Like the back of my hand

This is a short gift for a friend on twitter who is having a birthday. Happy Birthday Mika!! 

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Izuku was all out of tears.

He'd been called in long before his scheduled start time; dragged out of his warm, cozy bed into the freezing cold winter morning, with a scarf and coat bundled over his costume and a fluffy hat pulled down over his mop of hair. It desperately needed cutting, but work had been a nightmare for the past couple of months, and he just hadn't had the time and energy to take care of it.

Katsuki, on the other hand, still looked as perfect and put-together as always. He had no idea how the guy did it, waking up at five every morning whether he had work or not, still finding time for the gym and even his friends when the mood struck him. Izuku wasn't even sure he was human, some days.

But there they were, side by side again, listening to the mission brief with a crowd of other heroes.

"This is the seventh victim this month, and the first we've had any kind of a lead on," the detective explained. "Please do your best to settle this matter before they can cover their tracks."

And so, instead of a nice sleep in before starting his late patrol, Izuku had found himself shivering in the streets as he tried to be subtle about observing the building in question.

An hour later Katsuki had shown up on his way to his next station, handing him a little bag and waving him toward an alley.

"I'll watch out while you put them on."

"You're a lifesaver!"

He stripped his jumpsuit off when he was out of sight, stuffing himself into the thermal underwear Katsuki had brought along. Already he felt warmer, when he zipped himself back up, and with a little smile he planted a kiss on Katsuki's cheek.

"You're the best," he murmured, nuzzling his neck lightly. "Thank you, Kacchan."

"Whatever. I swear to God if you don't find those kids by the end of the day, I'm not cooking for you."

"I'll have them all home by dinner!"

And sure enough, he had. He'd followed the shady man to a warehouse in a rundown old nightlife district, had sneaked in unseen, aided by Mei's latest camera-zapper and alarm-killer, and had found the basement full of terrified children, huddled together in a corner to keep warm.

The first tears had come when he saw the state of the room, overrun by the smell of the faeces bucket in the corner, his eyes burning with the ammonia of old urine. It was easy enough to blame the smell for that first set of tears, instead of the trembling figures who looked up at him with such fear, only quelled when he squatted down and held out a hand.

"My name is Deku," he told them. "Will you let me help you?"

Like a mother duck he'd led them all to the exit, ushering them outside to where other heroes had finally started to answer his call. He'd intended to hand the kids off and head back in to help, but the moment he began to step away, the kids had all cried and clung to him. So with his second set of tears for the day, he stayed, hugging them all tight and assuring them that he'd get them home safe and sound.

And so numbers three through nine had begun, as he carted the kids around the city to their homes, sharing endless tears with grateful mothers and hugging each kid goodbye as they transferred from Izuku's leg to their parents'.

As he climbed the stairs to his apartment, he found himself lagging a little. He hadn't realised how exhausted he was, considering he didn't actually have to fight anyone. He was ready to curl up on the couch with his boyfriend and snuggle, or maybe even have an early night so they could cuddle in bed for a while.

Instead, he opened the door on slamming doors and growled complaints, on polished floors and shining clean walls, on a kitchen completely rearranged from top to bottom. His boyfriend was nowhere to be seen, though he could hear the sounds of fussing and complaining from down the hall, so with his shoes kicked off and his jumpsuit pulled down around his waist, he'd padded through to the bathroom to investigate.

Sure enough, there he was, scrubbing angrily at the tub as he cursed the shitty plastic, the terrible detergent, the pathetic, cheap sponge. With a tired smile he knocked on the doorframe, watching stern red eyes glance his way briefly.

"I'm home, Kacchan."

"Hope you wiped your damn feet, don't track mud in all over my clean floors."

"I wiped them, I promise!"

"Take your dirty shit off and give it here so I can wash it"

Still smiling faintly, he obeyed, stripping off his muddy costume and the warm thermals, putting them straight in the basket Katsuki shoved toward him. He washed his face and his hands, when Katsuki pointed at the sink, then bundled up in the warm sweatpants and hoodie stacked on the shelf above.

"You've been so busy today, Kacchan is amazing!" he praised.

"Whatever, nerd."

"Can I have a hug?"

Katsuki froze, but Izuku only continued to smile at him.

"I just got home, after all!"

Katsuki set his tools down, taking slow, tentative steps into Izuku's outstretched arms.

"I missed you today, Kacchan," he murmured. "I missed your hugs."

"I'm here."

"Yeah, I'm glad."

