The Deku-Shaped Hole - Chapter 11

Izuku fell asleep around halfway through their second leg of the trip. Katsuki turned off their music and tried his best to drive quietly and smoothly, letting the nerd sleep. He seemed strangely sweet when he slept, head balanced on his seatbelt, lips parted a little to take long, slow breaths, the streetlights out the window dancing across his freckled cheeks and long eyelashes.

Katsuki couldn't stop staring.

It hadn't been like that, in the hospital. Izuku had always looked somehow restless, not to mention pitiful in his bandages and casts. Now, with his surface wounds all healed into scars, he seemed a lot more... Well, normal.

He stirred when the car stopped, and Katsuki already regretted his next move. He wished he could just let the man sleep, leave him in the car where he was already settled, but he knew it would just result in a stiff, sore, and thus cranky Izuku to deal with the next morning. 

Reluctantly he opened the passenger-side door, leaning in to unlatch the seatbelt, gently slipping it off his frame. The blanket was next, tucked away for the next day's trip, and for a moment Katsuki stopped to contemplate. Could he safely carry Izuku through the check in process, and settle him in his room, without waking him? No, more likely he'd wake up in the lobby the moment they passed through the doors, panicking at the unfamiliar surroundings and the arms holding him tightly. That would be a recipe for quirk accidents, he knew.

"Hey nerd," he said instead, gently touching a warm cheek. "Wakey wakey."

Izuku grumbled a little, and Katsuki grimaced, laying his touch a little more firmly on the soft skin.

"Deku, you gotta get up, I'm sorry. We're here, you can go straight to bed if you want, but I need you to wake up even just a little, okay?"

"Kacchan?"

"Yeah, nerd, it's me."

The eyelids finally fluttered open, a tiny smile passing over his lips with the recognition.

"G'morning Kacchan."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Good morning. We're at the hotel, it's time to move to a proper bed, okay?"

"Mmkay, coming."

Katsuki slid his crutch out and helped Izuku balance as he got it in place and found control of his limbs. He yawned, eyelids drooping, and Katsuki stroked his cheek once more.

"Sorry to wake you. The other options were pretty shit."

"No, it's okay," Izuku assured him. "Where's my bag?"

"I've got it, just let me lock the car and we'll head in."

He made sure Izuku was stable before he hooked both bags over his shoulder, locking the car and tucking his keys away before he laid his free hand on the small of Izuku's back.

"Tell me if you need help, okay?"

"I'm fine, Kacchan, I can walk."

"Just if you do."

"I will! But I won't need help."

Slowly they made their way to the front desk, Katsuki doing his best to smile back when the receptionist gave them a warm welcome. He pulled his hero license from his pocket, sliding it across the desk, his smile a little more genuine when he caught her break composure for a moment.

"I booked a hero overnight package?"

"Of course, Mister Bakushinchi, Sir. Just one moment."

She pulled it up on the computer to confirm, and within a minute two keys were in his hand, the lady bowing low as she gestured toward the elevators to their left, giving him verbal directions to their room all the while.

"Someone will be up shortly with your meal, please relax until then!"

"Thank you very much!" Izuku answered brightly, bowing in return. "I'm excited to try it!"

Katsuki whisked him away before they could get into a bowing war that would last for hours, shoving him into an elevator and punching the button for their floor. He huffed when Izuku giggled at him, but still accepted the touch when he leaned in, pressing himself into Katsuki's side.

"You want to go straight to bed?"

"No, I want the food!" he insisted, shoving lightly at Katsuki's side. "You just want to eat my share!"

"Wouldn't dream of it," Katsuki smirked, reaching up to ruffle messy curls. "Want to take a bath with me too?"

"Yeah!"

The room was wide and airy, artfully decorated, with a little table set out for them in the center. Katsuki went to the closet first, pulling out a soft grey yukata and offering it to Izuku. His eyes lit up, reaching for it, but Katsuki just waved him over to the mirror.

"I'll do it," he explained.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh."

He helped Izuku strip his clothes off, wrapping him up in the soft fabric instead. Izuku watched in the mirror with shining eyes as Katsuki fussed with the material, making sure it was even and tying the belt perfectly. He couldn't remember the last time Katsuki had paid him so much attention, had been so fussy about doing something for him. Unless making him food so many times while he was in hospital counted, but he hadn't seen that process going on. Katsuki was a good cook, it was probably no big deal.

"Perfect." 

