Leave a Light On - Chapter Five [FINAL]

Katsuki hated himself for listening to the orders, for clutching the radio in his shaking hand and just staying put. Sure, waiting for backup was important, but more important was the damn children in the basement in front of him. He just needed to do something.

“Bakugou,” his boss's familiar voice demanded. “Where are you?”

“Haah? In the god-damn street where you fuckin' told me to stay!”

“We've just gotten a report that there's a disturbance in the building, don't you dare lie to me right now. Are you in the building?”

Katsuki froze, his entire body going numb as he stared at the cellar door, his mouth opening and closing like a damn goldfish.

“No,” he said finally. “But I'm fuckin' about to be.”

He tucked his radio in his pocket and immediately began to move, ignoring the protests from the little speaker. Sure enough, the previously solid back door was caved in with what looked like a well-placed kick, and Katsuki spat curses as he hurried down the stairs toward the noise.

Two men dove at him from a side door, but he neatly side-stepped their assault and spun on his heel, a quick blast from his hand sending them both into the wall. Hard. He was moving on again before he'd even had time to consider his actions, footsteps echoing off the concrete walls as he jogged toward the commotion.

The first thing that hit him was the smell. It was overwhelming and unbearable, the stench of fecal matter left to decay in a damp cellar, and he briefly considered adding a gas mask to his costume. He could still hear the fighting though, so he kept moving, wading through puddles of sticky blood and beaten up bodies lying on concrete.

Izuku was crying.

Of all the sights Katsuki had expected to encounter, that was not one.

He was surrounded by young women and girls, the oldest maybe sixteen and the youngest no older than ten. They were in varying states of disarray and panic, but their words were genuine, and Katsuki immediately knew what had caused the outburst.

“You're my hero,” the smallest was praising him, hugging his leg tightly as tears spilled down her face. “The best hero ever, thank you so much for saving me.”

“Deku,” Katsuki spoke firmly, watching the teary face dart up to look at him. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, sniffing hard as he wiped his face on his sleeve. “We're okay.”

He pulled his radio from his pocket, taking a deep breath before he pushed the button down.

“We have about a dozen young women here, they seem to be healthy but we probably need a check done anyway. How far away is evac?”

“What did you do?!”

“I'll explain later, right now I just want to get these girls safe before anyone else shows up here.”

There was a long pause, then a sigh on the other end.

“Okay you're clear to bring them up, we have a medical team on site.”

“Got it.”

He ruffled Izuku's hair lightly as he put the radio away, leaning in close.

“I need you to gather yourself, Deku, just for a bit. Be strong for them all, okay?”

He nodded, wiping his face again, and immediately scooped up the little girl at his feet.

“Let's go find your mom and dad, okay?”

“Okay!”

With Katsuki in the lead, and Izuku holding up the rear, they made their way out of the building in a long line. He could see nervous eyes flitting around the rooms, checking every corner and doorway, and the moment they hit daylight he heard stifled sobs at his back.

“Come on,” he instructed, trying to keep his voice gentle. “See that white tent over there? We have people here to help you.”

He ushered them out into the cool breeze, and soon there were doctors and nurses in every direction, escorting each woman to the medical area one-on-one. Izuku handed the little girl over to a friendly nurse, waving goodbye with promises to come check on her soon, and the moment everyone was off their hands Izuku fell into Katsuki's arms for snuggles.

“I have to tell them,” he choked out, pressing his face into Katsuki's neck and breathing in his sweet scent. “I can't lie about this one.”

“It's gonna be okay.”

“Come visit me in prison?”

“They won't arrest you, I'll make sure of it.”

“But-”

“You hear me, nerd?” he insisted, gritting his teeth. “I won't let them take you away from me, no matter what. I swear to every fuckin' God on this stupid planet that no one will take you away from me.”

“I love you, Kacchan.”

“I love you too, you damn nerd.”

─

Katsuki stood tall outside the office door, glaring away anyone who dared to get close. Like hell if he was gonna let anyone else within earshot of the massive confessions going on beyond the closed door, where Izuku sat with his therapist and both company directors.

He'd been right, in a way. There wasn't a lot they could do to explain away the situation in the basement, though Katsuki certainly would have tried if Izuku had asked it of him. Three bodies torn apart by a brutal quirk, injuries a perfect match to every vigilante victim in the past three months, it wasn't the most subtle of encounters.

He'd broken down the moment the door closed, Katsuki had heard it loud and clear. He'd stuttered through his confession, his explanation, the evidence that had made him see red. Trauma was a god damn bitch.

The conversation had quietened considerably since then, and Katsuki hated it. He wanted to eavesdrop, wanted to listen to every word and be ready to fight if the situation called for it. Not knowing was the worst thing in the world.

He stepped aside when the door finally opened, locking eyes with the director in the doorway, and she actually sighed when she saw him hovering.

“Bakugou, this is really none of your conc-”

“He's my boyfriend,” Katsuki cut her off stubbornly. “Fuck off with your judgemental bullshit.”

