[PSL -- For Superchill] -- Confrontation

[thunderingpeace]

Part One
Part Two

 

[It had been a week since that time in Kacchan's apartment. A week since the kiss, a week since they'd had breakfast together, and a week since they parted on an almost too-casual note, Izuku walking out the door ahead of his friend so as not to embarrass them both.

Also, to...well. To give Kacchan some room. Some breathing space.

Because they weren't anything, not really. Friends? Definitely. Lovers? Possibly someday. They'd definitely enjoyed kissing each other, and spooned each other when they slept for fuck's sake. Izuku had wanted something more, but Kacchan needed time, and he was perfectly willing to give him time.

No. Really. Don't give him that look. Just because he'd had a rocking dumpster fire of a romantic life before this didn't mean that he was going to make this go in flames because of his own awkwardness and thirst.

And then...well. One thing led to another. 

Specifically, his mother happened. She'd collapsed one day while at work -- after Izuku graduated, she'd taken to working again in order to fill the gaps left by her son's absence, and her own loneliness -- and he'd left immediately to go and see her. 

Her heart was weak. They weren't sure if it was her weight, the anxiety of having her son out of the house and her husband overseas, a deeper issue, or a combination of all of them, but couldn't do as much as she used to. She needed help.

Izuku had jumped at the chance. Taken strange hours -- mostly graveyard shift -- and had to cancel his social plans so that he could be with his mother during the day, work at night, and get what little sleep he could before he had to wake up and do it all over again.

This went on for a week.

He hadn't texted or called anyone. He hadn't had the time. He had to talk to his superiors to switch his hours, he had to commisserate with the doctor about his mother's medications and how long she would need to be supervised before she could start living independently again (his father hadn't even been contacted -- but Izuku had enough issues with his father, and really didn't want to think about him right now), had to start putting aside money for both her rent and his, had to move himself into his old room with the too-tiny, uncomfortable bed and always made sure to keep the door open in case she needed him.

He was a wreck.

His eyes were sunken in, he'd only eaten the bare minimum that he needed to function, and while coffee and energy drinks got him through his shift with minimal effort, he knew he wasn't at the top of his game. He'd planned on telling someone, really, but he didn't want to make anyone worry until he was settled, and by the time things started rolling he was so caught up in the wave that he couldn't stop.

He shook when he woke up, some days, and had to force himself to stop the exhausted tremors. His two off-days a week were the only days when he could sleep, but it was restless and short, so he spent his time working out or taking extra hours at the agency just to fill the time.

He missed everyone.

Most of all, he missed Kacchan.]

Comments

[superchill]

Good. They had every reason to be pissed at you.

[Bakugou looks over at him while still trying to sink deeper into the couch. He's tired and he's pretty sure he can feel the worlds largest bruise spreading on his ass.]

Glad you took care of everything else, though. How's your mom doing?

[He remembers her words very clearly. He never though in a million years that he'd be the one taking care of Deku, but... now that it's happening, it feels right.

He knows they have a lot to talk about still, but he'd like to avoid talking about it for as long as possible. Maybe it's shitty on his part, but hearing all those confessions yesterday- it was a lot. He just hopes it isn't bothering Deku that he basically didn't say anything back. ]

Did you tell them I was here?

[thunderingpeace]

[He flushed, just a little, but tried to keep the blush down as best as he could.]

She's good. We. Uh. Talked a bit. She seems a lot happier than she was.

[He was not about to tell Kacchan that she thinks they're dating. Izuku was what you might call 'reckless', but he wasn't stupid. Hell, far from it. He knew better than to poke the bear when he was already bristling just at the mere mention of intimacy.

And...maybe a few years ago, Izuku would have been bothered, a little. But he was patient -- had to be. Kacchan was not an easy man to love, all things considered, but he liked to think he understood his tics, his Kacchanisms.

What he didn't say with his words, he said with his actions.

Like being here, with him.]

Only Iida, Ochaco, and Todoroki know. It was either that or them rushing over and finding you that way. Figured I'd save the embarrassment on all fronts.

[And about the other things...Izuku swore them to secrecy. And none of them were gossips; God, if word had broken out to Mina, the entire town would have known within the next couple of hours. Ochaco was a fortress, Iida was still awkward when it came to matters of the heart and didn't quite know what to do about it, and Todoroki...it was hard to tell with him, but he wasn't exactly a talker. Or socializer, for that matter.]

[superchill]

Maybe cause she sees you're finally taking a break, dumbass.

