get into trouble one way or another.

The creak of the car door broke his thoughts. He turned to see Izuku stepping out, shivering slightly. Katsuki closed the distance between them without a second thought, his presence a barrier against the nipping cold.

Izuku's face lit up with a beaming smile as he looked up at Katsuki, completely unaware of the protective awareness radiating off him. "So, are you going to tell me now?" Izuku's voice was filled with impatient excitement, his wide green eyes locked onto Katsuki.

Katsuki only sighed again, allowing a rare moment of softness as he met Izuku's gaze. There was a distinct pleasure in revealing something special to Izuku, knowing that he'd planned everything down to the last detail to make today unforgettable. He could wait to see the shit nerd's expression when they got to where they were going.

"Alright, fine," Katsuki muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "We're going to a special place in this park. I wanna show you something."

Inhaling deeply, Katsuki led the way into the park, the path beneath their feet crunched with fallen leaves. Autumn's warm colors enveloped them, making everything feel more alive. Families, couples, and friends milled around, enjoying their own activities, soaking in the nature and peace. Not that Katsuki felt peaceful. Nah, he was too busy checking out the people around them.

His eyes were sharp, scanning, every muscle ready to spring into action if needed. He couldn't switch off his instincts, especially when the LOV was a constant thought on his mind.

But as they walked, something about having Izuku by his side made Katsuki's hyper-vigilance dial down a notch. Just a notch. The colorful foliage added to the calm, making everything seem almost perfect... and seriously, the nerd could talk about anything—hero theories, new training techniques, the latest All Might merchandise—and he never seemed to run out of things to say.

Katsuki found himself nodding along, not necessarily listening to every word, but finding comfort in the familiarity of Izuku's voice. They passed by a charming little crepe stand nestled beneath a canopy of maple trees, the mouthwatering aroma of freshly made crepes pulling at his focus.