Katsuki smirked as he said it, and Izuku knew he wasn't referring solely to the belt. The way he looked at him, with such a fondness in those stubborn eyes, was overwhelming sometimes. He'd never in his wildest dreams thought he could be so lucky.

There was a quiet rap on the door as Katsuki finished dressing himself, Izuku's eyes on him all the while, and Izuku's face lit up when the food was carted in. There were endless plates of different varieties, all arranged beautifully, and Izuku almost tripped in his haste to sit. Katsuki grabbed him under the arms before he could injure himself all over again, lowering him gently to the cushion, and Izuku shot a grateful smile across the table as Katsuki joined him.

"Thank you, it looks delicious!" he exclaimed, when the ladies finished setting out their meal, pointing out the different dishes as they worked. "And it smells amazing!"

No matter how big or how small, Izuku's praise always sounded so genuine. Every compliment he gave made you feel like you'd just done or presented the greatest thing in the world. The ladies were no exception, flushing pink as they thanked him for his kindness, showing themselves out with a little less composure than they'd started with.

It probably didn't help that he was still officially the number one hero.

Nor that he was cute.

"Dig in," Katsuki instructed, when the door was closed and they were left in peace. "Gotta eat plenty of good food if you want to get better in a hurry."

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Izuku grinned, reaching for a pair of chopsticks and immediately going to town. His cheeks puffed out like a hamster as he looked up with wide eyes. "S'good!"

"Yeah?"

Katsuki took his own food much more calmly, and Izuku found himself thinking it was an odd contrast. He was so boisterous and noisy in day to day life, watching how neat and particular he was with something like eating seemed str-

"Kacchan," he spoke up, eyes widening again. "Are you self-conscious?"

"Wh- Haah? What?! Why would you-?!"

"You're so tidy," he explained, pointing at the plate. "But I've seen you eat before, Kacchan! You weren't like this!"

"Maybe I'm just not a dumb kid anymore, nerd-ass!" Katsuki burned scarlet, glaring across the table. "Shut the hell up!"

"You're super handsome," Izuku told him, completely genuine, as he leaned forward to get closer. "Being a messy eater wouldn't stop me from thinking so."

"Fuck off!" Katsuki insisted, "it's nothing like that!"

"Hmm... Are you sure?" Izuku tilted his head to the side, contemplating. "I just want you to relax, you know? Don't worry about what I'll think of you!"

"Like I would ever give a shit what you think!"

"Okay," Izuku grinned. "I'm glad!"

They fell quiet for a while, only the faint clicks of utensils meeting dishes breaking the silence, until Katsuki finally stuttered out the stupidest comment he'd ever made in his life.

"You think I'm handsome?"

"Kacchan!" Izuku bleated, jaw dropping. "You didn't know?! Of course I do!"

He shuffled around the table to throw himself into Katsuki's lap, ignoring the little squawk and the deepening blush it brought with it, cupping Katsuki's face between his hands as he leaned in so close he could feel the nervous huffs of breath coming from Katsuki's little pout of a mouth.

"You're the most magnificent person I've ever laid eyes on," Izuku said firmly, looking straight into his nervous eyes. "I could never possibly meet anyone more handsome than you."

"Sh-Shut- Ff- You-"

He grinned as Katsuki stumbled, seating himself a little more heavily when Katsuki considered shoving him off. 

"Shut the hell up," he said finally, jerking his head out of Izuku's grasp to look away. "Eat your damn food, it's getting cold."

"Okay Kacchan!" he grinned, all too aware that he'd won the unspoken contest, and far too satisfied with himself for it. "I'm glad you know!"

"Shut up."

He finished dinner with a grin on his face, amused by Katsuki's awkward little pout and flushed cheeks right until the very end.

"Can we still have a bath together?" Izuku asked, jutting his lower lip out. "I was really looking forward to it, Kacchan."

"Fuck off," he grumbled. "Obviously we can, nerd. Quit with the pity act."

"Yay!"

He almost dove at Katsuki in his excitement, only held back by the twinge in his hip and the realisation that he'd never actually asked Katsuki if it was okay to hug him. He probably should get permission before he continued to throw himself all over the poor guy. Usually he would have run on the assumption that if it was a problem, he'd have a few scorch marks on his face to tell him so, but with his injuries he suspected even Katsuki was going easy on him.

He was a little surprised when Katsuki began gathering their things, slipping a pair of sandals on at the door, but when Katsuki looked back at him he felt like an idiot for it.