[She did seem pretty happy to see him, and to know that Deku wasn't alone here. The rest of it, he has no idea about. Call him clueless, because he is.

Iida, Ochaco and Todoroki are already too many people, Bakugou thinks, but it's not like they know anything, right? Just that he's here, helping Deku out with his mom. All three of his former UA classmates and current fellow Pro-Heroes know that he's been trying to change. He's pretty sure they do, anyway.

So it probably shouldn't be such a big deal.]

Yeah, fine. Guess that's good. You look rested. Did you get my note? You better have fucking eaten today.

[thunderingpeace]

[Yeah, that was totally it. It had nothing to do with her calling him his boyfriend at all.

He scratched his head, laughing a little.]

Y-yeah, must be.

[He stretched out on the couch a little, careful not to get too close to where Kacchan was sitting, though there was that urge to just lean in. To just lie against his shoulder and forget the world for a few minutes.]

I got the note first thing when I woke up, and don't worry, I ate. It was delicious.

[He looked Kacchan over, though, sizing him up with a small frown.]

You look exhausted, Kacchan. Do you need me to get you anything?

[superchill]

[ Bakugou raises an eyebrow at Deku's small laugh. ]

What's so funny? Do you know something I don't?

[Bakugou wouldn't actually mind if Deku leaned on him. He's done it before, right? But... it's true. Who the fuck knows where their lines are right now. They really need to talk about all this stuff that Bakugou doesn't really want to talk about.

He feels kind of like a coward about it, but he also doesn't want this to explode in his face.]

Good. There should be plenty for tomorrow, too. And I'll make some more tonight. Oh, which reminds me. I grabbed a few things from the grocery. I should put all that in the fridge.

[He sits up a little straighter, rolling his shoulders.]

I'm fine. Got bumped around a little today, but it's nothing I can't handle.

[He gets up and goes to grab the bags by the door, along with his duffel full of clothes and things.]

I packed a bag of my shit to keep here so I wouldn't have to keep going back and forth... that okay?

[thunderingpeace]

No, no, nothing like that! I just...

[He really didn't want to break through this calm they'd created with each other. Kacchan needed space, he needed time. He'd already overstepped his boundaries by saying what he'd wanted to say before, and...well.

But...they needed to talk about it eventually, right?

They would. If Kacchan wanted to talk about it, he'd approach him.

Wouldn't he?

(No. Izuku knew that he handled discomfort by burying himself eight feet deep. But throwing things on him all at once wasn't the best route to take, either. So...waiting was fine. Waiting was good.)]

She just was teasing me a little. Because regardless of the circumstances, you're the first person I've brought home since I dated Ochaco.

[Well, at least that wasn't....as awkward as it could have been. Right? Right...?

But it was Kacchan's last words that stilled him, stopped his brain in his tracks and made him think.

He was going to be staying here. With him.

Staying.

Kacchan wanted to live here for even a short time for convenience's sake. Katsuki "I don't need people" Bakugou.

Honestly, Izuku was surprised it took a few seconds for him to respond.]

Yeah, that's fine. Why wouldn't it be?

[superchill]

She was teasing you about me being here?

[That's slightly amusing, though he's not really sure why she'd tease him. Unless... just like earlier he was starting to suspect that maybe she knew something? But there's no way.

Unless Deku was as loud as it sounded like in Bakugou's head.]

Wait. Does she think we're dating?

[Well, okay. He sort of walked into this conversation. Are they going to have to have it now? Deku is right, he'd rather just bury that conversation, but... he isn't exactly going to run from it either.

He shrugs, dropping his duffel by the couch, then heads for the kitchen so he can put the groceries away.]

Just figured I should ask before making myself at home in your mother's house.

[thunderingpeace]

[Yep, this was a conversation they were having right now. Ugh, it was putting knots in Izuku's stomach already; talking romance with Kacchan was like talking to a very handsome brick wall that you happened to be in love with. Who was not comfortable with intimacy.

He had to find a way to defuse this before things got worse.

But lying...was out of the question.]

Well, I...uh. Think she overheard us...last night. In the kitchen.

[He wasn't going to bring up that she thought they had sex last night. Just the thought of her knowing anything about his sex life...]

[superchill]

[ Bakugou, whether he can help it or not, goes red, pausing with his hands half way reaching into one of the bags of groceries.

Yeah, he's actually going very red at the thought of Inko hearing them in the kitchen last night, because there was a lot she could have overheard and all of it was embarrassing to a degree. ]

Fuck.