“Kacchan!” Izuku insisted from behind her, mortified. “Polite!”

“Like hell,” he scowled, folding his arms. “Not until I hear every word of what went on in your damn meeting.”

“It's okay, Kacchan, really.”

Despite the three people standing between them, Izuku looked at Katsuki like he was the only one in the room – in the world. Katsuki was so damn lucky, how had he ignored it for so many wasted years?

“We'll be counting on you, Bakugou,” the therapist smiled softly. “He needs your help and support.”

Katsuki snorted, taking a step forward to cup Izuku's jaw in his hand.

“So you're not going to prison, huh?”

“Not if I can help it,” he smiled awkwardly. “My needy boyfriend said I wasn't allowed.”

“Damn right.”

“Okay lovebirds, pack it up and go home,” Katsuki's boss sighed, waving them toward the stairs. “Midoriya, be sensible. Bakugou, take care of him.”

“I will,” Izuku assured them with a wobbly smile, finally caving to the urges and tucking himself into Katsuki's side. “Home, Kacchan?”

“Yeah, come on, nerd.”

Izuku remained quiet until they were safely inside the house, locked away from the outside world. He giggled when Katsuki trapped him in a blanket, pulling him into his lap, and tears pricked at his eyes as he cuddled in close.

“They revoked my hero license,” he began quietly, fingers tangling in Katsuki's shirt. “And I'm now required to attend therapy once a week, even though I was doing it anyway.”

“Uh-huh?”

“But because of my record as a hero they agreed to sweep it under the rug as long as I behave myself. They said I clearly wasn't in a sound state of mind, and if it went to court they could argue temporary insanity from trauma, but the plan is to just... Not be found, I guess. I covered my tracks, they don't have any evidence, so as long as I stop, they won't be able to find me.”

“That's... good, I guess. I'm glad you aren't in trouble.”

“I feel awful about it too,” Izuku nodded knowingly. “It seems so weird that they would just hide it away, but they said they've done more for people who deserved it a lot less.”

“You were an amazing hero. You've just gotta get your life back on track, and you will be again. I'll help you.”

“Yeah,” he smiled softly, sniffling again already. “One day. Don't let me fall off the right track, okay? I'd forgotten how much I want to be good.”

“You just lost your way for a bit,” Katsuki smiled, kissing messy green curls. “I told you that from the start.”

“And you'll stay with me?”

“Obviously, dumbass. I've been here all this time and you think I'm gonna quit now? Who else is gonna make you eat healthy food and get up at the crack of dawn to go to the gym?”

“Whip me into shape, Kacchan,” Izuku giggled. “I trust you!”

“We'll get that perky little booty back in no time.”

“Kacchaaaaan!”

They were quiet for a solid minute, revelling in each other's company, until out of the blue Izuku broke – the floodgates burst open with no warning, and Izuku wailed as he cried into Katsuki's shirt.

“What the hell, nerd?” he demanded, holding him close regardless and rubbing little circles on his back. “Where did this come from?”

“I was a hero today, Kacchan!”

“Haaah?! You've been a hero for years!”

“I always wanted to be a hero,” he sobbed. “I can't believe I'm really a hero! With Kacchan!”

“You're a dumbass nerd is what you are,” Katsuki sighed fondly, combing long fingers through Izuku's hair. “Getting me all wet and snotty 'cos of something I've known for years.”

“I proved everybody wrong, Kacchan. I showed them I can be a hero, even if I'm useless.”

“You're not useless, idiot. But yeah, you proved us all wrong. Went from a useless little Deku to number one hero, Deku.”

“I missed my name,” Izuku mumbled, and Katsuki snorted at him in response. “You know what I mean!”

“Fine, Deku it is.”

“It came from Kacchan so it's my favourite name.”

“Yeah, yeah, sappy idiot. Can I go change my damn clothes, now that you're done with the fuckin' waterworks? You made me soggy.”

“I'll come help!”

Katsuki couldn't help but crack a smile, and Izuku grinned back, eyes shining with unfallen tears under the dim living room lights.

“You wanna snuggle?” he asked finally, watching Izuku light up like he'd just heard a new All Might movie was being released. “Just 'til I get hungry.”

“Please!”

He ditched the blanket on the couch, pausing at the bottom of the stairs and glancing back at the front entrance.

“Just let me turn the light off,” he called, to Izuku already waiting eagerly for him at the top.

“You promised you'd leave it on for me!”

“You're already here, you sappy nerd.”

“Kacchan is gonna be my light instead?” he grinned.

“That doesn't even make sense. Wait for me in the bedroom, idiot.”

“Okay! And Kacchan?”

“What now?”

“You're the light of my life,” Izuku giggled.

“Cut the shit and go warm up my side of the bed.”

“Going!”

He waited until the footsteps retreated before he let himself smile, checking that the door was locked and peeking out the window one last time. The porch was clear, the street empty, and when he flicked the little white switch, the world beyond their walls went dark.

You're mine, too.