"Onsen?"

"Yeah? You think I was asking if you wanted to sit in a tiny shitty little hotel bathtub with me?"

"I didn't think about it that hard!" he whined. "I just thought it sounded nice!"

"Come on, nerd," Katsuki said with a surprising softness to his tone, reaching out an arm. "Let's go relax, okay?"

"Coming!"

He pulled Izuku's arm around his shoulders, winding his own around a thick waist to offer some support, and Izuku felt like he hardly even needed his crutch as they limped to the elevator together. It was nice to feel a little more normal, for once. To feel like it was just there in case he needed it, rather than being unable to stay upright without it.

"Am I allowed to hug you?"

"Right now?" Katsuki frowned. "What for?"

"Just in general," he amended. "Like, if I want to do it, can I do it? Or should I ask every time?"

"You can, I guess. Try not to bowl me over or some shit."

"No promises!" Izuku grinned. "It's okay, you're strong."

"No kidding, but so are you, and you're fuckin' bigger than I am now. I'm still bitter about that, for the record."

"Aww, but little Kacchan is so cute!"

"Shut the hell up, I'm gonna ditch your ass and go take a bath without you."

"Nooooo!"

With a wordless little grumble Katsuki took his weight again when the elevator stopped, half-carrying him down the hall despite his complaints. When they reached the empty bathrooms he dumped Izuku on a stool with a practiced amount of uncaring – enough to make it look rough, without any risk of actually hurting him. Izuku knew exactly how much thought had to have gone into that brief moment, and he couldn't help but smile even when Katsuki scowled in return.

"Sit your ass down and keep still," he muttered, snatching bottles from a shelf and sitting himself at Izuku's back with a cloth. "And shut your nerd mouth."

Izuku giggled, but nodded his agreement, letting Katsuki strip them both off and fill a little bucket with warm water. He hummed contentedly as Katsuki scrubbed him down, his touch softening over every healing wound and every new scar, but when two hands rubbed roughly at his hair he couldn't help but complain.

"Kacchaaaan!"

"Shut up. Messy shit. When was the last time you washed your hair?!"

"It's haaaard," he whined. "I can't hold my arms up that long!"

Katsuki paused, his hands falling still, staring at Izuku's awkward expression in the mirror.

"You never told me," he said finally. "Your shoulders?"

"Left shoulder," he nodded faintly. "And kind of the whole thing on the right."

"I didn't know."

"It's no big deal."

"I can help you, shithead. How often do you normally wash it? I know it's not every day, not with your hair."

"Once a week?"

"Is that all?"

"More if I get sweaty or anything."

"I'll come help you," Katsuki said quietly, his touch much more gentle when he continued. "At least once a week."

"You don't have to."

"I want to. I want to help. When you're back to normal you can do whatever you want. Make me leave town and never speak to me again, if that's really what you want. But at least for now, just let me be here."

"I love you, Kacchan," Izuku reminded him, tilting his head right back to meet Katsuki's eyes. "I don't want you to go anywhere. I just don't want to be a burden, either."

"You couldn't be if you tried."

He doused Izuku in conditioner and left him to sit, pulling his stool closer to the mirrors to clean himself off while they waited. He didn't protest when Izuku insisted on cleaning his back, settling for a quick reminder to cut it out if he hurt at all, and soon they were both shining clean, feeling oddly more intimate than usual. 

"Come on, then," Katsuki demanded, hooking an arm around Izuku's waist and hauling him over a shoulder. "Bath."

Izuku's giggles completely undermined his attempts at a protest. It made him feel cute, when Katsuki did these things. Lighter and smaller and more delicate than he really was, when he was used to being seen as bulky and tough. He liked feeling more protected, once in a while, and Katsuki seemed more than happy to deliver, even without him saying the words.

He carried Izuku all the way into the water, only then finding him a good spot to sit and making sure he was comfortable. Izuku couldn't stop smiling at him, with those big, shining eyes that Katsuki hadn't seen since they were stupid kids. 

"Don't look at me like that," he grumbled, flicking water at Izuku lightly. "It's weird."

"Like what, Kacchan?" 

"Like I'm a fuckin' God or something."

"Like you're a hero?"

"Shut the hell up."

Izuku grinned when Katsuki flicked water at him again, holding his arms out and waiting pointedly.

"What, fucker?" Katsuki demanded.

"Hug?"