[So she heard, and now she thinks they're dating.

Well... shouldn't they be? It's not as if Bakugou is going to be with anyone else. Ever. It's not as if he doesn't think about making out with Deku all the time now. It's not as if they don't already sleep curled up around each other, as much as he hates to admit that it might actually be cuddling of all things.

And now, the two of them are going to be here together in Deku's mother's house. Are they dating?]

I've never dated anyone before. Like not even a little bit. I mean, I guess you already know that, right?

[thunderingpeace]

Yeah, I know.

[And Izuku had dated...a bit. All disasters in their own way, and it always led him to heartbreak. He'd spent hours of his life just sobbing over what could have been, yearning for someone to hold him and not let go.

He wasn't codependent; he didn't need a partner to be happy, but he looked at married couples and their happiness together, and Izuku wanted that. He wanted to come home to someone every night, to bask in their presence and take on the world with them. Together for forever, and all those things that made Shouto confused and Iida scandalized.

Then he realized that he wanted Kacchan. He loved him.

Kacchan cared for him too...]

Do you want to? Date, I mean.

[superchill]

[ Of course Deku knows. Just like Deku knows he's a virgin too. Just like Deku know that Bakugou has never even has a single person in his bed, and that the other day on the couch was his first kiss.

Oh god. Fuck.

Slowly he starts unpacking things from the bag again- everything Deku will need to make healthy meals for his mother, and a couple things he thought maybe Deku would like as well.

You know, like a good boyfriend does.

Damn it.

But is it so bad? Bakugou can't exactly say that it is. No, it's all been pretty good, no matter how reluctant he's been with everything. Reconnecting with Deku in this way, it's been good for him. Good for both of them, he thinks. The kisses are- well, they're fucking amazing and all that anger and resentment he used to hold against Deku, it's faded, even if his guilt hasn't.

That's the part he isn't sure about. Doesn't Deku deserve better?

Then again, hasn't it always been the two of them?

He eyes Deku, opening the fridge to put what's in his hands away, then turns back to him. ]

Yeah. I do.

[thunderingpeace]

[Izuku's feet are moving before he can even process the words fully. He stands, nearly stumbles off the couch in his own haste, stretching his legs before jogging to where Kacchan was standing, putting away the groceries like it was no big deal.

Like he was his boyfriend.

Oh, God.

He was moving close, closer, until he was only a few steps away. He waits until there's nothing in his hands, before stepping over, grabbing both of Kacchan's cheeks, and pulling to him.

Pulling him into an intense, hard, passionate whirlwind of a kiss.

After a few seconds, Izuku pulls away, taking a step back.]

I'll make sure you never regret that choice, Kacchan.

["I'll take care of you. Of us." He says, without saying those words. Besides, his determined eyes say more than his words ever could.]

I promise.

[superchill]

[ Bakugou knows it's coming, makes sure everything is out of his hands as Deku approaches him with that look on his face. That happy, excited look in his eyes.

And Bakugou is the one who put it there.

Wonders never cease.

He doesn't hesitate in kissing back, arms moving to Deku's waist, fingers curling into his shirt before he lets go. ]

Like I'd ever regret this. Don't even say shit like that.

[Bakugou gives him a small smile, then reaches out and pulls Deku back into his space. God this is.... yeah, his face is still red, but it's not just embarrassing, it also feels really good. Is he ready for this? He's not sure, but he wants to try to be. He knows that when it comes to starting things with Deku, it's serious. They're not just messing around.]

Can't believe I'm dating a broccoli head now.

[thunderingpeace]

[Kacchan was his boyfriend. Kacchan was his boyfriend.

Kacchan. Was. His. Boyfriend.

He said he wouldn't regret it. He really was--

He even smiled at him! Not smirked! Smiled! That was gorgeous, holy hell his boyfriend Was amazing--

Ahem.

While his heart was doing the patented Izuku Midoriya "I'm in love and everything's all right" dance, Izuku leaned into Kacchan's space, giving him a smile of his own.

...okay, His face was a deep shade of red and his expression straddled that line between earnest and awkward, but his joy was clear in his eyes.]

Eheh, well, broccoli's pretty good for you, y'know?

[...look, just because he had experience with flirting, didn't mean he was good at it.]

[superchill]

You're such a goddamn nerd.

[Bakugou snorts.

But Deku is his nerd. Hasn't he always been, in a way? Haven't they been dancing around this since forever? They have, and back then it wasn't the time for anything, but now? Bakugou is kind of glad they waited this long. There's no way he could have done right by Deku before, but now? Maybe now he has a chance.]

