Catch Your Breath (BAKUDEKU)

21

Wrapped in their warm robes, Katsuki and Izuku settled on the couch, the heater blasting hot air against their damp skin. Izuku nestled closer, resting his head against Katsuki's shoulder, while Katsuki absentmindedly carded his fingers through Izuku's wet hair, attempting to tame the mess he had made earlier. The silence between them was comfortable—the kind that only came after weathering a storm together.

Suddenly, a playful spark ignited in Izuku's green eyes, and before Katsuki knew it, Izuku lunged at him, giggling like a schoolboy. "Hey!" Katsuki growled playfully, caught off guard. His reflexes kicked in instinctively, easily dodging Izuku's attack and grabbing him around the waist, pulling him back until Izuku landed with a satisfied yelp in Katsuki's lap.

"Thought you could take me down that easily?" Katsuki taunted teasingly, a rare grin spreading across his features. Izuku's laughter filled the room like music, wrapping around Katsuki's heartstrings and plucking them mercilessly. Izuku squirmed against him, hands fisting in Katsuki's robe as he attempted to wriggle free.

"God, he's adorable," Katsuki thought fondly, tightening his hold around Izuku. Their playful struggle continued, their bodies tangled together messily on the couch, laughter echoing off the walls. It was childish, reckless... and exactly what they both needed. For a brief moment, their worries were forgotten, replaced by the simple joy of being wrapped up in each other's warmth.

Izuku's sudden burst of laughter cut through the air like fireworks on a summer night, causing Katsuki's heart to skip a beat in surprise. With his cheek pressed against Katsuki's, still flushed from their playful wrestling match, Izuku managed to gasp out, "The doorbell... what did you order this time, Kacchan? A stripper?"

Katsuki's grip on him faltered, shock morphing into amusement at the unexpected joke. "In your dreams, idiot," he retorted, unable to keep the smile from his voice. When did he become so bold around me? The thought only served to fan the flames of desire that never seemed to fully extinguish themselves around him.

Setting Izuku down gently, Katsuki rose from the couch, adjusting his robe as inconspicuously as possible. Izuku's eyes followed his movements, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Don't get any ideas while I'm gone," Katsuki warned playfully, earning another giggle in response.

Shaking his head fondly, Katsuki made his way towards the door, curiosity piquing as to who would dare interrupt their peaceful evening.

Opening the door revealed a slightly disheveled Todoroki Shouto, holding a pizza box and sporting a concerned expression that contrasted sharply with his usual stoicism. "Todoroki?" Katsuki blurted out, surprise evident in his tone. He hadn't expected visitors, especially not him. Not that he minded; Todoroki was one of the few people he actually tolerated being around Izuku and him.

Izuku appeared behind Katsuki, disappointment briefly flashing across his face before morphing into a tired smile. "Aw man, I thought it was my stripper," he teased, earning a playful elbow jab from Katsuki's side.

"Ha ha, funny," Katsuki deadpanned, though he couldn't entirely hide his amusement. "Come in before you freeze to death."

Todoroki quirked an eyebrow at their disheveled appearances and the lingering tension between them but wisely kept his mouth shut. Closing the door behind him, Katsuki gestured towards the living room. "We were just..." He trailed off, unsure of how to explain their current state.

Thankfully, Izuku saved him from further embarrassment. "We got caught in the snow," he supplied helpfully, grabbing two plates from the kitchen counter. "Kacchan thought hot food would warm us up."

Todoroki nodded understandingly, setting the pizza box on the coffee table. "Well, I didn't want you two starving," he said gruffly, although the slight uptick of his lips betrayed his amusement.

As they settled back on the couch, Katsuki couldn't help stealing glances at Izuku, who seemed oblivious to his scrutiny as he chatted animatedly with their unexpected guest. Despite the earlier argument, seeing Izuku relaxed and happy made Katsuki's heart swell with affection. Maybe tonight wasn't ruined after all.

Grabbing a slice of pizza, Katsuki flopped down on the couch next to Izuku, their legs tangling together instinctively. Todoroki sat opposite them, a small smile playing on his lips as he observed their easy familiarity. Katsuki briefly wondered if Todoroki thought they were pathetic but dismissed the thought quickly. As long as Izuku was happy, that was all that mattered.

"So, Todoroki," Katsuki began, biting into his pizza slice, cheese stretching between his mouth and the warm bread like a golden thread. "What brings you out in this shitty weather?"

Todoroki blinked at Katsuki's crude language but didn't comment. "I just finished up some patrol rounds early," he replied, grabbing a piece for himself. "Thought I'd drop by and check on Midoriya."

Izuku's cheeks flared crimson at the concern in Todoroki's voice. "I'm fine, Shoto," he insisted, but the tremble in his hand betrayed his lie. Katsuki's protective instincts flared up like a well-timed explosion. "He'd be better if you weren't here cramping our date," he grumbled, earning a playful hit on his arm from Izuku.

Todoroki's eyes flickered between them, understanding dawning. "Ah... Sorry, didn't mean to intrude."

"Too late for apologies, Ice-brain," Katsuki retorted, though there was no heat behind his words. Instead, he felt a strange sense of camaraderie with Todoroki—an understanding that neither of them could deny the pull of worry when it came to Izuku.

The rest of the night passed in a comfortable blur of laughter and shared stories, interspersed with playful banter and teasing glances between Katsuki and Izuku. Even through the teasing, an underlying tension hummed between them—the promise of what awaited them once Todoroki left.

Eventually, Todoroki excused himself, citing early training the next morning. Katsuki saw him out reluctantly, grateful for the distraction but eager to return to Izuku's side. As the door closed behind Todoroki, the air seemed to thicken with anticipation. Katsuki turned back to find Izuku already standing in front of him, eyes sparkling like emerald stars.

"Alone finally?" Izuku teased, moving closer until only inches separated them. Katsuki's heart stuttered in his chest like a faulty bomb fuse, threatening to detonate at any given moment. Before Katsuki could respond, Izuku stood on tiptoes and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. "Thank you for today," he whispered sincerely. "Even with the fight and all... it was still a good day."

The sincerity in Izuku's voice disarmed Katsuki more than any punch ever could. Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Katsuki wrapped his arms around Izuku tightly, resting his forehead against Izuku's temple. "Yeah," he muttered gruffly, "It was."

They stood there for a moment, simply existing within the warmth of each other's embrace, their breaths mingling like secrets shared between lovers. Finally, Katsuki pulled back enough to meet Izuku's gaze, surprised by the depth of emotions swirling within Izuku's green depths—affection, desire, forgiveness... love?

Shaking off the thought, Katsuki opted for something less vulnerable. "Wanna finish watching that stupid documentary about slugs you were rambling about earlier?" he offered gruffly.

Izuku's entire face lit up like a city skyline during festival season. "Really?" he squealed, practically jumping into Katsuki's arms. Katsuki's grip instinctively tightened around him, lifting him off the ground as Izuku's laughter filled the air like the most beautiful symphony Katsuki had ever heard.

"Yeah, idiot," Katsuki chuckled, unable to resist the pull of Izuku's happiness. "But only if you promise to keep your hands to yourself."

Izuku's answering giggle was all the challenge he needed. As they settled back on the couch, blankets tangled around them like a protective cocoon, Katsuki knew tonight would be anything but ordinary.