Slowly Katsuki began to soften a little, the tension sinking out of his limbs, and Izuku sighed contentedly when the arms wound slightly tighter around his waist.

"You want cuddles?" Katsuki asked quietly.

"Uh-huh!"

"Okay, come on."

Hand in hand, they headed back to the living room, falling onto the couch with a big blanket. Izuku coaxed Katsuki into his lap, snuggling in against his back, and to his surprise there wasn't a single complaint when he stroked slowly at blond hair.

"Snuggle with me, Kacchan."

"I am."

"More?"

With a little sigh, Katsuki rolled onto his side, resting his head on Izuku's shoulder as he cuddled in close.

"Did you save all the kids?" he asked quietly.

"Uh-huh. Every single one. I took them all home to their parents, too."

"Good work. Um, I didn't cook dinner though, I was busy."

"It's okay, we can always order something in? Pizza and movies?"

"Yeah, okay."

Humming contentedly, Izuku scratched at Katsuki's hair lightly, feeling him squirm a little as he got comfy.

"Feel good?"

"Yeah."

He reached for the remote and turned the TV on, finding their favourite old All Might movie before he wound his arms around Katsuki again, pulling him in close. Katsuki sighed faintly, his eyes already closed, and Izuku smiled as he leaned in. With Katsuki nestled in against his neck, it gave him the perfect spot to rest his cheek on soft blond hair, planting a cheesy little kiss on his head before he settled.

"Long day, baby?" he asked quietly, running his hand up and down Katsuki's arm.

"Mm."

"You did so good."

"Yeah."

It took almost half an hour of silence, of snuggling and pretending to watch the movie, of Izuku gently stroking up and down the thick bicep and playing with his hair, before Katsuki began to explain.

“He was a former hero,” he said quietly.

Izuku waited, expecting an elaboration of some kind, but none came.

“Someone you knew?”

“Never met him,” he shrugged slightly. “Heard the name.”

“I'm sorry baby, that must have been tough,” Izuku murmured understandingly, squeezing him a little tighter. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

Katsuki shook his head, turning to nuzzle Izuku's neck again.

“He didn't make it,” he said simply.

“Did you have to...?”

“No, he um... Himself.”

“Oh. Jeez. I'm so sorry.”

Katsuki shifted to wrap an arm around Izuku's neck, snuggling in a little closer.

“If I ever do something like that...”

“You won't.”

“But if I do,” he said stubbornly. “You've got to... You know.”

“Get you professional help because clearly you're sick,” Izuku smiled. “Kacchan is the best hero in the world. Of every person who ever existed, Kacchan has the lowest chance of that ever happening.”

Katsuki snorted, pulling Izuku's hair lightly.

“What about you, dummy?”

“I'm second!”

Katsuki finally cracked a smile, and Izuku hugged extra tight when he saw it, showering kisses all over his cheeks and forehead. Katsuki whined and squirmed and complained, but never once tried to pull away, and Izuku couldn't help but giggle.

“Kacchaaaaan,” he sang. “I loooove youuuuu.”

“Yeah, yeah. Dumb nerd.”

“I love you more than katsudon!”

“You damn well better.”

“I love you more than All Might!”

“Good, otherwise you can damn well go and date All Might.”

“I love you more thaaaaan being a hero!”

Katsuki snorted, finally turning to meet Izuku's eyes.

“That's an outright lie, asshole.”

“It's nooooot!” Izuku pouted. “I love you the most, Kacchan!”

“Whatever,” Katsuki grumbled. “Prove it.”

He yelped when two strong arms wound around his thighs, hauling him off the couch and carrying him down the hall. Despite his complaints, Izuku just giggled, falling onto the bed with Katsuki still in his arms. A pink flush spread across Katsuki's cheeks, and beaming, Izuku pulled him in for a kiss.

“What are you doing, damn nerd?”

“Gonna prove how much I love you!”

He kissed a path along Katsuki's jaw, giggling again when he trailed down the side of his neck and Katsuki squirmed.

“Tickle?” he asked knowingly.

“Quit it,” Katsuki whined, blushing.

“Nope!”

“Damn nerd.”

He paused when he reached Katsuki's collarbone, shifting a little to plant one right on his lips.

“How do you always know?” Katsuki asked quietly, a faint smile crossing his lips.

“I know Kacchan like the back of my hand! I can always make you feel better!”

“Yeah,” he nodded faintly, looping an arm around Izuku's waist and dragging him in for more kisses. “Love you, nerd.”

“I love you too, Kacchan!”