So you're not gonna kiss anyone else, right? That's what this means. Just... you and me. That's it.

[he's just... making sure. because he knows there's different kinds of dating. he supposes the word he's really looking for is exclusive, but he's just going to say it in his own way, isn't he.]

[thunderingpeace]

[Someone punch him because Izuku had never thought, in his entire life, that he would be discussing exclusivity with Kacchan. Really, if it had been anyone else, he would have probably been more than a little offended that they thought he would do something so underhanded as cheat.

But this was Kacchan, who had the dating expertise of a really handsome gay cucumber. He didn't even know he was gay until recently, how the hell was he supposed to know how basic dating worked?]

Just us, Kacchan.

[He punctuated that with a soft kiss.]

I'm yours, and you're mine, right?

[superchill]

[ If it helps any, he never thought he'd be discussing exclusivity either, especially with Deku. Although, it wouldn't- couldn't have been with anyone else, could it. He knows that now.

He feels it in his bones, and.... that says a lot, considering he tries to shove those feelings away as much as possible.

It's good that Deku understands his need to spell some of this shit out sometimes. because it's true. he has the expertise of a really handsome gay cucumber. As long as Deku doesn't say that out loud... ]

...Good. Yeah, alright. That's good.

[It sounds corny. Just us. But that's how he wants it to be. There's only Deku now, if they're going to do this. It isn't gonna be like this gay awakening will lead him to want to test out what it feels like, to put himself into the dating scene or whatever the fuck. No, he's good with this and only this.

He kisses back, ruffling his fingers through Deku's hair.]

That's so fucking corny, Deku. But yeah. Yours and mine and all that.

[thunderingpeace]

[Honestly, the thought of Kacchan leaping on the dating scene is probably one of the most ridiculous thoughts to ever thought, so it's a good thing that he didn't voice that out loud.

Instead, he just had to voice the fact that Izuku was corny out loud, didn't he?

...

Okay, let's not mince words. Deep down in his squishy, nerdy heart, he was made of pure warm corn chowder, the kind of that Western mothers made when their children were sick and needed comfort on their worst days. Izuku had, without irony, given a girlfriend a candlelight dinner on a veranda with soft music and clumsy, shy slow dancing. This wasn't going to be the last time he was called this, and he knew it.

That didn't stop him from averting his eyes a little, that usual Izuku awkwardness seeping in.]

Yeah...I guess it is a little, huh? But romance is always a little corny when you think about it, right?

[Though was Kacchan even romantic? No, probably not. What did he define as romantic, anyway? Cuddling together? Eating together?

He would have to do research, because mark his words, Izuku Midoriya would find out what made Kacchan tick, and sweep him off his feet. Somehow.

But that was an endeavor for another day.]

[superchill]

[ That's a damn good thing, because it would sound ridiculous to him too.

And of course... Bakugou doesnt' mean corny in a bad way. Not anymore. He just doesn't know how to voice the rest of it- because it's true. What the hell is romance? What the hell is anything sweet and cute and romantic? Bakugou would cringe (okay more like maybe blow up) at the thought- but maybe slowly, Deku can teach him. ]

Uh yeah. I guess.

[He honestly has no idea. Cuddling seems ridiculous- though they've already done it enough. And eating together is alright. He likes it. Is that considered romantic?]

Guess you can tell your mom we're for real dating now. She'd probably be happy about that... right?

[He lets a little bit of that insecurity seep through. ]

[thunderingpeace]

[A bit of pink dusted Izuku's cheeks at that. The insecurity dampened his enthusiasm a little, if only internally -- but he understood.

All he could do was try to dispel it, even if it took a thousand lifetimes.

Izuku was dating Bakugou Katsuki. He was nothing if not patient.]

Oh, trust me, she was over the moon when she teased me about it this morning.

[Hell, he was over the moon about it. He leaned his head against Kacchan's chest, just a little, letting out a small hum.

He could actually do this now whenever he wanted. He could use Kacchan's warm chest like a pillow and lean against it.

Hell. Yeah.]

Do you want to tell anyone else about this, or keep it private for now?

[Would he want to tell Kirishima about this? His parents?]

[superchill]

She teased you about it? Oh, well this should be interesting.

[He snorts softly, then pauses, furrowing his eyebrows.]

Oh. I think she was teasing me about it too and I just didn't fucking realize. Your mom is sneaky. But at least in good spirits, right?

