~BNHA~ Everything That I Am

Chapter 42

The sky was still a murky gray, the barest hint of light creeping over the horizon, when Izuku stood across from Katsuki. The air was crisp, biting at his skin, but the cold barely registered under the steady thrum of adrenaline that always came before a sparring match with Kacchan. It was just them, alone in the quiet before the others woke up.

Izuku rolled his shoulders, feeling the tension there. They made a point not to use their quirks and focusing on their movements. He had gotten stronger, faster even—Katsuki made sure of that—but every time they fought like this, he couldn't shake the worry gnawing at him. His eyes drifted to Katsuki, already pacing in anticipation, his muscles taut, waiting for Izuku to make the first move.

The silence stretched, and then Katsuki broke it, his voice sharp in the cold air. "What're you waiting for? Hit me."

Izuku swallowed, trying to steady himself. He lunged forward, feet pushing off the dirt with a sharp crunch. Katsuki dodged easily, his movements fluid, calculated. Izuku followed through a series of rapid punches aimed at Katsuki's chest, but his hand stopped just short of landing the blow. The pullback was instinctual, the fear of hurting him rising too fast to push down.

Katsuki's eyes narrowed, immediately sensing the hesitation. He didn't waste a second. His arm shot out, catching Izuku's wrist and using the momentum to flip him hard onto the ground. The wind was knocked from Izuku's lungs as he hit the earth, the dull thud reverberating through his body.

"Don't you dare pull back on me," Katsuki growled, leaning over him, his grip tight on Izuku's wrist. "I'm not some weakling you need to hesitate with."

Izuku blinked up at him, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Katsuki's face was inches from his own, fierce and demanding, but Izuku could see the frustration burning in his eyes. Not frustration with the fight, but with him. For holding back.

"I'm not—" Izuku started, but Katsuki cut him off.

"Yes, you are!" Katsuki barked, shoving off him and stepping back. "You think I haven't noticed? You've been doing it more ever since—" he paused, his gaze flicking away for a brief second before locking back on Izuku. "Ever since we got together. You're treating me different, and I'm not having it."

Izuku sat up, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'm just... worried I might hurt you."

Katsuki's eyes blazed. "Hurt me? Hurt me?" He stormed forward, crouching down to meet Izuku at eye level. "I don't need you protecting me, dumbass. If you think pulling your punches is helping, it's not. You fight me like you fight anyone else, or you're wasting my time."

Izuku felt his face heat, Katsuki's words sinking in. He wanted to argue, to tell him that it wasn't the same, that their relationship had changed things. But Katsuki was right. They were still fighters, still training, and holding back didn't just undermine the spar—it undermined what Katsuki had taught him.

"I get it," Izuku said quietly, his voice strained. He pushed himself to his feet, facing Katsuki again. "I won't hold back."

Katsuki's mouth twitched into a half-smirk, though there was still an edge of irritation. "Good. Now stop whining and fight me for real."

Izuku nodded, letting out a long breath before shifting his stance, more determined now. Katsuki was right. He'd been too cautious, too careful. This time, he pushed the worry aside and threw himself into the fight, fists flying as he charged forward again.

Katsuki was ready, of course. He always was. But this time, Izuku didn't hold back. Each strike was full force, the sound of their fists colliding, echoing in the pre-dawn stillness. Katsuki matched him move for move, always just a bit quicker, a bit sharper.