Catch Your Breath (BAKUDEKU)

24

Sitting opposite Izuku at their worn wooden kitchen table, Katsuki Bakugo gently unraveled the bloodied bandages from Izuku's wrists, revealing the familiar sight of fresh cuts and angry scars beneath. Izuku winced but remained silent, his eyes trained on the tabletop as if it held answers to the universe's greatest mysteries. Katsuki clenched his jaw, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. He remembered how Izuku had brushed off his worried texts earlier, claiming they were just minor injuries from work.

Katsuki's calloused fingers traced over the jagged lines tenderly, memorizing the pain etched into Izuku's skin. He wanted to ask why Izuku wouldn't let him help carry these burdens but knew his stubborn nature too well to press the issue. Instead, Katsuki focused on the task at hand, pulling out a fresh roll of bandages and antiseptic from the first aid kit beside them.

"So," Katsuki began, keeping his voice light despite the weight crushing his chest, "heard from Todoroki lately?" The change of topic seemed to catch Izuku off guard. His eyes flickered up to meet Katsuki's for a fleeting moment before returning to inspect his bandaged wrists.

Katsuki suppressed a sigh of relief at the slight relaxation in Izuku's shoulders, grateful for any distraction from the raw vulnerability laid bare in front of him. "Not much," Izuku replied, his voice laced with forced nonchalance. "Just work stuff."

Katsuki nodded, dipping a clean cloth into the antiseptic solution. "Remind me again why you two decided to work together after all that rivalry bullshit in school?" he teased, attempting to inject some levity into the suffocating atmosphere.

A soft laugh escaped Izuku's lips, warm and comforting like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. "Because beneath all that ice, he's actually a decent guy," Izuku retorted, finally meeting Katsuki's gaze. The trust and fondness shining in those emerald eyes momentarily stole Katsuki's breath away.

Carefully, Katsuki began cleaning Izuku's wounds, biting back a hiss as the alcohol stung Izuku's already sensitive flesh. Izuku's fingers twitched against the tabletop, but he remained stoic. "Yeah, sure," Katsuki grumbled playfully, earning another soft laugh from Izuku.

Silence settled again as Katsuki wrapped the pristine bandages around Izuku's wrists, careful not to bind them too tightly. It was a familiar dance—the gentle tugging of fabric against skin, the soft rustle of medical supplies, and the comforting scent of antiseptic filling the air. When he finished, Katsuki hesitated before finally meeting Izuku's gaze again.

"Deku," Katsuki began hesitantly, unsure what words to offer, "you know...if you ever..." His voice trailed off awkwardly, the words lodged in his throat.

Izuku offered him a small smile, understanding brimming in his eyes. "I know, Kacchan," Izuku said softly, reaching out to squeeze Katsuki's hand reassuringly. They sat there in comfortable silence for several heartbeats, the weight of unspoken words heavy between them. Katsuki wished that maybe someday Izuku would let him in completely, but he pushed the thought away. For now, he'd settle for these small moments of trust—these tiny victories amidst their individual battles.

Izuku's fingers drummed against the tabletop in a nervous rhythm, drawing Katsuki's gaze away from the bandaged reminders of Izuku's pain. Swallowing thickly, Katsuki focused on Izuku's words instead. "Uhm... he actually asked me out for ramen tomorrow," Izuku continued, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.

Katsuki's hands froze mid-movement, eyes snapping up to meet Izuku's. Ramen? Todoroki invited him for ramen? Jealousy flared up unexpectedly, but Katsuki quickly stamped it down, reminding himself that Izuku needed friends outside of him—people who understood his hero life better than Katsuki ever could. "That's... good," Katsuki managed to choke out, forcing a smile onto his face. "You should go."

Izuku's eyes brightened at Katsuki's response, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I think I will." They lapsed into companionable silence once more as Katsuki tidied up the first aid kit, carefully placing each item back into its designated spot. He reminded himself firmly that Izuku deserved moments of normalcy and pushed aside the irrational possessiveness. Katsuki had always been protective of him, but he couldn't suffocate Izuku with it. Not after everything he'd already gone through.

Shaking off the melancholic thoughts, Katsuki returned his attention to Izuku, who was animatedly rambling about some new ramen place Todoroki had discovered. Katsuki listened attentively, offering occasional grunts of interest and half-hearted teasing remarks about Izuku's ever-growing appetite. It wasn't much, but if hearing about trivial things like ramen dates could bring back even a semblance of happiness to Izuku's tired eyes, Katsuki would listen to him ramble about it for hours on end.

Izuku's sudden shift in demeanor caught Katsuki off guard. "Hey, Kacchan," Izuku started, a playful glint replacing the exhaustion in his eyes. "Can you grab me my sketchbook from the living room? And maybe some juice while you're at it?"

The casual tone of Izuku's request made Katsuki's eyebrows furrow, a small smirk tugging at his lips despite himself. "Sure thing, princess," he teased, standing up from his seat. As Katsuki turned to comply, however, a barrage of additional requests followed. "Oh, and my favorite pen! It's the one with the slightly bent tip, third drawer on the right."

Katsuki rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the budding warmth blooming in his chest. This side of Izuku—carefree and unafraid to rely on others—was rare but infinitely endearing. "And uh... do we still have those cookies Ochako baked last week?"

By the time Katsuki returned with Izuku's sketchbook, pen, and a tall glass of cold apple juice, he couldn't help but feel like a well-trained dog obeying his master's every whim. But seeing the genuine appreciation shining in Izuku's gaze as he accepted them, Katsuki knew he'd fetch him the moon if he asked for it.

Setting everything down in front of Izuku, Katsuki leaned forward, resting his palms on either side of the table. "Anything else you need?" he drawled, a playful challenge laced in his voice.

Izuku's blush deepened, but he met Katsuki's gaze head-on, determination shining brighter than stars in a clear night sky. "Actually..." Izuku trailed off, biting his bottom lip nervously. "Will you... sit with me while I draw?"

The vulnerability in Izuku's request caught Katsuki off guard. Nodding wordlessly, he moved to sit beside Izuku, wrapping an arm around his slender shoulders. As Izuku settled into Katsuki's embrace, sketchbook open and pencil dancing across the page, Katsuki couldn't help but think how far they'd come from their explosive beginnings.