[Which is really good for right now. With the two of them taking care of her, she'll do a lot better in no time. So will Deku, he hopes. Bakugou never wants to see him look at worn down and sleep deprived as he did when he first got here.

Right now it seems Deku is taking advantage of as much cuddling as he possibly can. Bakugou doesn't stop him]

Tell anyone? What, like a fucking announcement? No way. It's none of their business.

[Is that too harsh? He has no idea. How is this shit supposed to work? ]

We can tell your mom- well, she already knows. Everyone else is just gonna make a big damn deal about it and I don't want that shit to get in the way of our hero duties. You know how it's gonna be. Fuckin' all over TV.

[thunderingpeace]

Oh...ahah. What did she say?

[Please don't be about sex. Please don't be about sex. Izuku would give Kacchan the entirety of his All Might collection if his mother didn't ask him about sex.]

I'm curious.

[And well, no, he hadn't planned an announcement, but...yeah, he was probably right about that. Even if only Izuku's close friends knew, there was no telling how quickly others would know, and...

...Well, that at least told Izuku what he thought about PDA. Was he really surprised by this, though? Kacchan was as private as they came, and considering his closest circle of friends...

If Kirishima knew, he'd carry that secret to the grave. At least until Mina managed to get it out of him; that woman should have been an interrogation hero with how well she could just coax secrets out of people.

Note to self: Tell the group chat that Kacchan "wanted to take it slow" and that all conversations about the subject would be tabled. If Kacchan explicitly didn't want anyone else to know, then he wasn't about to go behind his back, no matter how excited Izuku was.]

I wasn't exactly thinking of an announcement, Kacchan. But let's just keep it between us for now.

[Not being able to hold hands in public was a small price to pay to prevent the media circus that would inevitably break out if they did.

Izuku clung just a touch tighter.]

Honestly, so long as you're happy, I'm happy.

[superchill]

Something about the beds and sleeping.... like... she heard us, or something. You were pretty damn loud, nerd. I thought I was gonna have to put my hand over your mouth at one point.

[ Does Deku want to tell his friends? Bakugou realizes that he probably does. Which... it's his right to, isn't it? It should be, but it's also kind of complicated.

Bakugou is definitely private. Of course he is, he's never really done things any other way.

Kissing in public???? Holding hands... even not in public?? Well okay, he supposes they've done the latter already, but still. It's something he probably has to ease into. ]

Are you sure about that? I mean... I guess you can tell your friends. Not all of them. Just the closest ones. Wait, who are you closest to? Is it still Round Face, Glasses, and Icyhot?

[Look, he can use their names, but all his brain power is being diverted to this relationship thing, and the way Deku is trying to squeeze him as tight as he can.]

I'm... yeah, I'm happy. Course I am. Wouldn't be with your scrawny ass if I wasn't. It's just... really fucking weird. And new. Not that I can't handle it, it's just different.

[thunderingpeace]

[For fuck's sake, universe, really? The lewd mental images he was getting right now was not cool. Not. Cool.

Now he was going to think about him and Kacchan in bed together, with his hand clamped tightly over his mouth......

Ahem.

That blush was...it sure was something huh?

Also he might have choked. A little.]

A-ah...um. Yeah. Loud. I guess I was that. Er. Sorry about that.

[Well at least he could say that his mother was okay with him being an adult man with adult man relationships.

He coughed again.]

Yeah...still them. And...thank you.

[for being happy, letting him talk to his friends about this, or being oblivious enough to not know what his mother meant right away? The world will never know.]

[superchill]

You're thinking about it now, aren't you. Stop thinking about it! Your mom is probably listening to us again.

[There's too much blushing. So much blushing. Look, deep down Bakugou is a good boy too. A good, respectable???? boy? Okay, he likes to follow the rules and he certainly doesn't want to do things in front of mothers!

Thank fuck he got them to stop before they went any further.]

Don't say sorry. I mean... I liked it, just... not here. In the kitchen.

[Maybe in Deku's room? But his mom would still be in the house.

Are they gonna wait till they can go back to his place? Well... bakugou is honestly okay with that, actually. It'll give him more time, because he sure as hell doesn't know the first thing about sex and at his age that's kind of embarrassing.

Not that he's embarrassed! Fuck that! He's a Pro-Hero, damn it. He's had plenty of other things to do.]

Just tell them to keep their mouths shut about it. If it gets out, I'll know it was them and I'll blast the shit out of them so they better know that, too.