Worth The Wait [Threadvember]

This one is for Mari Rose, who requested "fluffy and soft bkdk". 

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"Day two hundred and seventeen, the food stores are wearing thin, may have to resort to the kind of awful take-out food my boyfriend detests. Bed is cold, man is lonely, don't know how much longer he can-"

"Shut the hell up," Katsuki snorted. "You knew what you were in for when we signed up for this."

Izuku pouted at the dismissal, leaning in closer to his laptop to make sure Katsuki would see his sad face.

"But I miss you, I just want to hug you again."

"I sent you a hoodie," Katsuki grumbled, glancing away from his camera. "It should get there soon."

"I got it today!" Izuku grinned, standing up to show the black hoodie swamping his frame. "It smells so nice, Kacchan!"

"Shut up, weird-ass. You make dinner yet?"

"I told you, the kitchen is empty Kacchan! I had to get take-out!"

"It's nearly seven o clock, Deku! You had at least an hour to get some shit to cook on your way home!"

"Maybe I just missed you and wanted to rush home to see you," Izuku pouted. "I just ordered that udon place we go to sometimes, it's not like I got burgers or something."

"Ugh. Whatever, nerd."

Katsuki's laptop was set up on his dining room table, and behind him, Izuku could see the sunrise beyond the little window. There were pots rattling faintly, off to one side somewhere, and every few minutes Katsuki's eyes darted away to check on them.

It was a familiar sight. Every single morning since he'd been gone, Katsuki had set up in that same spot, leaning on his elbows as he waited for Izuku to pick up. He always looked so handsome, when Izuku answered; with that soft glow of morning light around him, the slightly droopy eyelids that only ever showed when he first woke up.

"Oh, they're here!" he jumped when the intercom buzzed, blowing a kiss at the screen. "Just a moment, don't miss me too much!"

Katsuki snorted, but didn't dignify it with an answer, taking a long sip from his coffee mug instead as Izuku darted to the door. He could hear the nerd's voice still, thanking the delivery person repeatedly, probably bowing a dozen times in gratitude for his shitty fast food meal.

"I'm back, Kacchan! Did you miss me?"

"You're a nerdy piece of shit," Katsuki muttered, a hint of fondness in his face all the same. "It's not for much longer, you'll be okay without me a little while."

"Oh, you need to check your breakfast?"

Katsuki almost corrected him, almost reminded him again how dumb and oblivious he was, but the words caught on his lips and refused.

"Yeah, I do," he said instead. "Wait for me."

"Of course, Kacchan! I'm right here!" he beamed as he watched the blond stand up, his torso moving off camera, and instead suddenly he was watching the sunrise beyond the window.

"I love you, Kacchan!" he called, nice and loud, shameless despite his apartment neighbours who could probably hear every word – he was sure they were used to it by now. "Don't forget, Kacchan! I love you lots!"

When Katsuki returned with his rice and omelette, he also came with a blush spread across his cheeks, his gaze carefully avoiding the camera.

"You're such a dumb nerd," he huffed again. "You, um, do anything good today?"

Katsuki was always so awkward about the small talk, so reluctant to induce conversation, but Izuku smiled all the same – he knew how hard his boyfriend was trying.

"Yeah! There was this huge incident in the middle of Tokyo, like twenty of us got called to it! I got to fight with Todoroki! I hadn't seen him in ages! So after it was all cleaned up we went and got coffee, Uraraka and Iida came too, and spent a while catching up!"

"How was the coffee?"

Izuku couldn't help but giggle, watching red eyes dart away again as the pink flush overtook his face.

"It was really yummy! I want to take you there when you come home!"

"It's a date." He paused again, sighing. "How are the nerdsquad doing?"

"Aww, Kacchan, you've been practicing!" Izuku teased. "They're all doing really good. How are you? Do you have any big plans for today?"

"Shitty coworkers want me to go out with them," he pouted. "I keep telling them I can't because I have a date, but they won't listen. They're convinced I can't have dates every night."

"Aww! You should spend time with them, though!" Izuku smiled fondly. "I'll just sleep in until you get home!"

"Stop ruining your sleep schedule."

"I'm noooot!" Izuku whined. "One sleep in won't kill me!"

Bakugou grumbled something inaudible, stuffing his mouth with rice to cover it up in a hurry.

"Say it again, Kacchan, I didn't hear you!"

"No."

"Kacchaaaaaaan."

"Fucking- I mi- I wa- UGH." He growled, eyebrows knitting together as he glared, lower lip still jutting out a little in his pout. "Maybe I just want to fucking be with you instead, okay?!"

"Awwww," Izuku cooed, enjoying the glow in Katsuki's cheeks that brightened even further. "You're so cute, Kacchan! I'm glad you miss me, I miss you lots too! But really, go have dinner and drinks with your friends! I'll just sleep in a little bit, I'll be up by eight, okay? You can call me when you get back!"

"I want to fall asleep with you," he admitted, his normally bold voice barely a whisper into his microphone.

"You can! It'll just be a little later than usual!" Izuku grinned. "Besides, we have ages until you go to work, you'll be sick of me soon and need a break!"

"Don't say that, asshole."

"It was a joke, Kacchan."

"I don't fucking care. Don't even joke about that shit. I'm... I'm never gonna get sick of you. I don't want that thought in your head for even a moment."

"I love you too, Kacchan," Izuku grinned. "Now talk to me while I eat!"

It was a familiar and comforting routine, a daily – usually twice daily, in fact – reminder that even if they weren't together, even if they were on different continents, they were still always thinking of each other. Izuku's friends still didn't really get it, still thought he was pining after a guy who had moved on – they were always trying to set him up with people, and always excited and enthusiastic when he told them he couldn't hang out because he had a date – he'd given up telling them it was a digital date with Katsuki, they just didn't understand.

When he came back, they would. When his time in America was over and the organisation causing worldwide drama was finally taken care of, when he returned as an internationally renowned hero and went straight back to Izuku's side, then they would finally understand.

And in the meantime, he was content with their regular texts and the scheduled video calls, his chance to see Katsuki's handsome face and hear his gorgeous voice.

"This chick at work was hitting on me," Katsuki snorted, when the conversation turned to his colleagues. "I'm at a point where I know more English phrases for 'fuck off I'm taken' than any other sentence."

"Awww, Kacchan is rejecting people for little old me?" Izuku teased.

"Obviously," Katsuki grumbled, looking away. He knew Izuku was just fishing for compliments, but when it came to reassurance about their relationship, he generally delivered all the same. "I'm not gonna date some shitty second-rate hero when you're there waiting for me."

"I love you, Kacchan."

"I love you too, nerd. I've gotta head to work, though. Um, sorry."

"I know, it's okay!" Izuku beamed. "Have an amazing day at work, Kacchan! Go beat up some villains!"

"You know it."

As he waved goodbye, Izuku saw a glint of silver metal wrapped around his finger, and with a faint smile he looked down at the twin on his own hand.

Forever, the engraving said, warm against his skin. I promise.

Two hundred and seventeen days since his last visit from his Kacchan, but there wasn't a single day that he'd questioned what they had.

In just a few more weeks, he'd be sitting on a crowded plane, ready to smother the man in hugs and kisses. He'd be sleeping in Katsuki's little apartment, snuggled up to his side, savouring the warmth he brought into Izuku's world.

Some things were worth the wait.