"Oh. Say so, little shit, don't just wave your hands at me."

"Huuuuuug."

"Okay, okay. You're like a five year old, I swear."

Katsuki shuffled over, carefully positioning himself so he wouldn't lean any of his weight on Izuku, then pulled him into a gentle hug. Izuku sighed fondly, resting his cheek on Katsuki's chest, and despite the awkward positioning of trying to hug in a public bath while naked and with one of them injured, he relished the contact. Katsuki didn't touch him enough. He made a mental note to bring that one up when it seemed more appropriate.

When he'd had enough, Katsuki let him go, moving over to sit beside him once more. For a long time they sat in silence, watching the water pour from wooden pipes, until in a moment of weakness, Katsuki held out a hand. He didn't say anything, didn't even look at Izuku, just lifted his hand above the water and held it out, palm up, waiting.

Izuku stared at him, catching a hint of pink in the face so pointedly turned away from him, and smiled warmly as he laced their fingers together, letting them fall back into the water. 

Katsuki was holding his hand. He was willingly holding his hand.

For a moment Izuku thought he might pass out.

"This is nice," he said instead, boldly laying his head on Katsuki's shoulder. "Is this our first date?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"No one will ever be able to top this," he grinned. "I'm gonna have the best First-Date-Story for the rest of my life."

"We're not exactly your average couple," Katsuki grumbled. "This would be weird if we'd just met in the bar last week. But we're... Us."

"We're way better than any dumb couple who met in a bar," Izuku huffed.

"Yeah, exactly."

Izuku closed his eyes, smiling to himself, and Katsuki glanced down at him fondly.

"We should head to bed."

"But I'm happy, Kacchan."

"I know, but if you fall asleep here I'm gonna have a hard time dragging your ass out before you drown."

"Mm... Ten more minutes."

"Come on nerd, we'll come again in the morning."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"And I can have hugs?"

"Yeah."

"Tonight?"

"Yeah, when we're back in the room."

"Promise?"

"Stop stalling, little shit."

Izuku grinned, and Katsuki reluctantly cracked a smile of his own, nudging the heavy head up off his shoulder. He led Izuku over to the stairs before he climbed out, helping Izuku up after him, no matter how many times Izuku insisted he could do it himself. Soon they were dry and bundled back into their robes, hobbling back up to their room to find two matching futon lying side by side where the dinner table used to be. Izuku fell onto one with a contented sigh, smiling as he reached his hands out again.

"Use your words, nerd. You're not a child."

"Hugs, Kacchan! You promised!"

"Yeah, yeah. Gimme a sec."

He locked the door behind them and stripped down to his boxers before he lay down, letting Izuku roll into his arms. It was cute, the way Izuku got so clingy and affectionate, even if Katsuki knew it was just magnified by tiredness. It was well-past Katsuki's usual bedtime, so he had no qualms about switching off the lights and turning in for the night.  Izuku would normally be up a few more hours, but recovery had left him prone to taking naps, and as much as he felt bad for the guy, it was kind of nice to have him settle down earlier.

"Can I sleep here?"

Izuku's voice was already slurred, near-sleep, but as much as Katsuki wanted to say yes, he couldn't quite make the word leave his lips.

"You shouldn't," he mumbled instead, reluctant even as he spoke. "I don't want to hurt you in the night by accident."

"You won't."

"I might. It wouldn't be difficult."

Izuku pouted, and Katsuki instead offered up a hand, rolling onto his side.

"We can sleep right beside each other and hold hands, okay? Just... Maybe we should wait a little longer before we, uh... Cuddle."

"Like, tomorrow?"

"Like, until you're healed," Katsuki shoved him lightly, ignoring the teasing grin in front of him. "Eventually, okay? We have all the time in the world, now."

"I'll convince you," Izuku mumbled, snuggling into his pillow instead, his hand clutching Katsuki's. "I'll show you."

"Sure you will, nerd," Katsuki said fondly, using his free hand to stroke damp curls. "Get some sleep."

"Say something nice, Kacchan."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. I want to hear something nice when I fall asleep."

Katsuki considered it, letting the room fall silent while he thought. Izuku's eyes were long-since closed, so he didn't see the little stammers of Bakugou's lips as he fumbled for words, didn't see the crimson flush that spread across his cheek. He did, however, feel the warmth of a face leaning in closer, the breath light against his neck before the lips touched his cheek.

"Sweet dreams, Deku. I love you."