Seven Heavenly Virtues- BakuDeku

humility is a virtue (that both izuku and katsuki practice when needed)

this one is just a drabble

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Rivals. Equals.

Katsuki and Izuku are both of these things, but they are a third thing, one that makes finding their place a little more difficult. They are lovers, which fits in a little strangely with the rivalry, and makes it more likely that they would try to compete, but because they are equals, those competitions are more difficult.

If someone knew they were lovers, chances are they would have their expectations for how things would go, and most of them would have the same expectations. Most would think that, regardless of how they behave in the rest of their lives, that Izuku would be soft and submissive, and that Katsuki would be rough, and always in control, that he wouldn't be able to stand anything other than having perfect control.

And that isn't entirely accurate.

In the battle of dominance- and it is always a battle between the two of them- Izuku puts up a very good fight, and often comes out on top. While Katsuki is rough, and while it eats him up to not be in control, there is always a part of him that enjoys submitting to Izuku, whether he wants to admit that out loud or not.

So what really goes on between the two of them when they are alone is their rivalry coming out stronger than ever, and the two of them fighting for the top, and enjoying every second of that fight, right down to the moment that they win or lose. And, whether they win or lose, they still enjoy the outcome, and quite a bit.

Even if some need more help admitting to that than others.

Izuku is not the soft, submissive, almost helpless lover that people would pin him as, and Katsuki, aggressive as he may be, enjoys his place underneath Izuku more than anyone, himself included, would ever expect. Of course, he doesn't always end up underneath Izuku, and just because he likes when he does, doesn't mean that he's clueless when he doesn't. Not at all; he very much knows what to do when it's Izuku underneath him, and knows how to make the other boy scream for him.

And, though Izuku is surprisingly skilled when it comes to topping Katsuki, that doesn't mean that he doesn't enjoy the times when Katsuki tops him. He knows that Katsuki knows what he's doing, and he's never left unsatisfied, just as he never leaves Katsuki unsatisfied.

Both desire to come out on top, but both know their place when they lose. Both know how to practice humility when the time comes, and accept their position, their newfound lowness. Katsuki has to go down kicking and screaming, and Izuku puts up a tough fight every time, but a victory is a victory and a loss is a loss. Next time, things might be different, but when one of them loses, when one of them is briefly humbled, they don't mind nearly as much as one might think, seeing the fight they put up beforehand.

Their relationship, especially the sexual side of it, is not what people might expect, based on their ideas of the two. Izuku seems like he's soft and submissive, and Katsuki seems like he would never accept being overpowered in that context, but that isn't the case for either of them.

They are rivals and they are equals, just as much as they are lovers, so it's always a toss up for who comes out on top and who has to submit, and either way suits both of them just fine, regardless of how things may look.

Rivals, equals, and lovers; it's always interesting, and never predictable.